Staples? Stitches? Depends on doctor?

I talked to my doctor's nurse last week and asked her about how he closes. If he uses staples or stitches. She said that he would be using stitches and then that would be covered up.

I've seen some women talk about staples. Does this depend on the doctor?

Are you gals sick of my questions yet?

Linda

Actually, they close everything up underneath the skin with disolvable stitches and then generally staple the final skin layer. I have heard of some ladies getting "glued" but I think they prefer the staples because that part of the stomach gets a bit of use (pulling and tugging). I had gall bladder surgery years ago..like 30 eeek.. and they taped it up. Weird scar for that one...flat and wide. The staples are no big deal..

Thank you. Do they fall out or do the doctors take them out like at a certain time?

Linda

The doctor will tell you when you are discharged from the hospital when to come in to get them removed. My cousin was staying with me after the surgery and she was getting all the info when we were leaving the hospital and she's had some experience with all of this.. she told them she would take them out. They said "cool"... so, we were told that they could come out on Tuesday (surgery on Thurs.) You need a sort of scissors kind of thing to do it with. Well.. she started to take them out and an area about an inch long started to open up. We quickly put some more tape on that area and left the staples alone for another day. She then took every other one out and some were actually almost falling out. It was just another day before the rest came out. It wasn't bad. If you have someone who isn't too squeemish I'd say do that. It would have done me in to have to get in the car and go wait at the doc's, then get up on the table and down for just that.

The nurse said someting about seeing the doctor a week afterward. I wonder now if that's what she meant.

Thank you for the advice.

Linda

I just had my pre-op yesterday and I was told that I would have dissolvable stiches. I was expecting staples, since I am having a TAH, but like many other issues, what I expected isn't what's going to happen!!! Hope this helps...
Rachel

Thank you Rachel. It does help.

Linda

Hey girlies...
I had a TAH on 11-11 ... and much to my surprise... ( I thought I was stapled for 3 days) my seven inch incision was glued externally ( of course stitched internally). My friend had a TAH a month before me with the same dr. and she was stapled. I am not sure how they determine what closure method. AND I had to see my dr. a week afer surgery, he just checked incision. Just wanted to say though, I haven't had one problem with the super-glue job and I think it may just help the healing process. No bacteria or anything can get it and it looks really pretty good (for an incision) I asked the dr. about putting anything on it to speed the healing like you see on TV, but he told me no.. just soap and water and pat dry.


Good luck to all and isn't this site wonderful... I didn't find the site til post-op but it has been a Godsend. Don't forget to get those last minute Christmas things out of the way... you will need to rest and rest when you come home from the Castle.

Hi SnowieBird

Maybe it depends on the person. The healing site, etc.

That glue sounds awesome. I'd love to be able to do that instead of stitches.

Linda

They used the glue on my when they removed my gallbladder. Some women do great with it, others have difficulty. I ended up having to have my incision reopened and allowed to heal without stitches or the glue, but not everyone will have the adverse reaction to the glue that I did (sort of a mild allergic reaction, swelled up around the site and oh lord! did it itch!)

So, my suggestion would be ask the doctor again! Be specific and ask exactly how they plan on closing the incision.

Hugs to you and hope your castle stay goes well!