Stitches

[Guest guest]

,

Re: how long do stitches stay in? I'm wondering that myself! I had surgery 12/13 & the behind the ear arc was done like Phil said - dissolving stitches that don't protrude. I have had dissolving stitches for each op except the 1st (this was 4th). He harvested cartilage from the small bump in front of the ear opening, tho, & some stitches are still there. He says they dissolve & on Wed. he "trimmed them back" for me (they were kinda long). I think these ones don't dissolve so much as work their way out. Behind the ear, tho, I never see or deal with them. I had the type that has to be removed that 1st time & found it pretty uncomfortable.

With dissolving packing, they don't take it all out (tho they do remove & suction at post-op visits a lot) - it dissolves. That's why you can't tell whether your hearing is better/worse/the same for roughly 6 - 8 weeks after surgery, 'cause it's still in there dissolving.

I have been shaved a little & not shaved at all, it varies by surgeon. If it is important to you, talk to your surgeon beforehand. I'm not sure about the ponytail thing - they can get funny about the sterility of the OR (with good reason!). Again, let your surgeon know. He's probably used to it. When I was shaved, you'd only see it if I lifted all my longer hair up.

[Guest guest]

, My fusion used 28 staples...I think its about 7 in long.

[Guest guest]

Sue did you have a fusion? My first surgey the laminectomy was only about 2.5

in..

This one is much larger..

[Guest guest]

Hmm. I wonder if becasue my was the next level up he had to slice me

more..OUCH....Yeh I got screwed also...LOL 4 screws 2 rods. and a nice long

scare to go along with it..The person who took out my staples said " dont

forget in the summer put sunscreen on it " HAHAAH yeh cause I am gona wear a

bikini..HAHAHA I about died...

[Guest guest]

-

,

mine is about 2 1/2 inches on my back.. and it is closed with staples.

Sue

-- In spinaldisorderssupport , " Kammerer "

<john.kammerer@v...> wrote:

> On a Lumbar fusion how long is the incision and do they use staples

or what?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Eeeeekkkk thanks for the info

Re: Stitches

-

,

mine is about 2 1/2 inches on my back.. and it is closed with staples.

Sue

-- In spinaldisorderssupport , " Kammerer "

<john.kammerer@v...> wrote:

> On a Lumbar fusion how long is the incision and do they use staples

or what?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

OMG...and 's was only 2 1/2 " long. Interesting.

Re: Stitches

, My fusion used 28 staples...I think its about 7 in long.

[Guest guest]

- yes a L5-S1 fusion with Hardware( I got screwed) LOL! and I

have a rod. I was shocked at how small the incision was... Think I

have 18 staples

Sue

-- In spinaldisorderssupport , LS816@a... wrote:

> Sue did you have a fusion? My first surgey the laminectomy was only

about 2.5

> in..

> This one is much larger..

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Ray...Thanks for responding..I am starting to think its from bending

farther then my body will allow..I am not benidng but squating to get things

but even though I squat my body still bends forward a bit..its weird to

explain but even brushing my teeth instead of bending forward at my hips I

try to bend my whole back but even then it aches..So I guess I need to let it

heal and see what happens..My doc told me to increase activity so I been

doing more things like walking but I get so tired after just a few hours. I

love to spend the whole day out. But now its to hard to last all day..lol

Other that all that I feel pretty good. It will be 3 weeks on Mon. I am going

to start to drive the weekend. I am feeling fustratin cause I want to be 100

% better now. My last surgery I was able to do anything at this time. My

hubby trys to explain to me that I had a much bigger surgery so it will take

time..But time is what I dont have. I am a NOW person...lol But will try my

best to be patient and let myself heal and soon enough I will be running all

over the place.

Ok so to ramble on like that...

[Guest guest]

My spinal fusion was like 's. It was exactly 8 inches long. I

think I had almost 30 staples. I also have two rods and 4 screws.

,

I responded to your other email about the pulling sensation you were

feeling in your back at the top of the incision. For some reason this

group does not accept HTML emails so I hope this email gets to the

group.

I also have the pulling sensation in my upper incision area. I had it

for about the first 2 months after surgery then it went away. It has

come back over the last couple of days. I really don't know what it

is. I was feeling up and down my back last night and came to the

conclusion that it might be the very top of the rods sort of sticking

out. This may be way off but it is all I could come up with.

How are you feeling after your fusion?

Ray

> Hmm. I wonder if becasue my was the next level up he had to slice

me

> more..OUCH....Yeh I got screwed also...LOL 4 screws 2 rods. and a

nice long

> scare to go along with it..The person who took out my staples

said " dont

> forget in the summer put sunscreen on it " HAHAAH yeh cause I am

gona wear a

> bikini..HAHAHA I about died...

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Joe..I am sure you are not old and ugly..Noone is Ugly.

I heard of that. I was using vitamin E on the " scares " but heard that does

nothing..I will have to check out the Mederma.

Thanks

[Guest guest]

>The person who took out my staples said " dont

> forget in the summer put sunscreen on it " HAHAAH yeh cause I am gona wear

a

> bikini..HAHAHA I about died...

>

>

- Does this mean you *GULP* Don't wear a bikini?!?!?!?!?

wOOWooWWWWooooWWWWWWWWoooWWW!!!!

Nick, pass me a tissue. Thanks.

Seriously, , I'm old and ugly, so I don't worry about

scars (or scares as you call them, LOL), but I did try

something

on some scars I had on my legs called Mederma, rather a bit

on the expen$ive $ide, but it did cause the scars on my legs

and

on my neck (from my cervical surgery) to fade. Don't know if

you have an Eckerd Drugs chain, but you can pick it up there or

probably any drugstore chain or drugstore.com. Use it sooner

than later.

Tell your husband I'm a bleeder.

joe

[Guest guest]

I was very nervouse but I just pulled them out (slowly). It doesn't

hurt, it's just getting around the mental block that you are pulling

something out of your body and you think it should hurt.

Really, it was no problem at all.

in TX

280/256/140

[Guest guest]

Hey Regina, How are you doing? Regarding the stitches. I was also very nervous at the idea my husband was going to pull them out. I can tell you it was way easy. You just gently pull on one side and they slide right out. My husband did 2 and when I saw how easy it was, I did the rest. You can call me if you have any more questions. 425-346-0713.

I hope it all goes well!

stitches

Hi Nina, My first four sets of stitches are supposed to come out today and I am a little nervous about it. Dr. Aceves explained to my husband how to do it but for my peace of mind can you go over it again (maybe before he gets home from work :0) In his own defense he did work as a Certified Nurses Assistant but that was before college. Did anyone else have any trouble with the stitches coming out? Was anyone else a little nervous about it. I tend to be the nervous type anyway. Would appreciate the info. Regina

[Guest guest]

I just slowly pulled mine out bymyself, they came out just fine.

Tracie B. stitches

Hi Nina, My first four sets of stitches are supposed to come out today and I am a little nervous about it. Dr. Aceves explained to my husband how to do it but for my peace of mind can you go over it again (maybe before he gets home from work :0) In his own defense he did work as a Certified Nurses Assistant but that was before college. Did anyone else have any trouble with the stitches coming out? Was anyone else a little nervous about it. I tend to be the nervous type anyway. Would appreciate the info. Regina

[Guest guest]

> Hi Nina, My first four sets of stitches are supposed to come out

today

> and I am a little nervous about it. Dr. Aceves explained to my

> husband how to do it but for my peace of mind can you go over it

again

> (maybe before he gets home from work :0) In his own defense he did

> work as a Certified Nurses Assistant but that was before college.

Did

> anyone else have any trouble with the stitches coming out? Was

anyone

> else a little nervous about it. I tend to be the nervous type

> anyway. Would appreciate the info. Regina

Dear Regina,

to be totally honest with you my stitches hurt like heck

when it was time for them to come out.

Like yourself I was a bit dubious about doing them myself or letting

a friend/partner do it so I off I trotted to the local doccies.

After about 15 mins of tugging and me litterally biting into a towel

to keep me from yelling the bad ol stitches were out.

Now before y'aal start shouting 'wussy wussy' at me Ive got a normal

pain tolereance level lol

BUT looking at the majority of posts here guy's have little or no

problem with them so hopefully everything will be okies for you too.

Good luck

Ken

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Happy New Year! I took my stitches out myself....my husband was there but soon

realized that all you do is cut one end and it pulls right through...no

problems... Hope that helps.....Jody

Stitches

>

>Well ladies,

>

>I hope you all had a happy and successful holiday season.� Now we get

>to head into the month of Jan U weary.

>

>I am now far enough out from my surgery that I can take my stitches

>out in two days.� I was going to have my Mom take them out, but she

>says she has never seen stitches like these.� Niether end has a knot,

>and they are under the skin instead of on top....(which by the way

>reduced my scarring, Thank you very much Dr. A �

>

>So can any of you tell me in specific detail how you removed the

>stitches, so I can tell my Mom, and she can take them out for me?� I

>would sure appreciate it.

>

>Also just a little happy new year from me.� Two weeks out and 21 lbs

>down, and after sticking to the diet, there is no way that this is

>the easy way (as some have said to me)� I earned every single lossed

>pound, and I know you all did too!

>

>Thanks Vesper

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think you've done very well for only a few weeks out of

surgery...21 lbs is great!!! I know everyone thinks getting surgery

is the simple and easy way out but they don't understand the battle

you have to have with your brain as well. It's tough but well worth

it. Keep up the great work Vesper!! As for your stitches, I wsh you

all the best on that...let me know how that goes!

Kelli

>

> Well ladies,

>

> I hope you all had a happy and successful holiday season. Now we

get

> to head into the month of Jan U weary.

>

> I am now far enough out from my surgery that I can take my

stitches

> out in two days. I was going to have my Mom take them out, but

she

> says she has never seen stitches like these. Niether end has a

knot,

> and they are under the skin instead of on top....(which by the way

> reduced my scarring, Thank you very much Dr. A

>

> So can any of you tell me in specific detail how you removed the

> stitches, so I can tell my Mom, and she can take them out for me?

I

> would sure appreciate it.

>

> Also just a little happy new year from me. Two weeks out and 21

lbs

> down, and after sticking to the diet, there is no way that this is

> the easy way (as some have said to me) I earned every single

lossed

> pound, and I know you all did too!

>

> Thanks Vesper

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Vesper, Happy New Year! You are doing awesome! 21 pounds in two weeks??? You go girl! Let me share how I dealt with my stiches. I am too much of a coward and have a weak stomach to do anything resembling medical on myself, but even I could do it. So you can, too. I took a nice hot shower and let the water soften my skin. After pat drying around the area, I took a tweezer and pulled from one end. It slides right out. I was more scared of the bigger one that you have to wait a few more days for, but I did the same thing and it slid right out. The funny thing I noticed was that when the stich finally comes out, it come out kind of curled. Go figure. I also have a very low tolerance for pain and I was scared out of my mind that it would hurt. I didn't feel a thing. So you can do it yourself. Let us know how it goes. Congratulations on starting the new year with a lighter, healthier new you.

Pifferrer Dr. Aceves' Reunion Coordinator DOB 7/28/05 - It's a Girl! Band Name "Eliana" Hebrew for God has answered my prayers264/247/1501st Fill - 2cc2nd Fill - almost .2cc??? Not SureTotal Fill: Who Knows

From: "Kelli" <psichikel@...>Reply- To: Subject: Re: StitchesDate: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 20:22:58 -0000>I think you've done very well for only a few weeks out of>surgery...21 lbs is great!!! I know everyone thinks getting surgery>is the simple and easy way out but they don't understand the battle>you have to have with your brain as well. It's tough but well worth>it. Keep up the great work Vesper!! As for your stitches, I wsh you>all the best on that...let me know how that goes! >>Kelli>>> >> > Well ladies,> >> > I hope you all had a happy and successful holiday season. Now we>get> > to head into the month of Jan U weary.> >> > I am now far enough out from my surgery that I can take my>stitches> > out in two days. I was going to have my Mom take them out, but>she> > says she has never seen stitches like these. Niether end has a>knot,> > and they are under the skin instead of on top....(which by the way> > reduced my scarring, Thank you very much Dr. A > >> > So can any of you tell me in specific detail how you removed the> > stitches, so I can tell my Mom, and she can take them out for me?>I> > would sure appreciate it.> >> > Also just a little happy new year from me. Two weeks out and 21>lbs> > down, and after sticking to the diet, there is no way that this is> > the easy way (as some have said to me) I earned every single>lossed> > pound, and I know you all did too!> >> > Thanks Vesper> >>>>>>>>>>>>

[Guest guest]

Vespers, I forgot to mention that you should snip one side of the stich close to the skin so that when you pull from the other end it is shorter than pulling the entire stich.

Pifferrer Dr. Aceves' Reunion Coordinator DOB 7/28/05 - It's a Girl! Band Name "Eliana" Hebrew for God has answered my prayers264/247/1501st Fill - 2cc2nd Fill - almost .2cc??? Not SureTotal Fill: Who Knows

From: "vstarrme" <vstarrme@...>Reply- To: Subject: StitchesDate: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 03:48:38 -0000>Well ladies,>>I hope you all had a happy and successful holiday season. Now we get>to head into the month of Jan U weary.>>I am now far enough out from my surgery that I can take my stitches>out in two days. I was going to have my Mom take them out, but she>says she has never seen stitches like these. Niether end has a knot,>and they are under the skin instead of on top....(which by the way>reduced my scarring, Thank you very much Dr. A >>So can any of you tell me in specific detail how you removed the>stitches, so I can tell my Mom, and she can take them out for me? I>would sure appreciate it.>>Also just a little happy new year from me. Two weeks out and 21 lbs>down, and after sticking to the diet, there is no way that this is>the easy way (as some have said to me) I earned every single lossed>pound, and I know you all did too!>>Thanks Vesper>>>>>>>>

[Guest guest]

Hey Vesper,

Good luck with the stitches. If you need any help, please let me know. I was so surprised at how easy they just pulled out. I wasn't smart enough to cut one end off. But even pulling it all through it was easy and painless.

If you have any questions and want to talk, please call my cell 425-346-0713. I would love to give you moral support if you need it.

I am really impressed at how well you are doing. I am sure you are working hard.

Happy New Year!

:0)

Stitches

Well ladies,I hope you all had a happy and successful holiday season. Now we get to head into the month of Jan U weary.I am now far enough out from my surgery that I can take my stitches out in two days. I was going to have my Mom take them out, but she says she has never seen stitches like these. Niether end has a knot, and they are under the skin instead of on top....(which by the way reduced my scarring, Thank you very much Dr. A So can any of you tell me in specific detail how you removed the stitches, so I can tell my Mom, and she can take them out for me? I would sure appreciate it.Also just a little happy new year from me. Two weeks out and 21 lbs down, and after sticking to the diet, there is no way that this is the easy way (as some have said to me) I earned every single lossed pound, and I know you all did too!Thanks Vesper

[Guest guest]

yep, trim the side opposite where you are going to pull from so you don't have as long of a piece to pull thru. It seems to be easier in the shower when the skin is soft and pliable. It was easy and painless for me...they slide right out.BIG HUGS, AND GOD'S BLESSINGSDawnita MayLowpass, Oregon10/05/05 dob "Iraida" 209/172/135 5ft 3inches See Mylatest photos at: http://dawnita1961.myphotoalbum.com/

[Guest guest]

HI Kelli, It works easiest if you try pulling them in the shower using a pair of tweezers to get a good hold. You can just pull from either end, or cut one end really short and pull from the longer side. That way there is less to pull. The shower just helps loosen things up. Kelli <psichikel@...> wrote: I know this was posted before but can anyone tell me how to do thestitches again? Do I just pull from one side? All I have is twostrings from each side of the cut. Thanks and I am dreading doing thisbut I'll have to in a few days. Again is it 10days for the smallones and 14 for the port? ThanksKelli

Relax. virus scanning helps detect nasty viruses!

[Guest guest]

You got it right...no knots...but if you cut the end you are pulling through off, it is less to pull through. It is easier to pull them either in, or right out of the shower, but you can also use a warm damp towel to soften up the skin prior to pulling them if you are gonna do each others. They are really easy and you hardly feel it.BIG HUGS, AND GOD'S BLESSINGSDawnita MayLowpass, Oregon10/05/05 dob "Iraida" 209/165/135 5ft 3inches ***30 lbs to GOAL!!*** See Mylatest photos at: http://dawnita1961.myphotoalbum.com/

[Guest guest]

i hope so cause the knots are under the skin ouch ouch ouch lol oh plez im not looking forward to it but i feel great the liquid is a breeze atleast it seems to be for me that dang brother of mine made raman noodles yesterday i cheated took one very little bite very little i was awesome not problem but sticking to liquids just needed a little some thing to chew lol hard to chew water lol port spot hurts still but beside that to remind me im sore im feel like dancing jessie "dawnita3@..." <dawnita3@...> wrote: You got it right...no knots...but if you cut the end you are pulling through off, it is less to pull through. It is easier to pull them either in, or right out of the shower, but you can also use a warm damp towel to soften

up the skin prior to pulling them if you are gonna do each others. They are really easy and you hardly feel it.BIG HUGS, AND GOD'S BLESSINGSDawnita MayLowpass, Oregon10/05/05 dob "Iraida" 209/165/135 5ft 3inches ***30 lbs to GOAL!!*** See Mylatest photos at: http://dawnita1961.myphotoalbum.com/

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