Pull Tab...?????

Okay, interesting thing happened last night. Since my surgery one side of my scar has been itching like hell and has had what seemed like a little scab to it. Last night I accidentally scratched it and low and behold a small knot was lodged in there and that small not pulled loose and is attached to what looks like very low test fishing line which now is out about a half inch. Not sure whether to just pull on it and snap it, cut it as close to the skin as possible or what. Pulling it has me worried because this doesn't seem like a dissolving stitch and I am afraid it will act like a pull tab and unstitch something that shouldn't be. Cutting it doesn't seem like the best option either because then it will be like I have this little hair/whisker sticking out for eternity? Anyone else ever run into this? Going to see the lock later this week for a follow up stress test and will ask him then but just figured I would check with my fellow bionically enhanced friends.

6 Comments

Call your doctor

by Angelie - 2009-08-05 02:08:18

Right now.....don't wait until later on this week when you see them. Just call them and make them aware. They'll tell you what you should do.....leave it alone until then.
If you pull on it, it might be like those tags on mattresses and the police will soon be after you for removing it......

Hmm...

by petrolhead - 2009-08-05 02:08:50

I had something like that when I had my ILR before the PM, so I asked my friend who is a nurse and she cut it with surgical scissors. She said it was a stitch, even though I didn't think it was either. Do you have any medical friends you could ask? If not, leave it until you go for your stress test.

Emma xxx

Stitch

by Jake93 - 2009-08-05 05:08:01

I had the same thing about a week after I had the bandage removed. I thought it was a scab, rubbed it with a wash cloth and the thing came out only to find it was a knot with the fish line about a 1/4 inch in length. It was like oh &#% what did I do now! I just cut it off, before I got the lecture from my dear wife.

I plan on asking the cardiologist next time I see him if I messed something up, 51/2 weeks since surgery and so far everything is working fine.

Tim

anyone know how to put a pacemaker back in...

by COBradyBunch - 2009-08-05 07:08:24

Pulled the tab... oops.

Just kidding. Per the nurse it looks like it was an internal suture that should have dissolved but didn't. They pulled on it, sterilized it, snipped it and it slid back beneath the skin and they put a little dab of antibio on the hole and said all is good. Did still feel weird when they pulled on it but they swear it wasn't any of the sutures holding the unit in place.

Oh, and my stress test went great. Tech to me to my theoretical max and said, off the record, everything looked good. He said most young, fit, healthy people he sees just have messed up electrical systems and no underlying heart disease other than their messed up wiring.

stitch

by patpeter - 2009-08-12 07:08:19

hey,
the part of the stitch you see is what the surgeons call "the tail". Don't pull it but have your MD trim it for you, should only take a minute. Don't worry it 's normal.

Stitch(s)

by Greg in ME - 2009-08-20 03:08:02

Don't be surprised if you see others - stitches that is. I'm over 10 weeks post implant and I still sometimes see little bits of stitches. They usually fall off the incision site. Good luck!

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