Update

[lexin]

A few weeks ago I managed to scald myself.

I made a nice fresh cup of tea, and was crossing the living room when I tripped over my cat, Opal, and tangled the teapot up in my cardigan. Result was some very nasty burns down my legs, plus one on my tummy.

I rang the non-emergency helpline NHS Wales 111. They said, “Go to Ysbyty Gwynedd.” They didn’t add ‘you muppet’ which they might as well have done. So I went and spent a couple of hours in A&E, leaving with bandaged legs around lunchtime.

Since then the burns are mostly healed except for the one on the back of my right leg, and the one on my tummy. Both of those still bleed and/or weep. Still, as the nurse said, a diabetic will take longer to heal.

In case you were wondering, Opal was unharmed. Though I screamed and she hid for a few hours. Had Opal been hurt, I would have taken her to the vet before taking myself to A&E.

Comments

[kotturinn]

Ouch! I hope the last burns have the grace to get healing properly.

[lexin]

Just the two left, though they are still quite sore.

[corvidology]

I hope the remaining burns heal quickly. ♥

[lexin]

I hope so, too.

[julesjones]

Ick. Sorry you've gone through that, and glad the burns are mostly healing.

From my training as an emergency responder on an industrial lab site, that size of scald is well into "Do not feel guilty about calling an ambulance if you do not have someone to take you to hospital and it will take longer for a taxi to get to you than an ambulance" territory.

[lexin]

I took the view that a taxi would be quicker than an ambulance. Luckily the hospital saw me quickly - I think they thought ‘over 60 with diabetes worm with nasty scalds, let’s treat her and get rid’.

[julesjones]

Definitely the sort of thing where "fast" is usually more important than "vehicle with paramedic". I've taken a taxi, and even the bus, for something where a paramedic wouldn't have been able to do anything other than deliver me to A&E.

[catalenamara]

Wishing you a speedy and complete recovery! (Ugh - when I was about ten a waitress tripped and spilled a pot of very hot water down my right side. We were one day into a vacation and had to go back home. Don't remember how long it took me to heal - it seemed like forever, but I was a kid and of course lots of things seem like forever to a child.)

[lexin]

Oh, how horrid. That must have really hurt!

[catalenamara]

It was pretty bad. I remember having difficulty finding any way to sleep as I had blisters along one side of my chest and since my right arm was up at the time I had blisters under the arm. I have no idea why I had my arm raised in that manner.

[aunty_marion]

At least you *are* healing! And you did the right thing in going to A&E. Are you able to dress the weeping ones yourself, or do you have to have a district nurse (or suchlike) come in?

I'm going to be an old fusspot, now, and suggest you get a little trolley for shifting such things around; a small enough one to take the place of your little side table by your chair, maybe? Either that, or a non-spill jug/pot to carry the tea in. I'm very boring.

[aunty_marion]

This came up in the zoom chat with Kate today, in relation to various other things, & Omega suggested what she & I both call a 'bosun's tray' but which we can't find by searching on that. One-handed carrying trays, though... https://tinyurl.com/2merfkpw

[lexin]

That would be really useful. I've added it to my list of things to buy.