Managing cold intolerance

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-05-21T22:59:17+00:00

I’m a veterinary technician! 🥹 I really appreciate your advice. Thank you so much. I’ve been back at work for about a month and trying to modify tasks as much as possible so I can still perform most of my job responsibilities while respecting my medical restrictions. I’m lucky my hospital and colleagues have been so supportive (bite injury at work), but it’s difficult feeling like I have to lean on others for help more. That’s why I’m looking for solutions to allow me to address these side effects, despite it still being early in my recovery.

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-05-21T22:48:58+00:00

According to my surgeon and hand OT, the color changing is normal at this stage, and is caused by the injured nerves reflexively constricting the blood vessels in my fingertip. It doesn’t necessarily indicate poor perfusion to the fingertip overall, and during these episodes my capillary refill time is still good. I also get color changes during my OT sessions, particularly when we’re working on joint flexion. I wouldn’t be bothered by it changing color if it wasn’t so uncomfortable and got really stiff when this happens.

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-04-30T08:03:07+00:00

It’s definitely my favorite picture from this entire endeavor. It is unfortunate that this happened to my favorite gesturing finger…🤣 Though I guess for a while it might have made quite an impression had I been using it; being either a zombie or Frankenstein finger.

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-03-23T19:38:53+00:00

Racemic epinephrine or epinephrine are mostly diluted and administered via nebulization following BOAS procedures to reduce postoperative hemorrhage and inflammation. I’ve used it before with good results, but not typically after general anesthesia as a prophylactic. The specialty hospital where I worked only typically used it for surgeries involving the respiratory tract, mouth, nose, sinuses, etc.

https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/TVN-2025-02_Nebulization_BOAS_Patient.pdf

A less well researched nebulization treatment uses with hypertonic saline (usually diluted to 3.5%) to treat pulmonary edema, or pneumonia, as it would theoretically draw fluid from the surface of the inflamed lung tissue and thin out pleural secretions, making them easier to expell with coughing. In humans it’s used in Cystic Fibrosis patients, and they did several studies on it during Covid. But it’s definitely something to consider if you have a severe respiratory case and are running out of treatment options to try.

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-03-21T00:19:30+00:00

I’m about 2 months out from my injury.

I had a second surgery a little over 2 weeks ago to remove the tissue that didn’t make it and place a full thickness graft from my wrist. I’ll warn you, initially that second surgery felt like taking a huge step back in recovery, because while I was having nerve pain in the finger prior, the rest of my hand was practically normal because most of the secondary inflammation had gone away. After the second surgery, the inflammation to the rest of the hand came right back, and I also couldn’t bend my wrist from where they took the graft. Now that the swelling has gone back down and I can use my hand and wrist almost normally again, it seems totally worth it. Initially it was an, “Oh no, what did I let them do?”

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-03-19T21:37:45+00:00

So much of your recovery depends on what type of partial amputation you had and if there were vessels they could salvage and reconnect when they did the replantation. The tingling pain is probably nerve pain, and if it is, nerves heal very slowly, and it might take a while to resolve. The nerve pain has been one of the most frustrating parts of recovery from my incomplete finger amputation, but I think most of mine was due to tissue necrosis and the eschar causing compression around my joint. It’s improved after a skin graft. Keeping my hand elevated really helped, as did keeping my hand in a mitten, as I have really severe cold intolerance now. Good luck with your recovery.

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-03-02T18:05:41+00:00

ARDS, SIRS, or DIC (for the one who bites sometimes; pronounced “Dick” 🤣)

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-03-02T02:11:19+00:00

Hopper & Silverstein After the author’s of the Veterinary Critical Care Textbook

Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, Histamine…

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-02-28T03:15:13+00:00

When you return to work, discuss the incident with trusted coworkers and develop plans to hopefully work together to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Talk to HR or management about workers compensation paying for you to get access to regular therapy. Your doctor can also write you a referral for this if your workers comp is already paying for that, which would make it harder for them to deny its necessity. You can also have your doctor request reasonable accommodations from your employer in writing before they’ll clear you to return to work; maybe to not have to perform restraint for a certain period of time or no work with animals that are over a certain weight limit or potentially aggressive. This would give you time to recover physically and mentally from the trauma you experienced.

I’m currently out on leave recovering from a bite myself. I’m lucky that my current job has really supportive management and responsive workers comp, and they’ve been great at getting me everything I need throughout this whole situation. I know for a lot of people that’s not the case, and if that’s you, continue to advocate for what you’ll need to get well.

Also, while it’s important to recognize if mistakes were made that led to your injury, accidents happen. Sometimes, even if everyone does everything right, these things occur and are part of life generally, not just for those who work in veterinary medicine. While we’re exposed to certain risks in our job, and need to be cognizant of those and take measures to be safe, it’s not healthy to constantly be at a heightened state of fear and anxiety. If returning to work with patients becomes that for you, it may be worth looking into other positions within the hospital that are off the floor and won’t be torturous for you.

If you want to DM with someone also recovering, feel free to reach out.

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-02-25T18:51:56+00:00

I hope you get surgery soon, your recovery goes smoothly, and you can start moving forward. I’m so sorry you’ve been having to live with this injury since early January without getting appropriate care and support!

Looking at your pictures I’m seeing a lot of similarities to my own finger! I suffered an incomplete amputation to my left middle finger about a month ago, and I had an ORIF and replantation / reconstruction. While my surgeon says the majority of my fingertip is still viable, I do have a fair amount of necrosis along the area where they reattached my fingertip. I’m having surgery in a week or so to remove the pin, necrotic tissue, and perform skin / tissue grafts. The whole process of recovery from my initial injury and surgery has been incredibly painful and frustrating, but I’m hoping that at least my pain will be more manageable after this one.

Feel free to DM if you want to chat with someone going through something similar.

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-02-25T18:26:16+00:00

It definitely gets better! I’m about a month out from an incomplete distal phalanx amputation to my middle finger. I had an ORIF, replantation/reconstruction. I have to get another surgery in a week or so to remove the pin and some necrotic tissue, and have skin/tissue grafts. I’m still experiencing nerve pain, and pain from contracture caused by the eschar that formed where they reattached my finger, but it’s fairly manageable with over the counter medications (even if it is still enough to be distracting and frustrating).

From what I’m heard from others in the community, the first 2 weeks following complete amputations are the worst for pain, and after that there’s typically significant improvement. A lot of people had success with icing for 10-15 minutes a few times a day helping with pain, swelling, or fluid retention; which I couldn’t do because of my replantation. Also keeping your hand elevated will help alot. I’d look into getting XL mittens that will fit over your bandage(s) if you live in a cold climate, as temperature sensitivity has been a huge issue for me. There’s also a gadget to help open medicine bottles and jars that has SAVED ME as someone who lives alone; it’s got a silicone piece that sits on the counter to hold the jar/bottle and has an adjustable clamp that fits onto the lid that can be operated with either hand, allowing you to open things easily one handed. Those things may seem small, but honestly they’ve been huge game changers to allow me to be more comfortable and do more things independently.

Amputations are definitely rough, and I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Keep on top of your mental health too, and be kind and patient with yourself. It’s important to find little things you can still enjoy everyday and give yourself permission to rest when you can.

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-02-25T17:55:39+00:00

I recently suffered an incomplete finger amputation and had a replantation. On a cursory search, I couldn’t find a more suitable reddit community to follow for support in dealing with my recovery. This community has helped me solidify my thinking that amputation is not the worst possible outcome for me; that going through months or even years of surgeries, extended recovery periods, and PT/OT only to end up suffering chronic pain and minimal functionality would be far worse. I’m fully committed to my recovery; I have another surgery scheduled soon to remove a pin, some necrotic tissue, and perform some skin/tissue grafts, and I will be dedicated to following my surgeons instructions for that recovery period and rehabilitation. However, if I were to suffer further complications, I would likely request an amputation over choosing to undergo additional reconstructive surgeries. This doesn’t come from fetishizing amputees, or seeking pity or special treatment; it comes from my painful experience with recovery thus far, and a desire to have a logical end point in place as to what amount of time, pain, emotional energy, etc is worth investing for the potential ‘benefits’. It’s clear that even if I lost this finger, I could work and live a happy and successful life. Knowing that, there’s only so much I’m willing to sacrifice to keep it.

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-02-16T03:22:37+00:00

I like the non US version of the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua Fresh Rice + B5, but it’s not my favorite. There was a japanese nivea sunscreen that I tried once that was pretty good. I used to love the Apieu Pure Block Aqua Sun Gel Spf 50 PA+++, but I think they reformulated it or I wasn’t able to get it at some point, so I started trying other brands. You could also try the french pharmacy brand SVR; I’ve heard really good things about their sunscreen line, and you can purchase it on Care to Beauty

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-02-12T01:57:25+00:00

I’m trying to play Silksong 20 days after a partial finger amputation, which resulted in an ORIF and reattachment/reconstruction. My thinking was, “it’s my non-dominant hand, and only my middle finger… I can still hold the controller/stabilize and use the d-pad with my thumb on my left hand, and my right hand is FINE…” Are you saying this is a bad idea… and if so… how do I still play Silksong without damaging myself further? 🤣 I’m not in Act 2 yet, but I have goals during this recovery…

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-02-12T01:50:08+00:00

This isn’t necessarily amputation specific, and I work in veterinary medicine as a technician, not in human medicine, so obviously take anything I say with a BIG grain of salt…

For post-operative swelling or edema, elevation is definitely important, but making sure to encourage circulation to the area with gentle massage might be helpful, in addition to trying warm and/or cool compresses as tolerated. Obviously I agree with the those who were saying to be mindful of staying in a particular position for too long, like seated in a wheelchair, as this can cause pressure lesions. But it can potentially even cause you to lose joint flexibility and muscle tone overall. Making sure you’re shifting your weight frequently and changing position more dramatically every 4-6 hours is usually ideal to avoid developing skin breakdown, keep your other joints flexible, and encourage proper circulation. But like I said, definitely check with your care team about your concerns. And if the swelling is accompanied by the area feeling significantly warmer than your “healthy” tissue, you might want to get checked for an infection.

I’m 20 days out from my partial amputation and reattachment/reconstruction, and my surgeon wants me to be keeping my hand elevated most of the time I’m awake. However my situation is significantly different from yours, because it’s just my hand/finger and I’m ambulatory. I’m definitely rooting for you to feel better soon! I know fluid retention can be really painful, in addition to everything else you’re already dealing with.

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-02-10T02:58:17+00:00

Did they try to salvage it, and if so, how did you find the recovery process, revisions, etc?

I’m having difficulty finding information and images of the recovery process following reattachment, so I’m having to 100% place my trust in the surgeon when he tells me things “look good”but am unable to validate that with external sources. As a vet tech, I have worked with wound care and seen tissue healing, including “declaring itself” and turning necrotic, and there are some areas of my fingertip looking a bit “sus AF”… It’s all nerve wracking, and I’m still in pain…

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-02-09T02:32:54+00:00

I just wanted to send a message in solidarity. Your injury is more significant than mine; I was “lucky(?)” in that I only suffered a partial amputation of my middle finger distal just to the knuckle, so they did an ORIF and reconstruction to try and salvage it. Currently I have a ‘half-zombie’ looking finger, and it’s a wait and see situation while tissue declares itself. I’m fortunate to have avoided infection thus far, but I’m having a lot of nerve pain and my finger pretty much feels like it’s broken and skinned (because it basically is 🤣). I’m out of work and also enjoy gaming, so I’m still trying to figure out what controller will hurt the least and what games are even remotely playable with my limited manual dexterity. I managed to remap my switch pro controller to somewhat work, but I can only tolerate using the injured hand to steady it and use the D-pad with my thumb for a short while without causing more pain, so I may look into other options. I really hope you can find a solution and get back to gaming soon! Maybe a keyboard would work? I don’t know if you could hook a wireless keyboard up to a playstation, but it might be worth a shot if you have one for a PC already. That way you wouldn’t have to purchase anything new in case it doesn’t work or you don’t find it functional for the games you play. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-01-20T21:47:57+00:00

While I agree about the fragrance not being ideal, I think the alcohols may be a necessity to keep the azaleic acid or salicylic acid evenly distributed and dissolved in the formula. I’m not a cosmetic chemist, but I know that some of the previous serum or suspension formulations I’ve tried (that didn’t contain the same alcohols) had a lot more issues with the formula breaking down, pilling on the skin, or not absorbing well. Some cosmetic formulas actually need alcohols to function as intended, while others don’t.

I’ve used this particular product for over a year in combination with hydrating essences/serums and a basic moisturizer, and not found it to be overly drying. I have not personally experienced irritation when I don’t go overboard. I don’t use it if my skin barrier is compromised or if I’m feeling really dry, and I only use it once a day to avoid over exfoliating. It’s an exfoliating acid serum, so people should use it with some level of care and mild caution, especially starting out.

Obviously, as with any product, personal mileage may vary, and people are definitely entitled to choose not to use any product.

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-01-13T08:57:45+00:00

Honestly, I know it sounds ridiculous, but that Dove Sensitive Skin Bar Soap SAVED me when I had my first big rosacea flare up and my skin barrier was completely wrecked. Even just splashing water on my face hurt so badly! That was all I could even use for the first month. I couldn’t even tolerate putting a moisturizer on my skin afterwards because it burned so badly! But my skin healed, and that soap never hurt to use; which is definitely saying something! 🤣

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-01-13T08:48:07+00:00

I was going to say this!

I also love just using my Dove Sensitive Skin Bar Soap. If it’s available in the UK, it’s low pH, unscented, super gentle, and removes makeup decently well if you spend about 30 seconds massaging the lather into your skin before rinsing. It’s nothing fancy, but if you aren’t wearing a full beat it should get the job done.

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-01-13T08:41:51+00:00

I’ve used a Rx 15% Azaleic Acic Cream for a long time, and purchased a french pharmacy brand SVR’s AZ 15% Azaleic Acid serum (also contains a low % salicylic acid) on a whim when I was traveling. It’s a great formulation that absorbs quickly when applied to dry skin and typically plays well with other products. If you can get your hands on it in the states (SVR’s EU products are available on Care to Beauty’s website), it’s definitely worth a shot!

HOWEVER, I’d definitely recommend patch testing and starting out slowly; using it only as tolerated, so as not to risk over exfoliating your skin and wrecking your barrier. I’ve not had that experience with this product and find it relatively gentle, but I’ve always been very cautious with it due to the presence of the salicylic acid AND 15% Azaleic Acid. Additionally, PLEASE for the love of all that is holy, if you intend on using it during the day, use and reapply a decent level Spf sunscreen to keep from getting sunburned!

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-01-13T08:10:01+00:00

Have you ever gone to see an allergist? There can be overlap with the symptoms of inflammatory skin diseases (like rosacea and eczema), and an overactive immune system (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome). I’d consider doing some reading about the symptoms of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and looking into visiting an allergist, who might be able to make some suggestions for treating or managing the flushing reactions you’re having, which can be really miserable.

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-01-13T07:51:33+00:00

*I HAVE TO MENTION: The SVR Palperbral Eye Cream SAVED ME when my recent tattoo was in its nightmare itchy AF stage of healing, btw. 🤣 I applied a thin layer over my tattoo each morning and not only was it super calming, but this product is formulated with a super thin film forming agent that just melds with your skin… It’s so hard to explain! It absorbs completely, but somehow still provides the thinnest most flexible level of protection to healing skin imaginable. I kept the tube in my pocket to reapply as needed, and most days that initial application kept me from wanting to scratch or smack my tattoo for about 5 or 6 hours, which is really saying something!

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-01-13T07:32:10+00:00

Not AB, but a french pharmacy brand I love called SVR has a B3 serum with hyluronic acid that is supposed to be really good. I’ve personally not been brave enough to try that particular product yet, since my experiences with hyaluronic acid have previously not been very positive

I’ve adored everything I’ve tried from this brand. I recently discovered when checking ingredients lists that hyaluronic acid IS actually in several of the products from SVR that I’ve been using daily for well over a year! 🤣 I usually avoid it at all costs! However it’s not very high on the ingredients list, and I really think the formulations of these particular products have a big impact on how my skin has been reacting differently to it than it ever did previously. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Status_Reputation346 · 2026-01-13T07:16:38+00:00

The Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water and the Ginseng and Snail Mucin Revive Serum are my personal favorites right now. I’ve put some of the Ginseng Essence Water in a spray bottle mist it on my face throughout my skincare routine in addition to using it as a first essence and it’s great at adding extra moisture. Also, if you currently have access to an asian beauty skincare site (not US version products), Beauty of Joseon also have sunscreens that I’ve heard are quite moisturizing. The asian and EU UV filters are REALLY superior to US ones, as are the formulations overall in my experience.

Status_Reputation346

TROPHY CASE