Dissolvable Stitches - Contain Gluten?

[carolynmay]

Dear all,

I just wondered if it is a rumour that dissolvable stitches can contain gluten, or if anyone knows if it is actually true?

I had an ankle operation 12 weeks ago, which is supposed to take 6 - 8 weeks to heal and frankly it is currently worse than before the operation, so I feel I have made no progress at all.

I just wondered as somewhere I saw that dissolvable stitches can contain gluten, so wondered if this would delay the healing process.

It might be rubbish though!

Thanks for any thoughts.

Best wishes,

Carolyn

[kareng]

My son ( not Celiac) just had his wisdom teeth out so this is of interest to me. Especially if you had them in your mouth. I found this:

To your body, stitches are a foreign substance, and the body is programmed to destroy foreign substances. Dissolvable stitches are made from natural materials, such as processed collagen (animal intestines), silk and hair, as well as some synthetic materials that the body can break down. This allows the body to dissolve the stitches over time. Usually, by the time the stitches are dissolved, the wound is completely healed.

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You could call the hospital or office where they were put in. And try to find out the manufacturer & the name of the stitches. Then call or email the company. If you find out, please post back here.

I would think that wheat would dissolve too quickly. You may still have a problem with something in the stitches or the medications/ cleaners they used or even the bandage.

[Gemini]

Dear all,

I just wondered if it is a rumour that dissolvable stitches can contain gluten, or if anyone knows if it is actually true?

I had an ankle operation 12 weeks ago, which is supposed to take 6 - 8 weeks to heal and frankly it is currently worse than before the operation, so I feel I have made no progress at all.

I just wondered as somewhere I saw that dissolvable stitches can contain gluten, so wondered if this would delay the healing process.

It might be rubbish though!

Thanks for any thoughts.

Best wishes,

Carolyn

Stitches are not a concern for Celiacs, Carolyn. I have had numerous dental surgeries over the past 5 years and always had dissolvable stitches without any problems, and I am very sensitive to any gluten. There are no wheat products in them or the vast majority of medical/dental products. It is just a rumor that they do.

Recovering from surgery may be slow for many reasons and happens routinely. That is something you should discuss with the doctor and hopefully, he may be able to help. I hope you feel better soon!

[IrishHeart]

Me, too--dental surgeries and stitches this past year.

I take awhile to rebound from surgeries and injuries (I just sprained the ligaments in my ankle so badly 10 weeks ago and I am still rehabbing it ,) but I have been very ill for many years.

But I doubt it is the stitches causing you a problem.

Do follow up with your doctor if you are not healing well.

[Bubba's Mom]

I've had 2 minor surgeries since being DXed 6 months ago. I didn't have any issues with the disolving stitches..or the ones that had to removed.

Healing can be greatly affected by your vitamin/mineral levels. Being slow to heal would suggest you may need zinc?

[carolynmay]

I've had 2 minor surgeries since being DXed 6 months ago. I didn't have any issues with the disolving stitches..or the ones that had to removed.

Healing can be greatly affected by your vitamin/mineral levels. Being slow to heal would suggest you may need zinc?

Thank you all very much for your replies and apologies for the delay in mine. That is reassuring on all fronts re dissolvable stitches. And very interesting re zinc - thank you for that. I will try some as something isn't going right with the healing.

Best wishes to all - and thank you again so much for your replies,

Carolyn

[T.H.]

Is it still bothering you?

You might want to see if the doctor will take a look. Reacting to dissolvable stitches allergically is not unheard of. From what I read, it sounds like when this happens, it can interfere with their natural ability to dissolve and can cause trouble.

There was a question about reacting to stitches on medhelp.org, and a lot of the responses gave some example of what had happened to various folks with their reactions to dissolving stitches. Might be worth a look to see if any of this might sound familiar to your situation:

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[kareng]

Is it still bothering you?

You might want to see if the doctor will take a look. Reacting to dissolvable stitches allergically is not unheard of. From what I read, it sounds like when this happens, it can interfere with their natural ability to dissolve and can cause trouble.

There was a question about reacting to stitches on medhelp.org, and a lot of the responses gave some example of what had happened to various folks with their reactions to dissolving stitches. Might be worth a look to see if any of this might sound familiar to your situation:

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I agree. You should get it looked at. Many people do have delayed healing ( like the 2 people asking questions in TH 's link). It could be many things including an allergic reaction to stitches, bandages, medications or an infection that had nothing to do with an allergy. Or more that I haven't thought of.

[mushroom]

Nurses always laugh at me when I tell them I am allergic to paper tape - they say that's what we use on allergic people Nevertheless, I won't let the stuff near me. Got no idea where that one came from.

[AVR1962]

Don't know if this fully answers your question, OR how REPUTABLE anyone will find it:

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Martin Cunningham, Biochemist/Molecular Neuropharmacolog...

Four common absorbable sutures are:

Maxon (polyglyconate is a copolymer of glycolic acid and trimethylene carbonate), Vicryl (polyglactin is poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid)-methoxy-poly(ethyleneglycol) copolymer), chromic catgut (catgut is an absorbable sterile strand derived from the intestinal submucosa of sheep and fixed in formalin that has been treated with chromium trioxide), and PDS (polydioxanone is a polymer of multiple repeating ether-ester units extruded into fibers).

[IrishHeart]

... as something isn't going right with the healing.

Carolyn,

It is best to check back with the doc when something does not heal properly.

We can help out by sharing our experiences, but obviously, we are not giving medical advice here because we can't. (even though most of us know waaaay more than some of the ones we've encountered)

I am wondering ----how you are making out??

[carolynmay]

Carolyn,

It is best to check back with the doc when something does not heal properly.

We can help out by sharing our experiences, but obviously, we are not giving medical advice here because we can't. (even though most of us know waaaay more than some of the ones we've encountered)

I am wondering ----how you are making out??

Thanks - yes I absolutely realise that, but it's very helpful to hear what people say, and yes - it is usually way more helpful than anything that comes out of a doctor's mouth!

I think the zinc might be helping things a bit actually - fingers crossed.. The surgeon did of course look at me as though I was off my trolley today when I asked if the stitches could have contained gluten..!

best wishes to all, Carolyn

[Bubba's Mom]

Thanks - yes I absolutely realise that, but it's very helpful to hear what people say, and yes - it is usually way more helpful than anything that comes out of a doctor's mouth!

I think the zinc might be helping things a bit actually - fingers crossed.. The surgeon did of course look at me as though I was off my trolley today when I asked if the stitches could have contained gluten..!

best wishes to all, Carolyn

That's ok! It's fine to ask. Sometimes it's nice to know if you're way outside of "normal"? OR..is a slow healing time normal when you're having digestive/absorption problems?

I had a bone spur and ganglion cyst removed from my index finger just recently and it took 5 weeks for the incision to heal. It seemed like a long time to me?

In general, slow healing can indicate you're low on zinc.

I hope you're on the road to feeling better.