Ive been really stupid

[Chrisscotland]

I felt really shit today and was cutting again but I was getting very upset and cut worse than I have before and I have got 3 cuts on the inside of my arm and the edges wont close together its gaping open and I think its like fat tissue or something I can see, ive wrapped something round it really tight to stop it bleeding, it hurts bad, will the cuts close up themselves do u think?
if I went to the hospital would they tell my parents? cause they don't know about my self harming and I don't want them to find out.
has this happened to anyone else?

[Ajmichael]

For Christ sake get yourself to a hospital, it's really not safe to keep a tourniquet on your arm for too long because toxins build up in the part of the limb that's cut off. If left for too long it will either cause long term damage or result in amputation. Trust me, If I found someone with injuries like that then I would be phoning an ambulance. Regardless of whether your parents find out, get to a hospital and take the tourniquet off now. Apply pressure to the wound and raise it above your head.

[laurakitty]

awww you could go to hospital and say it was an accident like u fell of ur bike aslo it might not heal on its own deep cuts often need stiches don't be scared hun coming out about self harm makes it better and ya get lots of hugs xx

[Salader]

Go to the nearest GP, hospital, Doctor, what ever you can find. That sounds like you have seriously cut yourself and need to have stitches to close up the hole.

As per worrying about parents. At this point I wouldn't care about that, if it makes you feel better Doctors and the like practice confidentiality in the UK. However I am not 100% sure at your age what their policy would be if you need stitches. Also, If I am honest, if you need stitches they are going to bloody find out anyway.

[ChrisTJ]

Yeah if the injuries are that bad you seriously need to get to your nearest A&E quickly. Cuts like that won't heal without stitches and you run the risk of a serious infection. Your folks are going to have to find out. What's worse? Your folks finding out and helping you seek help or possibly losing your arm due to sn infection. Sometimes you do things so stupid, you NEED to tell your parents, this is one of those times.

[Katiya]

Yeah, I've done this before my self. Go to a hospital for god sake! And take that wrap off before your arm falls off!

No ofence but seriously dude, now is not the time to worry about parents, that ship has sailed now. They are going to find out either now, or later when your having your arm amputated.

I'm not kidding! It won't heal on its own. Even if it did it would be a long, slow, painful process and leave a huge ugly scar. Just go.

[Chrisscotland]

ive took the t-shirt that I wrapped round it last night off, it looks worse this morning its really red and throbbing bad,it hurts, they are bleeding a bit now its come off. I know I should go to the hospital but they will think im mad or something and then call my mum and dad, and then its going to be hell.
there got to be a way I can fix it myself, I was real stupid I know, I dunno how I ended up cutting this bad I haven't done that before, not this bad, really really stupid :(

[ChrisTJ]

You've almost got me in tears here Chris! Listen, if the wound is as bad as you say you need to go to the local Emergency Dept as it's only going to get worse. You'll wait till Tuesday to see your GP and the wound could get worse by then. You'll just have to tell your parents, this is too big for you to deal with alone.

[Salader]

Chris, go to the hospital, now. The longer you leave this the more permanent this will become.

[NeuroTiger]

Please, just get to the hospital and get your wound treated. ;)
When this step is over, then come back to VT. We'll provide what to do next. :)

[Desuetude]

They will heal eventually without professional attention no matter how deep. I urge you to get them checked out because its not them scabbing over that's important but that they don't get infected. Also if you go to the hospital and get them stitched then youll have less of a scar left over. Change your dressing regularly and clean the cuts with antiseptic. Yes expect it to hurt for a few weeks (or days depending on the depth) but after a while it should just become a dull ache that you'll forget about.

Its happened to me a couple of times and you have to be wary that when you do change the dressing or take a shower etc. It will keep opening up and bleeding but you have to be persistent in cleaning it properly and it will heal eventually. Sometimes mine would take up to 3-4 months so if you can get yourself to a hospital it would probably benefit you a lot and take the weight of having to look after them off your shoulders.

[FullyAlive]

If you have steri-strips or butterfly stitches then that's what I'd use. It's kind of hard to do by yourself but not impossible, they come with instructions but you basically cut them into strips then put them across the wound at a right angle using them to pull the edges of the wound closed. Leave a gap between each one for discharge, try not to get them wet and leave them on for around 10 days, then you may have to reapply them if the wound still bleeds when you remove them. (You can easily google this for more detailed directions) I also used to put a dressing over the strips in the day because clothing and stuff would stick or fluff and it was all pretty grim, but don't leave a dressing on constantly a wound needs air to heal.

But really you should probably go to hospital. I've steri-stripped my own wounds before and it's difficult. It's quite hard to actually close the wound completely by yourself. But if you really can't face the hospital then these will really help the healing process and help reduce the scarring.

[Katiya]

The red swelling and pain is an infection. Go to a hospital before it gets to the point you develop a full body infection or require amputation, or worse you can die quickly of a severe fast spreading infection!

Go To a Hospital NOW! Unless you want to be crippled the rest of your life!

[Chrisscotland]

I went to the hospital last night because it was hurting really bad and was very red round the cuts and up and down my arm, I needed lots of stitches and they gave me an injection and tablets to take, they told my mum and dad, and they came to the hospital to take me home. now they are going to check my arms every day and have been through everything in my room to take away sharp things and ive not to close the door on my room, I KNEW this would happen and wish I just hadn't gone to the hospital :(

[Living For Love]

I went to the hospital last night because it was hurting really bad and was very red round the cuts and up and down my arm, I needed lots of stitches and they gave me an injection and tablets to take, they told my mum and dad, and they came to the hospital to take me home. now they are going to check my arms every day and have been through everything in my room to take away sharp things and ive not to close the door on my room, I KNEW this would happen and wish I just hadn't gone to the hospital :(

If you hadn't gone to hospital, you probably would catch a serious infection in your arms, it would be your own health at stake. Maybe it was better this way because now you'll probably stop self-harming. I don't know if that's your intention, but it will be better for you.

[lawliett]

You did the right thing going to the hospital, I know how hard that must have been, the shame you feel when people find out about you harming yourself is horrible, so it took a lot of courage to do it.
Maybe now you might have some help to stop cutting, if you want to, your parents are just trying to protect you now, its a shock for them too.
Take it day by day and ask for help if you are struggling.

[Katiya]

The reason they gave you pills and a shot is because you HAD an infection already! If you didn't go you would likely have gotten very very sick and lost your arm or possibly died saying your parents didn't take you to the hospital first.

Good job!

Now for dealing with your parents. They can't make you stop cutting, you can find things to use, just sanitizethem first and ddon't cut so deep any more! Its best if you do stop cutting though. Get them to let you talk you a counselor and then have the counselor explain your issues yo them.

This is the best course of action. Try going to a counselor and having them talk with your parents so they understand.

Best of luck! You did the right thing!