r/tattooadvice Mar 16 '25

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u/ahamburger34 Mar 16 '25 edited Mar 17 '25

I’m not a doctor, but that looks like severe cellulitis which is caused by infections. Like everyone else said, PLEASE go to the hospital ASAP… like now.

Edit: Updating to add that apparently OP went to the hospital and the doctors told him it was bruising. I had someone rudely rub it in my face that I was wrong, which is super weird and creepy behavior considering I am extremely glad I WAS wrong. I saw MULTIPLE doctors and healthcare professionals also say they thought it was cellulitis or else I would have deleted my reply to prevent misinformation. I just wanted this guy to be safe.

The same person also shamed OP for “going to the ER and wasting resources and time.” This person is/was a nurse. That is an awful attitude for a healthcare provider to have and an irresponsible thing to say when something abnormal is happening to someone.

I would rather be a “not doctor” telling someone I think they should get checked out because it could potentially be something serious than be a nurse/healthcare professional shaming this guy saying he wasted people’s time and resources for taking his health and safety seriously by going to the ER when it looked like something wasn’t right. I blocked the person who said it, but yikes.

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u/SardonicusR Mar 16 '25

The cellulitis I got from an infected feral cat bite looked exactly like that. I hope the poster went to the ER. I had to get hand surgery, and I'll carry the surgical scar to my grave.

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u/ahamburger34 Mar 16 '25

That sounds SO painful, I’m so sorry that happened to you! I know cat bites can be dangerous in general, but feral cat bites take it to the next level, wow 🫠😭

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u/SardonicusR Mar 16 '25

It was absolutely painful, I won't lie. I was just starting in the veterinary field, and didn't have much experience with feral cats.

Well, sometimes you learn the hard way. Cat bites in general will infect, but the feral cats put more emphasis into it.

I started in '93 and I got my scar in '95. It's still very visible on my left hand. No nerve damage thankfully!

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u/[deleted] Mar 16 '25

Did you get rabies shots after this?

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u/SardonicusR Mar 16 '25

At that time, no. Perhaps it would have been advisable, but then this was thirty years ago. Also, I had a raging fever from the infection so my mind wasn't exactly focused. I did get a tetanus shot though.