Yesterday morning I spilled my freshly made coffee on my hand. I use a filter thing that sits on top of my mug and I’d just filled it with boiling water from the kettle when it tipped over, landing on my left hand. Luckily I was standing right beside the kitchen sink and our water does get nice and cold so I immediately doused it, letting the water run for a while. Shannon came to see what was wrong-I’d screamed and was sobbing-and told me it looked “really bad”. That was when I looked too.
It looked worse than really bad to me: It looked terrifyingly awful. All the top layer of skin from my wrist above my thumb diagonally across to my pinky finger was peeled away, bright pink underneath. The shredded flaps of burnt skin looked brown and disgusting. Even between my fingers and down to the second joint are cooked.
After minimal debate, it was decided that a visit to the nearest Emergency Room was necessary. At that point I’d been running icy water over it for about half an hour and the pain was tolerable-I’d also taken 2 Advil before we went out. The nurses were so great, they let me sit in the eyewash station right beside a sink so that whenever it started to heat up I could cool it off. It was a good spot too, I wasn’t sitting with truly sick, infectious people and I got to listen in on very interesting conversations between doctors, nurses and patients.
Anyway, eventually a very nice doctor did see me and wrote a prescription for percs then a nurse bandaged me up and sent me home. Both were amazed by my pain tolerance, but I swear that all the icy water made an enormous difference.
All together I spent less than 3 hours in the ER.
The good news is that I can’t do dishes for a while. The bad news is that I can’t knit or sew and that means no xmas gifts will be done on time. The other news is that percosets make me crazy dizzy and put me into a shitty twilight state, not asleep but not awake. Me and my low tolerance!
No pictures yet, sorry. I didn’t really have my wits about me to do that pre-bandaging yesterday. When I go back to the hospital tomorrow for a look-see and fresh bandages, I’ll do it but be prepared for extreme ugliness.
If anyone is near me and wants to help with some sewing I’d be forever grateful and in your debt, please let me know.
TL;DR I have second degree burns on 2/3 on the back of my hand.
Sweet merciful crap! That does sound terrible!
I forbid this to have happened. You will have to send it back.
Or, at the very least, I hope you manage ok with the pain and mobility issues.
Aloe!
OWIE! Huge hugs and kisses!!
Wow that sounds brutal. I’ve never been burned that bad so I have no idea how painful it can be. But clearly it must be horrid if they gave you Percs! I hope you get well quick!
I wish a mum’s kisses were enough to make it all better. So here’s a big bunch anyway, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
OUCH! Sounds really terrible and from your writing, you are really tough and brave. Last year I got burned by hot (but not cooking) water on the back of my left hand and I was absolutely amazed and shocked at how badly that hurt and it was only a slight first degree burning.
I really hope it gets better soon and send you a big HUG!
Oh mama! I hope your hand gets better soon!
My dad had a horrible burn experience once with a fresh-out-of-the-oven Shepherd’s Pie landing on his foot. Burns are not pretty.
It”s really quite amazing how little it hurts. The best way to describe it that most of you will understand is like day 2 of a big tattoo when the skin is tight and a little warm feeling and you don’t want to move it around too much for fear that it will crack open.
After tomorrow i think my tune will change, I’m anticipating serious pain, I already know the bandages are totally stuck on.
I literally gasped when I read that. OMG.
I know this sounds woefully uncool, but I hate percocet. Things that are supposed to make you feel better should not give you a freaking hangover after they wear off. The last time I got a script for it, I ended up just drinking Jameson instead.
Take care of yourself, lady.
Ow! :( Burns are like SO painful – so keep taking those dizzy pills. Hope the healing goes well.
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Oh, poor you! my greatest sympathies!
For future reference, cool water is recommended over icy water. Hope you heal quickly!
best,
Ella
I’m quite a veteran of burning myself in the kitchen, but the other day I did something super ridiculous and touched red hot broiler with the back of my hand. Oh man! I agree on the icy water thing. It makes all the difference. And no dishwashing for me neither :)
I hope it heals fast. Prepare yourself for a very weird pulling sensation when your body is working on patching it up. Good luck!