Absolutely in Shock
#172820 - 04/22/05 06:58 PM
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I'm just in shock. I feel absolutely numb. I can hardly think.
This afternoon, I was making Heather's Orange Cranberry Bread (excellent btw) when my dad came home and asked if I could help him for a minute. He had gotten my microwave fixed, and was bringing it back, but it fits into a deep microwave cabinet above the oven, so it's hard to pug back in. He asked if I could plug it in while he slid it into place. (We've done this several times.)
Well, I plugged it in, and there was a huge explosion. A terrible boom, and then sparks shooting out across the floor. I was standing there pondering how to stamp out the fire on the floor, when I felt a searing pain in my chest. I was wearing a halter top, and my whole chest in the deep V-neck is absolutely black. My skin got burned in the flash explosion.
My metal necklace had fallen against the contact when I plugged it in, and that's what caused the explosion. It was thrown back and then hit my neck, so you can see the outline of the necklace in my chest, like a deep ridge.
It hurts. Tremendously. But mostly, I just feel in shock. I keep hearing the explosion, and seeing the sparks dancing across the floor. I can't keep anything in my mind.
I mean, I'm used to pain. Really. I've had heart surguries without any anesthesia or pain meds or sedation or anything. The pain isn't that pick of a deal (relatively). I've just never felt so *shocked*.
Has anyone else every gotten seriously hurt in an "accident" type thing? Did you feel numb after?
Help....
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~~~Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.~~~
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OMG!!!
#172822 - 04/22/05 07:06 PM
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melitami
Reged: 02/23/04
Posts: 1213
Loc: Ewing, NJ, USA (IBS-D, Vegetarian)
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I've never had anything like that happen to me, I just wanted to say I hope you're okay and send lots of gentle hugs!!!!
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Melissa
Friendship is thicker than blood. ~Rent
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The Shock will ware off after awhile! I am glad your ok!! Jeeze I would be in shock to!!!!
HUGS!!!!
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Heather7476
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Ditto!
#172838 - 04/22/05 07:37 PM
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atomic rose
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 7013
Loc: Maine (IBS-A stable since July '05!)
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I think *shock* is pretty understandable right now! Holy cow! I'm sure that'll wear off... wow, I just hope you're ok and I'm sending some hugs too!
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Have you seen a doctor? I'm glad you're okay. Also sending gentle hugs. Hope it heals soon!
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Amy
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Holy cow! Yep, shock seems pretty natural after that...remember that it is a medical condition! Something sweet can help...sweet tea was always the standard remedy over here. 
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How frightening. I really think you must see a doctor. Don't forget, our bodies run on our own electrical impulses. You can seriously damage your heart.
Another interesting point -- your necklace did not necessarily have to touch the contact. There is something called the corona effect, in which electricity can arc up to about 7 feet. My very close friend and his father were killed in 1997 when they were painting their house and their aluminum extension ladder got too close to power lines. They were both holding the ladder and were both killed instantly. We all wondered how they could be careless enough to let the ladder touch, until we found out that the electricity could jump so far. It makes me so angry. If they had known that, they could be here. Anyway, that's off topic from your accident. Just please go to the doctor and make sure everything is okay. Thanks for sharing your story -- I think we'll all be a lot more careful. Who would think that the necklace around your neck is a perfect conductor? In our minds, it's just jewelry.
Glad you are okay.
Best,
Panda
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Amanda
I live in the Big Apple, but I don't eat the skin
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Wow...that makes sense. It's not a long necklace, maybe about collar bone length (a drop, not a choaker, but still short) so I wondered how it did that. It's not the sort that is always dragging into things by any means, so yeah...I really didn't think about it.
I got lucky, the doc said, that I didn't have a higher neck shirt on, or else the fabric would caught fire or melted into the skin and have to be pulled out. That made me feel (a bit) better, because I was already thinking "how could I be so stupid to do something like that without more clothing on?" But I guess that part was alright. And I know I was lucky. Things could have been so much worse. I mean, we were putting the microwave into a wooden cabinet, so if that caught fire... Wow. I'd probably be allot more burnt, and maybe the house.... wow.
And no one else got hurt. And, unbelievably, the microwave still works.
The one problem (other than the skin burn) is that it is on top of where I had a metal box implanted in my chest. It's not a pacemaker, but it is a heart monitor, so that's the general idea. If that melted or anything, it will be a bigger problem. I'm skinney enough that you can see the outline of the box, and it is still the proper shape, so it's probably not destroyed or anything, but I need to find out if it is still working. And if there was an electrical shock, that's probably trouble. I have enough heart problems as it is.
(Of course, that was friday night, so everyone says "Oh, just come in on Monday") I did talk with my GP (conviniently my neighbor) and he said just to keep ice on it for at least 8 hours, and not to try to remove the metal or anything.
I know the blackened part is just a thermal flash burn, but it worries me that the necklace ridge might be electrical. My GP said that you can't know the severity of burns for several days. I just know that it *really* hurts.
And I still feel shocked. Totally numb. Which is bad, because I have an unbelievable amount of work that has to happen this weekend. And its taken me more than an hour to post this, because I keep staring off into space. Hard to do calculus in this state.
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~~~Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.~~~
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Something sweet...that's interesting. Well, I did have some of the orange-cranberry bread last. And some jelly beans. That's interesting, do you know why?
Is there anything else to do, regarding that? I tried to look it up last night, but I fell asleep. I had hoped I would wake up a bit more clear-minded, but I still feel so numb. It's weird. I've been sick and in pain for various reasons almost my whole life. But never after an "accident". I feel so much more empathetic for people in car crashes and stuff...even if they aren't hurt so badly. It's just scary.
I was going to watch a movie last night to try to chill, but my eyes don't seem to really be focusing. Is that part of the shock? Or maybe damage for the flash?
I always "deal with" thing by reading and researching as much as I possibly can, but I can't seem to pull it together enough to do that...
I just feel lost...
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~~~Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.~~~
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This will just take a bit of time...not alot you can do about it! I've been in accidents and the shock always surprises me. But I would get checked out by your doc in case it did hurt your eyes or something.
Carbohydrates (esp. simple one's like sugar) are a natural tranquiliser and kinda pick-me-up so they help with the physical effects of shock.
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Well, I'm making it. Still in pain. But very much not in shock anymore. Just *hurts*. And a bit of that "Damn, I'm lucky to be alive" feeling.
It's all covered in guaze (my chest, and then up my collar bone on the right, and shoulder) for now, but of course, eventually, that will come off. Right now, I can hardly stand the weight of my shirt touching it, so I've been wearing deep V-neck shirts (exposing the ugliness in all its glory  ). It's weird, because the mild area of the burn around the edges are starting to itch (like a sunburn), and the deeper places hurt in a searing type way. The metal pieces embedded are cutting when I move, and the doc said I probably broke a rib (from the force of the explosion) but that it is not good to X-ray burnt skin, especially since they can't really do anything for a broken upper rib anyways. *Sigh*. It hurts deep down (the rib I guess) when I breathe or sneeze. It was so cold today, I got to shivering and shuddering from the cold, and nearly passed out from the pain. Ugg.
I guess my real question though, is that I have a very very important "once in a lifetime" type of formal occasion on Saturday evening. My dress is a bit low cut (but still modest/ appropriate) in sort of a scalloped shape. It does have straps, but they are thin and beaded. I'm not sure if I can go without the guaze by then, although the doc said it was a possibility just for that evening. I'm not sure which is worse/ more distracting though, the guaze, or the burn (there are cuts and metal flecks still too). If I do decide to go without it, does anyone have any experience covering scars? Can regular foundation work? Maybe the liquid kind? Or should I buy the special scar cover up stuff? Any brand recommendations? Also, the skin is obviously not the same color anymore, do I still "match" my normal skin tone?
Normally I wouldn't worry about this, I have all kinds of scars that show in this dress (from heart surgeries and things) and they don't bother me at all. "Battle scars", right? But this just looks so gross...really for the sake of the people I spend the evening with, I need to do *something*.
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~~~Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.~~~
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Re: Cover-up
#173719 - 04/26/05 04:11 AM
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Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
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Could you get a pretty wrap and have it round your shoulders and decoletage (sp?) all evening? That's what I'd go for!
I'd have thought that all the cover ups wouldn't be very nice on recently burnt skin...they're all made for older scars.
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I am so sorry. That's so awful. 
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Re: Ditto!
#173776 - 04/26/05 07:40 AM
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michele
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 6886
Loc: southeastern michigan
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WOW!! What a terrible ordeal! I'm glad you didn't get hurt worse. I also think a shawl or pretty wrap would be a better choice for this weekend. I would be very hesitant to put any sort of make-up or concealer on a burn that fresh. I would be worried about infection and causing more long term scarring.
As for your eyes, the flash could have burned the cornea's. I would really pay attention to your vision. If it just intermediate blurring, meaning that it comes and goes, its probably just dryness. Systane drops, available at any drug store are the best lubricant. Tears also makes a good one but you have to put them in more often. If the blurriness is there ALL the time, you are light sensative or see LOTS of floaters (like someone through dirt in your face) or see curtains or veils in your vision, you need to be seen RIGHT AWAY by an opthlamologist. I've worked for eye doctors for about 15 years. Let me know if you have any other "odd" vision issues and I should be able to tell you if you need to see a specialist or not!
To help prevent long term scars, I would start using (as soon as the dr says its ok, of course) a cream like neosporin for scars, they really do help make a difference long term!
I hope you feel better soon!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Re: Cover-up
#173811 - 04/26/05 09:48 AM
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Nelly
Reged: 08/06/04
Posts: 4381
Loc: Within stray mortar fire of DC
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Oooo, gotta side with Linz on this one. Don't go messing with cover-up on burnt skin, you're not going to like the results, it'll get all over your dress, and the aftermath and potential infection factor is way too high.
Go with the shawl or wrap! Borrow one if necessary, I say.
~nelly~
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I just wanted to say that I am glad you are ok! Sounds like a pretty tramatic thing to go through! I agree with the other ladies about the cover-up. I would just find a nice wrap to go over your shoulders. You really can't cover up new burns like that without worry of infection. Also your skin will be peeling so you would just have a flaky yucky mess! Have a good time and hope you are doing well!
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Re: Cover-up
#173827 - 04/26/05 10:23 AM
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mindyj
Reged: 05/14/04
Posts: 494
Loc: Northern Virginia
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Hi Alissa,
First of all, I'm so sorry you're having to go through this! It sounds awful. Actually, I can quite relate. When I was 12 years old I was at an airshow in Germany that ended in a horrible plain crash that killed 80 people and injured hundreds more. I still have burn scars on my arms from that and there are places on the bottom of my feel that I have no nerve endings from running barefoot over charred grass. You do end up in shock and your innitial reaction to the accident is entirely understandable. Don't be worried about feelings over it. But really, it sounds to me like you're a tough girl and you've been through alot in your life, so I'm sure you'll be fine, but I'm sure right now it's a struggle - with your dress for this weekend. On that, I will agree with others, find a nice shawl or a silky scarf that goes with your dress to drape around your neck - less risk of infection and it will add something unique to your look! On the itching - I tell you, burns are the worst healing process in the world! Doctors should have certain alloe type formulations that can be used on 1st and 2nd degree burns, once you get to a third degree burn - you just have to use the gauze for coverings and let the debreeding process take its course. If you do have third degree burns they will probably give you some type of tight wrap soon to avoid the swelling. Also, if they have not told you this already - be careful about dehydration with burns - they cause your body to leach moisture and you can get in bad shape quickly, especially if you have D compounding the fluid loss. I hope the process goes quickly for you and I hope you're working with a good doctor. On the burn stuff, feel free to ask more questions - like I said I do, unfortunately, have experience with this.
Min
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Oh wow....that would be terrifying! I just watched something "blow up in the face"...and I still can't imagine that horror. Wow.
And yeah...I sort of knew that the cover-up would be a bad idea. I mean, I can hardly stand to put the medicine on it...I don't really know what I was thinking. Still in denial maybe. When people ask what happen, I just kind of say "oh, I got burnt, it's no big deal". But it is. And it *hurts like hell*. (I'm sure you know...) Today someone flicked a lighter right when I was plugging in my laptop. I nearly passed out from fright. I hadn't realized that I was still quite so upset about it.
And I'm not usually so vain. Maybe it's just the combination of the "importance" of the occasion, and wanting to think that what happened was "not so bad"...
I had to change the gauze tonight, and I'm not sure I want it off after all. It's mostly 1st and 2nd degree burns across my whole chest, and that part is shaping up better than I had hoped. But where the metal necklace swung back and then got embedded in the skin--that's a seriously nasty burn/ cut. It's a worse burn too, because the hot metal stayed there.
I probably am dehydrated, although I'm always so good about drinking. Generally upwards of 100 oz or more. But it's "that time of month" and that always give me major major D, no matter who good I am with that I eat. We had a probably with the thermostat on the hot water heater, so my shower was too hot too. With D, and period, and a hot shower, I got to feeeling really puny and shakey this evening. I always used to drink juice when that happened, but this time I settled for Chamomile and Rice. Not quite as effective, I don't think.
I'm using aloe and "polysporin" (because I have a terrible terrible immune system, so evidently it has more/ stronger antibiotics than neosporin), and Johnson burn creme. The skin is mostly shaping up, except for the bad bad part in the center. It still hurts, and the doc said the force of the explosion may have broken a rib. Great.
Thanks so much for sharing your story....helps me to feel less alone...
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~~~Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.~~~
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Yes...I do think I will try to borrow a nice smooth/ soft scarf or something. The straps are beaded (ouch!) so I might have to find some creative way for the scarf to be underneath the strap. Also, it hurts if anything touches or moves across the area, so I might have to find a way to use the guaze still, but hide it under a scarf (which would have to be held absolutely still somehow)? I don't move much (probably a cracked rib too) so maybe that would work...
I do have some "eye" questions, if you don't mind...
My vision is still blurry, although not all the time. Sometimes one eye, sometimes the other, sometimes both, sometimes neither. No pattern that I can pick up on. I am definitely light sensative (especially to changes in the light) and sometimes it seems like there are halos around light sources (like the window or the computer screen).
Also, several times there have been these strange things. Not floaters, exactly. More like the aura-type things before a migraine. Silver flashes. I've had them occasionally (maybe once every couple years) in the past, but they are happening very frequently, and the flashes grow/ spread. Twice they have covered my vision until I couldn't see anything left of center. I tried looking up what they might be, but I guess I'm not describing them well enough to have a good word to search by.
Also, as a note--I have no eyelashes because of another medical condition. I also took some medication awhile back that absolutely dried up my eyes and mouth. I quit taking it almost 2 years ago, but I'm still dependent on eyedrops and chapstick. For what it's worth, I wear contacts (the 2 week kind) and was wearing them during the explosion. I took them out and got clean ones the next morning.
Thanks so much! That's one of the great things about this board...we all come together with our different experiences...Makes for a great wealth of knowledge. 
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~~~Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.~~~
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Regarding the flashes you are seeing...fid you hit your head? I am wondering if that might be as a result of a head injury and causing the halos to appear. The other thing is do you suffer from migraines? Chances are that might have something to do with the vision problems now.
I remember reading something about people who are hit by lightning and have a close encounter/near strike having halos around things they see. Just a thought.
Michelle
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Interesting...
I actually have had a head injury. It was about a year and a half ago. 5-6 foot drop. Bad, bad stuff. I have to admit that I can't directly remember to know if I had problems with that then. Would be an interesting data point though, huh? I'll ask around some people who helped me then. Maybe someone would remember if I mentioned it.
Also, there is a slim possibility that the electricity was still arcing with the necklace when it fell back and hit, so maybe an electrical shock there? I thought not, as I didn't feel anything like that, but then again, it took a good couple of minutes before I even realized I was hurt. Busy worrying about stamping out the fires on the floor!
But no, I didn't hit my head. (this time...lol!)
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~~~Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.~~~
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Re: Ditto!
#174315 - 04/27/05 08:23 AM
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michele
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 6886
Loc: southeastern michigan
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Sorry hon, I just saw this. I had a friend once who didn't have any eyelashes, or ANY hair for that matter. I would try to lay off the contacts for a couple of days, I hope you have some back up glasses!! I would go but some Systane TODAY. You can NOT use that with your contacts in but you can put it in 10 minutes before putting contacts in and use it again as soon as you take them out. The systane is one of the best moisture drops on the markey today.
I am a bit concerned about the other things you have described. "Flashes" of any sort can be the fist indication of a retinal detachment. Almost everyone has a few floaters, thats completey normal, but when you talk about your vision being blocked in a particular corner of your vision, again, another sign of retinal detachment. I would STRONGLY advise you to set up an appt with an opthalmologist. Seeing an opthalomogist would be billed into your MEDICAL insurance but remember, they may not do anything with updating/prescribing contacts for you. It would be a full ckeck into the back of your eye to be sure that nothing serious is going on. You need to have your eyes dilated (they put drops in to dialate your pupils) and a visual field done. I am not trying to scare you bit the things you have mentioned do raise some red flags.
As far as your contacts go, when you say two weeks cl, I assume you are probably in the Acc2 or Newvue lens. both are good lenses but if you have a serious dryness issue, you may want to task about the Ciba Night and Day lenses. They were technically designed for extended wear, for the people who think they must sleep in cl's. They are made out of silicon instead of plastic and allow a lot more breathability. We have had a lot of good luck prescribing these as a daily wear lens to patients with severe dryness. Accuvue has also come out with a similair lens called accuvue advance with hydroclear, might be another good option to try!
As far as chapstick goes, I absolutely LOVE Nutrogena lip boost! I love most all of nutrogena products actually! At target you can get a combo pack of lip boost and a lip smoother for like $6.00!! I'm also addicted to chap stick!!
Gotta run, boss is coming!! I hope you feel better!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Re: Ditto!
#174328 - 04/27/05 08:42 AM
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michele
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 6886
Loc: southeastern michigan
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The most common cause of flashes of light is a rentinal detachment. This can be caused by an accident, such as a fall and doesn't necessarily have to happen at the same time. Sometimes a fall can cause a weakness and it takes time to actually start detaching.
Halos are a common problem for alot of people. especially those that wear contacts and contacts typically make you more light sensative. Anti-glare coatings on glasses are the best way to correct for this. Halos can also be caused when cataracts develop in the eye, this is something that typically hapeens with age. Although an accident can also cause a cataract to develop and its possible to develop them at younger ages, although much less common. Cataracts are really no big deal, they can replace the cloudy lens in your eye in an outpatient surgery.
Also high pressures or glacoma can cause some of these things as well. Thats why its so important to have regular eye exams! 
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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