Surgery, Pain, Scaring.. Are my Symptoms OK?

Question

I just had breast reduction. My surgeon used dissolvable stitches. How long do they take to dissolve. I've had surgery before on my knee and i had a really big scar, it wasn't done by a plastic surgeon, but here was one place on the cut that hurt more than other places and now its fully healed the scar is thicker there like a lump. When it was healing the nurses kept saying its ok that if it was infected i would have a temperature and it would give off an odor. It was the last part the heal.

My stiches have been getting more painful and its been 10 days. I thought it's meant to go sore than itchy, then nothing becuase its almost healed up. mine went... No pain at all because i was highly medicated, then itchy, stopped itching had the dressings changed and ever since its been highly sensitive, when i run my finger over the dressings it feels like theres glass all through it and it never felt like that before. Pain killers are really doing much it doesn't seem.

Is this normal? Is this a sign my scar is going to become really think like my knee did?

I was told by a friend who had it done to not do too much, like 'Ive been doing a bit like cleaning the house and stuff but not stuff that is really physical, just like dish washing vacuuming etc. Have I overdone it?

Answer 1

Dissolvable interior stitches can take months to actually dissolve, I have some from two years ago that have not dissolved yet.  I had steri strips for outside of the skin, and that went off in about a month.

You are ONLY 10 days post op!  You have got to give yourself TIME and PATIENCE when it comes to recovering and healing from surgery.

You also need to calm down with regards to the household.  Someone should be helping you out AND you need to let them do it.  

Dish washing, vacuuming, are VERY physical when you think about it.  You had surgery on your chest, and you are using your arms for those chores, which can affect your scarring and healing.

You should be getting clearance from your PS to get back into normal activity.  I was told to give it two weeks before doing anything like that.

If you are in pain, you need to be persistent with your PS about getting something for it.  If nurses and doctors are not fulfilling your needs, go back to your family doctor and get a second opinion.