DocMisty » Injuries

How to Remove Stitches Video

misty — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:20:54 +0000

And here I am removing Chris’s last stitch above his eye:

Instructions:

You need a pair of good tweezers and small scissors or clippers that are sharp at the tip.
Clean instruments with alcohol first and wash your hands.
If the stitches are ‘glued’ to the wound and won’t come loose easily, use a small amount of ointment and wait for itÂ to soften the scab a bit.
Grab a stitch with the tweezers, pull up gently, and cut the stitch on ONE side under the knot. If you cut the knot off completely it will make it more difficult to get the stitch out.
Grab the knot with the tweezers, pull gently, and the stitch should come out.
Before doing all the stitches, make sure the wound edges are holding together. If they are separating, you may want to leave the rest of the stitches in a few more days, or consult your doctor.
Repeat with each stitch.
Don’t soak the wound in the shower or bath for a few more days to make sure the wound edges have the best chance to knit together.

And if you’re trying to decide if whether an injury needs stitches or not, see my previous post on the subject.

P.S. Of course, advice on this site is no substitute for medical advice. I think that is common sense, but you never know.

Wasp stings and Mosquito Bites – Toothpaste, Ice, and Plantain

misty — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 03:25:21 +0000

It’s that time of year, bugs, bugs, and more bugs. There are few things more annoying than bites and stings that keep coming to bother you for days. Anti-itch creams only work so well, and for those who have a more severe reaction there isn’t much you can do besides take a Benadryl, which may or may not help.

I have two alternative tips: a household remedy and an herbal remedy.

Household remedy: I read a hilarious article about a man who received so much conflicting advice after being stung, that he conducted his own experiment. He went to a beekeeper to be stung on a regular basis so that he could try each remedy and tracked its effects every half hour that he was awake. We can be the beneficiaries of his bravery. The winners? Toothpaste and ice! Both are simple, cheap, and effective. As a novice beekeeper myself, I agree. Rub in the regular minty toothpaste, ice it for 20 minutes anytime it starts hurting or itching, and you’re good to go.

Herbal remedy:

Common Plantain

Look no further than the annoying weeds you’ve been trying to get out of your grass. Plantain is a great herb for bites, stings, and wounds, and grows everywhere weeds do. Once you learn to identify it, you can grab a few leaves, chew or crush them to release the juices, and apply. Tape a bandage over the green pulp and you’ll be surprised how well it heals a sting, usually relieving the pain within 15 minutes. It works just as well on cuts and absesses, so keep the green pulp in mind next time you get an injury in the yard. You’ll never look at weeds quite the same again.

Tips to recognize plantain: The Common Plantain has more rounded leaves while the Ribwort has long straight ones. They both work equally well. They have skinny flower stalks that shoot high from the center with distinctive cone or spike-shaped flower clusters. (They make great substitute swords or targets for swords, according to my boys.)

English/Ribwort Plantain

So, next time you’ve got an annoying insect injury, chew a weed while you ice it, spit the green mush onto it, and mix in a little toothpaste while you brush that grassy taste out of your mouth. Now aren’t you glad you know all this?

DocMisty

Quick tip – Fat lip

misty — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 13:41:25 +0000

Quick tip:

Have you ever tried to hold an ice cube to the lip of a screaming toddler after he has fallen for the umpteenth time and smashed his lip?Â Yes, the “It’ll hurt now, but make it get better faster,” argument falls on deaf ears.Â Yours and his.

Next time, get a popsicle!Â Yes, in the long tradition of “Why, did I not think of that?”, it’s a simple solution and you’re both happy.Â Teach him to paint his lips with the lovely neon blue color of the popsicle to make sure the whole injury gets iced down, and if he wants another?Â Why, today is a special day, and he can have as many as he wants.

Instead of a traumatic DocMom moment, you might find himÂ banging his lip again just for the popsicles.

DocMisty

P.S. It doesn’t work so well with bruises elsewhere, but you’re welcome to try.