Not the Hand-Job I Wanted
On sunday evening, I was outside enjoying the evening, when two of the dogs decided to get in a fight. It was my girl being a jealous bitch which started it. As I was trying to turn her away from the other bitch she was trying to bite, I managed to get my hand in the way of some teeth and I felt a chomp. It was stupid, but my excuse is that it was pretty dark.
It didn't hurt, due to all the excitment, and I didn't think it was bad until I felt warm liquid dripping off my fingers. When I got back into the light I found two deep gashes in the back of my hand and blood going everywhere. It looked like it needed stitches, so we wrapped it up tight and headed to the White Cross 24 hour clinic (30 minute drive).
We got there about 9 pm, and I was seen by a nurse, then after some waiting, by the doctor. She took one look and then called the hand department at Middlemore Hospital. They wanted to see me, due to possible nerve and tendon damage. I said "tomorrow?", it being 9:30 pm by then. "No, now.". Ah, OK.
So we drove down to Middlemore (another 20 minute drive), where I had to wait around some more. I was still expecting to be sent home with stitches. My hand was throbbing a bit but it wasn't too bad.
The hand doctor on duty there poked and prodded, then gave a local anesthetic and washed out the wounds. Then she decreed that I would be admitted for IV antibiotics and surgery. Whoa! Lucky I had my phone (what else does one need to travel?).
I sent my ride home, then they put a cast splint on my arm - just in case there was tendon damage. By the time I got to the plastering room, it was 1:30 am, and I was not allowerd to eat after 2, so they found me a sandwitch. Then I waited around for ages before I finally got taken up to the ward, and I didn't get a bed until after 2:30 am. They didn't have a gown or PJs on hand, since it was after hours, so I went to bed in my clothes, still a bit sticky with blood and grubby from not having a shower. The bed was too short and I didn't know how to lower the raised end, and the hospital was noisey, but I did doze for a couple of hours.
I was woken up at 06:00 when they put a drip in my arm, then I dozed some more since there was nothing to do. I figured out how to adjust the bed, and the nurse even made it longer. I eventually got to take a shower and put on a surgery gown, and I was rolled down to the theatre around 11 am.
I guess it all went well as I woke up with a huge bandage on my paw around 2 pm. I had to stay another night while they gave me more IV antibiotics, but fortunately I got my book, cellphone charger and other useful things delivered. I finally got out midday on Tuesday.
I don't know how the wounds are looking as I still have the huge bandage on. However, it's not too sore and everything works. I even went back to work today. I have some numb patches on the back of my hand, but the doctor said that will probably come right in time.
Top marks for the hospital - the facilities are nice and the staff were all wonderful. The food was even tolerable. And it didn't cost me a thing - even the White Cross visit was free since it was an accident and ACC covered it (White Cross after hours is normally $80 or so). Yay for public health!
It didn't hurt, due to all the excitment, and I didn't think it was bad until I felt warm liquid dripping off my fingers. When I got back into the light I found two deep gashes in the back of my hand and blood going everywhere. It looked like it needed stitches, so we wrapped it up tight and headed to the White Cross 24 hour clinic (30 minute drive).
We got there about 9 pm, and I was seen by a nurse, then after some waiting, by the doctor. She took one look and then called the hand department at Middlemore Hospital. They wanted to see me, due to possible nerve and tendon damage. I said "tomorrow?", it being 9:30 pm by then. "No, now.". Ah, OK.
So we drove down to Middlemore (another 20 minute drive), where I had to wait around some more. I was still expecting to be sent home with stitches. My hand was throbbing a bit but it wasn't too bad.
The hand doctor on duty there poked and prodded, then gave a local anesthetic and washed out the wounds. Then she decreed that I would be admitted for IV antibiotics and surgery. Whoa! Lucky I had my phone (what else does one need to travel?).
I sent my ride home, then they put a cast splint on my arm - just in case there was tendon damage. By the time I got to the plastering room, it was 1:30 am, and I was not allowerd to eat after 2, so they found me a sandwitch. Then I waited around for ages before I finally got taken up to the ward, and I didn't get a bed until after 2:30 am. They didn't have a gown or PJs on hand, since it was after hours, so I went to bed in my clothes, still a bit sticky with blood and grubby from not having a shower. The bed was too short and I didn't know how to lower the raised end, and the hospital was noisey, but I did doze for a couple of hours.
I was woken up at 06:00 when they put a drip in my arm, then I dozed some more since there was nothing to do. I figured out how to adjust the bed, and the nurse even made it longer. I eventually got to take a shower and put on a surgery gown, and I was rolled down to the theatre around 11 am.
I guess it all went well as I woke up with a huge bandage on my paw around 2 pm. I had to stay another night while they gave me more IV antibiotics, but fortunately I got my book, cellphone charger and other useful things delivered. I finally got out midday on Tuesday.
I don't know how the wounds are looking as I still have the huge bandage on. However, it's not too sore and everything works. I even went back to work today. I have some numb patches on the back of my hand, but the doctor said that will probably come right in time.
Top marks for the hospital - the facilities are nice and the staff were all wonderful. The food was even tolerable. And it didn't cost me a thing - even the White Cross visit was free since it was an accident and ACC covered it (White Cross after hours is normally $80 or so). Yay for public health!