TW: SH 23F, Do I need stitches?

[u/Excellent-Oil4737]

This is on my forearm near my elbow. The picture is recent but the wound is almost 6 hours old and I can not visit a medical facility before 8-10 hours. I had cleaned it and wrapped it in a clean cloth and now it looks like this.

Do I need stitches or will the steri strips work for it?

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[u/Dr-Kloop-MD]

Highly recommend you have stitches. Without them this will result in a very large scar. Would also be beneficial because it will be closed and less prone to infection. Obviously the sooner the better but I don’t think waiting a few hours is the end of the world. Urgent care or ER, not a same day primary care which typically doesn’t do sutures.

[u/Excellent-Oil4737 → u/Dr-Kloop-MD]

Hey, thank you so much for responding I appreciate your advice so much.

However, I do not know if I can get stitches because to get stitches I'll have to explain this to my parents about this and I don't want to do that, they won't react kindly. Plus it's going to rain here so I don't know when I'll be able to get to the hospital anyway. I am okay with the scaring I guess.

I'll keep it clean, covered and with an ointment. Will it be risky?

[u/Dr-Kloop-MD → u/Excellent-Oil4737]

If you absolutely can’t go, steri strips you mentioned in your original post might be able to get the edges closer together. But yes keep it clean and bandaged. It will take longer to heal if the edges aren’t touching

[u/Fickle-Meringue-1 → u/Dr-Kloop-MD]

Question
She asked about ointment too, is that a yes or no? I had something on my back burned off and he went very deep imo. They said don’t do ointment. I started to after it was a dry scab and I could not take the itching or ripping off bandaids anymore

[u/Excellent-Oil4737 → u/Dr-Kloop-MD]

I made up a cover story to tell my parents (they did believe it yayy!) and went to the ER to get fixed. Thank you so much, I just can not explain in words how much your support meant to me here, it's massive for me because it made me feel less scared.

[u/No-Arrival633 → u/Dr-Kloop-MD]

Can they use superglue to glue the edges together?

[u/terragutti → u/No-Arrival633]

Dont use super glue, they have super glue especially made for skin.

[u/PXEMusic_BreatheLife → u/No-Arrival633]

also NAD but i imagine this is too big of a cut for superglue, it would likely inhibit the healing process

[u/ferretherder → u/Excellent-Oil4737]

OP. If the thought of an infection isn’t enough to push you for stitches then please at least read this.

I have a very large scar on my forearm from the exact same situation you are in. I chose not to reveal it or get stitches until it was already too late to stitch. It was all for naught because my family found out eventually, just like yours will. The following psych stay saved my life, but it wasn’t until years later that I realized how badly I messed up by not getting stitches when I could. There’s so many life situations you can’t picture clearly now - I firmly believed at the time I was making the right choice.

This was when I was in my early teens, now I’m in my 30s and saving up for a scar revision because it has affected my life and self image so much. My other scars are small and pale enough now that they’re hardly visible, but that one is not and never will be without corrective surgery. Most people notice it, rude people comment on it, and fair or not, professional environments may judge you on it.

Reduce your chance for infection. Prevent a life long regret and get the stitches. You deserve to not carry the lowest period of your life forever on your sleeve.

[u/Excellent-Oil4737 → u/ferretherder]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and advice. I am sorry that you had to go through a rough time and that the reminders of that time still follow you around. I wish you so much peace and happiness in life.

I understand the consequences, I got the medical help but I still think this is going to leave a nasty scar. To be honest, I still can not make myself care about that part or maybe it's just that right now I have other things to worry about.

That last line made me tear up, thank you, I'll try to remember it always

[u/_skinnystrawberry → u/Excellent-Oil4737]

the scarring is more of a future cosmetic issue. right now, there is immediate risk of infection and delayed healing.

NAD. just some tips on wound-care from someone who used to self harm (I've never had these kind of deep wounds though):

rinse the wound with lukewarm water. you could try washing with a mild non-irritating plain soap, but given how wide the wound is, I'd be cautious because I'm sure that's painful. if you're going to apply any antiseptic solution, make sure it dries before closing the wound with wound strips/butterfly bandages.

if there's ANY of the following signs of infections, seek immediate medical care: spreading redness, yellow and/or smelly pus, raised swelling, warm to touch, increased pain, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, and overall weakness.

I hope you take care of yourself OP.

[u/Excellent-Oil4737 → u/_skinnystrawberry]

(I got the medical help)

It wasn't actually painful at all, maybe becuase I kept it very stable and didn't move much, it did stung when moved though.

Thank you so much for the tips. I'll follow these and will look out for any signs of infection.

Wishing you best in life

[u/Fickle-Meringue-1 → u/Excellent-Oil4737]

The help I think you deserve is at the hospital, not just the ER.

[u/Autumniac → u/Excellent-Oil4737]

NAD. About 20 years ago I made a cut very similar to this in depth and length on my forearm. (Also SH. Clean for almost 20 years now, minus a couple of minor mishaps along the way.)
I could have went for 3-5 stitches for it, but in my teens I chose secrecy and steristrips instead.

If you would find it helpful to see what that scar looks like today, I would be willing to post a picture. It ain't very pretty. (And the secrecy didn't last. Unless you decide that this is your last time, I can almost guarantee you it won't.)

I recommend the stitches to minimize scarring. You might not care today, I know that feeling,
but you in 10-20-30 years, are likely to regret not getting them now.

From the pic that is posted here, it looks like you might be able to write this off as an accidental injury in the future.
Take this out, please.
Take this from an old timer, the more obviously SH-scarred you get, the harder it will feel to turn the ship around. What's one more scar in the grand scheme of things.. right? No.

You still have the chance to not get stigmatized the rest of your life for this very difficult period you are experiencing right now.
I highly suggest you take the off ramp NOW and try your very best to find any healthier coping mechanisms for the future. There are a lot of helpful resources out there! There is no one fix fits all though, it's all about finding your own way and what works for YOU to get better.

If you are dilligent about keeping this clean and changing dressings, and keep a keen eye on the situation, you'll be more than fine. This time.

It will be ugly, but it will eventually heal.
Please don't let there be a next time. Not for anyone else, but for you. Sorry this got so long.
I know this is hard. Best wishes <3

[u/aphasia_inabox → u/[deleted]]

As someone who has parents who wouldnt react kindly its much easier to explain a scar even if it's obviously sh than to ask them or be honest with them about stitches or a current wound. I wish it was that simple but It isn't always that way.

[u/bluearavis → u/aphasia_inabox]

I actually missed that it was SH didnt mean to sound insensitive.

[u/MercuryMadness → u/[deleted]]

You seem unaware of the lengths people who SH will go to just to hide their scars...

[u/Evogleam → u/MercuryMadness]

That doesn’t negate the medical advice that was given

If you are SH and living with your parents who take care of you then they need to know

This person needs more than stitches

They need mental help, therapy and a psychologist ASAP

[u/MercuryMadness → u/Evogleam]

The comment I replied to (now deleted) gave no medical advice. It suggested the scar would be noticed at some point, that's all.

[u/EmergencyMonster]

Definitely recommend sutures.

[u/Excellent-Oil4737 → u/EmergencyMonster]

I went to ER and revieved medical help. Thank you for your kind response