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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Panicking- ring well and truly stuck on my finger...

26 replies

Haylstones · 22/12/2007 18:19

My fingers have overnight become really swollen and I can't get my ring off. I;ve tried soap, water, olive oil, holding it above my head and numbing it with ice cubes to no avail; it isn't shfiting. I think my finger is actually more swollen than it was because I keep trying to get it off [asd]
I really don't want to have to have it cut off- does anyone have any other tips to try? If it does need to be cut off, where should I go? And is it urgent if my finger is going purple?

OP posts:
EffiePerine · 22/12/2007 18:20

Your finger might be going purple thanks to the soap/oil/ice .

If you pinch your nail, does it go white then pink again?

Original poster
Haylstones · 22/12/2007 18:23

It goes white very slowly then back again but not as white/quickly as other nails...

OP posts:
SpacecadetLovesChristmas · 22/12/2007 18:23

run your finger under a cold tap, then smear it with washing up liquid, if that doesnt work and your finger appears white, then im afraid you will have to go to casualty to get it cut off

Original poster
Haylstones · 22/12/2007 18:24

My finger is really only purple round where the ring is and about an inch above it. I've worn it evry day for 9 years, don;t want to lose it I had the same prob wiht my wedding ring but that came off with very little fight

OP posts:
MrsGrinch · 22/12/2007 18:25

Oh dear

Butter then jewellers or fire station if desperate.

ChirpyGrinch · 22/12/2007 18:25

SOunds funny but have you tried pile cream (if you have any?!)
It shrinks swelling so sometimes does the trick in seconds....

Original poster
Haylstones · 22/12/2007 18:25

Spacecadet, that doesn't work I'm not in the mood for A+E tonight! Wonder if I could phone the fire station

OP posts:
Original poster
Haylstones · 22/12/2007 18:26

No pile cream unfortunately!

OP posts:
brusselbeansprouts · 22/12/2007 18:26

Why do you need to take your ring off? Is it simply because the ring is too tight or for another reason?

Would go with the really cold water and w/up option if I had to!

EffiePerine · 22/12/2007 18:26

You can get rings mended after they are cut off, if you have to go down that route.

Sounds like you have some blood supply, which is obv good. Try sitting down calmly for 10 mins with it above your heart (not head, that would be uncomfortable, try resting your hand on your opposite shoulder) and try again. If you still can't shift it, ring NHS Direct for advice.

POOKAingwenceslaslookedout · 22/12/2007 18:27

Try and get your finger as cold as possible to reduce any swelling. So put your finger in a cup of icy water for as long as possible. Then get some oil and rub it over your hand and give it another go. If it doesn't work then I think you might have to have it cut off I'm afraid.

Original poster
Haylstones · 22/12/2007 18:30

It's just feeling really tight now so I want to remove it until post pregnancy. I've held it above my head whilst encased in ice but it still won't move at all. Maybe try NHS Direct actually

OP posts:
EffiePerine · 22/12/2007 18:31

Good idea. Try not to panic!

Original poster
Haylstones · 22/12/2007 18:35

NHS Direct are only taking emergency calls atm

OP posts:
beeper · 22/12/2007 18:36

My mother once saw a woman in hospital with this problem.

she said the nurse threaded some cotton through the ring and put some type of lubricant on the finger then she just started to move the cotton round and round the ring pulling it upwards very slowly at the same time, she said it took over an hour but the cotton going round and round.

So . thread a piece of cotton through the ring. Hold the two ends togethers and move it round and round the ring and finger pulling upwards slowly.

EffiePerine · 22/12/2007 18:39

does your gp have an out-of-hours telephone no?

WanderingHolly · 22/12/2007 18:48

beeper's mum method?

Apparently Windex is good, but I don't know if you can get that inthe UK.

PortAndLemonaid · 22/12/2007 18:52

I did mine with that method WanderingHolly linked to last pregnancy. It works best with waxed dental floss rather than string, though. And it is a little unnerving as when you actually wind the dental floss round you are cutting off the blood flow so your finger goes a rather alarming colour -- but so long as you work fairly quickly it's OK.

I'd leave it until tomorrow when your finger has recovered from what you've put it through today, though.

BBBee · 22/12/2007 19:05

if you put your hand in a sink of as hot as you can bear water won;t the metal of the ring expand and make it looser?

EffiePerine · 22/12/2007 19:06

I think that would make the fingers swell as well BBB.

Original poster
Haylstones · 22/12/2007 19:10

A combination of ice, olive oil, handwash and dh wearing rubber gloves has finally got it off. THanks for all the tips- my finger is slightly bashed but already looking better!

OP posts:
EffiePerine · 22/12/2007 19:12

Fab

jumpyjan · 22/12/2007 19:27

This happened to me - think I got it off with Palmers Cocoa Butter in the end (v greasy) - also try to do it calmly, edging it upwards a bit at a time - seems to get really stuck if you panic and tug it.

DD is 11 months and mine still won't fit back on

mozzybearandwean · 22/12/2007 19:31

jumpys right, stay calm. I worked in a shop that sold jewellery and people would panic when they couldn't get rings off.

SpacecadetLovesChristmas · 22/12/2007 19:49

glad you managed to get it off

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