Does this really need A&E? (Burn - photo warning)

[panicattackhell]

Burnt myself about an hour-90 mins ago.

Lent back against my bedroom heater, and caught my back on it, just above my hip.

It’s no bigger than my hand span - about 5-6cm diameter I think - but blistered, weepy and still pretty hot to touch.

NHS24 are saying to get it seen at A&E in case it needs dressed/treatment but I’m trying to avoid nipping over there if I can as doubtless be stuck for a very long wait.

Can I avoid A&E or should I take myself over?

@panicattackhell doing these things with intention previously is a game changer. Please tell them that as part of triage. You aren’t wasting their time telling them this

I Think there a whole lot else at play here - the photo you shared is just a superficial burn.

Oh right

So you have health anxiety and you do this stuff intentionally sometimes?

No, I have health anxiety (and other stuff, I have CPTSD) and a history of self harm (to cope with stuff in general). Have a care plan that 111 etc can see.

Been seen by a doctor and discharged - superficial burn, the fact that it’s not painful means very little seemingly and said it’ll be fine to just keep an eye on. Said the reason I was called back and told to attend was because (as I thought) they were worried it was deliberate.

I can't believe anyone still saying put sudocreme or vaseline on a new burn. Please don't. It will make it worse. It's like grannies saying put butter on a burn.

I wouldn't go to A and E with that. I would keep it cold- flannel dipped in ice water and wrung out and applied regularly for an hour. Then a dry dressing.

OP you are obviously fuelled by your health anxiety and I suspect you were always going to go to a&e and wanted validation from mumsnet. Fair enough, health anxiety is hell (I don't have it but am supporting someone who does), but I hope you're getting ongoing support for this. A lot of people with health anxiety and self harm tendencies get help initially but slip under the radar. Would suggest seeing your GP specifically for your anxiety if you haven't already.

Cross posted. Glad you're getting support.

Thanks, it’s a long (long) wait for regular help tbh, at the moment it’s just crisis management but did get told I should be seen more regularly within the next couple of months, which is a positive.

it’s just really not good that the night I phoned mental health earlier worrying about self harm, that I then ended up accidentally burning my back.

at least in and out very quickly.

Aww @IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls rhats my medical career down the drain! She asked what I would do and that’s what I’d do! No need to be arsey

@MeinKraft

DO NOT DO THIS sudocrem will hold the heat in, never use sudocrem for a burn.

Wouldn't go to A&E myself - you could see your GP in the morning faster than you'd see a doctor in A&E the way things are.

---

It literally says it is suitable for minor burns on the label. I was advised to use it by a pharmacist when I burnt myself as it forms a barrier and helps avoid bacteria getting to the wound.

I know OP is safely home after an A&E visit but I can really recommend the burn gel they sell at pharmacies. I am incredibly clumsy (oven, hot pans etc) and find that cold water for 5-10 min followed by the burn gel works really well…

Don't be so bloody stupid. Gelonet is a burns dressing using paraffin jelly (vaseline) impregnated into the gauze. its sterile and a BURNS DRESSING!!!
I said a vaseline dressing...one you buy from the chemist. I work in A&E so I should bloody know.

No but go to the pharmacy for advice on proper dressing

You NEVER put a dry dressing on a burn! A burn weeps serous fluid, which dries making the dressing stick and rips of the newly healing skin underneath. Its why you put a gelonet (vaseline dressing on). So much bloody stupid advice given here.

How on earth could you advise her not to go to A and E without reading anymore than the title? Why would anyone be so irresponsible?

I had something similar but was a hot water burn. I was told A&E so I went. Nurse was great and agreed definitely needed seen. Ended up "deheading" it (removing the top layers to effectively burst it and clean it) then dressed it with proper burn wraps etc.

I'm glad I went as it took about three weeks to heal and left a nasty scar. I can only imagine what it would be like if I hadn't got proper treatment and supplies to care for it.

The hospital gave me a dressing with a dry surface.

If it was a dry surface it would have been a shiny surface, which is supposed to be low adherent. You would only do that if the wound was quite dry and not likely to weep. But new burns almost always do, because the epidermis (surface skin layer) will be damaged even in superficial burns, and because of the damage, serous fluid seeps through which inevitably causes dressings to stick when they dry out. It was probably a melolin dressing.