[veggy]

normally they're like cat scratches but idk i panicked and they don't look like cat scratches.

i don't want to go to the hospital because my insurance is out.

[anna342]

If they are scratch type cuts they should be fine. I generally think that if the skin is not apart that much and it stops bleeding then it should be fine. If the wound is gaping open and/or the bleeding won't stop then I would get seen.

i once had a really nice doctor tell me this.

"if you can see the fat, then you need stitches. otherwise you can clean it and bandage the wound yourself."

and for me that has been my experience.

fat looks like bubbles of rice krispies. they kind of buldge out and are white almost.

i dont know why this was "the rule" he used, but that is what i go by. truth is, i once tried to take care of it myself with the fat showing, but it kept bleeding for days until i went to see the doctor.

try finding some butterfly bandages in the store. they work well for keeping the cuts together.

good luck and feel better.

[veggy]

my brother came over at like 4am and cleaned it up for me. the skin was apart so i wasn't sure.. i could like push the skin shut with my fingers, but it stayed apart otherwise. no fat though so i guess i am good!

thank you both i had switched the blade and i didn't realize it must have been way sharper or maybe i was just more upset than usual and it went a lot deeper. normally they don't go that deep.

[KeepHoldingOn]

I usually go get stitches if I can definitely see fatty tissue or it doesn't stop bleeding in a certain amount of time.

Butterfly bandages work magic if you're determined to not get stitches but want it to stay closed.

[veggy]

my brother just cleaned it with peroxide and put some bacitracin in it, covered it with a hell of a lot of gauze and wrapped it up. i checked it today and it's still a little bloody, but it's not like pouring out.

[KeepHoldingOn]

As long as it's not pouring out and you put pressure on it and keep the bandages and gauze on you should be fine. Take the necessary measures to keep it clean though, I've had a cut get infected before and it's not fun at all.

Take care of yourself.

-Liz

[veggy]

thanks. i think it should heal okay.

[Yoda]

another thing is doctors are more likely to suture the hands and face

[moonrise]

I've cut very deeply and not gotten stitches. Like, the gap was as wide as my finger, and very long. I was stupid, though. I simply didn't care.

[veggy]

yeah especially the face so i read.

moonrise... could you see fat when you cut that deep?

[BashfullOne]

Veggy - please keep it clean and wrapped up like your brother did it. Otherwise you just may get an infection and be in real trouble. Are you seeing a therapist? Are you telling your therapist about your cuts? Please thing of me before you cut - PM me and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Though I'm not up usually after 9pm.... Please, don't cut anymore, please, because I care about you....

[veggy]

it's never anything i plan. my doc said i'll never get better until i fix things with my ex or he gives me closure and he won't allow either..so his actions cause the panic attacks that cause the cutting.

you know, the doctor who was nice to me actually told me that in most cases the reason a doc stitches is because of scar reduction. if you can keep it clean and closed with a bandage, screw the doctors

however if the fat is showing, i personally am be more worried about infection cause its deep and its hard to keep clean. plus like after im not dissociated anymore, with a cut that deep, it hurts when you wash it or take a shower, etc. not cool.

veggy. try to get some butterfly bandages because they are great for keeping cuts closed. they are kind of expensive but they last all day if you need them to.

be well.

[zooropa]

I wish I was more likely to get stiches, the cuts that I know probably needed them but didn't get them are the ones that have formed the most horrendous scar tissue. Painful, burny, itchy red raised scars. But even so, I won't get stitches unless it's really bad. Too much bother.

[veggy]

yeah the scars from these are not going to be pretty. i wish i had money for more bandages. i only have enough gauze to last through tomorrow.

[zooropa]

superglue works. seriously.

[veggy]

yeah that's what my brother said, but he didn't have any with him.

[moonrise]

Yeah, there was fat. But I kept it very clean using a surgical cleaner. If in doubt, have it looked at. And please, do whatever you can to stop cutting, even if just for a day.

[veggy]

i don't cut every day.. just whenever i get a really awful panic attack and have no way of calming myself down.

i'd be too worried if i saw fat. i have cats and their hair gets everywhere.

[Broken Wings]

i've cut pretty deep before but never to the point where the fatty tissue was showing. hate to admit it but this is definitely a trigger and a motivation to see if i can cut that deep do i have the strength and will power?

[veggy]

please don't do that

[Broken Wings]

eh...don't worry. i haven't cut myself in two weeks. i'm trying to go longer but i really want to cut right now. of course my T isn't answering my phone call.

[veggy]

soo the gauze has green stuff on it when i take it off now :-/
but if i have to go into the doc...idk what to tell them about how it happened.

[Katileena]

I've never gotten stitches for my cuts, and I've seen the fat tissue. Usually I just use a butterfly closure if its real bad, and put a bandage over it. I don't think stitches are necessary for these cuts, but they probably would have lessened my scars. Oh well, I cut, so I should have to live with the scars.