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Medical Advice

  
  

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sorenson
00:26 / 23.10.06
OK, this is quite gross.

Yesterday I sliced the top off my left ring finger (no comments on symbolism please!). To be more precise, I neatly cut off the little fleshy pad bit just on the curve of the tip of the finger. (I was cutting onions with a very sharp knife.) The bit of finger that I cut off was left on the knife. After a small meltdown, my beloved recovered her nursey training (she's a midwife) - she washed the bit of finger and popped it back in place, and strapped the whole lot down with some steri-strips followed by gauze and some clear skin-like plastic stuff.

What I want to know is, is there any chance that the cut off bit will reattach itself? And should I take it to a doctor? And what should I do in terms of dressings from this point on?

(The most annoying thing is that it is playing havoc with my typing - very annoying for a desk job!)
 
 
DRR... DRR... DRR...
00:32 / 23.10.06
a) Yes, there is a reasonable chance that stuff will reattach by itself.

b) Yes, you should go to the doctor with this.

c) OW flinching sympathising etc.
 
 
Whisky Priestess
10:47 / 10.01.07
Annoying totally non-urgent thing (well, hopefully).

Despite a distinct lack of hand-roughening carrying work in the last few weeks, I have developed rough skin and little blisters over the palm, finger bases and up the thumb of my right hand. They seem to spread kind of like verrucas would (I got a rogue patch on the side of my left hand little finger) but they are just little blisters.

Any ideas how to return my hands to smooth loveliness? (I've tried general hand-cream).
 
 
Wristwatch Nuke
11:37 / 10.01.07
If it might be something infectious (the rogue patch could indicate that) it would probably be a good idea to get it checked by your GP.
 
 
Kit-Cat Club
14:10 / 10.01.07
I have something very similar - it's a form of dermatitis. Unfortunately I can't really offer any advice on how to deal with it, as mine doesn't seem to have any particular triggers. But aloe vera gel can help calm it, though I'd use it with another (non-scented etc.) hand moisturiser, as aloe vera gel can give an unpleasant tightened feel to the skin.
 
 
XK
21:59 / 12.01.07
Hey WP I've gotten something very similiar as an allergic reaction from handling something. It lasted about a week.

My spouse however has a 'rough' hand that does strange things in the winter months. His is dehydration based though why it is in only one hand I have no idea. Responds to drinking a lot more water and less coffee.
 
 
*
22:22 / 12.01.07
Sounds like it could be dyshydrotic eczema. I get that on my hands from time to time. It has a wet phase, with little blisters, usually followed by a dry phase where the skin peels. I have heard the theory that it's caused by something going awry with sweating from a couple different sources now, both Chinese medical practitioners and a RN. I've gotten good relief from Chinese herbal medicine (an herbal soak to relieve the itching also made the blisters go away pretty quickly). Often I plunge my hands into scalding water for temporary relief when the itching is too bad to stand, but I don't actually recommend that. Although tempting, avoid doing things that have a tendency to dry the skin out when you're in the blister phase— at least I find it just makes things worse in the long run. Also I've had good experiences with Evening Primrose Oil capsules as a supplement to shorten the duration of the outbreaks and keep them from coming back.
 
 
XK
23:02 / 12.01.07
Ah the joys of barfy medical pics....

I wonder if that's what the spouse has? Any clue from your sources on why it would affect only one hand, Id? Do your Chinese sources suggest dietary changes as well as the soaks?
 
 
*
23:17 / 12.01.07
My TCM doctor said it was caused by damp-heat getting blocked by wind— usually not to be taken literally, but when I asked, he clarified... Sometimes the hands sweat and then wind (either actual wind or a general term for exteral forces like temperature change, pathogens, etc) causes the pores to close down, so the sweat is trapped under the first layer of skin. He said it didn't have anything to do with diet, and I should just make sure not to let my hands be exposed to cold AC when I'd just been outside and sweating, or something of that nature.

That said, I've noticed that when I eat greasy foods a lot, it tends to be worse for me. No idea why it would occur on one hand and not the other, any more than why it would occur only on the hands in the first place.

Given that Evening Primrose Oil (omega-3 fatty acids) seems to help and greasy foods (saturated and trans fats) make it worse for me, I'ma conjecture that it has something to do with an imbalance in good fats and bad fats... for me. I bet for other people that's not the case at all. I can also see how staying hydrated would help.
 
 
RFR, Airwolf style
23:39 / 12.01.07
I get the same thing, during season changes into summer or winter, usually, or whenever I have anything to do with prawns or seaweed (fishing, or what have you).

A cortisone cream usually takes care of it in a day or two for me, but I have a pretty mild case, most of the time.

I'm not sure if you can get steroid creams without prescriptions wherever you are, but there's some available over the counter here in aus.

It's probably best to treat it sooner rather than later, because it can start to hurt, sometimes, which is ... well, painful.
 
 
Dutch
22:32 / 14.01.07
There's a little bulge under my right eye-lid that doesn't hurt or irritate beyond a little causing of worry, but it doesn't seem right that it's just, sitting there, on my eye.

I think it is up to something.
 
 
Mist, the devil´s avocado
(prev. Mistelheim)
22:46 / 14.01.07
Post a photo, please, maybe then we can figure out what it might be.
 
 
Leigh Monster loses its cool
00:56 / 15.01.07
oh, i've had those. there's nothing really to take a picture of, is there, short of flipping your eyelid inside out? my grandma calls it a sty, although the internet's version of a sty is much more bothersome and evil-sounding than mine.

couple of sites recommend warm compresses, tho i never bothered. here:

site with stuff about stys
 
 
alphito
04:49 / 15.01.07
for the awful blistery itchy stuff on hands, which i used to get in tiny patches but now seems to be eating my right thumb, i have just begun using pure shea butter (dunno if it's in a shop near you, but it's relatively cheap and easy to find on the 'net) and it really seems to help. i've read numerous testimonies about it practically curing eczema. after three days of it my thumb seems much happier, and it was keeping me up at night like a festering, itching, poorly-healing burn. good luck!

(wish i had a 'cures eye sties' thing too; good luck with that also...)
 
 
DRR... DRR... DRR...
04:56 / 15.01.07
Anything up with yr eyes = hot sage tea. Bathe eye therewith, using clean cotton swabs that were immersed in the tea while it was still piping hot, but allowed to cool.

If that doesn't help in a couple of days, see your damn doctor in case you have like eye herpes or something.

Seriously, you can get eye herpes.
 
 
The Freewheeling Convo
05:18 / 15.01.07
That would be a bit of an eye sore.
 
 
Dutch
08:33 / 15.01.07
Thanks for the advice people. Like leigh said, there's not much to take a picture of. I'll try the compress thing and see if it goes away.
 
 
ibis the being
21:02 / 15.01.07
for the awful blistery itchy stuff on hands, which i used to get in tiny patches but now seems to be eating my right thumb, i have just begun using pure shea butter (dunno if it's in a shop near you, but it's relatively cheap and easy to find on the 'net) and it really seems to help. i've read numerous testimonies about it practically curing eczema. after three days of it my thumb seems much happier, and it was keeping me up at night like a festering, itching, poorly-healing burn. good luck!

Coincidentally I've just been reading up on demodex mites... you might want to look into that possibility. A rash/itch that is worse at night could be demodex, as that's when the mites like to get it on (gross but true). Some of the sites I was looking at claim that as much as 90% of acne & rosacea cases are actually demodex....
 
 
The Freewheeling Convo
21:09 / 15.01.07
A MAN HAS CONSULTED THE SQUARE ORACLE, LO!

The mite's digestive system is so efficient and results in so little waste that there is no excretory orifice.

IT DOES NOT LAY LEAVES IN THE SNOW! TRULY A BEAST OF THE FOULEST SORCERY.
 
 
Axolotl
21:18 / 15.01.07
Does anyone know any decent treatment for athlete's foot/ feet based fungal infections? I've pretty much tried all the off the shelf stuff with no luck, so I'm wondering if anyone knows of any alternate treatments, or if my local GP can provide me with the antifungal equivilent of an A-bomb.
 
 
XK
21:32 / 15.01.07
Axolotl, if your liver is in good shape many people treat fungal infections by taking a tincture of goldenseal (avail at the herb healthfood places) daily and soaking the feet in a bath of the same. To make the foot soak brew goldenseal tisane/tea in a strong batch and soak the afflicted areas for at least an hour a day. Gets under the nail beds I seem to recall as well.

For GP a-bomb they do have both creams and pills you can take. Pretty much everything antifungal can impact your liver so keep that in mind.

In either case I strongly advise you to disinfect your shower/tub and socks. If possible but new socks after it clears up.
 
 
Leigh Monster loses its cool
03:49 / 22.02.07
both of my elbows (the outsides) are red and itchy, and weirdly puffy, but the puffiness is very localized. When i straighten my arms it looks like i have weird belly buttons on them or something. it's very yucky. i was supposed to see a doctor for it today but i missed the appointment. errg, what is it, i don't like it.
 
 
Dutch
22:55 / 27.02.07
*bump*

I've been having continuous twitches of the right eye for a week now and it's really annoying me. It's the same I where I have developed a small bump under my eyelid a while back. beside that, I feel like i've got flees all over my skin and my solar plexus hurts. I haven't drank too much caffeine (one and a half cup), and it's not drug-related (except when one counts alcohol).

Marital Status: single and not liking it
Emotional status: uselessly jealous of ex's current boyfriend (who I should be over by now).
Material Status: largely broke, I keep losing things, my glasses are bent and held together with ductape.
Spiritual status: deja vu's, insane dreams I keep failing to remember completely, sudden jolts and freaky wakings up in the night.
 
 
Red Concrete
23:20 / 27.02.07
Laoi - sounds like psoriasis, which I think usually but not always comes on the elbows and knees, or scalp. Probably a topical cream will clear it up. Not a steroid cream, i think, unless it's really bad. Talk to your doc.

Phriar - I blame stress for all those sort of things. Usually I find worrying aggravates them, and as soon as I have a good day, or two and relax a little, they disappear.
 
 
Wristwatch Nuke
15:20 / 28.02.07
I've been having continuous twitches of the right eye for a week now and it's really annoying me.

Not sure about how to help with any of the other stuff, but the twitching could feasibly be a stress-related thing. Alternatively (in my case) I occasionally get a twitch if I haven't been eating properly. What's your diet like (if you don't mind saying)?

Sounds like you are under a bit of stress at the moment. If you're not already then perhaps do some exercise (jogging or cycling for etc). Those endorphins are a great way to relax.
 
 
gamma globulins
15:28 / 28.02.07
It's a stress thing for me too. ES is right, excercise can be great for stress (and depression). The better you get at handling physical stress, the better (up to a point) you get at handling emotional and intellectual stress.
 
 
Disco is My Class War
15:29 / 28.02.07
Phriar, I used to get eye twitches a lot when I was anxious and not sleeping enough. It was kind of associated with feeling adrenalised and alert all the time. Not fun.

Are you stressed? Are you sleeping enough? If you're not getting any relief from stress, can you take yourself to acupuncture or yoga or get some kind of healing from someone else to reset your system? I found that exercise helped a bit, but that by the stage I was getting eye twitches I'd lost the power to bring myself to a state of calmness by myself. And it was totally easy to keep the adrenaline flowing while doong exercise, so that didn't end up calming me down.

You might be different, though.
 
 
Maygan
10:00 / 01.03.07
After having this modicate injection (even right from when I am having piportil injection), on average, I stare blankly 4 to 5 times in a week. When I stare blankly, I have difficulty in watching out for cars coming towards me when I cross the road. I have to focus very hard. And this gets worst when I need to cross the road to walk back to my house from my parents’ house. And I have to do this every evening (and this is very bad when on average, I stare blankly 4 to 5 times a week) Sometimes, the staring blankly started in the early afternoon and last till late at night and I ended up having difficulty sleeping. I am also taking 3 tablets of chlorpromazine to help me sleep at nite (this is what the doctor told me).

When I stare blankly, I have difficulty taking my shower. This is because when I stare blankly, I am not aware of my surrounding. Sometime I end up just staring into space in the bathroom. And I also have difficulty looking for the soap and soaping myself. I am also not aware of the temperature of the water coming from the shower-head and I might scald myself. I am also not aware whether I have any urine in my bladder and I end up going to the toilet frequently just to make sure that I have empty my bladder. And when I have a bad case of constipitation or diarrhoe when I am staring blankly, it’s really hell for me.

Because of my staring blankly, I have quited from many of my contract jobs. This is because when I stare blankly, I start to have crazy thoughts. I can’t recall many of these thoughts. One of them which I could still recall is that I thought that people are trying to harm me or that I am possessed. These crazy thoughts freaked me out and that’s why I quit my contract jobs.

Actually I see no benefit in taking the modicate injection. All the injection do for me is to make me stare blankly.

Even after taking 2 tablets of Benhexol at one go, the staring blankly episode still last for another 2 hours before the medication take effects (benhexol stops me from staring blankly). And these many hours of staring blankly with crazy thoughts and all the bad effects mentioned above really freaks me out.

I don’t know if my mom has spiked my food with certain plants from her garden that causes my staring blankly. Now, my psychiatrist turn the table around and says that my staring blankly are signs and symptoms of my schizo depression. I am just so frustrated that I am so helpless……..By the way, is the plant or herb name starts with the letter p?
 
 
Lea-side
11:22 / 01.03.07
the involuntary twitching of the eye, i am reliably informed, is known as 'Mod-Eye', from when the mods took loads of speed and stayed up all night thinking of nasty word to call the rockers. FACT!
 
 
Tsuga
11:40 / 01.03.07
Well, I don't think it's a sinus infection, Maygan. You may want to talk to your psychiatrist about working on changing your meds (if that's not what they're doing already), if you're having such serious problems from them or despite them. I think this is beyond the scope of an internet message board.
 
 
Dutch
12:16 / 01.03.07
Last night I experienced once more the goodness that is crazy D & B dancing. No drinking, no drugs, just letting out a lot of the negative energy that was bothering me.

I'm thinking about taking up yoga, as a test lesson this weekend had me feeling very good, but I'm somehow feeling I should give up my bad smoking/drinking habit first.

Breathing excercises and long walks are helping a lot though.

Thanks for the advice people.
 
 
Timelord
13:22 / 01.03.07
I get this very annoying and painful stabbing like sensation in my gut area. Sort of level with my waist at about 10 o'clock if ones' navel is at 12.00. It comes on suddenly and it feels a bit like a cramp or stitch and the only way I've found to make it go away is to touch my toes. Really stretching is the key.

I see a doctor fairly regularly but have never mentioned this to him, and I don't really want to because for some reason I've decided that it's smoking related and I've already convinced him that I gave up last June. Any ideas?
 
 
doozy floop
13:32 / 01.03.07
I read this thread the other day and now I have the twitchy eye thing! Right now!

Why did you do that to me, Barbelith?

You're mean.
 
 
The Freewheeling Convo
15:13 / 01.03.07
I see a doctor fairly regularly but have never mentioned this to him, and I don't really want to because for some reason I've decided that it's smoking related

That's irrational. Go see your doctor.

I occasionally get wind and cramps in my stomach, maybe a bit more often than most, not sure. I've found deep relaxing breathing helps.
 
 
gamma globulins
15:19 / 01.03.07
Timelord, appendicitis seems a possbility (but I may be misreading your description of the location). Though I have no idea how this fits in with the toe touching, so it might be something else entirely.

I would encourage you to discuss it with your doctor though. Pain (especially sharp pain) is usually a pretty good warning that something isn't right. If it's something serious it won't get better without help, and if it's something innocuous then no harm done. Waist-level pains aren't associated with smoking as far as I know, but even if they are, if you're not honest with your doctor then you can't expect them to help you properly (and they are there to help you, not to judge you). Would you dissimulate in a similar way to a financial advisor for example?
 
  

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