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So I'm about to lose my right foot.

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by TJandGENESIS, Jan 1, 2008.

  1. burritos

    burritos Senior Member

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    If your foot doesn't look miraculously better this morning, then you shouldn't be seeking advice on PC, you should be at the nearest competent ER.
     
  2. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    There's a candle lit for you.

    I second, third, and eighteenth the advice to get yourself to a good wound hospital stat. My mother-in-law (also diabetic) almost died from an infection... however, a good hospital, IV antibiotics, and specialty care pulled her through.
     
  3. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I agree you have to be your own advocate. But "Demanding" will get you know where. Go to a doctor armed with information, questions, concerns, but demanding things may get you something you don't need, isn't in your best interest, and a pissed off doctor that won't be your best advocate.

    If you feel your treament isn't appropriate seeking another opinion elsewhere is a good idea, but the demanding patient who doesn't know what they're talking about gets you a reputation and will ultimately work against you.
     
  4. Lola'05

    Lola'05 New Member

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    Would substituting the word "requesting" smooth your feathers? A patient has the right to expect correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment in a timely manner. I noticed that the OP didn't mention a wound culture being done. I would think that would have helped in prescribing the correct antibiotics.

    I do hope he took the advice offered here this morning and got himself immediately to the nearest, best ER.

    My prayers are with him.
     
  5. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Enquiring as to whether a particular test or treatment would be a good idea and if not then asking why it isn't would "smooth my feathers". Again, being your own advocate doesn't mean you should demand what you think you need or what you cousin Jake who went to nursing school for 3 months until he dropped out or your step sister who's a psychiatrist said you needed. It means being armed with as much information as you can reasonably collect and asking questions and assuring the physician you wish to do all you can to arrive at the proper diagnosis without any unnecessary or inappropriate tests, treatments or expense. Doing the wrong thing can lead to improper diagnosis, treatment, expense and delay the proper diagnosis and treatment.

    But I suspect you're right. I'd bet that we haven't heard from the OP b/c he's currently "enjoying" the comforts of a hospital bed while savoring the fine hospital cuisine and the loving attention of any number of nurses attending his every need....and hopefully he's getting antibiotics most of us can't pronounce the names of and starting to heal up.
     
  6. viking31

    viking31 Member

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    Although I have no reason to doubt TJ's story, the whole thing just doesn't make sense. Someone, who is a diabetic, shows up to a doctor with a toe infected so bad it is black with a deep ulcer (is that not extremely serious, perhaps the beginning stages of gangrene??) has no feeling in his entire foot, gets shot up full of antibiotics, told then to go home for the holidays, and also informed that we will most surely amputate your toe and most likely (70% chance) we'll amputate your entire foot in a few days.

    My question is, would a situation such as this require inpatient hospitalization??? Are infections such as these not possible to treat more effectively with IV supervision in a hospital setting rather than just sending the patient home???



    Rick
    #4 2006
     
  7. Fibb222

    Fibb222 New Member

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    In Canada, you wouldn't be sent home that's for sure. Good luck TJ.
     
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Actually, the black toe, no feeling and symptoms of a localized infection would, often, result in a discharge home on oral antibiotics. However, once there's fever it's a new animal entirely and admission is usually (if not always) advised for a diabetic.
     
  9. TJandGENESIS

    TJandGENESIS Are We Having Fun Yet?

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    I got a script for antibiotics...but it seems I am allergic to them. I have spent the day in agony; I just got sitting up. I may have to go to the ER, but we'll see.

    The reason the doctor sent me home? Because I have no health insurance, as many American's don't, and a IV drip costs thousands, and will, in all likely hood, my foot will still have to be removed...so the doctor thinks it's a waste of money, to which I tend to agree.

    Thanks for the thoughts; I'll keep everyone informed.
     
  10. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Hey it's just a foot. Might mess up your football game but...

    I hope it all goes well for you TJ. I'm shocked that you are at home not in a hospital receiving the best available care. Every centimetre of every limb is important for you and everyone around you, do everything possible to keep as much of you in tact as possible. At the same time I understand the doctor wanting to minimise the amount of flesh he needs to remove but still stop the infection. I somehow doubt your GP is a specialist in this area, that's why I thought you would be in a place specialists tend to hang out, a hospital.

    Take care and avoid the people who pull chicken livers out of your leg.

    My thoughts are with you.
    Pat
     
  11. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Your call bud, but if you get a systemic infection or if it extends above the ankle you're going to be a heck of a lot sicker and your disability will be dramatically worse.
    I think you need IV antibiotics regardless based upon what you've told us.
     
  12. Lola'05

    Lola'05 New Member

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    Do you mean to say that you didn't go to the ER this morning? As advised by so many of the concerned members here? The correct antibiotic now could lessen the extent of the amputation. One of my feet is worth thousands of dollars to me. Lots of Americans have no health insurance, unfortunately. If you were to incur the debt to save your foot, then you could apply for goverment assistance. All hospitals have a social services dept. to help you with that. If the worst scenario occurs and you do lose your foot, you will still have to take that route.

    I am still praying.
     
  13. boulder_bum

    boulder_bum Senior Member

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    My wife is a provider at a family care clinic and she concurs that IV antibiotics might be the right choice. Certainly you at least want to get a second opinion from another doctor in your area if you're potentially going to lose a foot!

    She also asked how your diabetes is doing since out-of-whack blood sugar makes the infection harder to fight.

    She also used to work at a non-profit clinic where many people didn't have health insurance and she recommends that you check out https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php. She said she referred someone who applied and got $500,000 worth of treatment with the insurance she was able to receive through the organization.

    Apparently you may have to aggressively pester them due to the urgency of your situation, but you're going to have a lot of medical bills one way or another and the organization may be able to help.
     
  14. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    if you're going to be stuck with a ton of medical bills in either situation, why not try to save as much of the foot as possible?

    you can try for some government assistance- we recently found out that medicaid covered a number of very expensive procedures that our regular insurance refused to pay for.
     
  15. Lola'05

    Lola'05 New Member

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    Hey, TJ

    I understand that you are very ill right now. Do you have someone to advocate for you? You need to recruit a family member or friend to do that for you. You have a bad infection and nasty effects from the medications ordered. Please seek help.

    Donna R
     
  16. desynch

    desynch Die-Hard Conservative

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    TJ, God Bless man. I will say a prayer for you. This is heartbreaking news to me.
     
  17. AuntBee

    AuntBee New Member

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    T.J. Hope your foot is better. (I too vote for your going to the nearest E.R. Two close family members of mine had serious illnesses that were misdiagnosed by their PCP but caught by the ER doc who got them admitted and treated. EMTALA protects your right to get treatment even if you have no insurance. Work out the details of payment later; that is secondary to your safety/health. Like another poster pointed out, there Case Management departments at the hospital who can work out the insurance details. Good luck and God bless!
     
  18. mojo

    mojo Senior Member

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    MEDICAID,
    thats a great suggestion.
    They will pay for a insulin pump 100% for my mother.
    I bet you would qualify for care.
     
  19. TJandGENESIS

    TJandGENESIS Are We Having Fun Yet?

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    As I sit here, well, lie here in bed, having spent an hour up...I can say, that whilst I appreciate the thoughts about the ER and all, I will wait a bit more.

    My feet have been going downhill since 1996, and I knew this day would come.

    I don't have a 'regular' doctor, since I don't really trust them. Never have.
    I am also a huge fan of accepting the fate, and not a fan of trying to delay the inevitable. We all have to die, we all have to pay for mistakes. My mistake was drinking all those sodas for all those years as a DJ. Not smart.

    It made me the diabetic I am today. I do not take insulin, since it's not been prescribed to me; nor do I take pills. I have been able to keep the numbers low until yesterday.

    I'm not a fan of losing a foot, or a toe, but why waste thousands of dollars, that I don't have, when the outcome is the same? I mean, I'll give this a shot, but I don't expect much.

    Besides, next to the cancer I have, this is nothing.

    I'll be off to the Urgent Care later today, I am sure.
     
  20. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    That's a pretty nasty consequence of getting a blister. Sorry to hear it TJ.