ER or DIY?

[elky McElkerson]

i am a klutz. not a great combo with my love of knives. i cut myself bad. took a chunk out of my thumb. i saw the hunk of flesh on the blade and didnt pass out. huge victory for myself.

i got the bleeding stopped. took a long time, with copious pressure.

i\'m a wuss. i get it. i have ZERO issues with seeing blood with the exception of MY BLOOD! pain i can handle like a champ. my blood, i get woozy.

so, i cleaned my wound and stopped the bleeding with nothing but sideways glances. i was embarrassed so i didnt show it to my brother.. looking at it now, i bet a visit to the ER would not have been a bad decision.

you pretty good at making the call between the ER and DIY first aide? i\'ll spare this nice forum any \"glamour\" shots of my wound.

 

[Swede]

I cut myself deep into my index finger a few years ago. I was taking out the last of the gut on an elk I had just killed. With both hands up inside of the chest cavity, a yellow jacket stung me. Out of a reflex I jerked, and the sharp knife cut to the bone. I got it wrapped at the truck and went to the doctor, to have it sewed up. The nurse cleaned it and the doctor sewed it. All I was out was the time, gas and a small co payment. Considering what a nasty wound could have cost, I consider getting it treated, properly, a very small payment. You are not a wuss just because you go to the doctor. I hope you heal up well.

 

[elky McElkerson]

thanks SWEDE!!

just so we are clear, i have a frequent flyers card at the ER. i\'ve been there like TIM ALLEN.
this time, i thought i was okay..

funny thing. on my calf muscles. i have matching cuts. one i got BAD on a hiking trip. cleaned it up and wrapped it...it healed okay. the other calf..cut it bad mountain biking. went to the ER. the scar is much better on the stitched case. super cool.

 

[bnsafe]

I cut myself to the bone last fall. cleaned it out myself and didnt go to the dr. other than a nice scar for memories it went well. with that said, i work for a home infusion company now and alot of our business is small cuts that get infected and folks end up with a picc line and antibiotics for weeks. its a tough call.