Burned Hand update

Just in case y'all are wondering how my burned hand is healing, here's a little update: All in all, it's doing very well!

WARNING: The photos and descriptions that follow are pretty mild, but might not be appreciated by the squeamish.

Above: day 1 (or day zero, as in: the day I burned my hand). I soaked it in cold water for a good 5 hours and then rubbed burn ointment on it and covered the whole thing before going to bed. It didn't hurt at all while I slept!

Below: day 4. I wish I'd retaken a better picture, because this was when the blister puffed up the most. The blister was in an odd "G" shape.

Above: day 6. Never fear! The burn is merely slathered in Neosporin. I had to cover it with something because the protective blister covering the main part of the burn had torn the day before, so I removed the ragged-blister skin (by myself, using tweezers and my clumsy right hand -- totally hard core!) and consequently the raw, sensitive skin was exposed. I missed a few outlying sections of dead skin, though. The parts I couldn't pull off are ultimately what is going to scar. Grrr!

Below: day 7. Healing pretty nicely. I cleaned it up a bit more.

 Below: Day 15 (yesterday). See how nicely it's healing? I've stopped putting Neosporin on it as frequently and started leaving it uncovered. It isn't as sensitive anymore. In fact, I'm rubbing the left side and base of the mark so that the scars dissipate a bit more. I am being careful and making sure to put sunscreen on it, though. Must keep it protected from the UV rays so it doesn't burn worse!

Oh, and in case you are wondering: Yes. I am afraid of t.v. dinners now. I still eat them for lunch on most work days, but I am afraid every time I walk it from the break room to my desk, and right before I remove the plastic covering!

The most interesting part of this whole thing has been the fact that other than the initial shock I've pretty much taken this in stride. I'm lucky it wasn't a deeper or larger burn. If it had been I would have had to go to the doctor pronto. As it is, I was able to care for it myself, and when I visited my doctor yesterday she told me yesterday I did a great job. When I was cleaning up that broken blister I could have freaked out, but I didn't. I was totally disinterested and just did what had to be done the best that I could so that it wouldn't get infected. I like to think this was practice for when my kids get injured and I'll have to patch them up... although, I imagine seeing my kids injured will probably bother me more than my own injuries. I can look at myself with a clinical detachment, but I don't necessarily like to see other people get hurt. Just another reason why I didn't become the heart surgeon my mother wanted me to be...