A few days after the previous post on the topic, the general practitioner referred us to a plastic surgeon specializing in skin grafts due to a mild infection that had developed in what used to be the tip of my SMW's thumb.
The specialist cleaned out the wound with a scalpel, removing the cauterized tissue to encourage the new skin to grow more quickly. He took a culture to better diagnose the infection and prescribe an effective antibiotic (and, I presume, to make sure we're not at risk from the dreaded MRSA).
He also directed us to soak the healing thumb in the mornings and evenings in warm, soapy water and then redress. Unfortunately, the first night we did this, there was a lot of pain as the dressing had stuck to the wound. Pulling it off was excruciating.
Last night was much better. Much less pain. We scheduled to go back to the plastic surgeon's on Monday for a check up.
Oh, before I forget, here's the obligatory picture.
Have you had lunch yet?tagged: thumb, cheese slicer, blood, bloody, cauterize, MRSA, skin
Nice.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what is worse Chimpos toe to that thing.
ReplyDeleteGod. Damn. It.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a collapsed, rotten grape...or something to that effect. I should have pursued a medical profession so I can see that stuff on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteAnd fear not D, I have been planning a State of the Toenail address.
That's horrible.
ReplyDeleteAnd soak the dressing in saline before you pull it off.
You are an asshole. You soooo owe me a drink at the meetup next week, so you'd better be there.
ReplyDeleteGodDAMMIT! So gross...so, sooo gross.
Do you pride yourself on making your readers barf?
ReplyDeleteYour SMW sure is a sport about this! Are you sitting on her taking photos while she kicks and screams? Or is she just all, "Here ya go!," extending her thumb?
ReplyDeleteI know my Twin is really grossed out, but I have to say the picture is pretty fascinating to me. I don't know why. It's definitely one of the grosser things I've seen in my lifetime.
I hope she heals soon! Let me know if you want me to try and help...apparently I'm pretty good at it.
Actually, F'sT, the pictures are her idea. She wanted this documented and what can I say, it's great blogging material.
ReplyDeleteBy way of update, the thumb looked **MUCH** better last night. Much of the black, cauterized skin (the ring around the crater) sloughed off and you can really see the healing taking place underneath.
Of course, it still hurts like a bitch.
I'll post updated photos in the next few days.
Nicely done! Wow. That looks like shit. That's a really small wound though, it should be able to granulate in and heal on its own. I wouldn't think you'd need a skin graft for that. Personally, if it was me, I wouldn't allow it at this point at least going by that picture. If you have any questions, you know where I am. I have some pictures of my own I think I'll post!
ReplyDeleteow X a lot
ReplyDelete