i feel like a fool not having asked the DR at the ER .so maybe someone can tell me.
I cut my thumb and got 5 stitches(my first,well except for 3 episiotomies ).the nurse put a huge bandage on my hand.and I have to go back in 7 days to get it check.
do I need to change the bandage,put an another on?
thanks!

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By the time you make ends meet, they move the ends

I am sure there are some nurses here, but I would say just keep it clean and dry. I would take the bandage off to let some air get to it maybe, when you are not going anywhere or so it won't get dirty or wet.

Hope you are feeling better though!

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

ditto on the above suggestions. My 6 year old got some a few weeks ago and keeping them dry was a biggie; try taking a six year old boy to a pool party and not getting wet! I would bandage when you think it might get dirty, but otherwise, I would air dry so it heals better/quicker.

thanks so much.I am such a wuss!!!I just looked at it,and almost passed out.it is bleeding a bit..not much...it is so weird,because i can take care of other's wounds but mine.
and I am in pain,and no pain killer but tylenol....

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By the time you make ends meet, they move the ends

I'm surprised they didn't give you instructions on a discharge sheet. I agree with the other posters advice

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

If bleeding I would definately keep it bandaged. In fact, I would keep it bandaged for at least a couple of days. Wounds need to heal from the inside out and if you leave it unbandaged it will start healin from outside in. Plus, it's gonna hurt if you accidentally hit it without a bandage on it. I bet the bandage was around the thumb and then down around the wrist to keep it from coming off.
Why don't you just call the ER and find out?
I'm surprised you weren't given discharge instructions.

thanks,it was a zoo in there!and genichols,on howthe bandage is .
and i didn't get any papers on how to take care of a wound!and i remember getting some of those papers each time my kids were in there.
i just got a paper telling me I was discharged and to come back in 7 days.

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By the time you make ends meet, they move the ends

I would take off the bandage, and put some Neosporin or something like that on it. Re-bandage it, but let some air get at it!

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Freedom Stands...Because HEROS Serve

Mary

Call the ER to find out for sure. When my son had surgery (laproscopic-- so only had small incisions with stitches) on his shoulder, we had to leave the bandage they put on for two days and keep it dry. Then after that we had to clean the stitches with peroxide two times a day and keep band-aids on it until we went back for the 10 day checkup.

Whne my daughter had surgery on her ear to remove a cyst, we had to swab it with Hydrogen Peroxide and put neosporine on it. That was about it.