ouch!

Mike1

After a very lazy fortnight just sitting in my recliner from around 0300 to midnight watching TV I decided to force myself to get on and do something yesterday. I have been planning on turning Vixen's old cat basket into a bird table for some time so yesterday was the day. I can only manage about 20 minutes at a time in my garage-cum-workshop and had to cut a piece of ply for the base of the table; I usually sit to use my table saw but as I only had a couple of small cuts to make I balanced on one crutch instead to save time; needless to say that I wobbled and managed to slice the top of my thumb! I am OK with dead bodies and other people's limbs hanging off but cannot cope very well if I even cut myself. After swearing and frightening the cat I managed to run it under the tap and seeing the flap hanging off staved off the feeling of sickness and wrapped the wound in copious quantities of kitchen roll. Remarkably whilst I was doing this Vixen decided she wanted some food! Equally remarkably my niece was able to give me a lift to the local hospital. I was only in the A&E waiting room for about 15 minutes but then spent over 3 hours in a treatment cubicle. An Xray revealed that I had also fractured the bone in my thumb. The Dr said that he would numb my thumb and then get a nurse to flush it out; a little while later the nurse came along and set up a saline drip to do the deed, I explained that the Dr had not jabbed it yet and when she spoke to him he merely said that she could get on with the flush and if it hurt me too much he would administer the anaesthetic then! I did get the jab after the flushing exercise and he pulled the wound open for a look then he disappeared and returned about half an hour later; he had spoken to a specialist in our County Hospital who had decided that he wants to see it today so a dressing was put on and I was given a rough piece of paper with instructions written on it in hieroglyphics. Next problem, organising transport to Truro for this morning as I no longer have a car after the DVLA withdrew my licence on disability grounds and which can take as long as an hour to get to from my place. The Hospital Car Service were unable to help as it was short notice; my baby sister is working; my Niece is travelling to Bristol with her other 4 kids to visit her 8 year old son who is having cancer treatment; and my brother in law is playing golf! Luckily one of my two close mates, a fellow veteran, is coming to pick me up at 0830 and will return to the hospital to bring me home once they have done whatever they decide to do. How about that for a bit of excitement in an otherwise boring existence?

frogmorton

WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bet you wish you'd gone swimming instead Mike!

Seriously though that made me feel a tad queasy too just imagining your poor thumb😖. Thank God your niece was available at short notice bless her. Is that your little sister's daughter?

Not sure you could have driven, even if you could even if you still had your licence with that injury, to be honest.

I wonder whether Vixen is keeping a low profile or is sticking close to you?

DO NOT let them do anything today without your anesthetic jab OK??😣

Thinking of you ((()))

Mike1

Thanks Toni. My Niece is my other sister's daughter, the sister I don't see more than once or twice a year although she only lives about 5 miles away! Her daughter, my niece, has 5 kids downwards from 11 to 2 so she is wrapped up in them.

Vixen was unhappy when I was at the hospital, she came down to fetch me when I came home but then promptly disappeared again for a while as I had to phone my home help to pop round and help me for a bit, the dressing that the hospital put on was leaking by the time I got home so she wrapped a further dressing over the top of it, which is something I had to do this morning as well. Hopefully they get it right today. Vixen is currently cuddling up while I am waiting for my lift, I have warned her that I have to go to the hospital again today but I don't think that she has taken it in!

Lilymary

Ow Mike!! You don't do things by halves! I remember my Dad put his thumb through a circular saw once, using his hand to push the wood through instead of another bit of wood. School boy error. The pain kept him awake for 2 days. I hope your injury doesn't do the same (or any more than usual anyway).

One of the by--products of arthr is poor balance making us more accident prone. Next time, SIT DOWN! I keep falling over in the garden and doing some unintentional radical pruning, accompanying by some very Anglo Saxon language. Hopefully the plants will recover, my dignity may not.

I had my steroid injection yesterday, which I thought was supposed to go "Local anaesthetic, then dye, then injection". I had two jabs, with about a 3 second gap between them, and judging by the fact that they both hurt like crazy, I'm betting that the one he didn't bother with was the anaesthetic, or if it wasn't, it needed a LOT longer to kick in! No improvement yet. It's early days.

Hope your hospital appointment goes smoothly and painlessly, and that you get the extra support you might need while your thumb recovers. And that Vixen discovers the concept of sympathy!

dij1966

Mike..that is definitely worth an 'ouch' comment, I bet you said a lot more than that at the time!

Hope your appointment goes well today and you're not hanging around too much. I'm sure Vixen will be waiting at home for you to give you loads of cuddles, although if she is anything like my cat she will want feeding first! Please let us know you are ok.

Brynmor

Ouch!!!

Still, it could have been worse...

https://www.saxtonblades.co.uk/blog/diy-safety-infographic/

P.S. I once chopped off the end of a finger with a lawnmower (don't ask!) Luckily, it did grow back.

Mike1

Well, back from the hospital, luckily my mate waited for me in the car park (he was not allowed in) so by the time 3 hours had passed he was able to bring me home straight away. All did not go smoothly although it was a good start as I arrived almost an hour early and they went to fetch the Dr straight away. Anyway, the key point was that he injected anaesthetic into 3 areas of my thumb and after leaving it for a while he commenced to flush the wound with saline, I told him that I could feel the saline but immediately afterwards he started stitching and I almost launched out of my wheelchair, the Dr's reaction was that he would administer more anaesthetic AFTER he had finished the stitch he had started. Instead of injecting more he merely squirted it from the syringe directly into the wound; after leaving it for a little while longer he tried another stitch and again I nearly launched into space; the Dr said that he couldn't use anymore anaesthetic and just carried on stitching ALL APART FROM THE BIT OF MY THUMB WHICH WAS MISSING! This was the first time that I had been told that and also the first time that I was told that I had chipped the top of the bone. Apparently the missing part will fill in over time and I actually joked that it must either still be on the saw ....... unless Vixen has had it! Anyway, home now, 2 brews consumed and Vixen has taken her prime spot as shown in the photo this morning. I managed a whole 1 1/2 hours kip last night which is about half my normal amount so perhaps I may get a bit longer tonight. The anticipated hassle to come is that I have to contact my GP on Monday to arrange an inspection of the thumb and a daily dressing change, I fully expect that not to go smoothly at all but we'll see. Time for another brew me thinks! And reverting to sitting in my recliner with the box on from getting up to retiring for the next several days, the only exercise being to get a brew when I want one but there again I may even make a flask to save so many trips to the kitchen. 👍️.

Lilymary

What a shambles,.have they put you back together now? Or did they leave a bit off?

Mike1

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/673074#Comment_673074

All stitched up thanks.

frogmorton

Oh MORE ouches Mike😫😫😫

You are very brave I could not have coped with that. What a stupid Dr leaving you clearly in agony and carrying !!!!!! I just cannot imagine.

You have a good mate there prepared to wait 3 hours for you in a hospital car park bless him.

Poor Vixen missing her Daddy two days running she must have been so upset. I bet she won't leave you now. Poor little soul. Can you get to the GPs if they can check on that thumb under your own steam?

Your niece sounds lovely and a real 'coper' with all those kids and one poorly ((())) to her and the child. My youngest had leaukemia so I know how tough it is bless her.

Sending much love and hope you got a bit more sleep last night.

Mike1

Thanks Toni. Providing the weather is OK and I can actually get an appointment I can get to the surgery on my mobility scooter as it is about 1 1/2 miles away.

frogmorton

That's at least some good news Mike.

How is it doing now?

Mike1

Had the dressing changed yesterday and the nurse has booked me in for Thursday to remove the stitches which seems rather early to me and is making me anxious. The worst thing now is that the antibiotics - co-amoxiclav - have kicked in making me very tired, nauseous, severe headache and have even been sick, apparently these are normal side effects 🤢 Can't keep food down either but have managed a bottle of Lucozade this morning.

Lilymary

Oh that's miserable for you Mike. Is there not an alternative they could give you? I know we're not supposed to change antibiotics mid-course, but if it's affecting you this badly I think you should mention this to them

frogmorton

Oh gosh @Mike1 yukky ABs they always give me the two-bob-bits so you have my sympathy.

How many days left how much more torture? Is it worth changing as Lilymary suggests?

Oh yes what about probiotic drinks? Could you try them some swear by them for rebalancing your belly on ABs.

Will be with you in spirit (or in your pocket) for stitch removal. You must be a fast healer!

Mike1

Still rough, managed to keep down Lucozade and one fishcake yesterday but still one hell of a thumping headache. Luckily the last dose is tonight, I will remember the name of them though and will NEVER have them again. Thanks for your support girls.

frogmorton

That's it well done Mike after this you can start to actually recover ((()))

You are very very welcome 🙂

Mike1

As it is a month since my incident with a circular saw I thought that I would post an update. The antibiotic the hospital put me on - Co-amoxiclav - had severe side effects which caused the nausea and sickness and despite having only one week's treatment the effects lasted about 3 weeks, I had my first almost normal meal (microwave ready meal) last weekend but could not eat it all. During that 3 weeks I have lost almost a stone and have stopped smoking which I suppose is a positive thing. The nurse at my surgery was great changing the dressing for me and the week before last I had the stitches out followed by another week of dressings, now it looks healed and has no dressing. My thumb is still sore though and a bit sensitive, I didn't realise how often I use my thumb! Anyway, yesterday I felt my normal pangs of guilt due to having done nothing apart from watching the TV, making a brew and feeding the cat since the the day of the accident so I ventured down to the garage with the idea of finishing off the cat basket bird table conversion I was doing. The woodwork went well with no problems or undue strain, then I got out some pliers as I had to snip some of the wire out of the base of the cat basket; I am right handed but was using them left handed to protect my bad thumb but I didn't have enough strength due to the damn OA ...... so I added my right hand into the equation and ........................ I slipped and the pliers cramped onto my injured thumb! Needless to say I screamed a few offensive words! After running my thumb under the cold tap for a while I have been left with a blood blister right under the scar and it is more hurty than it was. Back to my normal lethargic self today, can't even hold a small paintbrush to continue with the model I am making. Garage out of bounds for now ............. until............!

Lilymary

Oh no Mike! What a rotten time you've had! As your post started I had a horrible feeling this wasn't going to end well. It's amazing how much pain finger/thumb injuries can cause - all those wretched nerve endings.

Losing weight is always a good thing, but there are better ways to do it than feeling too ill to eat. Hope you're feeling better now, and that your thumb settles down again. The birds will have to wait, but it must be frustrating not being able to get on with it. x

frogmorton

@Mike1

I was wondering how that thumb was....

Imagine you losing a whole stone thanks to those vile (but effective) antibiotics! That is a win-win if ever I saw one and in addition not smoking now too! That is fabulous I bet you are pleased about that. Well your pocket will be😁 I bet the nurses are too at the surgery.

BUT the day before's antics in the garage 😮😣 noooooo! BIGGEST ouch again!

I was in the garage too yesterday supervising my husband doing some bits on my pink Figaro. She now has a lovely boot rack, lockable glove box and the 'proper' straps to hold her roof down in the boot in good weather. I supervised with the aid of video tutorials on my lap top.

Now you take it easy young man!

((()))

Mike1

Thanks Toni, thumb is still hurty and I am more than miffed that I have been so incompetent to have done it; I am just hoping that this is not an indicator that my pottering in the garage days are coming to an end, i have never had accidents with tools before but the combination of OA and permanent tiredness makes me do daft things. I am not sure that stopping smoking is a good idea, I only did it as the effects of the antibiotics made me feel so sick, I actually miss having a ciggie plus smoking helped me relax! (My only vice; can't drink on Morphine and live alone) Not sure that stopping at my age will make any difference anyway; my Great Grandfather was a tin miner at Geevor and smoked all of his life until he shuffled off his mortal coil in his mid-90s and I am rather hoping I have the same genes! Glad your other half has sorted your motor to your requirements.

frogmorton

Thanks Mike OH has done a good job bless him.

Are you missing your cigs then? I bet you are. I suppose it is better to be off them really I gave up 18 years ago, but would have the odd one here and there with smoking friends. In our family we are not blessed with longevity genes so thought it for the best!

Lungs turned out to be trashed about 2/3 years ago now, but hopefully won't get too much worse 🤞

Let's hope your pottering in the garage days are not over maybe give it a little more recovery time before you try again though?

Lilymary

My dad died of cancer when he was 66. He had smoked from the age of 12. My great uncle died in his late 80s and had also been a heavy smoker all his life. But it was an old age ruined by loss of sense of taste and smell (he had been a gardener, so couldn’t smell the plants he tended) and would take several minutes to get up the stairs as his lungs were wrecked.

I used to smoke occasionally in the past, but eventually I found myself staring at the foul things as I was puffing away wondering if this would be the one that gave me cancer. I stopped.

Airwave!

My aunt offered me a cigarette when I was four, “have one of these boy that’ll make you cough!’ ,my sister had a cigar, by the age of ten I’d buy my own, I spent the next forty years trying to give up. I deeply regret trying to imitate adults.

Don’t give in, you’ve done the hardest bit, it does get easier with time, you just have to keep remembering why you gave up. Apart from any health consideration they’re blooming expensive and make you stink!

Keep up the good work.

its a grin, honest!