What a night(mare) at home!

Published

Specializes in LTC.

I am a nursing student right now and I felt so helpless tonight even though I have learned so much! My husband is NEVER sick. He was cleaning a deer on Wednesday when he nicked his knuckle on the deer antlers. He washed it really well and applied Neosporin. Of course, he didnt think much more about it.

During the night last night (Friday), he woke up to a very painful and throbbing swollen finger. He applied ice and went back to sleep. When we got up the next morning, the wound looked a little weird but mainly just a swollen finger. That afternoon it literally went from a scratch on the knuckle to a black area about the size of a dime in a matter of two hours. I packed him up and off we went to the minor emergency here in town. The Dr looked at it and gave him a nice big abx shot. There was some redness just a little past his wrist but nothing major.

We came home and have been watching tv. Around 1am he got up and I noticed his arm was really red. When he turned his arm where I could see it, there were red streaks from his knuckle to almost his armpit. This scared me so badly but I was also very confused. We were told that the redness would go away within 12 hours but not that they might get worse. I started calling the m/er and the local hosp er. Of course they cant say anything but come in if you think you need to. Hello, its Christmas and there isnt much left for a second payment to the hospital.

So I called our regular MD for real advice. Remember it is 1am now. He calmed me down and said to elevate it and apply heat. I am fixing to go to bed now but wanted to share my night. Makes me remember that when I start actual nursing to explain things to my patients so they might not be so scared and confused like I was tonight.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Food for thought, early intervention is usually less expensive than a major event later.

PS after 15 years nursing ANYTHING relating to my family is scarry. At that point you are a wife, not a nurse. My kids however would swear that unless a limb was hanging by a tendon- I would send them to school!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

My advice is to go straight to your ER. Those red streaks you described do not sound good.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
My advice is to go straight to your ER. Those red streaks you described do not sound good.

No one expects you to know what something is. I don't either. GO STRAIGHT TO THE ER!! Your "real" doctor hasn't seen it. It's getting worse. That's bad. Don't take chances!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

And just one more note to add to this. It's a freaking travesty that your worrying about the second payment to the hospital figures into this equation at all. Health first and foremost. You'll work it out. I am so sorry you are going through all this!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

We are not allowed to give medical advice per TOS.

I will say though, I recently had a pt with necrotizing fascitis and it is definitely not pretty. Go to the ER. Pay 5 bucks a month if you have to.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Oops, sorry. I thought I was telling her to go to a place where she COULD get medical advice! :imbar

Up Vote Up Vote ×

christmas? i understand you have to do christmas, but your husband's health comes first. but you already know that.

he needs to get back to the er immediately, if not sooner, in my opinion.

shame on the usa for putting people in the position of having to worry about the cost of medical care, which is essential for preservation of life and limb.

tell us about it when you get back.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I always heard that when red streaks run up the arm, that you should go to the ER immediately. We don't give medical advice on this board but a life threatening emergency is not something to shove aside until later. I hope everything turns out ok.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

What a LONG night! Hubby is doing great this morning... the red lines are gone. I stayed up with him pretty much all night. I didnt mean to get everyone worked up (or trying to get medical advice), just wanting to share how it scared the hell out of me :) I doubt he will be working on any deer skull anytime soon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Glad to hear that he is better. Keep an eye on him today.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
Glad to hear that he is better. Keep an eye on him today.

Oh, I will :) Like I told him this morning... he is MY foundation and keeps me sane. But when it is HIM, it rocks me to my core. He never gets sick and I had no idea what to do last night even with all the training I have had. I have an 8 year old son and I can keep a very calm head when it comes to him. He has even choked before and I was able to react slowly (to prevent OVER-reacting) and proceed like a momma knows how to do. Sheesh.... husbands! Hahaha :) Thanks for your well wishes!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion