Long Version of Story:
In what has to be one of the most bizarre things to happen to me yet last night I was mauled in the left hand (at the base of my thumb mostly) by this neighborhood stray cat I pet frequently. If you have never been bitten, forget mauled, by an animal let me give some news, it hurts.
I drove myself, in my pjs (since I had run down to put out the trash in my pjs) to the ER with my hand wrapped in some blood soaked gauze. Treatment started with a wash of the bites (there are about eleven of them) and a hand soak in a betadine solution. Since the feline in question was both unknown to me and whereabouts unknown I was treated immediately for both possible bacterial infections and rabies. Yup,
rabies. Forget what you learned on Different Strokes, the injections were not in my stomach.
Ten injections of Rabies Immunoglobin were given into my backside, thighs, upper arms and into the wounds. Then the first of five rabies vaccines was given DIRECTLY INTO THE WOUNDS, that would be along my thumb joint. The vaccine is about the thickness of corn syrup and it was took multiple "sticks" to get it all into the swollen and unyielding joint area. Then I was given a tetanus shot. I also had two IV drips of anti-biotics.
Nausea inducing anti-biotics. Finally I was bandaged, given the dates for my future returns to the ER for more rabies vaccinations, and told that at my third visit I will be sent to see a surgeon if I am still unable move my thumb. My good hand full of prescriptions and a note to return to work I headed home, it was about 3:30 AM.
Touch typing is impossible, so I have done this via one handed hunt and peck. I am exhausted from the medications and nauseous from the anti-biotics. Thus,
Short Verion of the Story:
I am taking a blog hiatus to recover. I plan to return either after Thanksgiving or after my last rabies vaccine injection (12/17) when ever I feel the closest to "myself" again.
Kate