Wound Dressing On The Cheap

[lifemagic]

First day back in Bangkok today (flew from UK) and while making a ginger tea and slicing a lemon, I managed to slice open my finger, about half way to the bone.

I went to Boots, they sent me to mission clinic, who didn't have a quack, so I went to the main Mission (hospital). They didn't bother with stitches, but dressed it so it looks like a golf ball at the end of my finger, told me to go to any hospital daily for a week to get the dressing changed, and prescribed Dicloxacillin, which means that they just wrote that word on a piece of scrap paper, which is followed by the scribble that might read, (tcc)1X4+30.

The questions are, is it normal to get antibiotics for a new cut, and where can I get someone in Banglampoo to change this dressing on the cheapo!

[rakman]

I once sliced my thumb rather badly, from the base of the nail at one side to the center of my thumb pad, doing some home repair.

I could have gone to the ER (before emergency care centers) and wait + cost, but I decided to do the old time farmer cure.

So.... I gave myself two stitches with white cotton thread (one side was numb due to the cut) and used plenty of alcohol (isopropal on the cut, not drinking) when I changed the bandages a few times per day for the first few days. Feeling was fully restored after a short period of time.

Carefully avoiding bending my thumb, I used clean cotton bandage to wrap the cut held in place with a few wraps of tape. Leakage from the cut was minimal. And the alignment of the skin is almost perfect, definitely better than your average quack.

Today, I would have gotten out the Vetbond and bonded the cut together.

http://www.kk.org/co...ives/000069.php

As to the antibiotics, it's standard procedure to give them for any cut as you never know what bugs (especially in the kitchen) could be present. Thankfully for you, you were slicing lemons which make for a good cleaner.

So you can DIY you injury.. Try to avoid bending the finger as no doubt you'll feel the deep cut separate internally. It will take a long time time to fully heal.

Edited December 11, 2011 by rakman

[smokie36]

You could be fine OP or you might not be. Sounds like you will take the risk....if so an alcohol based cleanser each day with fresh swabs and dressings are the answer. You could do this yourself.

The anti bug stuff is standard for any cut....I would be sure to complete the course.

Still I would pop into a hospital given the nature of the injury and have it seen by a qualified doc....but then I have insurance and can afford it.

If you have no insurance what are you doing in Thailand would be my natural assumption....

[mijan24]

Health Penny wise Pound foolish- antibiotics yes and stay off the grog.

There are plenty of clinics and the cost is next to nothing

[PattayaParent]

Buy a bottle of Betadine from the chemist and some bandages and medical tape and DIY.

[lifemagic]

OK, I'm off to the chemist now, for DIY and the pills.

I have insurance, but I have to pay the first hundred I think.

Thanks for the replies. I've been in bed all day, tired and aching all over, I think I'm having to aclimatise.

[duncanb]

The Doctors clinic behind Pata department store in Pinklao (maximum of 60 baht in a taxi (or try the 516 or 511 or 30 bus). I had a nasty leg wound, they (stop reading if you are squeamish) cut out the infection (to the bone) and then treated it and dressed it every day for about two weeks. After the surgery it cost 100 baht a day to clean and dress, and gradually declined to 40 baht as it got better.