Stitches

[xianlexavier]

Stitches on the top of my forehead, oww! They hurt. How do I keep from pulling them in the bathtub? It seems impossible. Dr. gave me info, but not on the bathtub thing. Also, it feels tight, burns and itches. is this normal for stitches? i've had them on my belly before but not on my head area. whoooooo! this is so different. any suggestions on how to keep from breaking them?
thanks in advance!

love in Christ,
Lex

 

[Nater_Tater]

http://www.ehow.com/how_12656_care-stitches.html


I hope this info will help you!!

 

[xianlexavier]

http://www.ehow.com/how_12656_care-stitches.html


I hope this info will help you!!

oh wow thank you so much! that definitely helps!!!

 

[Bubbles06]

Yeah when I had stitches in my arm... I sort of had this gauze band-aid thing. Also, my doctor told me to have cue-tips (sp?) and to dip them in hydrogen peroxide and dab it on my stitches once or twice a day to keep infection out.

 

[xianlexavier]

Yeah when I had stitches in my arm... I sort of had this gauze band-aid thing. Also, my doctor told me to have cue-tips (sp?) and to dip them in hydrogen peroxide and dab it on my stitches once or twice a day to keep infection out.

ooooo i totally forgot about infection! maybe that's why my forehead is swelled now? eek.

man i bet stitches on your arm is painful! i had them on my belly for hernia op once, going down from my bellybutton. but that's nothing compared to an arm or forehead. was stitches on your arm hard not to break? it seems to me that it'd be so hard not to break them b/c we use our arms all the time.

 

[Lena75]

My son had stitches on his forehead last month and his seemed ok. We just used a bandaid and ointment on it and it's healed fine. I've got about 3 stitches in my mouth from wisdom teeth removal and so long as I keep it clean with salt water and prescribed mouthwash, it's fine. I lost one stitch last night. Got about 3 more to go!

 

[Marie]

What double post?

 

[Marie]

Is the area swollen? How long have you had the stitches in? ...and goodness gracious, what did you do?

in the bath, you could use saran wrap or a ziploc baggie and cut out an area just big enough to fit around the stitches on your head (by no means the entire thing, hehe), and tape around the stitches to keep the water out.

The itching and burning is normal...you have stitches! Itching is caused by the skin reparing itself and healing, so rejoice in the itching, but do not scratch the area, that would hurt the wound and slow the healing process.

You should not cover the wound/stitches all the time, maybe at night if you have a problem rolling around in bed or whatnot, or in the bathtub, of course. But, the area needs to be uncovered. If bleeding occurs, then bandage it, apply a bit of pressure, and call your doctor. Triple Antibiotic Ointment, Neosporin, and other cleansing products can be used, but are not required. Usually they will help the wound heal a bit faster, but they hurt and burn like crazy for most folks so it is easier to do without.

Heh, I'm still just wondering what you did.

I had stitches in my arm, and I have a scar going down it...it's funny lookin, My sis calls it a caterpillar. I'm also a med student.

 

[xianlexavier]

Thank you and happy birthday to you!!!!

 

[Marie]

You're welcome, anytime!

So, uhh, what happened to the ole' head of yours?

 

[Marie]

And thank you!

 

[xianlexavier]

"So, uhh, what happened to the ole' head of yours?"

It's on my shoulders :-D

 

[xianlexavier]

My son had stitches on his forehead last month and his seemed ok. We just used a bandaid and ointment on it and it's healed fine. I've got about 3 stitches in my mouth from wisdom teeth removal and so long as I keep it clean with salt water and prescribed mouthwash, it's fine. I lost one stitch last night. Got about 3 more to go!

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Marie]

"So, uhh, what happened to the ole' head of yours?"

It's on my shoulders :-D

LOL!

Oh really? That's awesome!

*gasp!*

So is mine!

We should start a club!

 

[Bubbles06]

ooooo i totally forgot about infection! maybe that's why my forehead is swelled now? eek.

man i bet stitches on your arm is painful! i had them on my belly for hernia op once, going down from my bellybutton. but that's nothing compared to an arm or forehead. was stitches on your arm hard not to break? it seems to me that it'd be so hard not to break them b/c we use our arms all the time.

Nah the stitches on my arm weren't hard to break at all lol. They were about an in and a half from my elbow and about half an inch long, but they were covered with this gauze pad thingy until the stitches were taken out and it stared to scab over (gross i know..).

 

[feral]

I've had stitches lots of times. The best advice my doctor gave me was to dab petroleum jelly over the stitches and then wrap some saran wrap or other plastic wrap in a sort of sleeve or bandage to keep water out when bathing. You can also seal the plastic sleeve at the ends by taping with medical tape. It also depends on what kind of stitches you have. The wire ones aren't affected by water unless you soak them constantly, but the dissolving ones and the string ones will snap or dissolve before you're healed and re-open the wound. Since they are on your head, it won't matter as you won't get them wet much unless you're washing your hair. I'd ask someone else to wash your hair for you while you sit in the tub in a bathing suit and hold a dry washcloth or protective plastic over the stitches to keep them dry.

 

[AlecEiffel]

I'm gonna be giving people stitches soon. I can't wait, I start school to become a hospital corpsman this september.