Wound Closure

Question: How much money appx might we get from AFLAC from my husbands Fasciotomy and wound closure surgeries on leg? We've already received payment on everything except the actual 3 surgeries as the op notes just got there for them to review. I can't locate those actual surgeries under his Accident Policy but have found similar.

Answer: It would depend on the level of benefits you bought, if they are even covered, and how much they cost. No one here could even give a guess.

Question: Can i put regular bandages on my ASD closure wound? like can i just put a regular bandade on it instead of the hospital bandages? its a really small wound. lik the size of a bandade.

Answer: If I were you I would do what the doctor wants you to due. The bandage is bigger for a reason, to help keep it cleaner and if there are stitches the bandage will help take better care of them than a band-aid would. Call your doc to find out what he thinks. He might tell ya that a band-aid would be just fine.

Question: help with wound closure strips (don't read if squeamish)? I sliced my thumb very badly at work today chopping an onion and not concentrating on what I was doing. Too busy chatting!! It's a clean cut and I washed it thoroughly but it's quite deep and there's a big "flap" which gapes a bit and despite having a dressing on it all day it's still bleeding and I'm worried about catching the flap on something and making it bleed again. Plus it hurts like a bi*ch and I've got to work tomorrow. My husband has gone out to get me some steri strips to put on it to keep the flap stuck down till it heals up, and I'll put a dressing on top of them to keep the wound clean. Has anyone used wound closure strips, and how long should they be left on for? Will they come off if I accidentally get them wet? And how will I get them off once it's healed up? Do they just soak off? Thanks for any advice as i've never used these things before. They won't stitch a thumb unless it's been chopped off! I stuck it all together with 4 steristrips and put some of that Germolene New Skin over the top to keep them stuck down, and then gauze and micropore over the top. Thanks everyone for your replies

Answer: Just put the strips over it, so that it holds the two ends together tightly, and then put the dressing over it and try your best not to get it wet, bring extra dressing and strips with you just in case you get it wet, it might feel very uncomfortable and the strips may fall off, i had a fair sized gash in my leg from playing golf i went accross some barbed wire to get my ball and came back and gashed my leg, i just put strips on it and it healed up nicely, exccept theres a scar.

Question: Divorced for two years, still open wound,Closure? Been divorced for 2 years and feel like somone has died but no closure. Have one child with her and rips my heart open every time we talk. Will there ever be any type of closure in this situation. Will it ever get better. I'm shell shocked with relationships now. Should I turn gay? Is that type relationship any easier. Naw I should say not. It would not be anything easy about getting a thing-a-ma-gig up your who-who! SO DAMNED CONFUSED!! By the way, in case I'm reconized on this here forum, that was a joke about turning gay. I somtimes weep when I poop much less the other direction. I slay me!!! HA!HA!

Answer: Not so sure you will ever get the closure your wanting, but time makes it more bearable. I feel the same as you right now about another relationship, but you will someday find someone who can love you the way you want. What has to be hard for you is seeing her each time you pick the child up, that in itself can't be easy, Divorce can be like losing someone to death, done both, and I would have to say that divorce comes close because this person rejected you and gave up on the relationship, with death they didn't choose this. Take it one day at a time.

Question: How did you move on without closure? My wife never would admit to her affairs with different guys..I was stupid enough to stay with her. I after I finally left I still hold bitterness, sadness. I'm having a hard time moving on 'cause I'll never get closure. How have some of you learned to get past the opened wound aspect

Answer: its something u actually never get over when someone has trashed your heart and won't admit it or even show remorse.its something u just have to accept, that she wasn't who u thought she was.u seem to be more upset with yourself for staying with her but its not your fault, u loved her.there are some things in life where there will never be closure.i too am still bitter at times, but when u accept that they are who they are, and u have no control over them, u will feel better.

Question: Removing hair from around an injury on a dog? My dog has a cut on his muzzle and of course it's Saturday of a long weekend. It's about 3/4" and not too deep. Is there any relatively safe way to remove the hair from around the injury to allow wound closures to stick or a bandage to stick over it? To keep it protected? Obviously on the muzzle there isn't any good way to wrap it in gauze without bandaging the poor dogs mouth shut and I don't think that is a good idea overnight. Thanks

Answer: Here's what the pros do: Get a new tube of KY jelly or water based lubricatant. Squeeze a big dollop right into the wound. It won't hurt it cause it is new which means it is sterile and it doesn't have anything in it to irritate the wound. You can now clip the hair with clippers right up to the borders of the wound. Hair will get trapped in the jelly, not in the wound. When you are done you can wipe or rinse it out and clean up the wound with hydrogen peroxide, apply some neosporin in it and it should be okay until you can have it looked at by a vet. You can do this if the wound isn't actively bleeding and it just needs to be cleaned up.

Question: is it possible to get MRSA or other staph infection from an untreated wound? I have a pretty bad cut which may have needed stitches but I chose to use butterfly closures and didn't see a doctor. Someone told me I can get staph this way, is that true?

Answer: any kind of cut or wound can get a staph

Question: Should I cash in 401k to pay medical coinsurance and copays? I owe $6000 for rental of a wound closure device and supplies and around $2300. for cancer treatment coins and copays

Answer: No, do not cash in your 401(K). It's absoultly the worst financal decision one person can make. It's like using a credit card that has 40% interest. You will be taxed for cashing out the 401(K) and you will have to pay back the loan at a certain time (usually 5 years) and pay a penalty that's around 10%. Also when and if you put the money back into the 401(K) that you borrowed, when you do retire you'll get taxed again! Never cash out your 401(K)!

Question: How often are you suppose to clean and replace gauze on deep gash? I got small but deep gash on side of my knee(hole 1/4th side of a dime and 1/3inch deep but did not damage my bone cause it doesn't hurt). it has been cleaned with antiseptic and antibiotic ointment applied beneath gauze. I have been cleaning and re-bandaging daily for last two days. Is daily treatment good enough? Also, how can i expedite closure of the wound?

Answer: You should change it 2 times a day if it gets soiled change it more. daily treatment should be fine, unless you get green pus coming out of it. If you do, and you are getting pain responses as well, i would see a doctor for some antibiotics to clear any infection. clean it daily with soap and water.

Question: How do I bandage a fingertip cut so it stays? I cut my index finger pretty badly a few days ago. I have not gone to the Dr. for two reasons, no insurance and the cut runs from the top of my finger down the side of my fingernail-even if it needed to be stitched there is nothing to sew it to. I am keeping the wound clean and full of Neosporin. I have also had a butterfly closure on it, but I cannot keep a bandage on it. Does anyone know the best way keep this covered?

Answer: The easiest way to keep a fingertip covered is to use two bandages. Put on over the top of the finger, and then another around your finger. If you feel you need to have a butterfly bandage to keep the wound closed, you can put that on first. Keeping your finger dry is important. If you get the bandages wet, change them out. Sounds painful. Good luck, I hope you heal quickly.