Random Thought Thread

Blues said:
The doc who stitched me up had a hard time getting the bleeding to stop, and commented on it a few times while putting seven stitches in one finger, and six in the other. Asked me if I was on blood thinners...I told him I took some fish oil is all.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, that’s a known effect of fish oil (interfering with coagulation), which is why it’s standard procedure to instruct patients to stop taking fish oil for a week before any surgery (I take fish oil, too, and had to stop before the hernia surgery).

Celox and Quikclot are available as pre-impregnated gauze, sponges, and even granules. I just keep the gauze versions. They can be used in a similar fashion to a pressure dressing (wrapping an OLAES or Israeli bandage over it, or even duct tape, if needed. Using the gauze to wipe a wound will transfer the active ingredient to the wound, but the gauze is really intended for stuffing into deeper wounds. If a shallower cut won’t stop bleeding though, the cost of ‘wasting’ a pack of the treated gauze, is immaterial).
 
Mendoman said:
My insurance kept hitting me up to get a “free” preventative care check up with my doctor. I hadn’t been to a doctor in over 10 years. Finally I agreed and scheduled a checkup. I told the receptionist and the doctor to code it preventative so I wouldn’t get a bill for it. When the doctor looked at my chart and saw that I hadn’t been to see a doctor in 10 years, he asked me what I was in there for 10 years ago. I told him I was in there for disc space narrowing in my neck, he asked me how was going and I told him. Then I got a bill. I called the receptionist and she told me that they couldn’t code it preventative care because we discussed a pre-existing condition. I told her the doctor directly asked me about it and I just answered. What was I supposed to do, just blank state with no words. Then she had the audacity to tell me it would be immoral and illegal to code it preventative when we discussed preexisting conditions. He totally knew what he was doing. Crazy stuff.
Click to expand...
Years ago when my wife was having some migraines she made an appointment with, (I believe), a neurologist.

She went to his office, he asked a few questions, had her stand up and touch her nose and also balance on one foot.

He sent a bill for $700.

I called his office and told him I had no intention of paying $700 for asking her how she was feeling and having her touch her nose. I told him I'd be happy to take it to court if necessary.

He never followed up on the bill.


The one time I actually tried to get a physician paid was the hardest.
When I injured my hand on a cross country motorcycle trip, I stopped later that morning at an emergency room in Breckenridge, TX. I was the only patient, and as I mentioned yesterday, actually woke up the attending physician who was taking a siesta on a gurney.

Anyway, they x-rayed me and determined that I had a detached tendon and that continuing on my three week trip from FL to AZ to UT, CO and environs would not make the injury any worse. He wrapped up the injury, gave me some pain meds I didn't take and I was on my way.

It took me months to get the ER paid in TX because somehow the insurance company couldn't understand how come I went to get treated in TX when I lived in FL. No lie. I kept trying to explain I didn't wake up in FL, injure myself and ride my motorcycle to TX for treatment because the ER was less crowded. The injury occurred on the road out of state. (I didn't bother to explain it happened in Shreveport. They'd probably think it was outside the USA.)

I called the ER in TX and explained to them that I was trying to get them paid, but somehow their codes were not speaking the same language as the insurance company. They weren't even that concerned about it. But they were so nice, I didn't want to leave them hanging.

Months later they finally got paid for their efforts. Jeez, it was painful to deal with.
 
Last edited:
Nathan the Machinist said:
This is a good question and I should elaborate on my use of super glue

The super glue that you and I have from the store is not exactly the same as the stuff they use at the hospital and should not be used down in the wound.

I apply it to a cloth Band-Aid and use it to hold the wound together, similar to stitches

Most cuts will eventually stop bleeding on their own. They say you can use visine in a wound to stop minor bleeding if it keeps oozing.

The super glue bandage will fall off in about 3 days but it takes about a week so you have to reapply it once. You have to be very careful when taking it off to replace it because the wound is easily reopened after only 3 days.

You can soak the glue in really well and form kind of a hard shell that helps protect the wound

This is particularly useful on fingers

Obviously, you have to clean the wound very very well very thoroughly because once that super glue goes on, there's no good way to clean it and you don't want to trap an infection. I scrub the wound out with soap and water and then apply isopropyl alcohol.
Click to expand...
On this note;

Yes, cyanoacrylate bonding agents aren’t supposed to be introduced INTO a cut/wound the way people might think to use it, similarly to how they’d glue two halves of a broken object back together.

The medical-grade version is called DermaBond. It is not cheap. There is a veterinary version called VetBond, which is a fraction of the price of DermaBond. I’d initially thought that VetBond might simply be an animal version that hadn’t gone through the expensive approval process, but as it turns out, the formula is not the same (both are made by 3M). DermaBond is both, more flexible, AND sticks to skin better.

In the thread, I posted a while back (where through my own stupidity, and just ONE momentary lapse in judgment, ignoring my dad’s instruction about safety with edged tools), where I cut my hand with my brand new pocket knife; B beeinak had mentioned using Shoe Goo as a substitute.

I’ve since experimented with Shoe Goo, Boot/Shoe Bond (available on Amazon), regular cyanoacrylate (I used to keep a 6-pack of the single use tubes, specifically for this purpose, as they’re at least more or less sterile, vs trying to use the same tube/bottle you’ve been gluing all sorts of stuff with for months/years), and VetBond.

The Boot Bond product actually held up the best. It sticks to skin better than Shoe Goo, but has the ability to flex without cracking/peeling off, like regular cyanoacrylate. It actually held better than the VetBond.

There’s another product that folks might consider keeping handy. It’s called Clozex, and is also available on Amazon. Only works well on cuts/lacerations on more open areas, though.

You can also buy sterile medical staplers, for a ‘just-in-case’ type thing (potentially handy for things like the Helene aftermath, where prompt medical attention may not have been viable for some).
 
bluemax_1 said:
I saw a thread in another forum, of someone’s unfortunate experience with this (they shared their experience as a warning).

The person was using a chisel while woodworking, and as is standard for woodworking, the chisel was razor sharp.

One small lapse in judgement, led to the guy using one hand to hold the piece of wood in place while pushing the chisel towards that hand (one of the first things I remember my dad teaching us about safe edged tools usage; “NEVER cut towards your body/bodyparts”).

The chisel slipped and he stabbed himself in the middle of the palm. Had to go to the ER for emergency surgery. The chisel severed 3 tendons, IIRC, and the reconstructive surgery resulted in a Y-suture/incision that was ~7” long, from the palm, down the wrist and forearm, as the surgeon had to find the ends of the tendons to pull them back up to reattach them.
Click to expand...
Yep. They literally go fishing for the tendon, and keep cutting until they find them. 😱
 
fnordmorph said:
I personally recommend against isopropanol (and peroxide). Soap and water, more water, more water, a little more soap, mechanical scrubbing if needed, and more water. The solution to pollution is dilution (at least in this case).

The superglue soaked bandaid thing is an interesting approach, except for the part where you try to peel the bandage off without opening the wound. I use medical cyanoacrylate when I have it (dermabond or skinstitch) and it does work a little better (and probably stings less), but I have used regular OTC superglue on many wounds at home. You can buy dermabond on amazon, but because it's medical, it's stupid expensive. Both really only work well on wounds where you can get the edges together cleanly (like knife wounds). You want most of the glue on the surface of the skin, spanning the wound, and as little as you can manage in the wound (it does hold the wound together there but it probably delays healing if there's too much of it). I don't see much advantage to soaking a bandage with glue as far as glue going into the wound, and the disadvantages of not being able to see the wound (to look for infection) and risking reopening it when you remove the bandaid are significant. Also, you can absolutely use regular superglue to reinforce a wound that was initially closed with tissue adhesive.

I should probably shut up now.
Click to expand...
Good tips. :thumbsup: My brother is a cardio-thoracic PA and does surgery all day, most days. This mirrors his advice pretty well. Only thing I'd add is to use a WATER-THIN viscosity superglue for skin. It sets up nearly instantly (be careful where where you get it lol, it flows FAST!), and closes things up pretty well. Thicker stuff can be applied over the top if you want to reinforce the "seal".

Matthew Gregory said:
All this discussion of cyanoacrylate and wounds brings up a word of advice - under no circumstances should someone use superglue accelerator if they’re sealing a wound with superglue.


You have been warned.
Click to expand...
HAHA!!! 🔥 If you're using the right superglue, you shouldn't even need accelerator.
 
bluemax_1 said:
Like someone complaining, “If I knew you were gonna charge $2 PER PILL for the ibuprofen, I would’ve just had my wife bring me a 200 count bottle from Walmart”.
Click to expand...
SharpBits said:
They do like to keep their skills...


wait for it...


sharp! 😆
Click to expand...
“When in doubt, cut it out” - motto of most surgeons and good practice imho.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
My last interaction with an ER was a few years ago when Abby had a cut.

Jo even called the insurance company ahead of time to make sure we were covered. They said we were.

They changed their mind I guess

I had a bill for around $3,500. I tried to talk to them, like, can we negotiate this or anything? "Fuck you, pay me." So I paid it.

My buddy Shane had a gardening related injury, lol. He got an Ace bandage and a bill for four grand.

I would only go to the emergency room if I was literally dying. And even then, I would drive myself because what they charge for a ride in the ambulance.

We use super glue for cuts around here. Some have been pretty serious too. Both Jo and I have had injuries that hit bone. It's not ideal. It's actually ridiculous when you think about it. But it's the only way because our health care system is working exactly the way it is intended to.
Click to expand...

What the actual eff? No one should be supergluing wounds because of the cost of hospitals.

I’ve not been a picture of health lately so I’ve done a few visits to the hospital for various things.
I have a femoral hernia, so far that’s been 2 ultrasounds. I think I’m out of pocket $130 after rebate for those. I need an MRI on my hip, which I think will put me $200 out of pocket. They said it’ll be a month wait for the surgery but there’s no cost.

Maybe a month ago I started getting pain and heat through my calf, my wife who is a nurse sent me to emergency to rule out a clot.
Checked me over, blood test and ultrasound - free. If emergency request things like ultrasound it doesn’t cost you.

I’ve mentioned my wife is pregnant, what I haven’t said is this pregnancy has been a little rocky. In the past couple of weeks she’s had been at hospital daily for scans and a couple of ultrasounds to monitor the baby’s health. We haven’t had a bill for that.

I said it earlier but healthcare is not free here, we pay for it out of our taxes and there is a gap on some things. But healthcare is still considered a basic human right.
USA is so wealthy it sickens me that citizens like you have to glue a bloody wound up for dread of the cost.
 
Hatchet_Jack said:
USA is so wealthy it sickens me that citizens like you have to glue a bloody wound up for dread of the cost.
Click to expand...

Dread is a good word for that.

We are one medical emergency away from bankruptcy that could wipe out my entire life's worth of hard work.

Some mishap in a car or some other momentary lapse of attention or judgment or just plain bad luck can completely ruin a person out of nowhere.

Self-employment is not for the faint of heart
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
I was not speaking of you

Although you do seem to hold some strange beliefs and I do wonder how they landed in your head.

But I was really more alluding to the second largest problem in this country after healthcare which is the fact that politics has become a spectator sport. Everybody is a armchair quarterback now and everything from the woke mind virus to the radical right are contagious ideas full of intentional misinformation that have been spread by people with an agenda. Politics in this country are every bit as broken as our health care system. Probably also intentionally.
Click to expand...

I have a theory which is probably wrong and which I promise I won’t turn into a big discussion point.

Humans are tribal, they need a group I.e. something to belong to.
We had religion which gave people a group, as that’s become less important to more people they need something else. Politics to many is a religion now, and when people get tribal about something…

Absolutely no negative connotations meant about religion.
 
Hatchet_Jack said:
What the actual eff? No one should be supergluing wounds because of the cost of hospitals.

I’ve not been a picture of health lately so I’ve done a few visits to the hospital for various things.
I have a femoral hernia, so far that’s been 2 ultrasounds. I think I’m out of pocket $130 after rebate for those. I need an MRI on my hip, which I think will put me $200 out of pocket. They said it’ll be a month wait for the surgery but there’s no cost.

Maybe a month ago I started getting pain and heat through my calf, my wife who is a nurse sent me to emergency to rule out a clot.
Checked me over, blood test and ultrasound - free. If emergency request things like ultrasound it doesn’t cost you.

I’ve mentioned my wife is pregnant, what I haven’t said is this pregnancy has been a little rocky. In the past couple of weeks she’s had been at hospital daily for scans and a couple of ultrasounds to monitor the baby’s health. We haven’t had a bill for that.

I said it earlier but healthcare is not free here, we pay for it out of our taxes and there is a gap on some things. But healthcare is still considered a basic human right.
USA is so wealthy it sickens me that citizens like you have to glue a bloody wound up for dread of the cost.
Click to expand...
Basic suturing can be done at primary care or urgent care for much cheaper than an ER visit. ER providers are typically very skilled at suturing, and also are able to summon a specialist like plastics or hand surgeon if needed. Providers need to realize limitations and skill. One hospital I worked at had a policy that any patient with facial wounds needing sutures would be allowed to choose to have a plastic surgeon perform closure.

I am fortunate to not have to worry about healthcare costs, but I still use glue frequently for simple incisions/lacerations (on myself) because it is convenient and covers the wound with a barrier. Getting a cut while float fishing a river- some betadine or hibiclens rinsed with clean water and then closed with glue is much better than just a bandage.

If using glue, it is obviously not ideal or for deep wounds that should have internal sutures to pull the wound together. When using any glue type closure, it is important to pull the edges of the wound together as closely as possible and keep tension until the glue has been able to hold. Some people put glue in the wound and then try to close it- not good!

I have sutured lots of patients, myself a couple of times, and keep a stapler in my bag because I am frequently away from people and alone. Again, when using a stapler the edges need to be pulled together (unlike in the movies).

My last trip to a provider for sutures, the provider told me that Dermabond treatment was the same cost as sutures at that office. Now that is crazy! No instruments or anesthetic needed and takes very little time.

Since this is a knife forum, and most injuries with blades seem to involve hands, I just want to caution folks that hands are precious and taken for granted. Wounds can be more damaging than expected, and a thorough exam by qualified person is wise.
 
SharpBits said:
Tribalism is indeed a real problem. The British Empire manipulated tribalism to great effect during their conquests. There are forces at work trying to destabilize the US by exploiting our tribalisms. Divide and conquer.
Click to expand...

Now you’re talking my language, I love history.

Look at the British Raj - encouraging the segregation based of caste. Granted it already existed prior to British rule though. Even during the dissolution of the raj they separated it into Hindu (India) and Islam (Pakistan).

They still have us by the nads, Australia is a country in our own right but we’re still part of the crown. They truly were the empire on which the sun never set.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top