#56544 06-20-2005 09:07 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 80 Senior Member (75+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 80 | Just a question about sutures, both inside my mouth and out. I am now 4 weeks post-surgery (I can't believe it's that long already!). Last Friday, the plastic surgeon told me it would be about 30 more days before the sutures inside my mouth started to dissolve. I would like to hear from others how long it took for them? I have one suture in particular that's really annoying. It is in the very back of my tongue rubbing on my throat right where I swallow. Makes me want to gag all the time!
Also, on my incision on the outside, I have several places where sutures are sticking out. The plastic surgeon said to just trim those off whenever they poked out. I have two places where I get large sores where the sutures are. Any ideas on how to deal with these? They are almost like gigantic pimples.
Besides petty annoyance, recovery is actually going pretty well. I am starting to eat some "real" food, but still not doing a whole lot of actual chewing. Swallowing's okay unless I get food right in the center of the back of my tongue......if that happens, that's where it stays! The home health nurse came today, and my arm and leg are healing up fine. Also, the trach hole is almost completely sealed up now.
Thanks for all the support.
Jennifer
Jennifer
Stage II (T2N0M0) SCC diag 4/21/05; partial glossectomy & selective neck dissection (good margins and lymyph nodes negative), jaw split, 1/3 of tongue removed, free flap from left forearm - 5/23/05; 42 years old at diagnosis
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#56545 06-21-2005 11:51 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Jennifer,
You shouldn't have to deal with the sutures that are not dissolving and causing you to gag. If you don't have an appointment, you should make one. It would be a good idea to get the external sutures checked. It sounds like they could be infected.
Call tomorrow. Good luck and let us know what happens.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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#56546 06-21-2005 05:24 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 261 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 261 | If you have the nerve, steady hand & a very sharp pair of very pointy scissors, you can clip & remove the irritating sutures as I did! It's a little weird to pull those stitches out yourself but can be done! I'm just impatient enough to experiment like that. I did screw one up at first because I snipped off the bits that we're exposed & then had nothing to get ahold of to pull the loop through & out! It was a great big one right inside my lower lip & kept catching on my teeth! So there it stayed & continued to irritate me for a long time until it finally did dissolve or just become part of me. I was much more successful with the rest I removed myself. My dentsit was actually impressed! The surgeon wasn't as amused. Oh well! The one way back in your throat might be a little tricky! Happy stitch ripping! Erik
dx 2/11/04 scca bot T3 IU 2B MO poorly differentiated, margins ok, 3/16 modest, jaw split, over half of tongue removed, free flap from left forearm - finished chemo & rad treatment 5/20/04
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#56547 06-21-2005 06:31 PM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 | I'm not sure it is a good idea to be removing sutures with out a "go ahead" from the doctors. I'm not surprised that you did it though Erik! 
Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.
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#56548 06-22-2005 12:00 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | I agree with Mark. I said before, Jen, call the doctor that put in the sutures. Get those "sores, checked out. I don't like the idea that they may be infected.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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#56549 06-22-2005 04:32 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Hello Jennifer,
Glad to hear you are doing so well after surgery.
I don't seem as worried about the sutures as you are. If the ENT looked at them and wasn't to concerned I wouldn't be either.
When the trach hole heals up you will feel much better. I kept plugging mine up with flem. Could shoot one out the trach hole 10' feet. Seems funny now but it wasn't then.
Hope you continue to do well!!! What is your next
option as far as treatment goes?
All My Best, Danny Boy
Daniel Bogan DX 7/16/03 Right tonsil,SCC T4NOMO. right side neck disection, IMRT Radiation x 33.
Recurrance in June 05 in right tonsil area. Now receiving palliative chemo (Erbitux) starting 3/9/06
Our good friend and loved member of the forum has passed away RIP Dannyboy 7-16-2006
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#56550 06-23-2005 10:07 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 80 Senior Member (75+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 80 | Thanks everyone. I'm not really worried about the sutures, just annoyed by the one in my throat and wanting to make sure the outside ones don't get infected. Jerry, they're not infected, at least not yet! :-) The plastic surgeon saw them on Friday and thought they looked fine. I'm just trying to make sure they don't get worse.
I clipped off the outside ones, and they're not so "puffed up" anymore. As for the inside ones....I am not NEARLY as brave as you Erik! I feel whiney calling the doctor about it, but if it doesn't dissolve soon I'm going to ask if they can trim or remove that one.
As for treatment, they're not recommending anything further. All the lymph nodes were negative and they said they got really good margins. Any comments on that? I know a lot of you think it should be followed with radiation and/or chemo too.
Thanks!
Jennifer
Jennifer
Stage II (T2N0M0) SCC diag 4/21/05; partial glossectomy & selective neck dissection (good margins and lymyph nodes negative), jaw split, 1/3 of tongue removed, free flap from left forearm - 5/23/05; 42 years old at diagnosis
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#56551 06-23-2005 11:25 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | Hi Jennifer
I only had an issue with one stitch, it was 9" long, treble stiched in my throat, when it came loose I used tweezers to remove it, was like spagetti, LOL. Kept choking, use your best judgement
Sunshine.. love and hugs
Helen
SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
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#56552 06-23-2005 03:52 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | From reading the above, John must have been lucky. Altho he had some stitches in his mouth, after the lymph nodes were removed, his neck was stapled together[kinda looked like a modern version of Frankenstine] the nurse removed every other one before he left the hospital and the surgeon removed the rest about a month later. There sure are alot of different techniques out there. Amy
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
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#56553 06-24-2005 09:01 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Jennifer,
Clean margins and no lymph nodes. Just what I had. No furhter treatment recommended for me and I am very comfortable with that.
Just keep getting the checkups.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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