Warning:some of the photos in this post show a moderate amount of blood; if you are squeamish, you may want to skip this one. (You can always email me to ask what happened.)
Sometimes you just don’t know what a quiet evening will hold.
Steve and I have a tradition that Friday nights are movie and pizza night. We take turns picking a movie and pop a pizza in the oven—low cost, low stress, and always an enjoyable way to end the week.
Until it isn’t.
Last Friday night, we had just finished the movie and were sitting on the couch talking when suddenly, to my great puzzlement, Steve leaped up from the couch and sprinted to the kitchen.
I stared after him for a moment, trying to replay what we had just been talking about that might have caused him to act in such a peculiar manner. But it was suddenly made clear when he shouted, “I’m bleeding. I’m bleeding!”
I jumped up as well and hurried into the kitchen. I saw Steve holding his ear while blood ran down his face and neck and pooled on the floor. It was coming from the area of the basal cell carcinoma that had been surgically removed the week before. It turns out that he had absentmindely scratch his ear and removed the scab that was forming.
It took about ten minutes of hard pressure (and many soaked tissues) to get the bleeding to stop. The worst part of it for Steve was that applying pressure made the ear really hurt, but if he released pressure to get a break from the pain, it started bleeding again.
We cleaned up the mess on the floor, threw away the tissues, and sat down at the kitchen table to catch our breath.
Five minutes after the rest break, the whole thing started over again. Blood across his face, dripping off his chin, collecting on the floor. Same routine, same soaked tissues.
We called his surgeon, who thankfully takes calls after hours. We asked if we should go to the ER, and he said they would just do the same thing there that we were doing at home. He said he’d prefer if Steve left the wound open to air, but if he needed to cover it, the only thing he should use was a nonstick gauze.
The third time the wound started to gush, I managed to put my hands on the exact bandage the surgeon was talking about. We figured at the point that if we didn’t cover it tightly, it was not going to stop bleeding.
Let me just assure you of one important fact: no one will ever, ever be tempted to believe I have any medical skills. I helped to produce the worst taping job in the entire history of taping jobs.
Here is Steve’s bandage job after the surgery.
Here is the bandage job he and I did.
Even though it wasn’t a funny experience, looking at this picture still makes me laugh. This is so bad! If any medical people are reading this, please have pity on us and don’t pin this photo up on your bulletin board at work.
But hey, we stopped the bleeding. It wasn’t pretty, but we did it.
Thankfully, Tinker was in the back bedroom and slept through the whole thing. And Belle? Well, it seems that Belle has missed her calling as a nurse.
Each time Steve started bleeding, she got up from the couch and ran into the kitchen to be with him. She stood quietly nearby and fastened her concerned little eyes on him, never budging or making a peep. You can see her to the right of the photo.
At one point, when he sat down on a kitchen chair, she immediately scooted herself up against one of his legs so he could feel her there. And then we had gotten the bleeding stopped, and he sat back down on the couch, she immediately went to be beside him, scootching in as tightly as she could. Dogs are so dear and so intuitive.
I think he’s about finished with urologists, dentists, gastroenterologists, dermatologists, and surgeons for a very long time.
Thanks for hanging with me through a little bit of a gruesome post. As you know, the very name of this blog infers that no matter what sort of miscellany is happening in our lives any given week, that’s what I’m going to write about.
Here’s hoping for a drama-free week–for us and for you!
What about you?
Have you ever had an unexpected bout of bleeding or an at-home emergency situation?
Is there a particular time when one of your pets showed extra compassion or concern over something you were going through?
Are you good at applying dressings and bandages and doing basic First Aid?
I didn’t mention it in the post, but what do you normally do for Valentine’s Day? Are you a big time celebrate or a sort of “meh” celebrator?
Did your team win or lose in the Super Bowl?
Oh I’m sorry I know it’s not funny but I can’t not laugh at that photo of poor Steve with his face taped up like some horror movie character with blood everywhere. 😅
Ellen,
No worries; he and I laughed at the photo, too. It really did look like something out of a horror movie, and here it was, just extremely incapable bandaging abilities. 🙂
Reading this I was fraught with worry that it meant his basal cell was actually not a benign cancer but actual cancer. Then comes your taping job photo and I lost it laughing! Ears are definitely difficult to bandage, especially when bleeding profusely I imagine! I’m so glad you got it stopped! And happy he had you and Belle to help him through it all.
Just this morning, one of my dogs was on my lap on the couch. She loves cuddles. I was checking Instagram and saw a terribly awful post in which was announced that a little girl I have been following for years died from cancer yesterday, Valentine’s Day. I never cared for the day and now I just hate it. She just turned 9. Anyway, my sweet doggy jumped up on me and kept licking the tears from my face and neck. She wouldn’t leave me until I calmed down even when her sister ran in to see what the noise was and then ran out again.
I recently told my husband he can never retire because it seems everyone we know ends up with so many medical issues once they quit working. We have enough of those with me. Maybe Steve should find a part time job? Kidding…sort of/not really.
Much love and hugs!
Lizz,
You’re absolutely right. Ear-taping is a very difficult task, especially when there is blood involved. I feel like we needed an award for our heroic efforts! 🙂
I loved the story about your dog comforting you while you cried. I’ve loved following the stories of different children through the years, but it is so sad when one of them doesn’t make it.
I know you don’t believe in luck, but if it wasn’t for bad luck Steve wouldn’t have any luck at all! Glad the bleeding got stopped and pray that the remainder of this week will be much better.
Sharyn,
So true! Steve’s ready to put medical stuff in his rearview mirror for a while!
I hope tihs week is medically boring for you and Steve! The only time I ever had a true nosebleed was the night after having the packing removed from my nose following surgery for a deviated septum and it was enough to wake me up. Would Steve’s surgeon let him keep vasaline on his wound while it heals? That’s what my dermatologist had me do when I had a basel cell removed my beside my upper nose.
I’m pretty medically inclined, although my bandaging never looks as nice as the professionals (who do it dozens of times daily). I agree with you – you got the bleeding stopped which was the objective.
Sweet Belle watching over her human. My daughter has dealt with a 24-hour stomach virus today and her german shepherd has bearly left her bed today. I went over to take him out a couple of times (she’s in an apartment so it’s a bit of a trek to the dog park area) and he did come sit with me a few minutes while I was reading while waiting to put her laundry in the dryer.
I hope all the Smiths (including Sarah & Gage) have a wonderful week!
SueEllen,
Yes, the surgeon did tell Steve he could put Vaseline on. I need to remind him to do that.
I love that your daughter’s German shepherd put himself on nurse duty. I love that animals know when their people need them extra special and make themselves available. One of the bazillion things I love about them.
Hope she’s feeling better!
I will admit that I chuckled at the bandage. Thanks for sharing. I couldn’t have done any better!
We may/or may not have a meal out for Valentines. Places here are all booked up by now.
Have a safe, calm, peaceful week!
Carol
Carol,
Wow, people around there are serious about Valentines if they make reservations this early. I’m impressed!
I thought the bandage picture was hilarious. It looks like a bunch of second graders did it. But, oh well! It accomplished the task. 🙂
Wow, those head wounds bleed so much. Glad you were able to get it under control. I completely understand the bandaging.
I have been fortunate to not have at home bleeding episodes, but have had with students.
Never had a dog and my husbands parrot isn’t much help.
I have had to learn some bandaging after my husbands many surgeries, fortunately none were real bleeders. Learned the hard way to always use telfa non stick pads. Will spare you the details.
Early in our marriage I would get a dozen red roses, now I might get a plant from Walmart. My favorite was as a child my dad always stopped on the way home from work and got us 3 kids a chocolate heart. It was always on our dinner plate. One year we all sat down, looked at our plates, and all started laughing. He just saw the special candy display and grabbed three boxes, of Easter rabbits! But hey, chocolate is chocolate no matter the shape.
I didn’t watch the super bowl as I don’t like football and I was too involved with the Olympics-which I love to watch.
Patti,
Yes, non-stick is definitely the way to go. If Steve’s surgeon hadn’t mentioned that on the phone I never would have thought about that aspect of bandaging.
How fun that your dad had the tradition of getting chocolate for the kids on Valentines Day. Sweet memories!
I totally agree. I’d watch Olympcs over football any old day. I even forgot about the game altogetgher until I saw something online Sunday morning.
Actually, you did a very good job considering the location of the bleeding. Very hard to put a pressure bandage in that spot. Anything on the head area bleeds a lot. Poor Steve.
Patriots nation here.
Valentine’s Day is about the grands. Little gifts. Although I did make some watercolor cards and sent them to siblings 🙂
Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Lesely,
Well, coming from a nurse, your comment means a lot. We just couldn’t seem to find “anchor points” for the badages with it being in a weird place and with all the blood. I’m surprised we were able to get anything to hang on. It even lasted while he slpet which I was proud of!
Watercolor cards! Aren’t you creative. Love that idea.
What a stressful ordeal! If you got the bleeding to stop and the bandage to stay on, I’d call that a grand success. I’m a big fan of “self-adherent wrap” to keep bandages on. It’s the stuff they often use after a blood draw. It would be a bit tricky on the ear because you have to wrap all the way around something to get the wrap to stick to itself, but you avoid the whole pulling-tape-off-of-hairy-body-parts unpleasantness, and you don’t sweat it off. I remember my sister’s best childhood friend would have massive nosebleeds when we were kids, and there would be blood everywhere. Scary!
We live near Seattle, so it was fun hearing fireworks outside every time the Seahawks scored points. Makes you feel like you’re part of the action!
Robin,
No worries on the double comment; I just deleted the shorter one. I’m always impressed when people try to remake at least part of a comment when their first one doesn’t appear!
Yes, a self adhesive bandage would have been great but I don’t know if they make thos ein the non-stick variety? If they do, I need to find some.
Very cool to be able to hear the fireworks going on with the Superbowl.Good times!
Oooohhh…poor Steve!!! You did just fine. Stopping the bleeding is all that matters!
I was doing dishes once, the night before Easter, and managed to slice my right thumb on a knife that was in the dish water, up by my hand where the thumb attaches. I did it in a very big way. I had to go get many stitches in a hurry. OUCH!!
I can usually do ok in the bandage department. Fortunately, those ‘skills’ aren’t called upon very often.
We don’t celebrate too big on Valentine’s day. Maybe dinner out. No cards or gifts though. Those seem like a waste of money to us.
We wanted to see the Seahawks win so we were happy last night! 🙂 We kind of felt like the Patriots have had plenty of that so it was time for someone else to have the spotlight. We are Broncos fans and really wanted to see them there! 🙁
LeeAnne,
As soon as I read about your cut in your thumb I involuntarily said, “Ouch!” That’s a very painful place to get a cut. So thankful we have doctors nearby to lend a hand in cases likes yours.
Glad your team won the game. I always think about how much pressure those players must feel; millions of people watching and commenting and making critiques, not to mention the pressure of wanting to win. I know they are paid well but I would never want to experience that much pressure, regardless of the salary!
Oh my! Thanks for the laugh with that dressing! You did what you had to do, sometimes that isn’t pretty! Max’s drain from his last knee replacement came out before it should have. I used every dressing option, steristrips, butterfly bandages in the house!
Nina,
You are a Dressing Ninja after working in an OR for so many years. I know Max was in the very best of hands, even while you were scrambling for all the supplies in the house to fix him up.
I laugh every time I look at the picture of Steve; it is truly a funny photo. (Except for his poor, sad face.) He laughs at it, too, after the fact. 🙂
Sure glad all is calm on the North Carolina front–at present. Christ be praised. Ruth
Ruth,
Yes, we are enjoying a momentary calm and are very grateful.
Bless his heart. I know that was scary. I think we all panic when we see lots of blood. Glad you got that fixed and don’t worry about the taping as long as it worked. I have had 14 skin cancers removed… some basal and some squamous cell. I had to go have one on my temple done at a hospital but the others in the office. My hubby has had melanoma on his back several years ago. Thank God it hasn’t returned but he too has had several skin cancers removed or frozen. I think I have a couple right now that need to be looked at but I am in no hurry. They are not too big now so I will keep an eye on them.
We used to go somewhere and stay the night for Valentines day. One year we went with our best friends to Myrtle Beach for a couple of nights and it snowed while we were there. We loved it! Now we don’t celebrate much. At 70 years old each and married 52 years we just enjoy being together.
Our Yorkie has to be in the center of everything that goes on at our house and barks the whole time. She thinks she owns our house..
I know you all are tired of all the ice and snow like we are. I see they are calling for MAYBE another system moving through this coming weekend. I am ready for warmer weather but God is in charge so we take what He sends and do the best we can.
I hope you have a quiet week and no health issues or blood involved. God bless you all.
Kaye,
Wow! You and your husband are skin cancer experts! Kudos to your for keeping an eye on things and going in for skin checks. Very wise!
I had forgotten you have a Yorkie. They really do think they own the house, do they? Such funny, dear dogs.
I love your line, “At 70 years old each and married 52 years we just enjoy being together.” You just summed up marriage, all in a few words. Happy Valentines Day to you both.