Quick! Distract me from my itching stitches! (Truly, quite M&P&W)

About a month ago, I had an appointment for my yearly physical with a new doctor. She was darn near useless, though she did get me my birth control, which was my main priority. I tried to talk to her about some skin problems I was having, but she just decided to quickly refer me to a dermatologist instead.

Well, the appointment with the dermatologist came today, and most of the problems I was trying to talk to the first doctor about have cleared up (I determined them to be odd bug bites), but I wanted to take advantage of the dermatologist to get some moles checked out.

I’m rather covered in moles. I get all the normal warnings about keeping a watch on them, plus about 3,000 (which is probably how many more moles I have than the average human). So, I had a mole on my shoulder I wanted removed, as well as one on my back. I had one on my belly that just needed to be checked out. I thought.

The one I wanted removed on my back was basically right under my bra strap, and starting to irritate me. The one on my shoulder was just raised and tended to bitch me out if it was exposed to sunlight. I figured I might as well just get them gone and be done with it.

Turns out the shoulder was the only one that went the way I expected. That came off easy as pie and rather quick. The “one” on my back turned out to be two, so both came off since she didn’t know which one was irritating me. And, WOW, that hurt. (Comparatively. It really wasn’t too bad, but it’s the worst mole removal I’ve ever experienced.)

The belly, though, that was the clincher. My doctor told me she was actually a PA, thought it needed to be biopsied, but was going to get the actual dermatologist to check it out. He came in, introduced himself, glanced at my mole, listened to her say, “Poke Biopsy”, nodded, and walked out. So she did the biopsy. Then stitched me back up!

I seriously was not expecting stitches today. It may only be one (though it looks like two), but it weirded me out that it happened. And now they are itching like mad. And it’s hard to sit up (or button my pants) because of the stitches. And it’s hard to sit back because the back removals were surprisingly uncomfortable.

Anyway, this isn’t a gory accident post (sorry for those who saw “stitches” in the title and came in looking for that), but it is how I spent my morning. Well, that and riding the bus too and from the dermatologist’s office and talking on the phone trying to get my good friend E to distract me. But she’s gone now and the itching is getting progressively worse. So I turn to you. Help!

Can you take a Benadryl?

Huh. Does Benadryl help just basic itching? I thought it was specific to allergies.

I’m not positive - but it might work. My vet told me to give one to my dog who had itchy ears, but the itch was caused by allergies. They make a topical cream too, but you should check with your doc.

Thanks. I might just do that.

I took a nap for half an hour or so, there. That seems to have helped a bit.

Get a washcloth and run it under water as hot as you can stand it from the tap. Wring out and apply to itchy places. Works for bug bites, too.

That’s my plan for tomorrow, Cheez_Whia, but today I have to keep them dry. I was told to keep the stitches dry for 24 hours.

I would just sleep a lot, but I’m moving in two weeks (rather unexpectedly), and need to pack. But, man, the sleeping helped earlier today and sounds so appealing right now.

Make sure you put on the moisturizing stuff they probably gave you, as it helps it heal. The scars from the two moles I had removed from my shoulder blade itched occasionally for over a year, but apparently faithfully applying the goop they gave me in little envelopes made it better than it might otherwise have been.

Huh.

No, she just told me to put anti-biotic ointment on each spot when I changed the bandages. And I’ve spent most of today wondering how the heck I’m going to change the bandages on my back.

What kind of antibiotic ointment are you using? A lot of people are allergic to Neosporin, and that will make it itchy. At the derm office I work in, we’ve actually stopped recommending that people use antibiotic ointments, as they’re not really necessary and are contributing to the antibiotic-resistant bacteria problem. We now recommend only Aquaphor Healing Ointment or Vaseline instead of the Polysporin that we used to recommend.

I’ve had a few moles taken off, and they were itchy as hell afterwards. But then I discovered that’s it’s almost always the bandaid making it itchy, and not the wound itself. Try gauze and paper tape?

Any itching is generally a histamine response.

What Benadryl does best is knock me right out; I could be on fire and wouldn’t care.

You should wear manicure gloves to bed tonight so you don’t scratch in your sleep.

Gauze and paper tape, I might try.

I haven’t put any ointment on yet, as the PA put the bandages on yesterday and told me to keep everything dry until 24h later, which is a couple hours from now. I probably don’t have to be quite so precise, but it’s an easy way to keep track.

My PA did say Vaseline or antibiotic ointment, so I was going to use the antibiotic ointment, as that’s what I have. I don’t think I’ve ever owned Vaseline in my adult life.

I also don’t own manicure gloves, but that’s a good idea for tonight.

Huh. My vet told me that Benadryl doesn’t work for canine allergies. Maybe I should try it anyway because my poor pooch spends half his day rubbing his face on the rug trying to scratch his eyes and the other half scratching himself everywhere else. We’re both suffering big time through this year’s allergy season.

Surly Chick, my mother has had dogs with allergies for as long as I can remember, and Benadryl has always been a go-to for her. I think she gives one Benadryl to a full grown rottweiler if she wants them to have some allergy relief during the day, and maybe one more at night if she wants them to sleep easier.

Please don’t dose your dog based on this memory, though. I’m only confirming that it seems to work for our dogs, though it does make them drowsy. I would PM one of our doper vets if you’re curious, though they may not be willing to answer online.

I’ve given him Benadryl before BlueKangaroo but it was to make him sleepy when we’re flying. Hmmm, maybe I should find a new vet…

Well, the benadryl can definitely help a dog feel sleepy.

I’d check with other vets before giving yours the ol’ heave-ho. Maybe your dog is just smaller, and there wouldn’t be adaquate Benadryl to make him feel better without knocking him out? Or maybe our dogs are just so dopey they forget to scratch, but are still itching. I don’t think that’s the case, but I also don’t want to sound like I think I know more than a vet for animal health issues!

So, you are itching, but you know scratching will mess with the healing? Lightly smacking the area around the wound with a ruler or a chopstick will stop the itching just as well as scratching, without tearing up the skin. A flyswatter is also good for this; get a new one, not the one with fly guts on it. :eek:

I haven’t scratched at all yet, but I also haven’t smacked at it. I do occasionally want to tear the stitches out.

The back and shoulders seem to be fine now. I guess a night of sleep was all I needed for the minor damage. But, damn, I’m hating these stitches. And having them right smack in the middle of my torso means they’re constantly moving and spurring more itching unless I sit very still.

However, I think you’re right. Fly guts + stitches = BAD!

Just for the record, it seems Alice The Goon is totally right, and it was the band-aid making me itch. Well, still making me itch, as I’ve removed the band-aids, but the rash is still there. I’ve switched to gauze and paper tape, and I hope the rash and itchiness will go away soon.

Is the tape and adhesive all latex-free? While it’s not surely a latex allergy, latex is probably the most common dermal allergen in most household medical supplies. I have some latex-free bandages I can bring over later, if you want.