Argh!

[moonshayde]

How do you know when you need stitches?

ETA: I think I'll be okay, though I keep finding new cuts that will open up and bleed on me.

For the record, I was not a klutz. I picked up a bowl and it exploded in my hand. All I did was touch it! Stupid old ceramic bowl.

Word to the wise - check your old bowls before handling them.

Comments

[peach-megumi.livejournal.com]

if you bleed through adhesive bandages when you put them on generally works as an indicator. are you alright?

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I am sore and typing one-handed. Bowl broke in my hand. :(

[peach-megumi.livejournal.com]

ouch. poor thing!

[lovellama.livejournal.com]

Length of cut and depth. Yeah, are you ok? (sorry, hit send too quickly)

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Think so. I keep finding new cuts, but I don't think it's as deep as I originally thought it might be. I just got cut in easy to bleed spots.

Stupid bowl.

Srsly...you okay?

[majorsamfan.livejournal.com]

If a bandage won't hold the sides of the cut together is another indicator that you need stitches to do that.

But basically,
To determine if stitches are needed, look at three things:

Depth. Is the wound deep enough to see the subcutaneous tissue (yellowish fatty tissue)? If so, the wound is deep enough to get stitches, but still may not need them.

Width. Can the wound be pulled closed easily? If the wound is gaping and cannot be easily pinched closed, then it will need stitches to hold it closed long enough to heal correctly.

Location. Wounds on areas of the body that stretch and move a lot will need stitches more often than those on areas that do not move as much. For example, a wound on the forearm will not move as much as a wound on the calf, so it would not necessarily require stitches.

Re: Srsly...you okay?

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think I'm okay. It's not as deep as I thought it was. It just wouldn't stop bleeding. I finally got it to stop after a few attempts and I'm feeling a bit worn, but I'm not getting any bleed through now.

It's some rather long straight cuts on my hand. A ceramic bowl that apparently had seen better days split in my hand and split my hand with it.

Re: Srsly...you okay?

[majorsamfan.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm glad you're okay.

I was washing dishes once, and a bowl slipped. I tried to catch it, but it hit the sink and cracked. My finger got sliced pretty good.

The thing is, I have a bleeding problem, and it didn't help that I'd had my hands in warm water for half an hour or more. It took well over half an hour to stop it from bleeding. I used ice, pressure, elevation... I'm pretty careful doing dishes now.

[spiletta42.livejournal.com]

Seeing as you're typing instead of passing out from blood loss, I'm going with the practical answer of you don't. Stitches might prevent scarring, but they're expensive and as I recall you're uninsured. So unless there's muscle (or heaven forbid tendon/ligament) involvement, and you'd know if there was, give the stitches a pass.

Butterfly bandages are great. Or -- and this isn't recommended medically but I've done it -- super glue is a favorite of farmers. If you use superglue (not medically recommended) you have to be 100% sure there's nothing stuck in the wound and that it's 100% clean and that you hold the skin firmly together well past the usual drying time of the glue.

There's also a trick with sausage skin, but it can't be taught via the Internet I suspect.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to be okay. Especially since I was able to type on the computer, though that has aggravated it a bit. (Types one-handed instead.) But I had a deadline to make.

Bowl shattered in my hand. Not fun. I was feeling weak and headachey for a while, but that's passed. It took a while to stop the bleeding but that seems to be all set. It'll probably scar, but as long as it heals, I don't care.

[spiletta42.livejournal.com]

Well, weak and headachy is from shock, which is a natural reaction to injury that slows down blood loss by slowing blood flow to the extremities and also encouraging the injured party to sit the heck down.

Glad you're okay.

[dunv-i.livejournal.com]

Actually... I've had a doctor use superglue on my thumb instead of stitches because he didn't feel like pulling out my nail (for both of our sakes).

Butterfly bandages are pretty cheap, and really, really useful. Great way to get around stitches (I should have gotten stitches on my chin last year, but then I would have had to sit out of my skating competition).

[spiletta42.livejournal.com]

Actually... I've had a doctor use superglue on my thumb instead of stitches . . .

Yeah, but apparently they get cranky if you do it yourself.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

I see someone recommended superglue, but now most drugstores have something better: paint-on bandage! That's actually really good stuff and stopped a head wound that Brilliant Husband got (thanks to Small Child who threw a toy in play) that otherwise wouldn't stop bleeding. The spray-on stuff is harder to apply; it's the same basic thing and good if you have a large surface with just abrasion or the cut is in your hair, but it's hard to spray just the area you want.

But it looks like you posted ninety minutes ago. If you're still bleeding, make sure someone is with you! It is possible to pass out from really minor cuts. (I know whereof I speak--don't ask for details, just trust me). If you're in any doubt, don't drive; get one of your family or a friend to get the paint-on stuff or take you to a walk-in clinic.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling a little better now. I think I just got cut in an area that is prone to bleed. It took a long time to make it stop even when applying pressure. And even then it started again. I *think* it has stopped now - I'm not seeing any bleed through. I was feeling a little weak and headachey for a while, though.

And why? A bowl broke in my hand.(I am typing this one-handed.)I picked it and it just split in two and used my hand as a cutting board in the process. I keep finding more cuts as the night wears on.

Stupid bowl. Twas old.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Are you okay now?

I was afraid you might have a cut on your head, which can bleed horribly even when superficial--so much that you can pass out or even bleed out. I hadn't thought hands bleed that much.

I hope you're all right and that your hand will recover quickly!

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I've cut my head before or I should say my face. I walked into a door once and split my eyebrow area. So I look like Jack and his infamous cut ;)

I am a klutz. Just not this time ;)

[foolish-grin.livejournal.com]

when you're bleeding profusely and are afraid the blood loss will seriously damage the way your body works.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling a little better now. *sigh*

[odakota-rose.livejournal.com]

Aha! So it's not just me.. I picked up a glass a few months ago and it just broke all over the place. I still have a few scars on my hand from it. Vitamin E helps with healing, though.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Viatmin E? Hmm. Maybe I'll try that.

We're just too strong for our own good?

[odakota-rose.livejournal.com]

Yep, I try and keep a bottle on hand because I'm slightly accident prone, but it really does help. My cuts would've taken forever to heal if I didn't have it. (several of them were in the bit of skin between fingers, which seriously hurts.)

*snort* Maybe so. XD

[dunv-i.livejournal.com]

If it'd been absolutely required that you get stitches, you'd have known. Most injuries will heal nicer with stitches, but will still heal otherwise.

Rest a lot, though, for a day or two, and try try try not to use your hand, because cuts like those are the kind that can break open five days later and start bleeding all over again.

Butterfly bandages.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

yeah, it looks pretty bad and it's definitely going to scar, but it could have been worse. I just need to make sure it doesn't get infected.

[legendsinlove.livejournal.com]

Oh man. I hope you'll be ok and that the cuts stop bleeding!

I know nothing about needing stitches. I only needed them once before and it was very obvious I needed them.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I think I'll be okay. I just have to be careful for infection now. Thanks :)