Finger amputation need a hand hold.

[jmh740]

My cat bit me in August when I was trying to medicate her. Ive been on antibiotics since 28.8 but it was still badly infected. On Tuesday they told me the bone was infected and the surgeon wouldnt know how much unti he opened it up. I went into surgery for it to be cleaned out (for the 4th time) on Thursday. They hand is well bandaged and it looks like they have amputated between the first and second knuckle.
It was a real sock and I'm struggling to cope with the pain. Does anyone know what the future looks like for me?

How long will it take to heal?
What will I still be able to do?
What wont I be able to do?
Any tips and hints to aid recovery?

Im having the dressing changed tomorrow and a bit nervous to see it.

You poor thing OP! It is shocking this wasn't communicated to you properly. You are being VERY brave. Hope it heals quickly. Take care of yourself. 💐

I am truly shocked at the lack of communication/bedside manner. No wonder you are traumatised. I hope you settle down soon and find ways to master the tasks you need to do and the hobbies you love. 💐

Aw I’m the same - I’d have apologised too 😆

I’m already a tad bit clumsy and live in my own wee world - there’s enough for me to pay attention to without having to look out for cats skulking around my feet!

That’s bloody terrifying 😵‍💫 Hope that wasn’t too sore.

I spoke to a lady to compliment her trainers and we were talking for a while before I realised she had a prosthetic arm! She was super cool!

Hope you manage to come to terms with it all and the pain settles soon.

I have no advice but my ex didn’t have a arm and he could do everything I could do and more

I think you're better off saying that you got on the wrong side of a Mafia boss and/or drug lord. They'll know from things like Line of Duty that severing fingers is a real underworld punishment! Good luck to you.

Traumatic and non-traumatic amputations are two different beasts.

My husband has a significant limb difference, kids are wild and will ask/say anything, but the best is when you get the 3-6 year olds with their mortified parents.

I was bitten by a wild cat once, still got the scars, and everyone went mad at me that I hadn't gone to A&E. I had a lucky escape, I'm sorry yours turned out so badly but I guess at least you're alive. It looks pretty neat, I hope it doesn't bother you too much.

OP, please look after your diabetes as best you can. Having an amputation due to an infection and poorly controlled diabetes is worrying. I'm not trying to be horrible, or trying to scare you and I know that it's probably easier said than done when you are caring for other people, but please look after yourself. Speedy recovery xx

I saw someone who had a similar operation, and they had a tattoo of a fingernail on the affected finger - it really made a difference!

Given the careless and thoughtless treatment of the OP by surgeon & nursing staff alike, this is one thread that I actually wish the Newspaper Which Must Not Be Named would pick up.
I am so very sorry, OP, and I hope the healing at least now goes smoothly.

As the OP works with SEN kids PLEASE do not tell them it was a shark or they will take it for granted.

And if you do tell them it was a cat, please be careful how you say it, You don't want them to reject cats they have at home.

My autistic teen hasn't really been swimming in the sea since seeing a starfish on the sand and us telling her to be careful as they can sting.

It was the same with one of my colleagues...and we worked in the secondary sector.

Honestly my dad has about as much off his left index finger and people don’t tend to notice. I think kids notice things like that more. My DC went to a nursery where one of the key workers had two different colour eyes - you would think something like that would be immediately obvious to anyone speaking to her but she said the kids always notice straight away and she barely ever has an adult notice. I think people are preoccupied (not necessarily selfish) by whatever their plans are when they see you.

If it was the right hand you’d be more likely to write in front of people or use it more visibly, but in many ways you’re lucky it’s your non-dominant hand. I’m sure it’s a huge shock right now and your recovery will take time. Allow yourself to grieve for your finger tip.

My son was scared of the sea and even foreign swimming pools after I let him watch Jaws when he was probably too young. He has no SEN.

OP, I'm so sorry you've been through such a terrible time and hope you're now on the speedy path to recovery!

I wanted to say that I also love knitting and a while ago saw a wonderful video of a woman who'd had her arm amputated due to cancer and she found really creative in interesting ways to be able to knit with just one hand. This is not in any way to try to diminish what you've been through (I would be utterly and completely traumatised by what you've endured), but just to reassure that hopefully when you're feeling up to it you'll be able to continue enjoy your lovely hobbies.

I think someone also previously mentioned this but I've seen lots of knitters use the middle finger on the left hand rather than the index one when holding knitting needles, maybe there is a reason!?

It looks like a very nice neat job and I think medical treatment was never going to work here.

I am another one who knows someone who has lost the tip of his finger in a saw accident at work and you wouldn't notice, also know someone missing an ear and had spent a lot of time with him at a weekly club before I noticed and when I remarked about it to my husband and children none of them were aware of it (he was bald too so not covered by hair)

So sorry this happenned to you, people don't realise how dangerous Cat bites are my cat bit me on my hand it swelles badly i read you can loose your hamd so went to A and e out on a drip, tetanus shot week if antibiotics and a week off work. I didnt realise how dangerous they are, tbe cat was trapped and frightened
No lasting damage. My mother in law put her hand in to grab her small dog fighting with another dog she had to get tip of finger removed she waa elderly and spent 2 days in hosital no effect on her and no one notices it will take time to heal💐

So sorry for what you've endured op

Agree with others that you should complain. To not know what had been done when discharged is appalling. The Dr should obviously see his patients post op particularly when the surgery was more than expected.

Firstly what an awful experience you have had.

Secondly if you are unclear as to the extent of the amputation then ring the surgeons secretary, explain your situation and asks for the surgeon to contact you. If they can at least tell you in centimeters how much finger was removed this may help reduce your anxiety.

Don't wait until the next appointment as someone who's been subject to a lot of medical intervention this past 5 years (Big C stuff) not knowing is worse than knowing. Your mind will always look to fill in the blanks for you and it's not healthy or conducive to recovery.

Think positive. You are on the right side of it nows it's all about recovering and moving on with life.

Wishing you well @jmh740
I have a very close friend - who started off as a colleague. It took me two years to notice she was missing her little finger and half her ring finger. I just didn't notice even though we sat in meetings taking notes etc. I think if you are not looking for it and it's not brought to attention, you just don't notice.
I had another colleague who had six fingers and didn't notice until I realised that she wanted me to - quite bizarre.

'Secondly if you are unclear as to the extent of the amputation then ring the surgeons secretary, explain your situation and asks for the surgeon to contact you. If they can at least tell you in centimeters how much finger was removed this may help reduce your anxiety.'

She knows now. Picture posted upthread.

I’m not surprised this happened. Cats teeth are notoriously bad with their types of bacteria and a full depth wound in a digit can certainly lead to amputation. I became aware of this as a child when my friends cat had a through and through bite on it’s tail from another cat which led to amputation. I’ve seen partial foot amputations in diabetics due to cat bites leading to osteomyelitis.

I’m sure you’ll adapt ok with a bit of time but 💐💐💐 Speak up about how painful it is, especially if it’s disturbing your sleep as you need to rest and recover for the anaesthetic and general shock of it all.

💕. That's going to take quite some time for you to get used to. But I honestly think that once you get past the emotional weirdness of a lot of your finger being gone, you will adapt nicely. It's amazing how quickly you find other ways to do things.

it's OK to feel whatever you feel, you don't have to pretend that you're not feeling the way you do whatever that is💕