On Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:45:19 -0700, wrote:

On Sun, 02 Jun 2013 16:43:56 -0700, Larry Jaques
wrote:

On Sun, 02 Jun 2013 15:35:42 -0700, Gunner Asch
wrote:

On Sun, 02 Jun 2013 10:41:38 -0700, Larry Jaques
wrote:

Well, it's time to pull out those stitches. Wish me luck. Part of
the reason I went to the ER is to quiz the doctor about lido. I have
some 4% cream. He said the liquid lido he uses goes bad fairly quickly
and needs to be refrigerated, so I couldn't bring it home. He also
cautioned me about using it for large areas, such as very long cuts or
burned areas. I hadn't realized it could be toxic, or even fatal, if
used in large doses. He said they use limb blocks for the large cuts,
like sheetmetal (or sword?) wounds. Anyway, my cream is ready for me
if it's needed for five little stitches... g

3 minutes later: I had no problem with the stitches. The Ethilon slid
easily out of the skin in under a minute. No blood, pain, or fuss.
Debriding took a bit longer, removing old skin and scab material, so
it's all ready for work again tomorrow with a fresh bandaid over it.

You have just earned your Survivalist Neophyte First Aid Badge.

Tendjewberrymud.


Next step up is putting in your own stitches (if really needed) and
determining if they are Really Needed.

I still feel they were necessary. I don't mind closing a 1/8" gap on
meat, and have done so several times. But the 3/16" gap on flappy
skin which stretched open every time I closed my hand was too wide to
safely butterfly shut. I have sutures for the future, when needed.
They're also Ethilon, so they have no real expiration date like the
flighty silk suture does. They pull out quite easily, too, I found
out. Me -like- that. g
I cut my middle finger knuckle once, the cut was only about 3/8 long
but it was deep. I pinched the skin and could see the top on the
knuckle and the tendon. So I thought it should be washed out and
stiched. The doc looked at the short cut and wondered aloud why I was
wasting his time. So I showed him the tendon. He said yes, washing out
and stiches was a wise decision.

As did my ER doc. He complimented me on the thorough cleaning I had
given it. DAYUM, that had hurt... What I had thought to be a small
portion (0.015" or so) of a tendon which might have been cut he said
was a string of fat. I was relieved. I didn't think it mattered
either way, and didn't expect him to attempt to repair it, but his
diagnosis relieved me.

The skin itself doesn't hurt, but that thing is sure sensitive to
pressure right now. Zinnnnng!

--
They must find it difficult,
those who have taken authority as truth,
rather than truth as authority.
-- Gerald Massey, Egyptologist