Nasty cut gets nastier stitches

sirensongs · Apr 17th, 2007, 19:07

Yeah, I think the reason puncture wounds are so linked to tetanus is - the dirt gets jabbed wayyyy down in there and it often is impossible to clean out completely. The tropical environment in most of India exacerbates such things. Take it seriously!

CliveG · Apr 17th, 2007, 19:44

While deep wounds often make it harder to clean the depth of a wound is not the sole determining factor. A shallow wound such as a prick from a thorn or a needle are just as dangerous as small holes tends to close over immediately creating an air free environment for the tetanus bug to develop.

Sepp · Apr 19th, 2007, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by mercedes10

Glad to hear you're recovering! I had the 'pleasure' of visiting a general hospital in India too and it was not fun!!

Did you get the stitches re-done elsewhere? The nature of the stitching has a huge impact on the subsequent scar. Hope you got more professional ones done. But the main thing is you're ok!!

Is there any particular reason you didn't get a tetanus shot??

Thanks
No, I went to the fancy private hospital the next day, and by then it was too late to have them re-done, so I am going to have a quite nice mars bar (scar) as a reminder.

When the doctor started stiching me up, I noticed that apart from using dangerous cotton thread, he put the stitches completely wrong, to far apart and way to few, so in the end I had to direct him. I was more or less covered in blood from the cut and not a little bit angry about the cut, so when he suggested a tetanus shot I just refused it. Not very rational, but I was somewhat shaken by the incredibly filthy hospital (they even cleaned the gloves for re-use!), and the next to the cot it was a 3 gallon bucket filled with old gauze, puss and blood from former patients during the day.

So if you get a chance and have some sort of interest in health care do pay a governmental hospital a visit. Only make sure that you are in good health and please: do not touch anything.

I have gotten myself some surgical nylon thread, a needle and a small pair of scissors, they hardly cost anything here, just in case governmental hospital is the only choice.

Sepp

Noodle · Apr 19th, 2007, 14:58

OMG! Sorry you had this experience!

Nick-H · Apr 19th, 2007, 15:34

I'm surprised you didn't have to bribe someone to treat you, just to add to the general badness of the affair!

I have seen a low-end ward in a private but charity-run hospital --- it was basic, everything in it was old, but it was clean and the staff obviously gave good care and attention. I think it was about Rs100 or less per night to stay there. I have not yet had occasion to visit anyone in a government hospital --- and certainly hope never to find myself being treated in one.

But this is one of those things it is almost impossible to be prepared for. It's bad enough checking out the accommodation possibilities when travelling; it would take a real obsessive to check out all the best hospitals along their route on a just-in-case basis!

Noodle · Apr 19th, 2007, 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

I'm surprised you didn't have to bribe someone to treat you, just to add to the general badness of the affair!

I was going to say that a little bribe might have produced different thread ...

Nick-H · Apr 19th, 2007, 16:19

Which he should have been charged for anyway.

The medicines and stuff in a govt hospital are not free...

capt_mahajan · Apr 19th, 2007, 16:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noodle

I was going to say that a little bribe might have produced different thread ...

also might have produced a different thread on indiamike

Digital Drifter · Apr 19th, 2007, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

...
But this is one of those things it is almost impossible to be prepared for. It's bad enough checking out the accommodation possibilities when travelling; it would take a real obsessive to check out all the best hospitals along their route on a just-in-case basis!

yeah, just ask Pranab Mukherjee, our defence minister.

PeakXV · Apr 19th, 2007, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

But this is one of those things it is almost impossible to be prepared for. It's bad enough checking out the accommodation possibilities when travelling; it would take a real obsessive to check out all the best hospitals along their route on a just-in-case basis!

If Janice didn't start an "emergency medical attention" thread in her exceptionally thorough trip preparation work - nobody will!

...... must admit that the thought has gone through my mind where I would be taken to if my rickshaw got smacked by a large lorrie and was lying dazed in a ditch with "ATAT" tatooed on my forehead.

- would it be to the best

..... or just the nearest

Apr 17th, 2007, 19:07	#46
sirensongs Eeny meeny mango Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: All India Permit (somewhere between Delhi & Dharamsala) Posts: 1,213	Yeah, I think the reason puncture wounds are so linked to tetanus is - the dirt gets jabbed wayyyy down in there and it often is impossible to clean out completely. The tropical environment in most of India exacerbates such things. Take it seriously! __________________ *"Why do people go to India to find themselves? India is where you go to lose* yourself."** Feringhee: The India Diaries

Apr 19th, 2007, 14:58	#49
Noodle Crazy for the furry ones Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 1,026	OMG! Sorry you had this experience! __________________ If in hole stop digging. Indian saying

Apr 19th, 2007, 15:34	#50
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,426	I'm surprised you didn't have to bribe someone to treat you, just to add to the general badness of the affair! I have seen a low-end ward in a private but charity-run hospital --- it was basic, everything in it was old, but it was clean and the staff obviously gave good care and attention. I think it was about Rs100 or less per night to stay there. I have not yet had occasion to visit anyone in a government hospital --- and certainly hope never to find myself being treated in one. But this is one of those things it is almost impossible to be prepared for. It's bad enough checking out the accommodation possibilities when travelling; it would take a real obsessive to check out all the best hospitals along their route on a just-in-case basis! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Apr 17th, 2007, 19:44	#47
CliveG Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PORTSMOUTH U.K. Posts: 708	While deep wounds often make it harder to clean the depth of a wound is not the sole determining factor. A shallow wound such as a prick from a thorn or a needle are just as dangerous as small holes tends to close over immediately creating an air free environment for the tetanus bug to develop.

Apr 19th, 2007, 16:19	#52
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,426	Which he should have been charged for anyway. The medicines and stuff in a govt hospital are not free...

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