So remember that time I filleted my finger? What I failed to mention was that I fixed my finger myself. As in, once the crying and hyperventilating stopped, I washed it with water, slapped on some antibiotic ointment, and wrapped it in a bandage. I had a few reasons for my DIY finger fix - it was a Sunday so the only place to get medical attention was the emergency room (and the emergency room is a stabby place to be); I was home alone so I would have to take a cab (I hate taking cabs); I wasn't wearing any clothes (before I started chopping the potatoes I was painting the bedroom and I don't own any grungy painting clothes so I paint naked. What?) Plus, I have a visceral fear of needles. Like, I tear up when I see a needle. I don't even want to see a picture of a needle. The word needle makes my stomach clenchy.
Yesterday marked the tenth day since my fingertipectomy and my wound was still bleeding. Not a lot, mind you, just a constant ooze to remind me to never sharpen my knives again (and to prevent me from having to wash any dishes - whee!) So I spent my lunch break in a walk-in clinic where I was treated to the music of Star Wars in the waiting room (so random) and a stern lecture from the doctor about wounds and bacteria and going to the emergency room even though emergency rooms are full of bacteria and shouty people and needles. (*shudder*)
It wasn't a horrible visit. My tetanus vaccination is up to date - thanks Stella! - so there were no needles involved. The doctor just made sure I wasn't oozing any pus and then stuck on a bandage that acts as an artificial stitch (note to self: if you cut yourself again, don't go to the doctor until the 6-hour window of being able to get traditional stitches has passed - artificial stitches are needle-free!)
I still cuss when I accidentally use my finger (left index finger, if you're wondering) but now that it's actually healing, the pain isn't so bad. Which means that I will probably have to start washing dishes again soon. *sigh*
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Glad you're healing my dear. Hope those artificial stitches get rid of the ooze. :)
ReplyDeleteIs it gross that I want to see a picture?
ReplyDeletePainting in the buff. Mwahahahahaha.
ReplyDeleteI thought I was the only one who did stuff like that.
J once cut his finger open and the emergency room doctor used some sort of medical glue to close the wound. It was awesome. Not so awesome? The bill for said awesome glue. Just another reminder that the US health care system is a giant fail.
ReplyDeleteI filleted my thumb tonight. I blamed Abe for coming in as I was doing the last of my slicing and telling me to be careful.
ReplyDeleteThe thought of needles doesn't really bother me, but the though of someone sewing my skin? Bugh. Creepy. I'll never be one of those people to sew my own stitches or cauterize my own wound. Let the doctors do it, I need to have my eyes squeezed closed.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh this makes me squirm!! I think it's the word "filleted". *Shudder* Glad to hear it's getting a bit less painful <3
ReplyDeleteI had the EXACT SAME thought process when I sliced my wrist almost to the bone on a Saturday night about a year ago: had zero interest in sitting in a waiting room for hours on a Saturday night while people with real injuries and illnesses surrounded me, then paying hundreds of dollars for stitches. So I used super glue. Kind of a nasty scar a year later, but I don't regret it.
ReplyDeleteGlad it's feeling better! Boo for dishes, though. ;)
ReplyDeleteWe're lucky here because the two times Matthew cuts himself (badly), it was during the day. Our family doctor is also an anesthetist, so we got to go there instead of the ER.
Move to Summerland?
I can't believe you went 10 days while your fingers was wilting from the loss of blood. Having a medical guy in the house means I would've gone straight to the ER; do not pass Go.
ReplyDeletePainting in the buff is a lot safer than chopping potatoes ......unless you tip over and the paint spills on your face and goes down your nose.
ReplyDeleteBut I dont see that happening to you:)
Holy crap, Hillary! Nick told me he once rammed a screwdriver or some such thing through his part of his hand and it was Thanksgiving and he was late to dinner so he called his nurse sister who told him to clean and superglue the wound shut. Which he did.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine dealing with this kind of thing by myself. If I ever cut off part of my finger I'm dialing 911 and going to the hospital in an ambulance and falling into hysterical fainting fits.
Gah! I hate when these things don't heal up properly- have you tried a liquid bandaid? They can really help for odd injuries :)
ReplyDeleteThe day after you tweeted that you cut your finger I sliced mine too.
ReplyDeleteAlthough mine did eventually stop bleeding on it's own.
(And it was the left middle finger. Heh.)