sail7seas Posted October 23, 2014 #26 Share Posted October 23, 2014 I'd rather pay the $140:D. So would I. Me. TOO!!! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 23, 2014 #27 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Just take along a small pair of sharp scissors and tweezers. Sterilize the scissors and tweezers then snip the stitch and gently pull them out. After removing the stiches spread some antibiotic cream on the incision and cover with a band aid. I have done this couple of times when I could not get to a Dr. It does not hurt and is pretty easy to do. Most Dr. offices bring a non-nurse to remove stiches. I normally never see the Dr. for removal. How can one sterilize instruments on a ship where guests are not permitted to have heating elements? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2ptu/000 Posted October 23, 2014 #28 Share Posted October 23, 2014 I'm a nurse. I wouldn't recommend people taking out their own sutures without the doctor instructing someone how to do it. You have to cut them correctly or a bit of the material will be left behind. You also don't want to pull the long end through the wound. This could cause infection. It is easy. Just needs to be done correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayzer Posted October 23, 2014 #29 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Perhaps on the ship/line you have cruised, but other lines call them Doctor (who handles both guests and crew), Nurses, and Medical Admin. We are talking about Holland America here. There is no Medical Admin, the Lead Medical Officer looks after the Medical Center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 23, 2014 #30 Share Posted October 23, 2014 We are talking about Holland America here. There is no Medical Admin, the Lead Medical Officer looks after the Medical Center. In addition, HAL has a doctor for crew and a doctor for guests. Certainly, when needed, both treat whomever may need care. There is always a Lead Nurse and a varying number of other nurses depending upon size of ship etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floridiana Posted October 23, 2014 #31 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Where are you when the stitches need to be taken out? A friend of ours went to a local clinic in Bermuda, they did it for free. Maybe you will be in a place with a good medical system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PathfinderEss Posted October 23, 2014 #32 Share Posted October 23, 2014 I do not know if I could.:( Awe, you can do it. I've taken out my share of stiches over the years from people and animals. How can one sterilize instruments on a ship where guests are not permitted to have heating elements? It's called Alcohol, Sails.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Chew Posted October 23, 2014 #33 Share Posted October 23, 2014 I hope I never have to find out ... but I'd probably go to the Med Center. Don't think I could see well enough to do it myself, and there is no way I would let Mr Chew near anything delicate with scissors or other sharp instruments!! I don't think I've ever had anyone other than a Doctor remove stitches, either for me or my kids or for Mr Chew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 23, 2014 #34 Share Posted October 23, 2014 (edited) Awe, you can do it. I've taken out my share of stiches over the years from people and animals. It's called Alcohol, Sails.:D Is that antiseptic enough for a wound deep enough it required stitches? I always think of high heat/boiling water for other than professional sterilization equipment. However, I don't have a bit of medical training other than OJT as homemaker. :) ;) :D Would a bottle of vodka or scotch do the trick? :D Edited October 23, 2014 by sail7seas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s1amblue Posted October 23, 2014 #35 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Stitch removal - ease depends on the stitch used! If it's single with knot for each, easy enough. If it's a running stitch, much more complex & easy to screw up! Have the office give you a suture removal kit & then have the clinic on board take it out. If you decided to do it yourself watch a u tube video specific to the type - 3 or 4 times. My medical ins would cover it on board if I had it done, don't. Know about yours... Have to pay then get reimbursed after.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PathfinderEss Posted October 23, 2014 #36 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Is that antiseptic enough for a wound deep enough it required stitches?I always think of high heat/boiling water for other than professional sterilization equipment. However, I don't have a bit of medical training other than OJT as homemaker. :) Its good for any equipment that you want to sterilize for using to remove the stitches. Usually by the time you remove stitches, the wound should be significantly healed, other wise you would not be removing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earljr Posted October 24, 2014 #37 Share Posted October 24, 2014 My Doc used super glue (or what ever it is called:)) Wonderful stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PathfinderEss Posted October 24, 2014 #38 Share Posted October 24, 2014 My Doc used super glue (or what ever it is called:)) Wonderful stuff. I agree, not near the scaring you can get from stitches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 24, 2014 #39 Share Posted October 24, 2014 My Doc used super glue (or what ever it is called:)) Wonderful stuff. I have had two Open Heart Surgeries and both times my surgeon closed the long incision with glue. :) I was amazed but it was great. No stitches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxout Posted October 24, 2014 #40 Share Posted October 24, 2014 How can one sterilize instruments on a ship where guests are not permitted to have heating elements? Though not as much fun as the alcohol option, ;):D you could use the flame from a disposable cigarette lighter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 24, 2014 #41 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Though not as much fun as the alcohol option, ;):D you could use the flame from a disposable cigarette lighter. :D :D Here we go........ a Smoking thread. :D Only a smoker is likely to have a disposable cigarette lighter handy. :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxout Posted October 24, 2014 #42 Share Posted October 24, 2014 :D :D Here we go........ a Smoking thread. :D Only a smoker is likely to have a disposable cigarette lighter handy. :cool: Ack! ;) Think you can still pick them up in the shops(?) or at least in port (?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajkr74 Posted October 24, 2014 #43 Share Posted October 24, 2014 How can one sterilize instruments on a ship where guests are not permitted to have heating elements? I would use soap and hot water to clean the instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovesublime Posted October 25, 2014 #44 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I'm a nurse and as another nurse posted on this thread....sutures have to be removed without pulling the outside (exposed) sutures back through the skin. This really could cause an infection. I would go to the medical center to have it done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PathfinderEss Posted October 25, 2014 #45 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Though not as much fun as the alcohol option, ;):D you could use the flame from a disposable cigarette lighter. Yeah that would work too, but alcohol would be more fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10ormore Posted October 27, 2014 Author #46 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Thanks for all the advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typhoon1 Posted October 27, 2014 #47 Share Posted October 27, 2014 It is fairly simple to do. The ships medical department should have no problems with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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