Can I go to hospital for stitches and not give details?

[indecis]

As above really - I had a stupid accident which has left me with a very bad cut on my arm which just isn't healing, however for complicated reasons I suspect the doctors will think someone has done it to me and that would create a lot of problems in my life. How much can I not tell them?

Oh yes! I'm pretty sure the A&E staff were laughing at me at the time, tbh!
I'm pretty sure they weren't.

I know we'r meant to say go get it seen and stuff but if i wasnt bleeding to death id go to the pharmacist or deal with it myself.

I’d say that as you had this accident a while ago (or at least last night), I’d go to the local pharmacy and ask the pharmacist - it’s likely too late to have sutures, which are used to stop heavy bleeding. But it’s likely to need a clean out and steristrips, which you can do yourself at home.

Years ago I had to go to A&E after I accidently stabbed myself in the leg. I told them what had happened and they didn't bat an eyelid even though it was a very obvious knife / sharp scissors wound.

I use things called israel bandaes in my first aid kit for camping, recommend them to everyone to stop bleeding from big cuts. I carry them for things like axe or knife wounds. Easy to find on amazon

You're not alone in the clumsiness stakes. I'm convinced that one of my regular accidents will end up being the death of me!

I hope that your arm isn't cut badly enough to need stitches. With a lot of cuts, they tend to use steri-strips which you can buy yourself from the pharmacy. As mentioned previously, you might need a tetanus jab though.

Hope you get it sorted, OP!

I tore my rotator cuff practising CPR the day before my important exams. I’d been practising for weeks and the repetitive movements got the better of me. I should’ve known better really There’s a daft story for you! In the end I had to do the exam one handed.. I still passed the station thankfully

If your story matches the injury, they won't question it.
I am assuming you are an adult, in which case they can't raise anything without your consent anyway (apart from in a few very specific circumstances, but they would have to inform you they are doing it)

Being cagey and secretive like in your op tends to be what causes people concern - their imagination can fill the gaps with all manner of terrible things and it's harder to trust someone behaving like that

Op, I fell over sober, for no good reason, and ended up with stitches in my head x it'll be ok

@boodah I’ve been to A&E for three accidents in the last few years that happened whilst I was completely sober. Go on have a go at me about them? I slipped on ice and split my head open, I toppled over (no reason just clumsy) and chipped my knee cap, I got a chemical burn on my stomach from using a heat pad directly on my skin. You’re just an arsehole!

OP they only ask in case the need to do further treatment like antibiotics or flushing any possible foreign bodies out. I know an A&E nurse and she says they get some outlandish stories, particularly from people who have items stuck in certain orifices…‘so you were naked directly over this item when you slipped? How odd!’

Just be honest they'll have heard it all. As PPs have said the ex probably can't find out about it as they can't raise it without your consent anyway.

A couple of months ago I had a couple of drinks and slipped on the stairs in my own house (which I've only lived in for 16 years) while wearing new socks and slid all the way down on my bum. Had a little cut on my hand from the wall but in a way I'm glad I was tipsy as if I wasn't I'd probably have hurt myself more😂 it isn't just you

have you ever watched House?
he always says that patients lie and that makes doctors lives so much harder.

so volunteer all info they ask of you & be transparent.

I stabbed my finger in April and because of angle & location it could be interpreted as a defensive wound.
but it wasn't. I'm just a dumbass sometimes and should know better than trying to slice a round piece of MDF sideways with our biggest kitchen knife🙄🥴

I'd be embarrassed about the drunk bit. I'd have just gone to the hospital and said "I was gardening, I tripped over a paving stone and cut myself on the gate. It's not healing".

Men can get wasted and end up in hospital after stupid injuries brought in by drinking and its just "another weekend, one of those things" but when a mother gets drunk and injures herself is judgement, judgement, judgement. I dont know any mum's who dont ever drink. You fell. It happens. But I still wouldnt tell them that bit!

Can I ask, why were you wandering around drunk in the dark though? Stay confined to a room! Much safer!

I tripped over coming out of a pub one evening. I'd had a lemonade...

anyone can fall over, you don't need to be drunk! Just phone your GP and say you would like the practice nurse to look at it.

have you ever watched House

yes his mantra was "everybody lies" - until they don't, but on that show they nearly always do!

@Fiddliestofsticks my house has a side door and a back door (terrace), I only had the back door keys which means a trip (no pun intended) round the back in the dark as my security light bulb has gone. I very rarely go round the back unless from the back door, and the paving started earlier than I thought it did the more I explain the more idiotic I sound I'm sure!

The sooner you go to A&E the better, as depending on the depth of the cut, if it's left a da or something they mightn't close it due to infection risk (I know this from experience.)

It is worth looking into dyspraxia as it might make you feel better and also there might be some sort of help or tips they can give you/your daughter. I have it a bit. Keys and keyholes are one of the most difficult things I think. It can also be linked to conditions like ADHD or ASD.

I agree, best course of action is to just say I tripped as it would probably have happened if I was sober to be fair. In my defence (if there is one!), the paving is only a few months old. I've only tripped over it once (sober, I'm not a crazy drunk lady who wanders about in the dark!) before so obviously got a bit carried away thinking I didn't need a light to see - why I didn't put the torch on my phone on is anyone's guess!

@Boodah hopefully you've never been in an abusive relationship but if you have you'll know that lots of abusers will use anything they can to try and make you look bad. They'll twist things to make it seem like something that happened is your fault and that you're a bad parent. This is why the OP is so worried because she doesn't want to give the ex any excuse to use something against her.

You just tripped in the dark. We all do daft things occasionally; I fell through a manhole (which I FULLY KNEW was cracked) by stepping backwards onto it while I was washing my kitchen windows. Broke my big toe and had to have rounds of antibiotics for a huge gouge in my leg. These things happen, and the staff at A&E see all of them!

I've had a quick dr google look at dyspraxia and don't think I have most of the symptoms although a couple ring true. It's worth mentioning when I speak to my gp anyway though, if only to help my daughter as pp's have said.

@LBOCS2 I appreciate all these stories massively, I've had some epic ones (no joke - tricycled off the edge of a patio when young into a herb garden, mint stalk went into my ear, nearly burst my eardrum. Fell into trafalgar fountain! Fell into my grandad's pond. Wallpaper scraper in the eye. Etc!) but tend to just bump into stuff these days. The coffee table is my nemesis

Just say you fell over. No need to give any other details. I hope you have plenty of support. I have ptsd due to my experience of the family courts so hope it all goes ok for you.

@DrDetriment not many people that really understand unfortunately but it's difficult to explain unless you've lived it. I do have a very good doctor, counsellor and solicitor though, that takes a lot of weight off my shoulders. I've increasingly found I avoid most people otherwise :(