Clinic? Need to get stitched up?

I had an incident with my rescue cat a little while ago and really want to avoid the ER. I may need stitches and definitely need antibiotics. Does anyone know if there's a walk-in clinic where they could do this in the area?

I'm sorry! I'm probably the only one up at this hour and I can't help you!! Are you okay?

I would say that the clinic at Atlantic and Clinton might be able to do this, but I heard recently that it was about to be closed.

I don't know if Dr. Raffinan does stitches, but he usually holds some time free for emergency/same day visits. Might be worth giving him a call - he may also be able to tell you where you can go if he can't do it

These people were able to see me same day:

http://www.yafferuden.com/

Dr raffinan can't do it, i'm going to have to go to the er. i slept for a while since it happened so freaking early. i also hate the freaking er and avoid it like the plague. maybe i'll get seen quickly once i whip off my blood soaked bandages!

p.s. finally my dysfunctional brain is working in my favor or i might have really freaked out!

p.p.s. the rescue who did this isn't the adorable new girl i posted in the pets forum last night

How bad is it? Are you ok... please let us know what happens when you get back.

BAD KITTY!!

Problems like this are why I learned to do my own stitches long ago.

EDIT: On reflection, this joke is poor taste.

I had already PM'd caseopele about this, but in case anyone is thinking of following Mougar's example, if you have a bite wound, these should never be stitched because if they are they will almost always get infected, especially if you aren't on antibiotics.

Carnivore, how dare you contradict the internet! According to the Apprentice Doctor I am now an expert at performing sutures. What would you know about it? It's not like you work in a hospital or anything . . .

EDIT: On reflection, this joke is poor taste.

I know you're joking, but I'll still answer in good faith...

Suturing is a manual skill, not rocket science. There's no reason anyone with reasonable manual dexterity couldn't be an excellent suturer with a little practice. But that wouldn't give you the knowledge to know when suturing is the wrong thing to do, like with a bite wound, or if there is a significant delay to wound care.

The OP didn't say if it was a bite or not, but cat bites can be very dangerous and I'd recommend going to a doc or the ER asap. I got bit by a cat about 10 years ago and by the time I went to the doctor about 8 hours later I had red streaks going up my arm and was hospitalized for 2 days on IV antibiotics. Cats have really nasty bacteria in their mouths.

So are you OK caseo????

Asil wrote: The OP didn't say if it was a bite or not, but cat bites can be very dangerous and I'd recommend going to a doc or the ER asap. I got bit by a cat about 10 years ago and by the time I went to the doctor about 8 hours later I had red streaks going up my arm and was hospitalized for 2 days on IV antibiotics. Cats have really nasty bacteria in their mouths.

Absolutely. For the record, I had PM'd caseopele about this this morning.

Ok screw it, I'm calling her right now.

If you reach her Mama let us know how she is doing.

Called, she's ok, no stitches but she got a shot and antibiotics. She sounded tired, but Ok.

what mama said. won't be much typing for me, got bit and scratched pretty bad. swollen from hand to mid-forearm, unbelievably painful and i have a pretty high tolerance for pain. doc was kind of a twit, didn't notice the swelling until i showed her my other wrist and seemed more interested in the fact i don't want kids. (x-rays)

thanks for the advice and good thoughts. i'll post a pic if anyone wants to see, it's kind of cool!

Yup , you know it! Pics or it didn't happen.

pics please!! We are a gory bunch

the pics don't quite do it justice, i can't move my wrist or fingers w/o shooting pain up into the back of my hand. can't tie my shoes or put my hair up, basically my left hand is a painful useless mess. my dogs are going to hate me and i don't know how my strays are going to get fed. my pics are being cut off for some dumb reason.

Eeeww..... those do look nasty! poor Caseo

Caseopele, is that wound on the back of your wrist about 2-3 cm distal to the tattoo a bite? If so, I'd be really concerned that it could involve the joint space, especially if you can't move your hand. That would be extremely serious. If this looks even a little worse than when you first started the antibiotics or if it's not improving over the first 24 hours, you should definitely go back to the ER, because you'll probably need IV antibiotics, and might need even more than that if the joint space is involved.

Wow, those bites are deep caseo!

I agree with Carnivore that you should go back to the ER if you are not feeling any better. The sharp pain is not a good sign.

Maybe your neighbors can help out with feeding the strays and walking your dogs.

I will give you a call in the afternoon.

pics from today. i called my regular doc but he hasn't gotten back to me yet. still swollen and really painful, skin feels hot. i have bony hands and wrists to give you an idea of how swollen it is

That sounds bad! Go see a doc.

For anyone wondering about the Atlantic/Clinton clinic I have an update. I go to a doc there and found out the hard way today, that they have moved to 185 Montague. I actually called to ask if they were still at 200 Clinton and the receptionist said yes. I show up and it's all locked with a note (I like Dr. Stroud but the series of messes I've gone through with the receptionist folks there may send me elsewhere)

I just came back from visiting her at Methodist hospital. She went to the emergency room and will be there at least through tomorrow getting IV antibiotics. Her arm is very, very swollen

is somebody looking in on the animals?

sweet tea wrote: is somebody looking in on the animals?

yes, her mom took the dogs to a kennel for a few days and a friend is visiting/taking care of the cats

I'm so sorry this happened. The main wound definitely looked infected or on it's way. Geez, that kitty must have totally flipped on you.
Yeah, cats can carry some serious bacteria in their mouths, as you can see from the quickness of the infections appearance.
And can you believe the doctor didn't return your call right away???
I hope you're feeling better soon.

See the "rant and rave" thread in the lounge for an update. She's in the hospital.

The doctor did call her back....within 2 minutes of her calling his emergency service, even though it was quite apparent that he woke her up. That's because Dr. R is the best-est :-)

dakotas way wrote: Yeah, cats can carry some serious bacteria in their mouths, as you can see from the quickness of the infections appearance.

It's not just the bacteria in their mouths, although those are nasty. It's also that cat bites tend to be deep puncture wounds, rather than tears like one would typically get with a dog bite (more like a stab wound, less like a slash wound). So it's like injecting bacteria under the skin with a needle. They just about always get infected.