Wow, I’m really surprised that talking about the nude spas in the previous post didn’t generate more comments. Oh well, I never know what will spark comments, but it was a bit of a shocking experience to me.
Friday’s plan was lots of sewing and then post a Work in Progress before I got into the Morocco photos. Unfortunately, I never made it because I ended up having a sewing accident and had to go to the ER for stitches. Warning: Rotary cutter blades are sharp!!!
The Weapon
As I was taking apart my rotary cutter to put in a sharper blade, I dropped it and immediately jumped back. My Mother-in-law has given me all kinds of warnings about how dangerous those are after she had one drop on her foot years back. I thought about that as soon as I dropped the blade, especially since I only had socks on. Unfortunately, the blade hit the ground and rolled around, with my foot landing on it. Yikes!!
I don’t do well with the sight of blood (and there was a lot), but I was able to bandage it up to stop the bleeding. I messaged Thomas online about what happened and told him that it was deep enough that it would probably need stitches, so he came on home to help me navigate our first time with the Belgian healthcare system.
It all turned out okay. Once he was home, we called a taxi to take us to the local hospital. They gave me 5 stitches and a tetnus shot and sent me home. There were, however, a few differences in how everything worked:
- I didn’t have to fill out any forms. They just swiped my identity card and had all the info they needed.
- No money was exchanged at the hospital. A bill will be mailed to me, and since I forgot my insurance card, I can work that out afterward.
- They used tough threads that need to be removed rather than the disintegrating kind. I get them removed by my general physician, rather than back at the hospital.
- I *think* that if I had needed the stitches before 5PM, I could have had my general physician put them in rather than the ER.
- They gave me a prescription for antibiotics, but we had to search for a pharmacy that is open past 6PM. They’re generally closed then, but they rotate which one is open later, printing the list in the newspaper or online.
- The ER was thorough and good, but more with a tough love kind of feeling. I was surprised that they didn’t give crutches – yes, I can hobble around without them, but the US would have given me some, at least so I didn’t step on the wound before it was sewn up. This one was the biggest surprise to me.
It all worked out and though I didn’t get any real sewing done, my friend Sarah is coming over today so we can work on our projects together.
Since I can’t stand the sight of blood, myself, I’ll hold off on posting more photos in this post, but if you really want to see more, they’re on Flickr:
- My Sewing Accident (4 photos)
P.S. No quilt blocks were harmed in the making of this blog post.
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ID cards with too much information are creepy! But I’m glad the rest of the experience was pretty good. Err, the getting stitched up bit, I mean, not the part that landed you there!
…last time I needed stitches I just had a doc in the box put them in for me, and I didn’t want to deal with scheduling removal so I just sterilized some scissors with a torch and took them out myself on the day. So that part’s probably the same–if you hurt yourself when you can find a doc that’s open, you don’t need the ER for stitches, though it sounds like you’re a lot more likely to find a non-ER doc open here.
glad you’re okay in the end–miss ya, D!
Oh… you look so brave and calm sitting there in the ER.
But how? That cut looks owie-owie-owie. I hope it heals quickly. As a quilter I did feel a bit critical of those big sloppy stitches they stuck you with… *grin*
Glad to hear you’re not only ok but got a practical reason to learn the medical system with something less than life-threatening first.
Those Fiskars people probably make scalpels in the next room over, using the same materials. They are crazy sharp!
Take care!
Those rotary cutters are dangerous!
I have also had many warnings.
i also havent had to change my blade- i just take it to the quilt shop where i bought it (i take lessons there) and the teacher replaces it for me before i buy it!
at least that is not a sewing pedal foot :)
um hello a little warning on the pictures…gulp.
ps. your ps…hilarious. :)
.-= brit´s last blog ..Weekend Rundown =-.
YIKES! I always worry this is going to happen to me. I’ve come close a few times to stepping on a rotary cutter that I carelessly left on the floor exposed. Hope you are on the mend! Who knew quilting could be so dangerous? :)
.-= sara´s last blog ..11.2: playing catch up =-.
The lengths you go to in order to share the Belgium experience! lol I have cute my hand on those blades – they are horribly dangerous, but I think you’re the only one I know who could cut their foot with one! :)
.-= Lisa’s Chaos´s last blog ..Nip it =-.
I had to check out your flickr photos to see the damage! Doesn’t look fun, sorry to hear that you’re laid up. Let me know if you need anything or would like a visitor this week.
.-= Ali Meyer´s last blog ..Traveling Textile Market in Hasselt, Belgium (Oct 14) =-.
My first nude spa was here in Gent and I liked it once I got over the puritanical brainwashing of the US. Although it was sort of weird to be there with CB. More cause I found it odd that everyone could see my man’s junk. Cause that junk is just for my eyes, darnit!
But when I took my mom we had a good time and I wasn’t thinking about her or my bits being exposed.
And yeah, I find that the doctors here are clinically capable but the bed side manner of the US is sorely lacking. Both when I had my root canal and when I fell down the stairs I was amazed that no one offered me any sort of pain killer. I also never had any follow up on my wrist and it causes me some problems now. Like everything else, socially funded healthcare has it’s equal share of positives and negatives.
.-= Lilacspecs´s last blog ..Stay Tuned =-.