Discussion A question for self harmers..

[Acopia]

Just a quick one to ask, to gauge other's opinions/ thought process..

If you cut too deep (to the point where it needed stitches) would you go to A&E or would you risk it and leave it to heal itself? & why?

Peace,
Acopia

 

[EdibleGasMask]

Lemme give you an anecdote. I was hanging around with friends and something triggered this self harm response because I would compulsively do it at the time and I stabbed twice into my right thigh. It didn't hurt but I definitely cut deep. I was extremely lucky to have people there with me especially people who knew how to treat wounds so I didn't have to go to the ER. I would have to go to the ER if I hit an artery witch again I don't know why I got so lucky but I missed my artery. Btw my friends aren't bad friends .I begged my friends not to take me to the hospital. They wanted to take me but I didn't want to get sectioned with all of them seeing it.

TL;DR I cut my self really deep. I was extremely lucky to not only miss my artery but also have someone who knew how to help me too. I wouldn't risk it and go because you never know what you cut or if you have an infection. If I wasn't an asshole to my friends about not going to the ER I could have just lied and said I fell on my knife.

 

[Acopia]

Lemme give you an anecdote. I was hanging around with friends and something triggered this self harm response because I would compulsively do it at the time and I stabbed twice into my right thigh. It didn't hurt but I definitely cut deep. I was extremely lucky to have people there with me especially people who knew how to treat wounds so I didn't have to go to the ER. I would have to go to the ER if I hit an artery witch again I don't know why I got so lucky but I missed my artery. Btw my friends aren't bad friends .I begged my friends not to take me to the hospital. They wanted to take me but I didn't want to get sectioned with all of them seeing it.

TL;DR I cut my self really deep. I was extremely lucky to not only miss my artery but also have someone who knew how to help me too. I would risk it because you never know what you cut or if you have an infection. If I wasn't an asshole to my friends about not going to the ER I could have just lied and said I fell on my knife.

Thanks for that, that's interesting.

I cut too bad recently and ended up going to A&E and had to get staples. I've also heard of people though who had similar wounds and just risked it & let it heal on its own.. so I was just wondering what other people's views were. I would personally get it medically closed as the scars would be terrible in my opinion, but I do want to know what other people would do/ have done.
I'm same as you, you never know if an infection might take hold! But also I was very embarrassed to attend the hospital, much the same as you I'd just done it on impulse and was actually generally alright - so I felt like a right waste of time.

I assume you're in the US? I'd imagine that if I had to pay for the pleasure of being stapled/stitched I'd be less likely to seek help.

Thanks,
-A

 

[Nexol]

From my personal experience i can say i only let it stitch 2 or 3 times. Most of the time i let it heal itself. The scars get pretty big, but i was more scared going to hospital. I definitely can say you wont be lucky always. A little example what happened to my mom: My mom accidentally cut herself very deep with a box cutter and tried to let it heal itself. She got blood poisoning even after disinfecting the wound every day, so she had to go to hospital. From experience i can say if the wound gap is max. 1,5 cm it most likely will heal itself. Hope i helped a bit.

 

[Acopia]

From my personal experience i can say i only let it stitch 2 or 3 times. Most of the time i let it heal itself. The scars get pretty big, but i was more scared going to hospital. I definitely can say you wont be lucky always. A little example what happened to my mom: My mom accidentally cut herself very deep with a box cutter and tried to let it heal itself. She got blood poisoning even after disinfecting the wound every day, so she had to go to hospital. From experience i can say if the wound gap is max. 1,5 cm it most likely will heal itself. Hope i helped a bit.

Thanks that's interesting, 1.5cm wide? That's pretty big. I've only ever cut deep enough to need staples on that one occasion, but how would you look after a wound that big, surely it'd get caught on clothes or randomly start bleeding etc. (I've had less deep cuts that have randomly started bleeding and I've bled through clothes before :/ I couldn't imagine how I'd manage if I cut really deep again & left it.

 

[Nexol]

Thanks that's interesting, 1.5cm wide? That's pretty big. I've only ever cut deep enough to need staples on that one occasion, but how would you look after a wound that big, surely it'd get caught on clothes or randomly start bleeding etc. (I've had less deep cuts that have randomly started bleeding and I've bled through clothes before :/ I couldn't imagine how I'd manage if I cut really deep again & left it.

1.5cm is def the maximum. For myself i always used wound disclosure strips. Takes some practice to get them positioned right on yourself but its doable. After the strips i took some Povidone-Iodine oinment (PVP-I) and applied it to a gauze and put it over the wound and then some bandage around it. Alternatively you can use this kind of waterproof band-aids 10x10cm (the one on the roll so you can vary the length) . Stops the blood pretty good and wont leave as much to no stains in clothes, bed etc...

 

[filthyrottendirty]

A&E?

 

[SweetDreams500]

Well, this is the scar of the deepest cut I've ever done. I just cleaned up the blood, applied some antiseptic and placed a gauze over it. I changed the gauze everyday. At first I thought it was going to get infected, but it didn't.

 

[Bedrock48]

If you think it needs stitches (e.g reaches fat or deeper, gapes more than 0.5cm, is over a joint, bleeds uncontrollably) then yes you should get it stitched whenever you can at A & E. Unless you're in the US, it's highly unlikely they'll want you to do anything except maybe ask you to see a mental health nurse and you can refuse this.

Infections are no joke and not something you want to mess with. Stitches greatly improve healing time and reduce your risk of infection. If your injury is is in a tricky place stitches should also prevent scar tissue from restricting movement in your joints. At A & E they can also assess potential nerve damage and give you a tetanus shot if you've used a rusty or dirty blade (please don't ever use a rusty tool though).

 

[I-can-only-imagine]

This maybe not appropriate but what do you guys use to have gone so deep? I have done some deep ones but nothing that has needed intervention past basic care. My usual tools are not working as well so even tried with new things last night but they were very disappointing to say the least

 

[Mentalmick]

A couple of years ago I was in a&e every other month getting stitched up. Now I just deal with it myself using skin staples.

This maybe not appropriate but what do you guys use to have gone so deep? I have done some deep ones but nothing that has needed intervention past basic care. My usual tools are not working as well so even tried with new things last night but they were very disappointing to say the least

I use scalpels mainly which are very dangerous if not used carefully.

 

[Skathon]

(...) would you go to A&E or would you risk it and leave it to heal itself?

The latter.

& why?

I have no access to healthcare.
I would be able to treat sepsis (or most other infections) myself, however.

 

[Acopia]

A&E?

Accident & Emergency, what we call the ER/ED in the UK.

 

[Storm225]

I went to the hospital once when I cut to fat and freaked out...waited for 4hrs with no pain killers and being ignored. Finally got admitted for them to not clean them, stitch them or bandage them. They just use those fabric wound closures (I call them butterfly stitches for some reason) and sent me home. Took a total of 15 mins.

Ive now got gause swaps, saline, butterfly stiches to do it at home. I also use scalpel (hope that's allowed).

 

[Belle1990]

Isn't it if you can't get the sides of the wound to touch and of course if won't stop bleeding. I can't say I have ever plucked up the courage to go to a and e even when I know it's needed stitches just get shitty lumpy scars instead but that's neither here or there lol

 

[Mentalmick]

Isn't it if you can't get the sides of the wound to touch and of course if won't stop bleeding. I can't say I have ever plucked up the courage to go to a and e even when I know it's needed stitches just get shitty lumpy scars instead but that's neither here or there lol

The closer you get the edges the thinner the scar. Open wounds will heal but it takes a lot longer and increases the risk of infection. Plus the scars are far worse.

 

[Belle1990]

Yes wouldn't even cross my mind as a thought to go so not ever put much thought into the defining thought of when to go. Good on those actually have the courage like

 

[JustAMatterOfTime]

Go, I have a screwed up scar on my arm as thick as your thumb even after I went to a&e because the dumb nurse used the strip things instead of stitching it. I hate it it has only just turned white instead of red.