Question for the meds out there

[Maine Finn]

Okay, I've got a problem.

Last week, I noticed a scratch on my left forearm. I cleaned it, dabbed it with some Neosporin (which is all I have in my medpack), and slapped a Band-Aid on it.

But a couple of days later after removing the Band-Aid to clean it again, I noticed that the skin round the wound was red and tender to the touch. I pressed lightly all round the redness, and felt a lump under the skin where the scratch is. Using my knife (and I did sterilise it first), I scraped off the gunk on top of the scratch and put some more Neosporin on it.

Now it's worse, and I don't know why. It hurts to move my arm, and to hold it in certain positions (when I'm driving, it's fine, but if I rested my arm on the door, it hurts like hell), although the size of the redness had shrunk somewhat.

I know it's an infection, but I don't know what happened for it to get infected. My medical training is severely limited - I'm only trained in basic first-aid at the moment - so I've really done all I know to do.

I'm going to schedule an appointment with a PCP this week, but I wonder if there's anything that I can do help this heal?

Thanks!

~Emily

[Salty Dog]

well it wasn't a good idea to take your knife to it i can tell you that. but i am not sure what you have going on there.

[Maine Finn]

well it wasn't a good idea to take your knife to it i can tell you that. but i am not sure what you have going on there.

I had to get the top layer of stuff off so the ointment would be able to work. I'm nowhere near as well-equipped with first-aid gear as I normally am, as most of my worldly possessions are scattered in three cities.

[Fintin]

i would say amputate.....its the only option.....

[Seoulstriker]

Take a photo. Post it here.

[Maine Finn]

Take a photo. Post it here.

Ummm...no....it's gross.

[Seoulstriker]

That's the only way it can be properly diagnosed.

[Maine Finn]

I know that. Hold on.

[memphiz]

its neat to watch peroxide buble when you put it on a cut...i rarely do that when i get cut, i dont use bandaids either

[Seoulstriker]

The major cleaning component of H2O2 is H2O2 --> H2O + O2. It is indeed fun to watch, but you can watch it anywhere. Put some on a sidewalk and watch it fizz. Don't light it, though. Bad idea. p-)

[hank]

Seoulstriker - don't start practicing medicine until you actually get into medical school. There is a name for that - its called malpractice and it will get you in trouble. :D The only "diagnosis" this guy needs should come from a Dr.

Go to a Doctor. Pain means bad, red means bad, gunk on top means bad. Go to a Doctor.

hank

[memphiz]

so im guessing if i light it something cool will happen...

[Fintin]

i said cut that sucker off....its the only way....take off a leg while your at it....just for good measure

[Romulus]

It may be Impetigo. I had this when I wrestled in high school because of sweat and staph bacteria that lives in humid warm places. Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection caused by strep or staph bacteria. The infection often begins when bacteria that normally can be present on the skin enter a small cut or scratch. It can get pretty nasty.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20020701/119_f5.jpg[/list]

[Brozozo]

i would say amputate.....its the only option.....

:lol:

[Maine Finn]

Okay, this is what I've done to treat it so far.

-Cleaned with warm water
-Neosporin
-Scraped gunk off
-Reapplied Neosporin
-Hot water and salt soak
-Peroxide
-More Neosporin

[Seoulstriker]

Seoulstriker - don't start practicing medicine until you actually get into medical school. There is a name for that - its called malpractice and it will get you in trouble. :D The only "diagnosis" this guy needs should come from a Dr.

Go to a Doctor. Pain means bad, red means bad, gunk on top means bad. Go to a Doctor.

hank

Maine Finn is a girl. :oops: :)


I never said you should consider my diagnosis seriously. I just wanna see what it looks like. I know a little about dermal infections. p-)

[hank]

Seoulstriker - don't start practicing medicine until you actually get into medical school. There is a name for that - its called malpractice and it will get you in trouble. :D The only "diagnosis" this guy needs should come from a Dr.

Go to a Doctor. Pain means bad, red means bad, gunk on top means bad. Go to a Doctor.

hank

Maine Finn is a girl. :oops: :)


I never said you should consider my diagnosis seriously. I just wanna see what it looks like. I know a little about dermal infections. p-)

Fair enough, I'd liketo see it also.

hank

[Maine Finn]

It may be Impetigo. I had this when I wrestled in high school because of sweat and staph bacteria that lives in humid warm places. Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection caused by strep or staph bacteria. The infection often begins when bacteria that normally can be present on the skin enter a small cut or scratch. It can get pretty nasty.



No, that's not it.

It looks more like this:

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4631/ArmWound1.JPG

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9116/ArmWound2.JPG

[Fintin]

i dont care what it looks like it needs to be cut off....just some vodka chug and find a chainsaw....works every time...then just burn the wound closed on the hot motor of the saw

[memphiz]

im with Fintin...amputate

[Seoulstriker]

wait, you noticed a scratch? you don't know how it got there?


that's a pretty small mark. could it be an insect bite? wasp stinger? swelling and pain are associated with bites, etc. Is it as deep as it looks from the photo?

[ibstolidude]

its neat to watch peroxide buble when you put it on a cut...i rarely do that when i get cut, i dont use bandaids either
most of the time you do better to use good clean water to clean a minor abrasion than Hydro-peroxide.

[hank]

I say again - go to a Doctor ASAP. Skin that red only means bad things. Pain in your arm means bad things. Go to a Dr.

hank

[Maine Finn]

wait, you noticed a scratch? you don't know how it got there?


that's a pretty small mark. could it be an insect bite? wasp stinger? swelling and pain are associated with bites, etc. Is it as deep as it looks from the photo?

No idea how it got there. I don't, half the time I get a cut, bruise, or scrape. But I almost always treat it after noticing it. No wasp or anything like that and no, it's not. Near as I can tell, it's a surface opening with infection under the skin. It hurts like fukkn hell.


I say again - go to a Doctor ASAP. Skin that red only means bad things. Pain in your arm means bad things. Go to a Dr.

hank

I'm going to. I just....need to find a PCP who's taking patients.... :oops: And since I don't have insurance (at least I don't think it was extended after I turned eighteen since I was under my parents' coverage) I hesitate to pay a call to the ER.

[Fintin]

yep it needs to be taken off......just saying....works like a charm

[Romulus]

Does it itch?

[memphiz]

its neat to watch peroxide buble when you put it on a cut...i rarely do that when i get cut, i dont use bandaids either
most of the time you do better to use good clean water to clean a minor abrasion than Hydro-peroxide.
yeah i usually use water now and thats it

[Seoulstriker]

hank, chill out. it's not an emergency. nevertheless, maine, you should speak with a health care professional soon.

my guess would be some kind of insect bite judging by the swelling and redness. but i'm not a doctor, so you should see one.



And get rid of the neosporin junk. I suggest Betadine(R) Solution (povidone-iodine 10%) which is extremely effective for topical infections. In fact, it's used as a pre-op and post-op surgical scrub. http://www.pharma.com/PI/NonPrescription/A6910B16.pdf


(and maine, please don't take the scabs off wounds. :( )

[ibstolidude]

Okay, this is what I've done to treat it so far.

-Cleaned with warm water
-Neosporin
-Scraped gunk off
-Reapplied Neosporin
-Hot water and salt soak
-Peroxide
-More Neosporin

LAY OFF NEOSPORIN! -

Stop trying to heal a wound over the infection!
Try leaving it clean (NO SCRAPPING - you said yourself you don't know what you are doing), DRY, and lightly wrapped (or prefer'd exposed)tonight when you sleep. DO NOT squeeze the infected area as it may spread the infection or further rupture the skin. DO NOT get creative.
There is a wonderful skin growth accelerator you may have heard of called Oxygen.

Call Dr's office and ask for recommendation, they are trained to do this, and will be the ones treating it - so let them decide the course of treatment to ensure that there is continuity.

That is NOT a scrape. What was the mech of injury? bite? Sting? puncture?

[Maine Finn]

hank, chill out. it's not an emergency. nevertheless, maine, you should speak with a health care professional soon.

my guess would be some kind of insect bite judging by the swelling and redness. but i'm not a doctor, so you should see one.



And get rid of the neosporin junk. I suggest Betadine(R) Solution (povidone-iodine 10%) which is extremely effective for topical infections. In fact, it's used as a pre-op and post-op surgical scrub. http://www.pharma.com/PI/NonPrescription/A6910B16.pdf


(and maine, please don't take the scabs off wounds. :( )

I know I shouldn't, but I've done it so many other times without incident that I didn't think anything of it this time. :( :oops:


Try leaving it clean (NO SCRAPPING - you said yourself you don't know what you are doing)

No, what I said was this:


My medical training is severely limited - I'm only trained in basic first-aid at the moment - so I've really done all I know to do.

I have some experience with injuries, and acted on what I know. But I've since exhausted that meagre knowledge and am now seeking higher aid.

~Emily

[Seoulstriker]

I'm going to. I just....need to find a PCP who's taking patients.... :oops: And since I don't have insurance (at least I don't think it was extended after I turned eighteen since I was under my parents' coverage) I hesitate to pay a call to the ER.


DON'T GO TO THE ER!!! They'll take a quick look at your wound in triage and make you wait for probably 3 hours before the ER physician gets a chance to give it a look. not only that, but you'll get charged $1000+ for your visit. see your family physician or whatever.

[Fintin]

am i wrong, i think cutting it off will work just fine....and make for cool storys and pictures

[memphiz]

I'm going to. I just....need to find a PCP who's taking patients.... :oops: And since I don't have insurance (at least I don't think it was extended after I turned eighteen since I was under my parents' coverage) I hesitate to pay a call to the ER.


DON'T GO TO THE ER!!! They'll take a quick look at your wound in triage and make you wait for probably 3 hours before the ER physician gets a chance to give it a look. not only that, but you'll get charged $1000+ for your visit. see your family physician or whatever.
holy ****e $1000!!
isnt a walk in clinic cheaper?

[hank]

I'm going to. I just....need to find a PCP who's taking patients.... :oops: And since I don't have insurance (at least I don't think it was extended after I turned eighteen since I was under my parents' coverage) I hesitate to pay a call to the ER.


DON'T GO TO THE ER!!! They'll take a quick look at your wound in triage and make you wait for probably 3 hours before the ER physician gets a chance to give it a look. not only that, but you'll get charged $1000+ for your visit. see your family physician or whatever.

I'm chill, dawg, I'm chill dawg! Great advice - this isn't an emergency but do see a Dr. I did not mean to imply with the ASAP that you should ER it. I meant ASAP like when the clinic at your school opens or your doctor's office opens in the am.

hank

[Maine Finn]

am i wrong, i think cutting it off will work just fine....and make for cool storys and pictures

Oh sure, and if I do that, I can kiss any hope for a future goodbye.
Thanks. :roll:


I'm chill, dawg, I'm chill dawg! Great advice - this isn't an emergency but do see a Dr. I did not mean to imply with the ASAP that you should ER it. I meant ASAP like when the clinic at your school opens or your doctor's office opens in the am.

hank

The thing is, I don't have the "right" paperwork for the campus nurse to see me. I get turned away at the door - I found this out the last time I stopped in the school clinic for help with my constant bloody noses which have since stopped.

I have a list of area PCPs already. I just need to call each of them to see if they are accepting new patients and if they can schedule me in for an appointment.

[memphiz]

am i wrong, i think cutting it off will work just fine....and make for cool storys and pictures

Oh sure, and if I do that, I can kiss any hope for a future goodbye.
Thanks. :roll:
you could get a robot arm...and put guns and lazers in it :D

[Fintin]

plenty of people get by with one arm.....you could get it stuffed and use it to hit people....think of the posibilitys......

[Fintin]

am i wrong, i think cutting it off will work just fine....and make for cool storys and pictures

Oh sure, and if I do that, I can kiss any hope for a future goodbye.
Thanks. :roll:
you could get a robot arm...and put guns and lazers in it :D

robot arms are the best....

[Maine Finn]

plenty of people get by with one arm.....you could get it stuffed and use it to hit people....think of the posibilitys......

Right, sure. Whilst I'm at it, I'll think of all the possibilities that I lost.... like the future I have planned. :bash:

Great advice, I really appreciate it. Jesus.

[Seoulstriker]

Okay, this is what I've done to treat it so far.

-Cleaned with warm water
-Neosporin
-Scraped gunk off
-Reapplied Neosporin
-Hot water and salt soak
-Peroxide
-More Neosporin

LAY OFF NEOSPORIN! -

Stop trying to heal a wound over the infection!
Try leaving it clean (NO SCRAPPING - you said yourself you don't know what you are doing), DRY, and lightly wrapped (or prefer'd exposed)tonight when you sleep. DO NOT squeeze the infected area as it may spread the infection or further rupture the skin. DO NOT get creative.
There is a wonderful skin growth accelerator you may have heard of called Oxygen.

Call Dr's office and ask for recommendation, they are trained to do this, and will be the ones treating it - so let them decide the course of treatment to ensure that there is continuity.

That is NOT a scrape. What was the mech of injury? bite? Sting? puncture?


you got it right, Stolidude. neosporin does next to crap for infections.

first treat it with Betadine solution (if you don't have that, use a normal rubbing alcohol with a mix of isopropyl alcohol (2-propanol) and acetone). stop picking at it. make an appointment with your physician.


are you SURE it's not an insect bite?


(and yes, you should probably go to a free clinic. they'll treat you the same as you would be treated if you came into the ER triage with that wound.)

and yes, $1000 is normal, as I have gone to the ER with the symptoms of bacterial meningitis (which is a lethal disease within a few hours). the ER physician examined my neck and told me i probably don't have it. they did a blood test which confirmed that i had a regular serious viral infection. they could have done a spinal tap, but I told them it was unnecessary. I left after 3 hours. $1000. :(


and hank, it's always good to be cool in a medical situation. :) :hug:

[Fintin]

you know im kidding correct......hey i saw a guy climbing a moutain once with one leg....i have see countless numbers of people ski just as good or better the me with one leg....you could put a night club attatchment to it

[memphiz]

am i wrong, i think cutting it off will work just fine....and make for cool storys and pictures

Oh sure, and if I do that, I can kiss any hope for a future goodbye.
Thanks. :roll:
you could get a robot arm...and put guns and lazers in it :D

robot arms are the best....
you could grab a chicks ass or ****s with your good arm and say it was your robot arm and it has a mind of its own, and you cant control
the possibilities...

[Maine Finn]

you got it right, Stolidude. neosporin does next to crap for infections.

first treat it with Betadine solution (if you don't have that, use a normal rubbing alcohol with a mix of isopropyl alcohol (2-propanol) and acetone). stop picking at it. make an appointment with your physician.


are you SURE it's not an insect bite?


(and yes, you should probably go to a free clinic. they'll treat you the same as you would be treated if you came into the ER triage with that wound.)

and yes, $1000 is normal, as I have gone to the ER with the symptoms of bacterial meningitis (which is a lethal disease within a few hours). the ER physician examined my neck and told me i probably don't have it. they did a blood test which confirmed that i had a regular serious viral infection. they could have done a spinal tap, but I told them it was unnecessary. I left after 3 hours. $1000. :(


and hank, it's always good to be cool in a medical situation. :) :hug:

I don't have **** for medical supplies. All I have is a "borrowed" bottle of peroxide, some Q-tips, and the stuff in my medpack.

I don't know if there are any free clinics in the Portland area. I'll have to ask at the campus clinic.

[Fintin]

you could still cut it off

[Seoulstriker]

fintin, check PM.

[memphiz]

did fintin get in trouble? whats the PM about?
i should draw a picture of someone with a robot arm

[Fintin]

i want to see pictures in my PM of someones severed arm by the end of the night.....now do it its the only way to make the pain stop and get a sweet robot arm

[Maine Finn]

i want to see pictures in my PM of someones severed arm by the end of the night.....now do it its the only way to make the pain stop and get a sweet robot arm

Shut up.

[Fintin]

im kidding..... p-)....now how do i get to portland?

[Maine Finn]

im kidding..... p-)....now how do i get to portland?

Head east until you get to Canada and then turn around and go South.

[101st__and_1/2]

I'm no doctor, but i had something like that a while ago on my left leg, at first i thought it was an infected sweat gland or something but it got too big too fast, i feel bad siding with fintin, but heres a pic of how i got rid of it...
http://www.healthcare.ottobock.com/technical_orthopedics/beinprothesen/schaft/images/derma_seal_1.jpg[/img]

[Seoulstriker]

did fintin get in trouble? whats the PM about?
i should draw a picture of someone with a robot arm


no, i wondered about something he said in a topic long ago (last year). :)



robot arms are cool. like the terminator. or luke skywalker. :)

[Seoulstriker]

I'm no doctor, but i had something like that a while ago on my left leg, at first i thought it was an infected sweat gland or something but it got too big too fast, i feel bad siding with fintin, but heres a pic of how i got rid of it...
http://www.healthcare.ottobock.com/technical_orthopedics/beinprothesen/schaft/images/derma_seal_1.jpg


:lol: i thought you were serious for a second. :lol:

[Fintin]

ok hold on im on my way...chainsaws in the trunk...ill bring an iron too.....seal the wound.....just trust me

[Maine Finn]

ok hold on im on my way...chainsaws in the trunk...ill bring an iron too.....seal the wound.....just trust me

Take your time. :roll:

If I wanted a chainsaw badly enough, I could just call Mark and have him bring his over.

[Fintin]

that only makes me go faster

[Maine Finn]

that only makes me go faster

:cantbeli:

[Fintin]

did fintin get in trouble? whats the PM about?
i should draw a picture of someone with a robot arm


no, i wondered about something he said in a topic long ago (last year). :)



robot arms are cool. like the terminator. or luke skywalker. :)

see even the doc wants to see robot arms......so here we go :-*$

[101st__and_1/2]

hold up, put in the wrong pic, the real pic has a leg w/ a bandaid on it... whoops.
http://www.kittyempire.org/chicagoaugust03/bandageleg.jpg
don't mind the nail polish, it was a phase.....

[Fintin]

a phase my ass....you had them painted this weekend

[101st__and_1/2]

don't you bring that up, your the one that did them!!! y don't you show them the corn rows that i gave you last weekend? huh!!!???

[Seoulstriker]

you guys are great! :lol:

(and nice shaved legs. p-) )

[Fintin]

robot arms here we come

[Fintin]

don't you bring that up, your the one that did them!!! y don't you show them the corn rows that i gave you last weekend? huh!!!???

corn rows....ok pudge

[Ichhabe]

Not to raise panic and hell, but when I saw those pics of MF's arm; flesh eating bacterias in early stage came to my mind.

Specially when she mentioned the f***ing pain.
Don't go to the doctor. Take a cab, you get there faster.

[101st__and_1/2]

ok, umm if you havn't figured it out by now, its from a link.... just like the amputee pic... duhh...coughcough.....
anyway were all being really selfish here, we have a man here with a boo boo on his arm, and its quite apparent that he won't see a doctor for one reason no better than the next, so i say we try to focus on the task at hand!!! a mans temporary health is at steak for crying out loud. he came to us loyal posters at militaryphotos.net/forums for help dog gonnit!! now get it together!

[Fintin]

first off he is a she and i want to see cut off limbs in the morning

[Ichhabe]

ok, umm if you havn't figured it out by now, its from a link.... just like the amputee pic... duhh...coughcough.....
anyway were all being really selfish here, we have a man here with a boo boo on his arm, and its quite apparent that he won't see a doctor for one reason no better than the next, so i say we try to focus on the task at hand!!! a mans temporary health is at steak for crying out loud. he came to us loyal posters at militaryphotos.net/forums for help dog gonnit!! now get it together!

A woman's health is at stake. A woman.
MainFinn is a woman. Mkay?

[Seoulstriker]

ok, umm if you havn't figured it out by now, its from a link.... just like the amputee pic... duhh...coughcough.....
anyway were all being really selfish here, we have a man here with a boo boo on his arm, and its quite apparent that he won't see a doctor for one reason no better than the next, so i say we try to focus on the task at hand!!! a mans temporary health is at steak for crying out loud. he came to us loyal posters at militaryphotos.net/forums for help dog gonnit!! now get it together!


hahhahaha. :lol: nice!



ichabe, flesh-eating bacteria was a huge scare in Brittain. Not much more beyond that. incidence is extremely low. http://www.ha.org.hk/qmh/micro/strept.htm

[Maine Finn]

ok, umm if you havn't figured it out by now, its from a link.... just like the amputee pic... duhh...coughcough.....
anyway were all being really selfish here, we have a man here with a boo boo on his arm, and its quite apparent that he won't see a doctor for one reason no better than the next, so i say we try to focus on the task at hand!!! a mans temporary health is at steak for crying out loud. he came to us loyal posters at militaryphotos.net/forums for help dog gonnit!! now get it together!

God dammit, how many times must I say it?!

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=171091&highlight=#171091

[101st__and_1/2]

::Insert foot in mouth::
oopsy daisey, thats y i've gone through 4 wives in 3 years... :oops:

[Seoulstriker]

and here is some more, ichabe: http://www.nnff.org/nnff_symptoms.htm

[Ichhabe]

first off he is a she and i want to see cut off limbs in the morning

http://www.filmup.com/posters/loc/500/boxinghelena.jpg

By any chance: Do you have this movie in your collection?
I'm sure you have. :D

[Fintin]

nope sorry.....i have a few fingers in jar....

[Maine Finn]

::Insert foot in mouth::
oopsy daisey, thats y i've gone through 4 wives in 3 years... :oops:

Hobbit.

[101st__and_1/2]

if that was a joke, it went right over my head...

[Maine Finn]

if that was a joke, it went right over my head...

Blame that backwards Irishman.

[Ichhabe]

and here is some more, ichabe: http://www.nnff.org/nnff_symptoms.htm

I swear: I rather put my extremities in hot boiling water before I even click on that url. Or any url's that I might suspect could be pictures of flesh eating bacterias.

I know it is rare, and that is why it is better to get that ruled out.
Cause, if it is; and they start munchin on her arm, bader pic's might hit the Internet than the one she already posted.

[Fintin]

hey im not the guy with the shaved legs and painted toes...

[101st__and_1/2]

listen muscly arm, i'm not irish....scottish, big difference............... mostly alcoholism (ohhhh an ethnic joke....whoopsie.....)

[Maine Finn]

listen muscly arm, i'm not irish....scottish, big difference............... mostly alcoholism (ohhhh an ethnic joke....whoopsie.....)

Not you, dork. The other one.

[Fintin]

im the irish one smart kid....there are more ways to talk then just this tread...ouch...inside information being traded

[Seoulstriker]

maine, i would appreciate another picture of the wound. better quality this time. p-)

[Fintin]

yeah i want a better picture...this time i want to see a stump

[101st__and_1/2]

that wasn't very nice now was it, maybe that lump is cancerous?

[Maine Finn]

that wasn't very nice now was it, maybe that lump is cancerous?

Oh boy! I hope so! I've always wanted to die from a disease instead of a bullet! woot

:bash:

[Fintin]

that wasn't very nice now was it, maybe that lump is cancerous?


see i told you we should cut the arm off....see im saving your life woot

[Maine Finn]

that wasn't very nice now was it, maybe that lump is cancerous?


see i told you we should cut the arm off....see im saving your life woot

But....but.... I don't want to be saved, dammit!

Not unless it's Mark or one of my other guy friends..... ;)

[Fintin]

im deeply hurt...now i might just have to slip....

[memphiz]

wow 3 pages since i was last here
here it is
http://img1.imageshack.us/img1/5354/robot6.jpg

[Fintin]

see we have a prototype of what to do with your new real estate

[Maine Finn]

wow 3 pages since i was last here
here it is
http://img1.imageshack.us/img1/5354/robot6.jpg

So you used Haiw as the model for the bloke with the nukes, I take it? :D

[Fintin]

now we see the idea i want to see the arms and legs sittin in the corner

[memphiz]

wow 3 pages since i was last here
here it is
http://img1.imageshack.us/img1/5354/robot6.jpg

So you used Haiw as the model for the bloke with the nukes, I take it? :D
possibly...minus the wooden shoes ;) notice how sixgun is peeing himself

[Maine Finn]

wow 3 pages since i was last here
here it is
http://img1.imageshack.us/img1/5354/robot6.jpg

So you used Haiw as the model for the bloke with the nukes, I take it? :D
possibly...minus the wooden shoes ;) notice how sixgun is peeing himself

Of course. We all know what a yellow bastard he is.

[Fintin]

if we cut of six guns arm...and you like the work can we do yours?

[memphiz]

wow 3 pages since i was last here
here it is
http://img1.imageshack.us/img1/5354/robot6.jpg

So you used Haiw as the model for the bloke with the nukes, I take it? :D
possibly...minus the wooden shoes ;) notice how sixgun is peeing himself

Of course. We all know what a yellow bastard he is.
Haiw or sixgun?

[Maine Finn]

Sixgun, of course. :roll:

[Fintin]

is the arm still there?....it better not be

[memphiz]

Sixgun, of course. :roll:
he pees himself


ao you want them robot arms :D

[wyrm_142]

Finn -

It was a scratch initially? Not a point (bug-bite like?). The wound is open now too?

[Maine Finn]

Finn -

It was a scratch initially? Not a point (bug-bite like?). The wound is open now too?

Aye. It looks a little like a tiny crater in my arm.

[redhawk_six]

looks like a punctor wound to me, not a scratch or anything. Like others in this thread, insect bite is what comes to mind first. Or maybe you caught your arm on something while you were digging around in those old war bunkers on your campus....

anyway, I'd try and find out if there are any walk-in clinics in the area, trying to make an appointment will take too long.

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

This looks like a bug bite to me. I have no medical history or training, but because it actually craters into you I'm willing to bet something took a nice bite out of you, since its starting to get infected I would go to the doctor asap. I'd leave it exposed to scab up, then do not touch it!

My guess is its probably a spider bite, spiders can take a good chunk outta you if given a long period of time to do it (i.e. when your asleep). If your feeling brave I'd give a quick look around your room/under your bed and make sure theres no spider web around.

[redhawk_six]

This looks like a bug bite to me. I have no medical history or training, but because it actually craters into you I'm willing to bet something took a nice bite out of you, since its starting to get infected I would go to the doctor asap. I'd leave it exposed to scab up, then do not touch it!

My guess is its probably a spider bite, spiders can take a good chunk outta you if given a long period of time to do it (i.e. when your asleep). If your feeling brave I'd give a quick look around your room/under your bed and make sure theres no spider web around.

Yes, they can take quite a bite out of you, I've been bitten by a small one, hurt like a bitch for days... Go see a doctor, preferbly a walk-in clinic, they're cheaper, and you won't have to wait days, or possibly months.

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

Yea I can say the same redhawk, spiders can take a chunk outta you no matter there size. What I'm worried about is normally spider bites dont crater as much as in the picture's. She could've gotten bitten by a serious spider like a brown spider or something. They leave nasty puss filled scab's that spread and can stay on your body for up to a year...

Not to scare ya or anything Maine, but I'd go to a walk in clinic.

[Maine Finn]

Not to scare ya or anything Maine, but I'd go to a walk in clinic.

It takes quite a bit to really scare me. In fact, the only thing that I'm truly afraid of is failure. I can't stand it when I fail, so I do my best to be the best at what I'm doing so I won't fail.

Anyway, I went to Knightville a few hours ago to make enquiries at a family practise down there. They were accepting new patients, so I asked if I could make an appointment to have someone take a look at my arm.
The lady at the desk asked to see it, so I showed it to her, and she called another nurse over to look. They took me in right away and had me wait for the doctor.

She broke out the scalpel and gloves and lanced it right there. Damn that was fun. I got to watch a mix of blood and infected stuff drain out of me. One of the things I've always wanted to see. Of course, I made myself watch the whole thing, even when she stuck me with the needle. Might as well get used to that sort of thing, if I want to be a paramed some day.

So now I'm sitting back in my dorm room with a dressing on my arm and a slight burning sensation from the antibiotic stuff she put into the incision. It's worlds better than the throbbing pain of the pressure under the skin. woot

Anyway, it's now been taken care of. Thanks for your advice all.


~Emily

[Seoulstriker]

whoa, they actually did a blood drain on you? man, they are seriously oldschool. maybe Fintin was right: they should have amputated. p-)



(j/k, maine. :P )

[Fintin]

see next time i tell you to cut your arm off you should listen....now just cut it off for the heck of it

[wyrm_142]

So what was it?

[Maine Finn]

So what was it?

It was an infection of some kind (I think I heard her say "abcess" at one point whilst I was trying not to scream when she was pressing it to get it to drain out).

[Fintin]

i want to see the bloody stump...

[memphiz]

i wanted to see robot arms like my picture :(

[Fintin]

can we see post op pics.....the decide if it needs to be cut?

[memphiz]

i think Seoul might have some

[Fintin]

maybe farmgirl will cut her arm off....she is the nicest woman on the board....

[Seoulstriker]

i think Seoul might have some


hehehe. Maine explicitly said 'no pictures'. :( ;)

[memphiz]

damnit :(

[Fintin]

yeah i want to see the arm.....i want severed limbs.....

[Maine Finn]

can we see post op pics.....the decide if it needs to be cut?

Not until the dressing comes off.

[Fintin]

well i guess we just need to cut it off....please?

[Haiw]

and yes, $1000 is normal, as I have gone to the ER with the symptoms of bacterial meningitis (which is a lethal disease within a few hours). the ER physician examined my neck and told me i probably don't have it. they did a blood test which confirmed that i had a regular serious viral infection. they could have done a spinal tap, but I told them it was unnecessary. I left after 3 hours. $1000. :(
Weren't you the guy who was lobbying against socialized medicine?

[Truthsayer]

and yes, $1000 is normal, as I have gone to the ER with the symptoms of bacterial meningitis (which is a lethal disease within a few hours). the ER physician examined my neck and told me i probably don't have it. they did a blood test which confirmed that i had a regular serious viral infection. they could have done a spinal tap, but I told them it was unnecessary. I left after 3 hours. $1000. :(
Weren't you the guy who was lobbying against socialized medicine?

For OTHERS, yes.

[Maine Finn]

I just took the dressing off to change it, and this is what my arm looks like right now.

Just to be safe, I'm only linking these pics, because they're a little more graphic than the first pics I posted.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/9732/ArmWound3.JPG

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/7782/ArmWound4.JPG

[Seoulstriker]

did they tell you it's an insect bite yet? :P

[Seoulstriker]

and yes, $1000 is normal, as I have gone to the ER with the symptoms of bacterial meningitis (which is a lethal disease within a few hours). the ER physician examined my neck and told me i probably don't have it. they did a blood test which confirmed that i had a regular serious viral infection. they could have done a spinal tap, but I told them it was unnecessary. I left after 3 hours. $1000. :(
Weren't you the guy who was lobbying against socialized medicine?


huh? my situation is the perfect example of why socialized medicine is horrible! imagine if the visit were 'free'. imagine how many parents would be taking their coughing and sneezing kids to the ER. imagine the triage lines. imagine how expensive that would be to the tax payer.

try working in a hospital. you'll know what i mean.

[Maine Finn]

did they tell you it's an insect bite yet? :P

What they told me was it needed to be drained, whatever it was, and that's what they did. Now I have to go out and get some better gauze dressings because the ones I have are too thin.

[Seoulstriker]

it was an insect bite :P p-)

[Marsuitor]

Hey, had something looking just like the "hole" picture you posted. Got it from scraping my shin on coral. Started out as a small scratch and turned into the hole thing. Problem was this being the tropics and alot of flies to keep out (something not always possible). First tried to just clean and cover it, but found it was all green and horrid when i removed it for further cleaning. Coral cuts are NASTY as coral is filled with germs and micro organisms. I'm thinking you've also scratched yourself on something bad.

Remedy i found working,
Clean with antiseptic tissue or similar, douse with an antiseptic cream, (don't know what you use in the states, but i used a regular over-the-counter, non-antibiotic cream) and wrap a bandage around the limb. Repeat process and change bandage every day. Cleared the wound after a week or so, but i still have a scar on my leg.

[Maine Finn]

Hey, had something looking just like the "hole" picture you posted. Got it from scraping my shin on coral. Started out as a small scratch and turned into the hole thing. Problem was this being the tropics and alot of flies to keep out (something not always possible). First tried to just clean and cover it, but found it was all green and horrid when i removed it for further cleaning. Coral cuts are NASTY as coral is filled with germs and micro organisms. I'm thinking you've also scratched yourself on something bad.

Remedy i found working,
Clean with antiseptic tissue or similar, douse with an antiseptic cream, (don't know what you use in the states, but i used a regular over-the-counter, non-antibiotic cream) and wrap a bandage around the limb. Repeat process and change bandage every day. Cleared the wound after a week or so, but i still have a scar on my leg.

Before I had it drained by my doctor, I'd gone through all I know to do with injuries.


-Cleaned with warm water
-Neosporin
-Scraped gunk off
-Reapplied Neosporin
-Hot water and salt soak
-Peroxide
-More Neosporin

[Haiw]

and yes, $1000 is normal, as I have gone to the ER with the symptoms of bacterial meningitis (which is a lethal disease within a few hours). the ER physician examined my neck and told me i probably don't have it. they did a blood test which confirmed that i had a regular serious viral infection. they could have done a spinal tap, but I told them it was unnecessary. I left after 3 hours. $1000. :(
Weren't you the guy who was lobbying against socialized medicine?


huh? my situation is the perfect example of why socialized medicine is horrible! imagine if the visit were 'free'. imagine how many parents would be taking their coughing and sneezing kids to the ER. imagine the triage lines. imagine how expensive that would be to the tax payer.

try working in a hospital. you'll know what i mean.
Simple coughing and sneezing? Huh? You don't take that to the ER. If you take that to a docter you'll take it to the local docter (it's called huisarts / home docter here, even though the only people who won't have to get off their asses to visit him are the elderly).

[Fintin]

i still think we should amputate....just a thought...

[Seoulstriker]

fintin is right.



this is my blistered foot:
http://netfiles.uiuc.edu/pzavisla/hostedmilitaryimages/sign-004.jpg




this is post-op:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Jul-13-Sun-2003/photos/3b.jpg

:oops: :(

[Fintin]

see you should always listen to the kid with the chainsaw....

[Maine Finn]

Even more gross than the previous pictures.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/6246/ArmWound5.JPG

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1444/ArmWound6.JPG

The anti-bacterial gauze has been removed from the wound.

Just for you, Seoulstriker. :D

[Seoulstriker]

hahah. thanks, maine. it wasn't too bad after all. ;)

[Maine Finn]

I thought the doctor had put more of that stuff in there, so I bought some new dressings and binned my old ones because they were old.

Oh well, better supplies for my medpack, I guess. :D

[Skaman]

Maine FInn you are do damb weird....

[Fintin]

i want to see pics of the bloody stump

[Maine Finn]

Maine Finn you are do damb weird....

In what way?

[Fintin]

your arms still attached thats how....

[James]

I had a boil on my leg once. It looked kind of like that after I dealt with it. I took my advice from a friendly USN Corpsman. ;)

[Fintin]

I had a boil on my leg once. It looked kind of like that after I dealt with it. I took my advice from a friendly USN Corpsman. ;)

wouldnt that make things worse....with the burning and all?.....i think it needs to be cut off...just a thought....you think its fine now....but one day....

[James]

I had a boil on my leg once. It looked kind of like that after I dealt with it. I took my advice from a friendly USN Corpsman. ;)

wouldnt that make things worse....with the burning and all?.....i think it needs to be cut off...just a thought....you think its fine now....but one day....

I meant it looked like the pictures MF posted. And, well... boils for humans have nothing to do with hot water.

Seoulstriker, can you provide us with a definition of a boil please?

[Fintin]

miss read that, thought you said you had to boil it not that you had them...still you should cut it off and get robot arms....

[memphiz]

word^

[Seoulstriker]

I had a boil on my leg once. It looked kind of like that after I dealt with it. I took my advice from a friendly USN Corpsman. ;)

wouldnt that make things worse....with the burning and all?.....i think it needs to be cut off...just a thought....you think its fine now....but one day....

I meant it looked like the pictures MF posted. And, well... boils for humans have nothing to do with hot water.

Seoulstriker, can you provide us with a definition of a boil please?



hmmmm... I don't know the definition off hand ( :oops: ), but this is what i got from wikipedia.org:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pus


boil:

a localized accumulation of pus in the skin, resulting from infection


pus:

Pus is a whitish-yellow or yellow substance that can be found in regions of bacterial infection, including superficial infections, such as pimples, and deeper infections, such as abscesses.

Pus mainly consists of white blood cells and dead bacteria, as well as inflammatory exudate.

When seen in a wound, pus indicates it is infected, and it should be cleaned with an antiseptic.

[Maine Finn]

Striker,

Now that the anti-bacterial gauze is gone, the wound has become covered with a thin layer of something that's a darker shade of the colour of the gunk that was drained out by the doctor. When I press around it, I can feel a lump underneath, but it doesn't hurt to apply pressure. I'm wondering if there's still stuff under the skin that needs to be drained or maybe it's just a buildup of something harmless that will flush away naturally.

~Emily

[Seoulstriker]

don't open it up. there's a reason why wounds are covered by the body: protection mechanism. when you open up wounds, you are inviting bacteria and other organisms into an open wound, possibly leading to infection. the lump you feel is a bunch of white blood cells and other 'stuff' trying to stave off infection and allow the epithelial cells to reproduce.

if your wound is oozing pus, then you will want to clean it out. otherwise, just leave it alone.

[Maine Finn]

don't open it up. there's a reason why wounds are covered by the body: protection mechanism. when you open up wounds, you are inviting bacteria and other organisms into an open wound, possibly leading to infection. the lump you feel is a bunch of white blood cells and other 'stuff' trying to stave off infection and allow the epithelial cells to reproduce.

if your wound is oozing pus, then you will want to clean it out. otherwise, just leave it alone.

I haven't touched it, other than to change the dressings. If it's leaking stuff, I blot it away with the old dressing before replacing it. I've started leaving it undressed from time to time when I'm in my room to let the air get it more.

[Fintin]

cut it off....john denver did it when he had an ingrown toenail....