So I tripped and fell flat on my face.

[Cleita]

I got a bloody and bruised nose, a bruised upper lip and two black eyes. How long before I can go out in public? Is there anything I can do to speed the healing? Is there any way to cover the bruises?

[Moondog]

1. Oversized sunglasses. Makeup.

Or so a lady lawyer friend who did a lot of battered women cases once told me.

[Cleita]

4. It could work for shopping.

I don't know about meeting with people who know me. They would know something is wrong.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Oh my dear Cleita...

I've done that too, and it majorly sucks.

Vitamin C is essential for tissue healing. Orange juice, lemon juice, V-8, pills, any way you can get it into you will work. You really can't overdo it since it's water soluble, and whatever your body doesn't use at the time will be excreted in your pee.

I'd use some ice to help too. Probably 10 minutes at a time, and wrap any really cold thing in a cloth so it won't hurt you.

I don't know how to cover the bruises...makeup?

I am so sorry this happened.

[Cleita]

5. Thank you Peggy, but frankly I'm feeling rather stupid.

[HappyMe]

3. I don't know about speeding up healing.

I wouldn't try to cover the bruises with anything for a couple of days. It would probably make them look worse.

Sorry, I'm not much help.

[Cleita]

8. Thanks for the sympathy, anyway.

[Aerows]

6. My shins sympathyze

because I always seem to skin one of them when I wrestle out the damn trash... for myself, my parents, and their neighbors. It's something you do for people you know, care about and occasionally have to do for.

My parents neighbor broke a hip, and the latest skinning was from wrestling with her trash can. I'm far too able bodied to complain about doing it, though. Better me than my mother.

[Cleita]

7. Have you thought of using knee pads when you do trash duty?

Also you can get little trays with wheels under them. They are used to put heavy potted plants on to move them around. I believe they would work for trash cans too. You need to make those chores a little easier for yourself.

[Aerows]

10. That's a good idea

I hadn't thought of that when I did it. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm kind of dense at times with things that are sensible, and that's one of the most sensible things that I've heard in a long time! I can hide them under my jeans so I don't look like a tramp or a football player.

Sounds like a good idea, thank you for the suggestion!

[Aerows]

12. These trash cans have wheels, but they are heavy and because of the steep driveways

that's why they are a problem. They can knock you flat if you aren't strong enough to control the can. Probably protecting my knees and shins could correct my problem, since that is 90% of it.

[darkangel218]

9. OMG im sorry i laughed

YOu could use Loreal concealer , it works wonders

[Cleita]

11. It's okay. My cat laughed too.

I will go get some concealer. It seems I must do something like that. I don't think concealer will help with the swelling though. I feel like I've been botoxed in the wrong areas.

[darkangel218]

13. I once fell in a mosh pit at a metal show and had bruises all over my face

My co workers thought my bf beat me he did not, i was in the middle of the pit like a dorkus buttus

[In_The_Wind]

14. I did that the day after a DU meet-up down in Washington.

It took a week of wearing sunglasses if I remember correctly.

[Cleita]

23. It takes a week. Yikes!

I guess I'm just going to have to face the music.

[In_The_Wind]

27. The color change on a bruised face is impossible to hide. You tripped.

Nothing more. Those who know you will laugh along with you.

[Chan790]

15. I did that once.

Realizing I couldn't cover it up, I had fun with it. When my roommate and I went grocery shopping, in the middle of the store, at random intervals when he'd go to take something off a shelf I'd jump and exclaim "please don't hit me again!"

I realize that's not much help but it was hilarious because I took acting as an elective in college and he flusters easily & gets embarrassed if he thinks people are paying too much attention to him...and I've got half a Safeway convinced he beats me. He's getting death-stares and I'm hamming it up.

I'm constantly theatrical pranking him...I walked in on him and his fiance making out on the couch in our apartment and without missing a beat introduced them to my uncle the priest as brother and sister.

[Cleita]

24. Your poor roommate.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

16. Oh! That hurts!

I'm glad you didn't break your nose. I wouldn't try to conceal the bruises just yet...they are blood that has pooled under the skin... I once had a bruise travel up my leg from my foot to my calf...
so they can move!

Hope you heal quickly Cleita!

[Cleita]

25. Thank you for the sympathy. It helps. n/t

[LiberalEsto]

17. I have found arnica gel very helpful for bruises and back pain

but it should not be used on cuts or any area where the skin is broken.

Arnica montana is a plant that has been used for hundreds of years for bruises and sprains. It is gentle and considered safe to use. Here is a link about it from the University of Maryland Medical Center: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/arnica-000222.htm

I buy the gel, which comes in a tube like toothpaste, at the Vitamin Shoppe, but GNC also sells it. Recently our area supermarket chain, Giant, started selling Arnicare gel by Boiron. It's a good brand. It's on the shelves close to Ben-Gay and other exterior pain ointments.

I hope you heal fast and feel better quickly, Cleita!

[siligut]

18. This is my suggestion too, arnica works well on bruises

Also cold packs for the first 24 hrs.

Cleita, I am so sorry. Falling and busting up your face is such a trauma

[Cleita]

22. Thank you. I am doing cold packs and I hope to get some

arnica.

[marzipanni]

19. My cousin, mom of two boys, gave me a tube of arnica gel when my son was little

and he says that it works, and uses it when he gets a bruise or sprain. He just asked for it last night for a sore elbow.

I suggested it to DU roller derby gal, Maine-ah, when she was a novice and she said some of the other women on her team had recommended it, too.

[Cleita]

21. Arnica. Thank you. I will get some along with the concealer. n/t

[Demoiselle]

20. I am so sorry, Cleita!

I hate that moment when you realize you're going to fall and you can't do anything about it. I recommend bed rest, cold packs, a bit a gin (if you like) and serious pampering from friends/family. All the best..

[Cleita]

26. I'm feeling a little sorry for myself but I think rest is the best thing I can do right now. n/t

[R B Garr]

28. Ouch! I'm sorry this happened to you. Sounds like you didn't even see it coming

and couldn't do much to break your fall. That is a devastating feeling. Last couple times I fell hard was in front of the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco. I fell on a part of the sidewalk that I didn't realize sloped, but at least I could stop my fall somewhat with my hands. The next time was in a grocery store -- the classic slip and fall -- on some water spots where they had just watered the plants. The fall was so hard the manager came out and took my name for a report and a couple other people in the store helped me and ask me if I wanted the paramedics. Be prepared to be sore in your bones tomorrow and for a couple days, too!

Sounds like you got some good advice here, but I would just be careful about anything that makes your face feel flush like alcohol or makes your blood sugar spike too much like too many sweets. Just don't make your body work too hard in any way.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you again for the Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs recommendation you gave me in a thread around Easter. I've been using it regularly since, and I can't believe how great my legs look with it, and I don't even have to worry about sun damage! I wish I could recommend something as valuable to you to hide your bruises, but I can't think of anything offhand except some basic concealer.

Take care of yourself!

[Cleita]

29. Slipped on spilled milk. I didn't see it on my white kitchen floor in

the semi-dark. Pow! I went down like a 2 by 4 thrown on the ground. Splat!

OTOH I'm glad the Sally Hansen worked out for you.

[riderinthestorm]

30. Tangled with my dogs and did the same thing. Took 3 weeks start to finish for the effects to fade

Concealer doesn't really help since the swelling is so bad, especially in the first week - it just makes it look worse.

I did use the sunglasses and a hat pulled low over my brow the first week when I went out but after that I just decided to grit my teeth and get out there.

So sorry about this for you!

[Cleita]

31. Thanks rider and I'm sure your dogs didn't want to hurt you.

I don't feel as bad now that I know others have had the same thing happen to them.

[riderinthestorm]

32. I just got up too fast off the sofa and the dogs all scrambled off the sofa to 'come along"

with wherever I was going. As I tried NOT step on them as they were jumping down, I simply tangled and fell in a heap on my face.

So embarrassing! But the dogs surely were not at fault. All mine. They are loves and always will be....

Hope you heal faster than I did!!

[whistler162]

33. Depends.... could you

post before and after photos? So we can judge if you look worse after the fall. For me I would look batter.

[Cleita]

34. Well, I didn't take any pictures so I can't. Sorry. n/t