I was attempting to pry open a can of olives with one of our beloved can openers, and because it didn't open the whole lid after several tries (we only use the highest quality of hand-held can opening devices in OUR home!) I set to work trying to physically pull the lid off myself. Well, it started to come off, alright...very suddenly, which caused my thumb to slide right onto the blade-like side of the can lid.
I moved swiftly to the sink and put the cut under water. As I saw the amount of blood coursing out and the deepness of the cut, I admit it--I absolutely lost it. I don't quite know what it means to go "into shock," but I started shaking and crying and sure felt like I was. Dave ran in to save me, and it's a good thing, too! He helped me to get a paper towel to hold against it and put pressure on the cut. I sat on the couch shaking and flipping out for ten minutes, and then Dave helped me put bandaids on the afflicted thumb. It had stopped bleeding by then, but it was such a deep cut we decided that I'd better see a doctor about some stitches :(
I could not stop shaking to save my life the whole way to the clinic. I tell you, I have to wonder: if that's the way I react to a little (okay, not so little) cut in my thumb, how will I ever someday handle the joys of child birth? We got there and a nurse saw me almost immediately. As she took my blood pressure, her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"Are you under stress or something?" she asked.
"Uh, well, I did just slice my thumb open!" I held up my shaking hand.
"Oh! Because in the past your blood pressure was fine but now it's...not so good."
I had to laugh at that through the pain.
The doctor came in to have a look. He was a nice guy. Thankfully, he told us that the cut didn't seem quite deep enough to need stitches, and he would put 'steri-strips' on instead to help it heal without an ugly scar. He also found that I was over due for a tetanus shot--oh joy of joys. I was given the shot (not as bad as I expected, but I WAS a little distracted with the gash in my thumb) Then the doctor cleaned out the cut and put the tape on, and then wrapped it up.
On the way home Dave treated me to a banana split (a well deserved one, I must add) and we went home and actually eat the dinner I had nearly killed myself preparing. No, I did not get blood on anything while making it.
So the steri strips need to stay on for a week. That sucks...my thumb is practically useless for that time, and trust me, I need that thing! Try getting dressed without using one of your thumbs. Seriously, try! And typing isn't very easy either. Plus work isn't going to be a cake-walk. BUT...at least I didn't need stitches, right?
And no, it's not an April Fool's joke. I wish! :)
3 comments:
You would!
Eeeek! you poor thing!
Ok, sometime I am taking you out and treating you to a decent can opener! like, a nice electric one or something! I hope you will heal up nice and quick. poor girl.
yikes! that sounds familiar, from a few months ago when i sliced off the tip of my thumb. i probably should have gotten stitches; the nerves haven't grown back correctly. so hopefully you won't have that problem; it feels very bizarre. i hope you feel better!
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