Thank you for the great tips craterface. (Sorry I don’t know your real name). I believe I heard you are in the medical profession so this is very valuable.
I have the ID specialist coming this morning and I will mention this to him.
Bo
Safety warning: how a seemingly innocent piece of metal can seriously disrupt your life.
- Thread starter Bmachine
- Start date
I have the ID specialist coming this morning and I will mention this to him.
Bo
Bo, it's Scott Crater. Nice that the ID doc is on the case. Definitely ask her or him. Best of luck for a speedy recovery. Keep on couping...
That's why they sawed off legs so much in the Civil War.
We think we are invincible when working on stuff. And always in a hurry.
Words of wisdom to always be careful working on stuff; cars, house, landscaping, etc.
We think we are invincible when working on stuff. And always in a hurry.
Words of wisdom to always be careful working on stuff; cars, house, landscaping, etc.
Hey Bo -- thanks for the reminder to be vigilant, and about tetanus shots. Unfortunately, the notions we all have about our capabilities and limitations are sometimes out of sync with changes in our bodies as we age. And so we need these reminders.
I’m hesitant to add this because I don’t want to belabor the point. But since this is about relaying some experience that came directly as a result of coupe work in the hope it might help someone else, here it goes.
As I lie awake here after my 2am IV change, I am reminded of something a few of you have said earlier in this thread: “Be an engaged patient”. The importance of that statement is becoming very evident to me. We have a natural tendency to implicitly trust “professionals” in a field we are unfamiliar with. But I find that this should always be accompanied by a polite but healthy dose of inquisitiveness.
Twice over the last two days now a replacement nurse came by during the night to plug in the next dose of antibiotics into the plastic “needle” that is left semi permanently in my arms for that purpose. And they started the pump without first checking if the the plastic needle was still correctly stuck inside the vein. After 5 or 10 minutes it started to really hurt because the fluid was spilling outside the vein. So I had to call and request the “real nurse” to come in ASAP and stop the machine to reset everything. I have now learned that you should always request that they first test to make sure the plastic needle is still where it is supposed to be before starting anything. And you should also find out how to stop the pump yourself if something doesn’t feel right. This seems obvious after the fact but unless you have seen it going wrong you assume that they are all doing everything right automagically.
I now realize how important it is to really get to know the nurse who is assigned to you for each shift and let your inner radar form a “gut feeling” as to whether you trust this person or not. This is obviously not very scientific but your inner sense is the best defense you got at this point. So have a little chat before they do anything and see where your confidence needle goes. Then if you trust that person, do not let anyone else do anything to you. If you do not trust him/her, there is always a Nurse Supervisor who you can request to talk to and relay your concerns.
Obviously always be extremely polite and diplomatic about it. You get a lot more bees with honey than with vinegar. But at the end of the day, it’s your life and limbs so that should be your number one priority.
This also goes for the docs as well. “Why are you prescribing this particular med? “What are the possible side effects?” “What’s the worst case scenario and then what do we do?”
Of course it’s real easy to think and say this when you are comfortably away from the actual situation. But it’s a lot harder when you are physically and mentally weakened by the injury and you just want someone to “just fix the problem and let me come back to normal as quickly as possible”. So you really need to be ready to be on alert even then.
“Be an engaged patient!” What a great tip!
PS: I must haste to add that, outside of these two incidents, the care I have received here has been first class.
As I lie awake here after my 2am IV change, I am reminded of something a few of you have said earlier in this thread: “Be an engaged patient”. The importance of that statement is becoming very evident to me. We have a natural tendency to implicitly trust “professionals” in a field we are unfamiliar with. But I find that this should always be accompanied by a polite but healthy dose of inquisitiveness.
Twice over the last two days now a replacement nurse came by during the night to plug in the next dose of antibiotics into the plastic “needle” that is left semi permanently in my arms for that purpose. And they started the pump without first checking if the the plastic needle was still correctly stuck inside the vein. After 5 or 10 minutes it started to really hurt because the fluid was spilling outside the vein. So I had to call and request the “real nurse” to come in ASAP and stop the machine to reset everything. I have now learned that you should always request that they first test to make sure the plastic needle is still where it is supposed to be before starting anything. And you should also find out how to stop the pump yourself if something doesn’t feel right. This seems obvious after the fact but unless you have seen it going wrong you assume that they are all doing everything right automagically.
I now realize how important it is to really get to know the nurse who is assigned to you for each shift and let your inner radar form a “gut feeling” as to whether you trust this person or not. This is obviously not very scientific but your inner sense is the best defense you got at this point. So have a little chat before they do anything and see where your confidence needle goes. Then if you trust that person, do not let anyone else do anything to you. If you do not trust him/her, there is always a Nurse Supervisor who you can request to talk to and relay your concerns.
Obviously always be extremely polite and diplomatic about it. You get a lot more bees with honey than with vinegar. But at the end of the day, it’s your life and limbs so that should be your number one priority.
This also goes for the docs as well. “Why are you prescribing this particular med? “What are the possible side effects?” “What’s the worst case scenario and then what do we do?”
Of course it’s real easy to think and say this when you are comfortably away from the actual situation. But it’s a lot harder when you are physically and mentally weakened by the injury and you just want someone to “just fix the problem and let me come back to normal as quickly as possible”. So you really need to be ready to be on alert even then.
“Be an engaged patient!” What a great tip!
PS: I must haste to add that, outside of these two incidents, the care I have received here has been first class.
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Sorry to hear that, hope you recover fast!
Philippe db
Well-Known Member
Must have missed this.
Sorry to read about your bad fortune Bo. Hang in their my friend!
Sorry to read about your bad fortune Bo. Hang in their my friend!
Bo, this has turned into such a horrible ordeal for you and brings a whole new meaning to a painstaking restoration.
We have been following your posts for several years on the meticulous care and patience you have been taking in the restoration of your coupe and I look forward to reading the continuation and it's completion in near future.
Doug
We have been following your posts for several years on the meticulous care and patience you have been taking in the restoration of your coupe and I look forward to reading the continuation and it's completion in near future.
Doug
Godspeed Bo. Definitely be engaged, when my daughter was 13 she had pneumonia and the doctor was about to do something drastic when we realized they were reading an xray of an adult man's chest! Always understand why and what they want to do! Speedy recovery!
Thank you very much guys!
I really appreciate the good words and moral support.
Bo
I really appreciate the good words and moral support.
Bo
Yikes!!! Right, that is exactly what I meant.
Update. Today Saturday I was released from the hospital. I really cannot complain about three days compared to the much tougher ordeals some people have to go through. But, in the context of this forum, as this was the result of a seemingly simple accidental interaction between human flesh and German steel, its severity caught me totally off guard and it ended up becoming disproportionately serious.
I am now home but I still have to go back to the hospital every morning for an hour of IV for a week. Things are finally looking better. Let’s hope it continues to a full heal.
PS: One more tip that the infectious disease doctor told me: If you get an open wound such as this one on the legs and the skin around it starts to get red, likely meaning an infection, always insist that the doctor gets a culture or takes a sample of the wound BEFORE you take any meds. This is so they can determine which bacteria is causing the trouble. It makes finding the right antibiotic much faster and more accurate.
I am now home but I still have to go back to the hospital every morning for an hour of IV for a week. Things are finally looking better. Let’s hope it continues to a full heal.
PS: One more tip that the infectious disease doctor told me: If you get an open wound such as this one on the legs and the skin around it starts to get red, likely meaning an infection, always insist that the doctor gets a culture or takes a sample of the wound BEFORE you take any meds. This is so they can determine which bacteria is causing the trouble. It makes finding the right antibiotic much faster and more accurate.
Honolulu
Well-Known Member
Geez after reading this and thinking of the nine concurrent pencil eraser size staph aureus craters I once had on my feet and ankles from too much bodysurfing with tight fins, and barefoot most of the time - guess I got lucky. But in the 1970s they may have been less resistant bacteria, because once I got a shot of whatever antibiotic and some pills, things cleared right up. And the surf back then... out alone at dawn on a good day at Makapu'u or Pipeline... priceless.
This reminds me to think again about getting a pair of mechanic's gloves, long cuff style like my motorcycle gloves which are actually long cuff thick leather welding gloves. Only one guy, an independent Volvo mechanic, ever asked be "doing much welding lately?" no one else recognized them.
But ladders... that's another story. Only fell off one of those, so far, and no lasting damage. Lucky it was only a six footer, and I fell into the bushes I was trimming.
Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery. Time to sterilyze the underparts!
This reminds me to think again about getting a pair of mechanic's gloves, long cuff style like my motorcycle gloves which are actually long cuff thick leather welding gloves. Only one guy, an independent Volvo mechanic, ever asked be "doing much welding lately?" no one else recognized them.
But ladders... that's another story. Only fell off one of those, so far, and no lasting damage. Lucky it was only a six footer, and I fell into the bushes I was trimming.
Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery. Time to sterilyze the underparts!
I had my own episode of hurrying a bit too much three days ago. I was standing on a step stool in the garage while reaching over my head and overbalanced. The stepstool tipped over and my feet went out from under me. I was quickly deposited onto the concrete floor onto my back. Luckily it was a clear spot and my head missed the 2-inch steel pipes that were close. My hip glanced off a 2x6 that was lying nearby and I have a lovely black and blue bruise on my right cheek along with some soreness to remind me to not be so hasty. And most thankfully, my head didn't impact the floor. Too much practice tumbling off of bicycles in my youth I suppose.
I've just passed into my 6th decade so I'll have to be more careful if I want to see another one.
Bo, infections are nasty and are getting harder to conquer so I'm glad you've turned the corner.
Guys, for the little stuff, wash with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide quickly and thoroughly and bandage with Neosporin for several days, changing daily. It helps the healing and cuts down on scaring. It really makes a difference.
Ian
Yikes! That could have been a close call! Really glad you came out unscathed Ian!
As far as cleaning a wound, I believe the current medical thinking is to not use alcohol or peroxide anymore. Scott Crater will be more qualified then me to comment on that one. In the meantime a quick google will shed more light on the subject.
steve in reno
Well-Known Member
I was a ICU and ER nurse for 25 years.
I hated to hear of your injury.
Do not use alcohol or straight peroxide for cleaning a wound. They do significant harm to new and healthy tissue. If using peroxide use, 1/2 and 1/2 with sterile water.
For an open wound needing 14 sutures, assuming several were deep and not removable, I am surprised that they didn't give you antibiotics.
If injured area reddens after initial treatment, or red streaks appear/or elevation in temp, return to medical provider! ASAP
THE MOST DANGEROUS tool in your garage is the ladder. And NEVER use the top step of any ladder or stool!
Ian, you dodged a bullet!
You are the patient, and should always be your most ardent questioner of people and practices for your health.
Glad you are on the mend!
Be safe
I hated to hear of your injury.
Do not use alcohol or straight peroxide for cleaning a wound. They do significant harm to new and healthy tissue. If using peroxide use, 1/2 and 1/2 with sterile water.
For an open wound needing 14 sutures, assuming several were deep and not removable, I am surprised that they didn't give you antibiotics.
If injured area reddens after initial treatment, or red streaks appear/or elevation in temp, return to medical provider! ASAP
THE MOST DANGEROUS tool in your garage is the ladder. And NEVER use the top step of any ladder or stool!
Ian, you dodged a bullet!
You are the patient, and should always be your most ardent questioner of people and practices for your health.
Glad you are on the mend!
Be safe
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I believe that is called "saline water" down here. Yes, nurses were using that exclusively to clean up the wounds.
Thank you guys for asking. I didn't really want to dwell on this but, since you asked...
Unfortunately I don’t have very positive news. After my stay in the hospital, things looked much better. The infection looked like it had been beaten. I was put on low dose antibiotics while the wound was trying to close up. Unfortunately over the last three or four days the infection came back with a vengeance. It is very difficult for a large wound in the lower legs to close up very fast. Therefore even though it is well protected and medicated, it is still an open wound which is highly susceptible to bacteria.
So my ID doctor put me back on some very powerful antibiotics yesterday. Fingers crossed that these ones beat this thing once and for all. But I have been told it could be another two months before the wound is completely healed.
As you can probably imagine I cannot tell you how frustrating (and stressful, tbh) this thing is. You are trying to fight an insidious enemy that you cannot see or predict. To make matters worse you are supposed to keep the leg elevated for easier circulation. This essentially keeps you from doing almost anything physical. I normally swim 1500 m every day at lunch and I have not been able to get in the water for over two months now. There is a real snowball effect at work here. All of that because of a stupid little fall while working on the car.
But i keep telling myself that many people have to deal with far worse than this. So I really don’t have any right to complain.
Be safe everybody. It’s reaaaaally worth it.
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