Stitch hanging out

Hi... I noticed a small piece of suture material protruding through my skin at the end of my pacemaker incision. I thought that it was just a short piece of suture left over from when they stitched me up last December 18. I pulled on it , thinking that it would be only a quarter of an inch long or so, but it kept coming. By the time I got it all pulled through, it was the length of my incision! (Probably 2 - 2 1/2 inches long) Now I am very worried that I removed something important. Has anybody had a similar situation, and also does anyone know the purpose of this suture. I am worried that it had something to do with keeping the pacemaker secure in the pocket. The scar had healed well with no infection, and now I am freaked out that I have done something wrong.

Tim

7 Comments

Stitch

by Zia - 2013-01-20 02:01:37

It may have been sutured with what the surgeons call a continuous running suture and may have been supposed to dissolve in time. If you're well healed and not having any problems, I'd just ignore it. If you get any signs of (here's my big word for the day) dehiscence of your wound or infection, then it would be time to call your doctor to check it out.

PS That big word just means breaking open, just call me show-off LOL

stitches

by Tracey_E - 2013-01-20 03:01:53

After a month, it's probably fine! But next time, snip don't pull ;o)

Sutures..........

by Tattoo Man - 2013-01-20 04:01:51


.............................ah,..the very stuff of Dinner Party polite conversation.

Zia gets it right..continuous running suture gets you on the way to your bodies own way of rebuilding.

After a bit of Open Heart stuff, I asked my Practice Nurse about this Pokey Thing that was sticking out of my sternum like a bit of fishing line...Hmm, Mr TM..gave it a tug , then a log , slow pull..8 Inches of suture

"Can I keep that..?...yup..I filed it in a little bag and stuck in my' ' TM's sad old folder of , sometimes dodgy stuff'...some months later I came across all the crumbled bits of the suture in that little sachet.

This all sounds a bit creepy, doesnt it ?

I just want to know what goes on..

Tattoo Man

Hey, at least...

by donr - 2013-01-20 05:01:34

...your belly button didn't fall off like in the old joke about the silver screwdriver coming down out of Heaven.

Don

No problem

by ElectricFrank - 2013-01-21 01:01:55

Unless there was a heart attached to it.

LOL

frank

ANGRYSPARROW............

by Tattoo Man - 2013-01-21 08:01:47


............if a 'tight bottom stitch' brings 'tears to your eyes; then for many of us here on Pacemaker Club,....our lifeswork is done

Bless

Tattoo Man x

Pretty Dumb Huh

by timyanb - 2013-01-21 09:01:17

Hi... I talked to my Doctor and he said that it should not be a big problem, but to keep an eye on it for redness and swelling. Pretty dumb huh... I just started pulling on it and it just kept coming. Next time I will leave well enough alone. By the way, what is a continuous running suture?
Thanks for all of your comments, I feel stupid but better.

Tim

You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

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