Removing stitches DIY

Anybody remove their own stitches? I am really not looking forward to spending more money on this just to have them removed. They have been in 5 days and the doc said 5-7 days for removal.

 

Easy peasy.....just use small scissors, tweezers, and caution.

 

I always take them out myself. Like madcow said above, use small scissors, tweezers, & be careful.

 

Ditto.

 

Don't forget a to use little peroxide on them be fore you pull. I never go back and pay a doc to remove stitches.

 

A seam ripper and two shots of Maker's.

 

My wife always removed mine (usually on my head). No prob.

 

It's easy and (typically) painless. Just make sure you're confident that it is healed, it's no fun when they pop back open!

 

Don't they dissolve these days?

 

Yeah, except I was out of town at, actually in a wedding when it happened.... Any warning signs I should look for, it is a bit scabby, but not too bad.

 

No oozing, no sign of infection, not sure on the healed enough, hence why I am asking!

The story is really not all that exciting. I was a groomsman, and had been feeling sick to my stomach for about an hour before the ceremony began. I think I got some bad food.... So anyways ceremony starts, I am standing up there and it gets worse, I feel like I am about to barf. I think to myself 2 things, 1 I can hold this down, 2 this minister better hurry the f up! Just as he goes into the bible passages my vision goes dark, last thought of oh sh&$t goes through my head and I wake up on the ground (outdoor wedding stone patio) = busted head. Everybody is around me as I try to stand back up saying it's ok, I can go on. Really I couldn't. So my wife takes me to the ER and the wedding went on. I came back after I was discharged and everybody was having a good laugh. I have some good photos I will post tomorrow, I don't think I can post them from my phone.

 

Tell your friends that photo was awesome. Somebody orchestrated that and he/she's my hero. The guy pouring the beer, the beautiful bride, the lady with her hand over her mouth, guy with the flipped collar, the kid with the camera, and the carnation on the outline. Everyone's eyes were on the spot. Perfect - woot!

 

Me all busted up

 

Explains a lot

 

The photographer did it, there is a whole series of them, all different. She is also a nurse and did my first aid and checked my eye tracking after it happened.

 

Ah dude you fell on your face. I had hoped you went backwards.

I lost a 1" circle of skin on my forehead once. Right in the middle. The doc stitched it back on but said it would be a mess. The scar / dead circle looked EXACTLY like I pasted a piece of pepperoni there.

Thanks for the pic. Good story, it's why I keep coming to this dumb forum.

 

Awesome story, way to make your part in their wedding not only memorable, but one they'll never forget - especially with those pics!

 

Interestingly my name is also Andrew, must be something there... Worst of all I wasn't even drinking, just straight up passed out.

 

Great pic.

I have removed stitches before, but on my face I might want the doc to do it and look at how it is doing.

 

Some do... Some don't.

Mike

 

Holy left hooks! Ouch man!

 

I suggest you get to a plastic ASAP unless you want to have Franken-forehead.

 

Haha. American health care.

Signed:
-The rest of the developed world.

 

Cute looking bride. She single?

 

How many gaping head wounds have you had if it's become standard operating procedure for your wife to take stitches out of your head?

 

I can handle Franken forehead, it's not like I am a model.

 

I think she has a sister......

 

Lots. I guess I am klumsy.

 

Seriously, that wedding photographer earned her money! She's brilliant and your friends are hilarious.
If that pic of you was taken yesterday, I would give it another day or so for healing.

 

Why were you wearing oven mitts?

 

That pic was Sunday morning, the day after it happened.

 

The world may never know.....

 

Would be interesting to hear if you were really sick afterward. Fainting happens alot at weddings, because people lock their knees while standing up at the ceremony. Locking your knees means the leg muscles aren't contracting to push blood back up to your heart/brain (blood return to the heart is a low-pressure system, and relies on muscle contraction to get it there, much like squeezing a tube of toothpaste). If it goes on long enough, the blood pools in the legs, blood pressure drops and out you go.

 

One night while visiting someone in the mountains I woke up, walked to the bathroom, and passed out for no reason at all. Woke up in a pool of blood - think my head hit the tub on the way down. I think the high-altitude and rising quickly like that dropped the blood flow to my head. The next morning I was eating my breakfast and my wife, behind, did a WTF when she saw the gash. Got staples in that one a few hours later.

 

Chicks dig scars

 

I have had my wife actually give me stitches right on the kitchen floor. Sliced my leg open above the knee and she pulled out the needle and suture, jabbed me with a little Marcaine and sewed me right up.

I thought it was kinda cool until she put the needle in where she the marcaine had not taken affect. ouch! (oh, my wife is a vet, not Rambo)...