Swollen fingers - HOW ON EARTH DO I GET RING OFF?!!!!!!!

[Superslinger]

I managed to get engagement ring off yesterday, but, stupidly, decided to leave on wedding ring, hoping I'd be able to hold onto at least one of them to term.

Roll on today and finger actually swollen all around wedding ring and I can't budge the bloody thing. Actually keep flying into a claustrophobic panic every time I try and realise just how stuck it is! I've tried 'shrinking' my finger a bit by holding in cold water but doesn't seem to make any difference - has anybody got any other tips on how to get the thing off please?!

Olive oil?

Goes off to try olive oil...

If you get really desperate my daughter had the same problem and went to the local fire station, they had a special tool to cut a ring off, better to lose a ring than a finger. If not what about A & E?

Was going to say Olive Oil. Or soap and try and relax finger. I tried on a ring once in a jewellers and couldn't get it off. It wasn't a ploy. The jeweller said relax finger and it came off OK.

Let us know if you've got it off yet.

Wind some string TIGHTLY round your finger just in front of the ring. Leave it there for a few mins but not long enough to turn your finger blue. When you remove it your finger should be temporarily squished enough to slide the ring off - or at least a bit further off your finger. Repeat if necessary.

Also I'd imagine soapy hands are slippier than olive oil - olive oil might well just sink in.

• drink plenty
• get some rest
• leave arms elevated
• ice pack

and yes to olive oil or slippery soap to get it off.

Lube?

How you doing OP ?

Olive oil didn't work. Feel like I'm going to dislocate my finger if I pull any harder - it's gone all a bit bruised, red and probably more swollen as a result of my stupid efforts! Why oh why would I put wanting the symbol ahead of the chance it could actually get properly stuck a couple of days ago when I noticed it was getting really tight?! Such an idiot!

Midwife's appointment tomorrow, so maybe she'll be able to give tips (it's unlikely to be anything other than what people can offer here though isn't it?!) :(

Can you wrap it in some ice and keep your hand up for a while?

Have you tried rubbiing lots of washing up liquid over it with cool water?
Or perhaps have a cool bath and get lots of soap around it and see if it comes off? Good luck.

Did you try the string?

Haha at lube! Don't have any but do have never used (because I'm too scared and anyway can't bloody reach) perenial oil which I thought might be worth a whirl (nice if it proved useful for something!)

Will try arm in the air and tying tight thing...

Put your finger under cold running water, to shrink your finger.

Works everytime for me

I had the same problem but only with my engagement ring - my wedding ring is a bit bigger and I took the chance of leaving it on. Wouldn't have been able to get it off by the end but it didn't hurt my finger.
Leave your hand in cold water for quite a while and the either use fairy liquid or I actually stuck it in my mouth and used my
Teeth! Seemed to be able to lubricate and pull at the same time that way.
Good luck!!

IT'S OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, so relieved! Who knew you could get claustrophobic over a ring?!

The winning solution goes to arm over head for best part of an hour, followed by cold water and PULLING! Finger now a very funny, mangled shape, but FREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you mumsnetters!

(Now for explaining to DH - he came home to engagement ring off last night, now wedding ring tonight - wouldn't blame him for expecting bags packed next!) ;)

My DP is a jeweller and has to do this all the time.

The first things he tries are hand cream, ice and putting the opposite elbow under cold running water (sounds weird but often works!). Then don't pull at the ring but twist it very gently and try to keep the finger either very very relaxed or very stiff. If your finger starts to go very red a looks like it's swelling more but you're not getting anywhere then just stop. Try this all when you're as cool as possible, so don't try it in the afternoon when it's hottest even though that's when it'll feel most uncomfortable.

If none of that works go to a jeweller's or fire station to have it cut off. Don't worry about going to a jeweller's just for that, he has it all the time and doesn't mind doing it at all. It only takes a minute to cut it off. Then I'd probably just keep it cut until after pregnancy and have it resized then. In my last pregnancy. Had my ring sized up 3 times () but I don't think I'll bother this time.

Good luck.

Oops, I should've refreshed before posting!

I'm glad you got it off without having to cut it.