How do you know when to get stitches?

Mommy2BAK wrote: OK everyone, this is a little embarassing, but today I was cutting up potatoes and I sliced my thumb really bad. I sliced the same thumb in a different spot a few days ago, but this time it is pretty bad, that happened at like three this afternoon and it is 8 now and it is still bleeding, I keep putting band-aids on it but the blood soaks through it. But anyway, to the point.... how do you know when you need stitches? I have never had stitches (except... eerrr), but my DH really thinks I need to get them.

FYI: I never go to the doc for anything, I am a bad patient, I always think things will get better, DH goes to the doc if he sneezes. LOL

Alice replied:
Five hours of blood seems like an awfully long time to me. Grab a book and go to the ER... NOW. If it's still bleeding when they eventually see you, you'll be glad you went.

Good luck!!

mammag replied: I agree. I think I'd go in if I were you. I believe I heard it would lessen the scar.

Mommy2BAK replied: Thanks guys, but I just have this huge fear of going in and looking like a cry baby and them saying its fine.

mckayleesmom replied: My husband said to hold it closed for 5 minutes with your fingers...when you take them off...if it doesn't stay sticking together then go to the ER...Thats what they taught him in the Army...they had to have first aide...He also said that the longer you wait..the bigger the scar will be.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: GO TO THE ER GIRL!! I hope it gets better!

iluvmysweetiepies replied: I would go to the ER. Having stitches will make it heal so much faster and 5 hours of bleeding is a lot. Good luck! I hope your finger heals quickly

Mommy2BAK replied: Thanks guys. But I wound up not going, I think my finger will be fine.

Cary Lynn replied: I agree go to the ER

Alice replied: ARe you OK???

I bet you lost a lot of blood-- eat lots of red meat & have plenty of fluids today!!

MommyToAshley replied: Glad your finger is better today. Five hours is a lot of bleeding, take it easy today.


P.S. Don't be embarrassed, that sound like something I would do (and have done).

iluvmysweetiepies replied: How's your finger today? I hope it's feeling okay.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I sliced my thumb really bad once on one of those pull back tin can lids... it was a can of fruit cocktail or something. I probably could have used a stitch or two but I didn't get any. It took awhile to heal though, and the fatty tissues under the skin kept coming out. I hope yours gets better soon!

texasp3 replied: How's the cut today? I admit, I would have to be POURING blood to go to the ER for a kitchen cut. My hands have several white line scars on them from cuts that probably "could" have used a stitch but healed just fine without one. I usually keep some steri-strips around for bad cuts that keep popping open and leaking - sounds like that's what yours did. That's as good as a stitch for a suface cut.

And no, don't worry ya'll, I'm not nearly so cavalier about my kiddos! They get stitches if they THINK about bleeding! It's just that I've spent SO much time in the kitchen and I like my knives SHARP.. it's inevitable that the skin on my hands is eventually going to confess to my various skipped stitches.

Mommy2BAK replied: Well, my finger doesn't bleed today unless I am picking something up with it or something, then the blood pushes the skin back open and bleeds. (Yuck) But It is still really sore. But I don't think I want to get stiches, I am sure it will be better tomorrow, or the next day.

And to clarify... if Blakely had a cut like this I would take her to a doc in an instant, but I think us moms are used to babying everyone else that we don't pay enough attention to ourselves.

A&A'smommy replied:
yeah seee i am the same way I would be more grossed out than anything and definitly would NOT want to go to the er! I'm glad to hear your finger is better!!

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: I probably wouldn't have gone either. I keep stiptic pencils and super glue around the house for when I do things like that.
It was designed to keep cuts closed and is even what they put on me at the hospital when I was 15 and sliced my finger (which i why i no longer waste the money going)