If I believed in it, I would think my family has been cursed. How so? About a week before my mom’s accident, my 14-year-old cousin was in the hospital with road rash. Then my mom got hit by a car. Then my uncle (my cousin’s dad, by the way) was admitted to the hospital with chest pains and a high pulse rate (they diagnosed him with stress, and put him on blood pressure medication). On Sunday night, my nephew was taken to the emergency room with a fever of 104. (He’s fine, just has a bad virus.) And yesterday, it was my turn.
It all happened a little after 2pm. I was washing the dishes and while rinsing off a glass, it slipped and broke another glass in the sink. No biggie. I took all the pieces and just put it on the counter, to clean up later. Once I finished with the dishes, I took a kitchen towel, picked up the glass, and on my way to the garbage, it slipped and sliced me on the inside of my thumb. Ouch.
The cut was pretty deep and was bleeding pretty steadily. I grabbed a towel and started applying as much pressure as possible. I called my mom and was pretty calm about the whole thing. Just your average, “Hi, Mom. I’m at home. Everything is OK, but I cut my finger pretty bad. It’s bleeding a lot and OH, MY GOD, I CAN’T GET IT TO STOP. ARE YOU THERE? MO-OOOM?!”
I’m pretty much a pro at panicking and thinking of the worst case scenario very quickly. I knew I would have to go to the ER. I was fairly sure I would be getting my first stitches I’ve ever had. The fact that I have no health insurance weighed on my mind a lot.
My mom had a friend drop her off at our apartment, and then my grandpa arrived. It was no less than 10 minutes after the initial call, but felt more like 30. My grandpa drove us to the hospital, since my mom is still in a sling and I’m, you know, still gushing blood from my thumb. On the ride there, I was thinking I probably burst a vein or a blood vessel and would require surgery. And that’s why it was still bleeding. Yes. I jump to the worst conclusions rather quickly.
I didn’t have to wait too long to be seen, 15 minutes tops. The doctor, we can call him Dr. McDreamy, although I would say he was 10x cuter than Patrick Dempsey, saw me and calmed me down. He said all it would take was a few stitches and that’s it. Oh. Just a few stitches? I can handle stitches.
They did have to give an an x-ray to make sure I didn’t have any remaining glass in my cut, which I didn’t. And then he stitched me up. He numbed me up pretty good, which didn’t hurt all too bad, and then stitching part was easy breezy. I didn’t feel a thing.
So there you have it. My first ER visit since 1999, my first x-rays in a billion years, and my first stitches. I only got 3 stitches so, in essence, my mom wins. (She got 17.) I would show you my stitches but I have them wrapped up and really, it’s not all that exciting. I would rather show you a picture of Dr. McDreamy and I, but alas, I did not take one.
I don’t know what is going on with my family. We are not accident-prone at all. I’ve been in the hospital 3 times total: when I was born, to get my tonsils removed at 4, and to get a tetanus shot after I had been bit by a dog. I can only remember my mom being in the hospital twice: once for hurting her arm when I was in middle school and then for her thyroid surgery 2 years ago.
I’m very nervous to see how much the hospital bill is going to be, especially with the 3 x-rays. And I have to find a place to get my stitches out. We have no student health center at my campus, and the cheapest we’ve found is $150. So if you ever want to have a debate on why I think a country-wide health insurance plan is a good idea, I will win.
Tell me, have you ever had to get stitches? And/or, when was your last ER visit?
So sorry about your thumb! is it on your writing hand?
my last and only trip to ER was for a car accident, to check for broken bones. back in july 2007. No broken bones but it sucked.
I'm about to be without health insurance, & I am TERRIFIED. I might have to do COBRA, even though it's expensive; the relief will be worth it. I've never had stitches, though, KNOCK ON WOOD. Hope your thumb heals quickly.
I've NEVER had to have stitches! (Knock on wood!)
The last time I was in the ER for my own issues was a couple years ago. Good ol' dislocated shoulder! Other than that, it was a couple months ago for the boyfriend's kidney stones. No fun!
Health insurance alone would put me ever wanting to live in the US.
Never been to the ER for myself. Went last year for BF. It was free. (Apart from the crutches.)
If we'd gone to the doctor – not that any were open at 10pm – it would've probably cost at least $50.
You guys really are having some bad health luck! I hope it doesn't cost too much and that nothing else happens to anyone for a while.
I am sorry to hear about your thumb. Major bummer. I have health insurance and still hate going to the doctors because of how expensive it is. I hope you heal quickly!
I had to get stitches a few years ago. Cut my finger on the lid of a tin can. The doctor treat me like crud since it was worker's comp. And I know it wasn't just his bed side manner because he stitched up my then husband 2 weeks before. I had to go the worker's comp doc to have the stitches removed. If I hadn't I would have done it myself or had my mom do it. I have had stitches from
Surgeries before, so no biggie to take them out.
I've never had stitches, unless you count the surgery I had when I was 11. 😛 I almost had to get stitches back in July; I sliced my heel open and was on the couch for 2 weeks because of it. But because they couldn't numb my heel and there was NO WAY I was going to let them stitch my foot without any numbing, they glued it [???] shut and I had to wear a brace for about 3 weeks. Yeah, that was a bummer. In Summer!!! I spent it on the couch and limping around! Then I got Bronchitis a week or so afterward…okay, I'll shut up now. 😉
Blessings,
~Laura
I just want to come to your house and give you and your family a big hug! You've definitely dealt with a lot lately – hang in there babe! (And take comfort in the fact that you have doctors that look like McDreamy! Nice!)
I've never had stitches but I've had plenty of ER x-rays!
Wow girl! I'm so glad you're okay, this story is insane. The same thing happened to my friend though, she dropped a wine glass and, thankfully she had fake nails, otherwise, the tip of her finger would have been cut off! Ga…the thought of that makes me gag!
Hmm…last stitches I had were when I was a senior in high school (10 years ago-ack!) when I had knee surgery!!! Last ER visit, no clue, maybe when my sister almost cut my toe off or when her teammate hit me in the head with a bat-I promise, my sister really loves me!
A sliced thumb! That sounds painful. I'm so sorry you had to go to the ER and get stitches. (You're brave though – I think I would've fainted if my thumb gushed that much blood.)
On another note, you really should write a book. You're funny, girl! You made me laugh with the "Just your average 'Hi Mom…OH MY GOD'" paragraph.
I never had stitches, but my last ER visit was about 3 years ago. A pit-bull attacked me, I fell on the road, and got scraped up. While I was there (in the pediatrics section), a guy actually stumbled into the ER with a gunshot wound. The nurses kindly informed him he was in the wrong section, and he staggered out again. Weird, huh?
I've had stitches quite a few times. They're a breeze. I sliced my finger open cutting an onion, called my dad who was at work, and we went to the hospital.
And as far as your stitches removal is concern, if you're not squeamish, do it yourself or get your mom to do it. Just take some small scissors and tweezers and take them out. You'll know when they're ready to come out because they'll be all itchy. I got the stitches in my finger right before leaving on a cruise. I left them in until I got home but right when I got home, I took those bad boys out. They were itching like crazy!
Good luck. 🙂
Ouch! I'm glad you're on the mend, and you're right. We SERIOUSLY need better options for affordable healthcare.
I went to the ER last summer with an appendicitis false alarm. It wasn't fun, but I got out of there without too much trauma. I've never had a serious cut, just broken bones, so no stitches for me.
Ohh, sweetie! I'm so sorry to hear about all this bad luck. Just think–your family has a LOT of good karma coming its way! Haha. I've never had stitches!
I'm so sorry for all the visits your family has been making to the hospital recently!! I sure hope your finger is feeling better. I've never had stitches (knock on wood) or a broken bone or any sort of major surgery. Things are pretty boring for me health-wise, which is a very good thing!
Yikes! That's a lot of stuff that's happened to your family. But I'm glad yours was just a cut that could be fixed with stitches, which I say like it's no big deal even though I would've completely freaked out. I jump to the worst conclusions when I get hurt, so I know exactly how you felt when you thought you'd need surgery.
I sliced open my left index finger a couple of years ago and had to get it stitched up. I don't know if they didn't do a good job stitching, or if it was the way it was cut or what, but I have a permanent bump on my finger from it!!
Ouch ouch ouch! I feel so bad for you and everything that's been happening to your family. I hope this is the end of it all!
Oh gosh I'm sorry you hurt your finger so badly!! I've never had stitches – I don't think! And the insurance situation really sucks – it's bad here too; I'm paying $150 a month to a health plan that's mandatory through work yet it covers pretty much nothing I actually need. I remember too a few years ago having to go in an ambulance, and then getting the bill a few weeks later for the $500 (I wish you could capitalise numbers!!) it cost!!
I've never gotten stitches, though my cousin, Trevor got several in the back of his head when we were younger. I don't remember what it was for, though. I've been in the emergency room once when I was about seven or eight. I had what the doctors thought was Rhoda virus at the time, but turned out to be just a really bad stomach flu. However, the experience was nothing if not horrifying. The guy who was trying to draw blood from my arm had to be an intern. He jabbed, poked, and prodded me for what felt like a good ten minutes. All the while I'm squirming and screaming and crying in pain because he can't find my vein. I must've been really dehydrated. Finally, a nurse came in a withdrew my blood, no problem. So, yeah, that's my awesome ER experience.
I'm so sorry to hear about this! Last time I was in the ER was senior year in high school, right before senior spring break, and I had to get my appendix removed. It was pretty painful but the anesthesiologist? Was super cute. What is it with cute doctors?
I'm sorry to hear about all that's going on; sometimes when it rains it pours! Stay strong! sending hugs!
Hospital visits and stitches are no fun! I've had stitches a few times: when I was 8, the shower door crashed down on me and sliced open my knee; when I was 17ish, I cut my hand trying to open a can of cat food; when I was 21ish, I had my wisdom teeth out. Oh, and the last time I was in the ER (for myself) was a little over two years ago, when I came home from Romania with what looked like meningitis but turned out to be a viral infection I just had to ride through. I was uninsured at the time, and the bill was like $2,400 just for a urine test, an x-ray and a, "Here's some Motrin. Deal with it." Fortunately, the hospital cut my bill in half and let me pay in installments with no interest. But still…SUCK. I hope your situation is much less stressful!
Oh my word!! Glad you are ok! Never had to get stitches thank God!! Don't if I had too if I would. though I mean yikes! 😉
I'm with you on the insurance thing. I'm unemployed and going back to school this year so I'm sans health insurance. Scary. I try not to let it get in the way of living a fun life, but man, what if my appendix bursts?! I hope this doesn't set you back too much, I know how stressful medical bills can be.
Let's see…last ER visit was in 2001 for a migraine that lasted 5+days. Got a shot of Demerol in the buttcheek and was sent on my merry way!
I've never had stitches, but I did slice my thumb pretty badly on a can of cat food several years ago. It healed on its own but there was a LOT of blood.
Sending happy thoughts to you and your whole family!
OUCH! I'm glad your Mom & Grandpa quickly came to take you to the hospital before you LOST your thumb. No, just kidding.
The last time (and only time) I got stitches was when I was about 11 years old. I fell outside after it rained all day and scraped my knee. As soon as I went inside the house, I saw my knee was cut up badly and I could even see the bone inside. It was so gross! I screamed the entire time I got 4 stitches in the hospital. 🙂
I'm with you on the insurance thing. I'm unemployed and going back to school this year so I'm sans health insurance. Scary. I try not to let it get in the way of living a fun life, but man, what if my appendix bursts?! I hope this doesn't set you back too much, I know how stressful medical bills can be.
Let's see…last ER visit was in 2001 for a migraine that lasted 5+days. Got a shot of Demerol in the buttcheek and was sent on my merry way!
I've never had stitches, but I did slice my thumb pretty badly on a can of cat food several years ago. It healed on its own but there was a LOT of blood.
Sending happy thoughts to you and your whole family!
I sliced open my left index finger a couple of years ago and had to get it stitched up. I don't know if they didn't do a good job stitching, or if it was the way it was cut or what, but I have a permanent bump on my finger from it!!
I've never had stitches, unless you count the surgery I had when I was 11. 😛 I almost had to get stitches back in July; I sliced my heel open and was on the couch for 2 weeks because of it. But because they couldn't numb my heel and there was NO WAY I was going to let them stitch my foot without any numbing, they glued it [???] shut and I had to wear a brace for about 3 weeks. Yeah, that was a bummer. In Summer!!! I spent it on the couch and limping around! Then I got Bronchitis a week or so afterward…okay, I'll shut up now. 😉
Blessings,
~Laura