So I'm about to lose my right foot.

Ask to have one of the social workers come to talk with you to discuss options, as some other people previously posted. Make the request tonight or early tomorrow, since those departments tend to work Monday through Friday schedules.

 

Hey, so good to see you smiling in that photo. And the hospital gown is very attractive!
Don't focus on the numbers right now. Your job is to get better. Enlist Social Services for assistance with the money issues.
Godiva said it pretty well...so I don't have to repeat it. I liked the part about "berating you about the head and shoulders". Maybe it helps to be the parent of male offspring to really appreciate that.

Get well.

 

before u ask how much to you...

ask what is your presence worth to your family?

are you in a position that your money might go to them instead of some insurance company should you just say "let er ride?"

being in that position except being on the receiving end, i say i'd rather be broke (ok that's a bit of drama there since i am employed!!) and spend another several months with someone i love

 

Congratulations on keeping the foot! Here's hoping it doesn't cost you an arm and a leg.

*appologies for the bad joke*

 

You look like you're doped up in that picture... kinda funny.

 

TJ -- you have my thoughts and prayers. It sounds like you're where you need to be.

I understand your being worried about the money; truly I do. But I have to say, at this point, it's a done deal, and no amount of worry is going to make it any less expensive. I would suggest that a more productive use of your time and energy might be to kick back and enjoy the pain meds, assuming you're getting any. there will be plenty of time to figure out the money after the good drugs are done! (I'm jokng about the drugs, but not totally -- I've had lots of practice making the best out of a bad situation.)

Seriously, the very worst that can happen financially is that you'll have to file for bankruptcy. After a very serious illness, that's what I had to do. I lost everything -- my car, my house, etc. And it does, in fact, suck. No way around it -- awful.

But even if the worst (financially) does happen, it IS survivable. Five years ago, I could not have imagined my life would be what it is today. As I said, my car was repossessed and my house was foreclosed, I lost my job, and I am permanently disabled. My income plummeted, and I don't have things now that I used to take for granted. I was very fortunate that I was never actually without a roof over my head, I never went hungry, and I was surrounded by people who did so much for me. Many people aren't so lucky. And while I realize I was fortunate in so many ways, I would not wish what I went through on my worst enemy.

But here I am 5 years later, and although I have a very different life, I have a very happy life. In fact, I consider myself far richer than I was before.

I guess my bottom line is that it's only money, which compared with your health and life, isn't quite as big a deal. So I hope that for now, you will relax and concentrate on getting better.

Or, as I said earlier, enjoy the pain meds. After all, how many times in life does one get mind-altering drugs LEGALLY?!?

Peace --

Marjorie.

 

It is such a relief to see you're on the mend! Good job for going to the E.R. Hospitals are not as bad as they're cracked up to be. Just be extra nice and buddy-buddy to the nurses, especially the ones who bring the pain meds.

 

If they can save your toe now, then there's a good possibility you will NEVER lose it. You say you've had pain in your foot for more than 10 years - that's diabetic neuropathy. While people with neuropathy are more likely to get an infection that results in amputation, the reason behind that is that neuropathy can make your limbs numb, as well as cause pain, so many people with neuropathy don't even feel a cut, scrape or blister that turns necrotic, so they don't notice the problem in time to deal with it effectively. That's why diabetics are advised to check their feet and hands on a daily basis, and seek treatment immediately if there is any sign of infection.

I noticed that you wear glasses - how often do you have your eyes checked, and does your optometrist know you're diabetic? A good optometrist (cheaper than an opthalmologist, and I, too, don't have medical insurance) can look inside your eye to see if you have any retinal bleeding or scarring from retinal bleeding from the diabetes - I get checked every 6 months and occasionally have signs of scarring, but they clear up again within 6 months, so I haven't needed to go to an eye specialist for further treatment, when I've had retinal bleeding symptoms for more than 10 years.

As to your stomach problems with the antibiotic - they probably have you on an anaerobic antibiotic (like Floxin) that's particularly effective against bacteria that thrive without oxygen - and that's the kind of bacteria that are often associated with gangrene. That's part of the reason that one of the treatments is hyperbaric treatment - they put you in a pressurized chamber with high levels of oxygen for a period of time ranging from 30 minutes to a few hours. The oxygen fights the anaerobic bacteria as well as promotes healing of the wound.

 

Sorry they couldn't save the toe, but at least it's not worse! Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.

 

Keep smiling.

 

Think you are feeling good now??? . . .
Wait till you start driving you Prius again and see how much better your MPGs are now that you will be even lighter on the pedal. [why aren't the smilies working properly. ]

 

My mom has taken insulin for 45 years and has had a very healthy life of 85 years with no diabetes related complications.
Whereas my uncle waited just a bit to long to get diagnosed and went blind in a very short period.
You really need to learn to manage your blood sugar .You can lead a healthy life if you put forth the effort.
If you dont control it ,you may have ten years of misery.
If you do control it, you may have 50 years of enjoyment.

 

Dude, I'm so very sorry to hear this! I'm glad you had to lose nothing more than the toe...... better to lose a toe and save the foot I guess.

Man, I'll say a prayer right now (I just read this thread). Best wishes my friend.

 

I don't know if it will help but if you lost the whole foot the cost would have been higher for rehab, prosthetics etc so getting treatment early may have not only saved the bulk of your foot but also your money.

 

Don't lose sight of the big picture. EVERYONE here was supporting you and wanting to see the best outcome. The very minor thing is the lost of your toe and the medical bills everyone has to contend with. The major thing to realize is that your fate is to enjoy the much better days ahead.

 

TJ Like the others in our little family I'm glad you seem to be over the worst of it. Now we know where to send our shoes which have become too narrow!