Finger update
I've got my finger back! No bandage! My injury is dry and not infected so that's all fine.

Once I'd pulled the stitches out and washed it, most of the skin which had been covering the damaged bit came away, to reveal new shiny skin underneath. It's a very good job, where it's rejoined at the back you can barely see the scar.

The reattached bit on the back feels very strange - extremely sensitive and it tingles, it feels like pins and needles. And that bit of skin is not as squishy as normal fingertips, it feels like it's been overstuffed. It's more sore now than it's ever been, but more of an irritation than a pain.

There's a dead black area on the side - about 1cm by 0.5cm - which the doctor said could scab and fall off. He didn't say what the alternative was. However it does look like it's drying up so I guess it will probably fall off.

The front is a bit of a mess. I've got new nail right at the bottom, trying to come through, so I guess I will have to give it time and see how the front heals and how the nail regrows.

I'll take photos later and add a link to this post, but I just wanted to update since people have been asking how it went.

Basically it looks like it will be ok... what it will look like in the end I don't know, but probably pretty close to how it should be. Hooray!

And because of the surgery, I can't give blood. Again. Never mind - it's only a deferral this time.