Stitches?

[nikkid1]

our 3 year old just fell and we are at the er. She needs three stitches and we will have to have then removed while we are in Disney. Has anyone had an experience like this? Where did you go? We are using magical express so no car...
Thanks in advance!

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

Honestly, my advise is if they aren't dissolving stitches, just leave them in until you are back in town and can see you're regular doctor.

Truly, there is nothing dangerously imminent that comes to mind that would occur by leaving them in a few more days.

 

[nikkid1]

They are not dissolving. They apparently do not like to do them on the face. So, I need to figure out the next best plan

 

[TaylorEar]

I've never used first aid in any of the parks... are there actual nurses that staff these? Maybe one of them would take them out? Or a nearby walk-in clinic? (I've also taken my own stitches out - it was incredibly easy, but I don't know if I would do this for my own child... )

 

[nikkid1]

Yeah I think I may be cabbing it somewhere with my daughter. I am no medical expert and since it is on her face I probably should not risk the scar being worse...

 

[worm761]

Call your pediatrician tomorrow and ask him/her what their advice would be.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It's easy to remove stitches yourself. Three should be no problem. However, you could alway cab or Uber to the closest urgent care clinic. You do not want to leave stitches in too long.

 

[Thing 1]

I would agree to ask your dr for advice. It really is not hard to remove them yourself but I would be hesitant to do them on her face......well actually, I would not do it. You can call a cab but you might want take a car seat along if that is your plan. Some cabs do have them but they are often not in the best shape.

 

[TaylorEar]

Yeah I think I may be cabbing it somewhere with my daughter. I am no medical expert and since it is on her face I probably should not risk the scar being worse...

Removing them yourself won't really impact the scar - as long as they are ready to come out. It's more about your own comfort level. They literally just snip the tiny knots and pull the stitches out with tweezers. (there are TONS of youtube videos that demonstrate this process... which I became OBSESSED with watching!) Before I took mine out I put on a saline solution-soaked pad for about 5 minutes to help dissolve the bloody-crusty stuff (which is what "hurts" when stitches come out, because it can feel like a scab coming off), then I just wiped down embroidery scissors with alcohol pads and started snipping away - for the most part, after the knots were cut they slid out on their own - only a couple needed an extra tiny tug with the tweezers. Afterwards I just gently cleaned the gunk off and applied a few steri-strips to reinforce the closure. It really is an extremely easy process - especially with so few - but I totally understand being hesitant. Your doctor will tell you if you can wait to remove them until after your vacation, or if you should make a pit stop at a clinic/doctors office.

 

[smurphs719]

I would call ahead and check with them, but we had a really great experience (you know, great for being at the ER during vacation) in the ER at the Celebration Hospital...if you have to go somewhere I recommend them.

 

[laughinplace199]

The urgent care centers near Disney (Centra Care, I think?) can send a van to your resort to pick you up. That would probably be your best option.

When my DD got stitches on her chin, the dr told us to use vitamin E cream on it every day for a year to reduce scarring. We did it faithfully and I can't even see the scar now.

 

[BellsFam]

DD had a cyst removed on her thyroid... We removed the stitches oursekves

 

[kiltclan]

I agree with a pp on Centra Care. I tend to have alot of medical issues and Centra care is pretty close to property, just out the downtown disney maingate and they can send a van to help you get there and back, I've used them before for lots of things.

 

[Tiffylv]

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[novatwinmom]

Definitely ask before you GO to Disney. Whatever you do, don't wait to ask until you get back. If you leave the stitches in too long, you get the "railroad track" scar because the skin starts to form scar tissue around the individual stitches. I have some nice specimens on my legs from some mole removals, and you don't want those on your daughter's face, so keep up on when the stitches need to come out.

I know no one wants to interrupt their Disney vacation to "reenter the real world" even temporarily, but this could leave a lifetime scar if you don't. The urgent care place with the shuttle sounds like a perfect solution.