Butterfly Bandage?

[johnnyg08]

Hi guys,

 

Sliced up my shin pretty good a week ago on Friday.  

 

I've been cleaning the wound twice daily, applying antiseptic twice daily and today started using butterfly bandages to keep it together.

 

I realize the butterfly piece should've come a week ago, but what's done is done.  

 

Looking for some advice on getting this sucker to heal and approximately how long I should expect this to heal. 

 

I'm not going to the ER unless I absolutely have to so don't suggest that for at least another week!  :-)

 

 

[Mudisfun]

Just keep the skin together, clean and dry as much as possible. Not a lot else you can do if going to the doc is not on your agenda.

[maven]

Super glue. Seriously.

[Tksjewelry]

The er won't do you any good now unless you have infection, they can't close it after so long. Closing it will only seal in the infection so Don't bandage it if possible, keep a loose wrap over it if you must have something and keep it clean and dry. DH comes home often with nice gouges and deep burns, I'm becoming an ole hand at patching him up. If you have any silvadine, a little of that at night will help it heal but really, it just takes time.

[johnnyg08]

It's a tad red around the area of the cut...but I'm not concerned about the redness.  Yet, anyway. 

 

The red hasn't increased in several days.  

 

Thanks for all of the advice so far.  

 

Probably a few weeks before it's completely healed?

[MadMax]

Concur with Doctor @maven. Super glue will keep it closed. If you want the "medically approved" skin glue, look for Dermabond.

 

To @Tksjewelry's point, make sure you have it as cleaned out and sterilized as possible before sealing it shut.

 

My kid brother is a masterful orthopedic surgeon, and performs stitch-work out of his bathroom on anyone in the friends and family circle, often with the same casual aplomb as your granny knitting a sweater. Know any doctor friends?

[midtnump]

Start monitoring your temp as well. If you start to develop an infection you should get a rise in body temp. The only thing I might add is pouring hydrogen peroxide on it to aid in killing possible infection. If you have any kind of electric moustache trimmer, use it to shave down your leg hair all around the cut. They can get inside your wound and cause infection.

[johnnyg08]

Start monitoring your temp as well. If you start to develop an infection you should get a rise in body temp. The only thing I might add is pouring hydrogen peroxide on it to aid in killing possible infection. If you have any kind of electric moustache trimmer, use it to shave down your leg hair all around the cut. They can get inside your wound and cause infection.

 

Thanks for the tip on the trimmer.  I will be shaving my leg tonight.  Keep 'em coming folks.  This is the feedback I need.  I haven't noticed a temperature yet.  I am continuing to monitor.  

[ElkOil]

Try this home remedy:  Take a vitamin E capsule and pierce the end, then squeeze the vitamin E all over the wound.  Wrap it loosely.  Do this once a day.  It sounds hokey, I know.  But it speeds the healing process -- so much so that I used it on my dog when had knee surgery and the vet was so amazed at how quickly the incision closed, he asked me what I had been doing to it because he figured something was up.  I never had a wound so bad I felt compelled to use it on myself, however.  My mom always swore by it, which is what turned me on to it.  And if you try it and it doesn't help, at least it won't hurt.

[johnnyg08]

Try this home remedy:  Take a vitamin E capsule and pierce the end, then squeeze the vitamin E all over the wound.  Wrap it loosely.  Do this once a day.  It sounds hokey, I know.  But it speeds the healing process -- so much so that I used it on my dog when had knee surgery and the vet was so amazed at how quickly the incision closed, he asked me what I had been doing to it because he figured something was up.  I never had a wound so bad I felt compelled to use it on myself, however.  My mom always swore by it, which is what turned me on to it.  And if you try it and it doesn't help, at least it won't hurt.

 

I appreciate that.  Thank you.

[VAUmp]

Go to www.webmd.com instead of www.umpire-empire.com 

[bam]

Why didn't you go to the ER in the first place?

 

Relying on the advice of guys who say "rub dirt on it" all season long probably isn't your best option.

[johnnyg08]

Go to www.webmd.com instead of www.umpire-empire.com 

 

This is all really good advice.  Honestly, if I wanted a website that told me to go to the ER, those are plentiful. 

 

I am seeking real advice from real people and I'm getting fantastic advice on here.

 

I didn't go to the ER because I don't want to spend the money.  

[umpstu]

Super glue. Seriously.

That's actually being used more often now days.

[JaxRolo]

Take 2 aspirin and call me in the morning.

[zm1283]

I probably wouldn't go to the ER for that either. Urgent Care would be the better option. Much cheaper and probably faster too.

[noumpere]

Tourniquet around the knee.

 

next, ask me what to do about a nosebleed. 

[johnnyg08]

Tourniquet around the knee.

 

next, ask me what to do about a nosebleed. 

 

Stick to comedy.  

[ricka56]

A few years ago, I fell off a ladder that caused a gash on the back/top of my leg. It probably should have gotten 6 stitches, but I didn't want to go to the ER. The cut was in a place where it was hard for me to see and harder to pinch it close and superglue it together by myself. So I had my son (age 22) come over and he superglued my arse back together for me. 

 

The experience gave the term father/son bonding a whole new meaning.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

Real honey. Not that pasteurized crap from the grocery store. Real honey is a very good anti-bacterial agent.

[ElkOil]

 

Go to www.webmd.com instead of www.umpire-empire.com 

 

This is all really good advice.  Honestly, if I wanted a website that told me to go to the ER, those are plentiful. 

 

I am seeking real advice from real people and I'm getting fantastic advice on here.

 

I didn't go to the ER because I don't want to spend the money.  

 

 

WebMD would just tell you that you have cancer anyway, regardless of your actual affliction.