Monday, September 5, 2016

23 stitches later...


There are some gory pictures further down so...just sayin'...

Sunday I headed into the city in the truck to pick up the landscape blocks and a light table from our friend's studio, the one that is getting evicted after 40 years. Then the plan was to head to my daughter's house to shower and change and go out for lunch and to see the opening play at the Main Street Theater for which she had two comped tickets as she knew one of the actresses and the director plus where she works is where the theater gets all their printing done.

I say was because things didn't go exactly as planned. I had about 2/3s of the landscape blocks in the truck when I stepped off the side of tailgate backwards, something I had been doing all morning and have probably done a million fucking times, and somehow managed to dig the sharp corner of the tailgate into the thigh of my left leg ripping up a 2” triangle of skin and leaving behind about a teaspoon of fat and tissue. If I hadn't been wearing shorts or even shorts that came to my knee I might have just ripped the cloth and gotten a deep scratch. But no, because that's not how I roll.

the culprit

It didn't really hurt, though I knew I had hurt myself, then I looked down at the blood running down my leg and OH FUCK, smashed my hand down on the tear to staunch the bleeding and hobbled into Gene's studio where we got a good look at it and it was horrible though not really bleeding at that point. So I called my daughter and told her I couldn't go to the play, that I was in trouble and needed to go the emergency room, and could she come get me. Which she did and took me to the nearest medi-clinic.

As it turned out, the doctor that stitched me up was my previous primary care doctor who retired from his private practice two years ago to work at an emergency clinic. I was lucky, he said, had it gone any deeper I might have damaged muscle or torn a tendon. So, 3 stitches inside to bring the tissue together and try to minimize the divot I'm going to have in my thigh and 20 stitches to close up the flap of skin.

the wound

stitching up the tissue

tacking down the skin

stitching up the edges

all done 

Brian, Gene's friend who was there to help get the light table into the truck, looked at the pictures and said, 'you know what this means, right? In a past life you were attacked by a chicken and it really messed you up.

So, stitched and bandaged, Sarah and I went on to the play because that's also how we roll. It still didn't hurt, there was some sensation but not what I would call pain.

stage set for The Revolutionists

After the play we dashed back over to Gene's to get the light table in the truck, Gene had been kind enough to load all the rest of the landscape blocks for me, and then we went for an early dinner since we had missed lunch and then I headed home.

Once home and on my couch I sort of gave in to the stress, took some ibuprofen, and went to sleep. It is tender today and I expect I will have a terrific bruise and a Frankenstein scar but so far no real pain. 

how it looked Monday morning

I go back in 10 days to get the stitches out.






37 comments:

  1. Well it looks like the doc did an excellent job. Very neat and tidy chicken foot. Take it easy, gal. Don't rip those stitches or stress that muscle.

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  2. You may roll but you have to learn to not roll over the sharp metal. Maybe some duct tape over those edges? Glad it was not worse, but it sure looked like it would put me in a lot of pain.

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  3. Oh Ellen.. you are one tough woman. I had to scroll quickly past the pre-stitched images.. it looks so painful but I'm glad you're holding up well. I assume you're up on your tetanus shots and that antibiotics are readily available, if needed. I'm squirming just thinking about it. Keep healing and stop getting hurt!! :)

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    1. Well, as the day progresses it is getting a little more painful but mostly when I'm up walking around which I am trying not to do so much of. Yes to the tetanus shot. Had one 4 years ago when I got bit by the snake.

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  4. I know I am preaching to the choir, but watch it like a hawk for infection. (we are getting older and do not heal like we used to) Apply alcohol as needed, not to the wound - a drink or two or three for pain.

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    1. Yep. He's got me on antibiotics which he says he doesn't usually do but for the severity of the wound.

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  5. That's right, about the tetanus shot. I'm pretty sure you'd be up to date, but it bears repeating. The years go by pretty quickly, and that's one that's easy to forget. I'm really glad it wasn't any worse. You should heal up just fine -- and I'm glad you got to see the play, anyhow!

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    1. You and me both. Tetanus shot four years ago when the copperhead nailed me.

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  6. I am very glad it didn't go deeper! No one Ned's muscle or tendon damage. I hope it heals nicely and quickly.

    P. S. Brain is fantastic.

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  7. jezuz girl!That is one bad wound! Glad you took photos of the whole deal, I love the photos, and love how cleverly the doctor stitched, It will look amazing when it heals! Take good care! treat yourself well and don't do anything "normal" for a while!

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    1. Yeah, I fucked myself good this time. The scar should be interesting. Sitting on my butt for the most part today.

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  8. Something is telling you to SLOW DOWN! Stay off that leg and give yourself time to heal!

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    1. trying though I don't have the greatest track record for that sort of thing.

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  9. Holy cow! At which point do you finally decide that you and yardwork of any kind are simply not compatible?

    Does give a whole new slant on selfies, though. ;-)

    Take care (and hire a gardener. or pave the yard. correction: let SOMEONE ELSE pave the yard)

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    1. I love yard work and I have big plans for those landscape blocks. It's not the yard work, it's the damn truck trying to kill me!

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  10. My God, are you the bionic woman?! I would have been screaming bloody murder. But what a cool looking scar that is going to be!

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    1. I think I was mostly in shock and the lack of pain helped. it's rather more painful now but only when I walk around.

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  11. YIKES!!! That looks incredibly painful. I love the bit about being attacked by a chicken, though. Thank goodness you didn't hurt yourself more seriously.

    I am so impressed you made it to the play!

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    1. It does look like it ought to hurt like hell and it has gotten a little painful but only when I walk around. didn't seem to be any reason not to go after it was numbed up and stitched up and I would just be sitting.

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  12. OMG you really went over the edge wrong. Looks like it should really hurt, hope you heal quickly

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    1. I'm really surprised at how little pain there is. it's pretty tender now but only hurts when I walk around.

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  13. My, you did a job, and took it in stride, so to speak. Also, effing damnation. Probably won't slow you down much, or for long, but what a pain, and I hope that's over soon, too.

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  14. I got goosebumps reading this. I hope it continues not to hurt.

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    1. it's gotten a little tender and hurts some now when I walk around but for the most part I'm astonished at how little pain there is.

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  15. Take care so you heal well. Your doctor did a great stitching job and in time the scar will probably fade. It will always be a reminder though to take care when around that truck.
    A friend recomends Gorilla tape. Says it is much stronger than duct tape.
    Have a quiet week and catch up on your reading.

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    1. yes, it's one more thing on my list to be ever vigilant about.

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  16. That looks like a nasty wound. Sorry you had to experience this.

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  17. You are tough as nails Ellen. I can take just about anything, but when the fat comes out I get ill. Hope it all heals well and you can tell people some fantastic story how it happened, like jumping from a cliff etc.

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    1. well, I don't know about being tough as nails but I am incredibly stubborn.

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  18. Ouch ouch ouch ouch!! Glad you're ok!

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  19. oh, my gut curled up a bit, but the chicken scar made me lol! :)

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I opened my big mouth, now it's your turn.