Persistant Infection in Leg

[SandiH]

For the most part, I just want to hug you. Finally, someone freakin gets it!

Just a couple of things. While I asked if I could leave the hospital, I by no means demanded to go home. I asked the doctor what would be acceptable and what would be the best. He was comfortable with letting me go home on the meds that I went home on. Yes, there was a better drug, but it was prohibitively expensive without the insurance company chipping in. I have made the best effort that I can make to follow doctor's orders. I keep it propped up when I am home.....yes, I know that means at heart level.....thank God for laptops! I have followed up with my doc as directed and then some.

Yes, I swear on a stack of Bibles, if this gets worse, I will go to the ER. Yes, it hurts, but I can go up and down the 4 steps leading the the finished basement several times each night to walk the dogs. If I was unable to walk, I would not be forcing myself to go to work during these half days that I am scheduled for this week. I can walk, just not real fast and not without a limp. I am pooped and I am tired of being cyber screamed at. While I asked for opinions in the beginning, I am sort of over it now because so few people seem to really understand that I was looking for help.....now, I find that I am mostly just venting here and defending my decisions and my partner.

Thanks for the well wishes. I need those and prayers more than I need a dozen screaming cyber moms. Maggie

I think that's why I finally decided to post. I'm assuming (I don't know you from Adam) that you are a fairly reasonable adult, you know your body, your situation, exactly what the Dr.'s have said and how they have said it. I can only hope and assume that you would certainly take appropriate steps if you needed to.

I went through the stages of OMG - this woman is crazy, she's making up excuses, she's going to harm herself. Then I realized that I don't know squat about the infection / swelling besides what you have posted here. I don't know how it was before compared to know. I do know that you haven't gotten SIGNIFICANTLY worse over the past few day (a bit worse - but not horribly) and that if it does, you will take action.

Keep us posted and don't worry about defending yourself. You're an adult and you get to decide when enough is enough.

 

[mickeysaver]

Deleted.....drama's over

 

[OK!]

You would be surprised. A mom contacted DH the other day because her DS returned from a S. American country and had a lesion in his leg. Its a botfly larvae. You can see the little breathing hole and see it wiggling.
He told her that it is best to make a little incision so one can be sure of removing the whole thing; they are about an inch long and they are FAT!
No, he can't do that, he is going to "running camp" and the incision might bother him! I guess he can wait until it hatches! http://ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/botfly.html

Cute, isn't it?

Note to self: Don't ever DIS and eat dinner at the same time ever again.

 

[mickeysaver]

Deleted.....drama's over

 

[OK!]

I needed that laugh! Thanks! Maggie

No problem. Hope you're feeling better soon!!

 

[mcco5543]

Maybe it isn't as bad as we all think..does everybody think she should wait and find out. Because I can tell this to the OP..

by the time you get "super scared" it'll be time to remove the leg or your life" the leg will probably go before the life but still that's not a great situation. Good luck with your tests.... GO TO THE ER! don't wait until your "super scared" it'll be "super too late"

 

[bamajill]

Maybe it isn't as bad as we all think..does everybody think she should wait and find out. Because I can tell this to the OP..

by the time you get "super scared" it'll be time to remove the leg or your life" the leg will probably go before the life but still that's not a great situation. Good luck with your tests.... GO TO THE ER! don't wait until your "super scared" it'll be "super too late"

((hugs)) to you....I am sure this is very difficult for you to watch as it plays out.

 

[mcco5543]

((hugs)) to you....I am sure this is very difficult for you to watch as it plays out.

Thanks, I thought I could just lurk from now on since she doesn't want to seem to listen to someone who went through this already, she still may be at a stage where she can stop it and not go a whole year with a misdiagnoses or an undiagnosis. ...It's just sad and scary and I can't lurk. I gotta stick it out..that's what Dis family does and by gum I will NOT stand idley by and let her make a huge mistake without hounding her until I can't hound her anymore..

 

[NewJersey]

Is this is a joke? Good grief go see a doctor. I can't believe this is still being talked about.

 

[Laralyn]

I don't mean to sound snarky... but if it's not that bad, not life threatening, not an emergency and not a big deal, why you keep posting about it? Why don't you just say, "All better. Moving on. Group hug!"

I think it's the mixed message in this thread that's the heart of the responses you're getting. It's like you're saying one second, "Stop freaking out! It's no big deal, and I'm fine." then turning around and saying the next second, "Holy cow! My leg is bright red and swollen and no doctors will pay attention to me! Help!"

It's hard for people to know how to respond after hearing both of those sentiments, sometimes even within the same post. That's especially true when you have people who have had the same or similar illness post with their experiences, and you dismiss them. I doubt it was easy for folks to post about their serious illness, especially to the extent of losing a leg, and then have you brush that off like it is irrelevant, especially since you started off by explicitly asking for help and advice.

It's no wonder people are confused and frustrated by this thread.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Good luck today Maggie. I hope you get somewhere with the dr and the x-rays. And if anything I think Gabbie will be coming home today, right? She can go knock some sense into the dr.

 

[mickeyfan2]

For the most part, I just want to hug you. Finally, someone freakin gets it!

Many on here get it, but sorry the person who should be getting it is not.

I give up. You win.

 

[salal]

Yes, it hurts, but I can go up and down the 4 steps leading the the finished basement several times each night to walk the dogs. If I was unable to walk, I would not be forcing myself to go to work during these half days that I am scheduled for this week. I can walk, just not real fast and not without a limp.

If you are doing this much climbing of satairs several times a night, it can't be that bad.

 

[DawnCt1]

Good luck today Maggie. I hope you get somewhere with the dr and the x-rays. And if anything I think Gabbie will be coming home today, right? She can go knock some sense into the dr.

Frankly, I don't think it is the physician that lacks sense at this point.

 

[poohandwendy]

If you are doing this much climbing of stairs several times a night, it can't be that bad.

Not to mention not resting the leg (as was recommended in the first place) could be the reason it isn't getting better.

 

[yeartolate]

I am of the opinion that the leg is probably not as bad as it seems to the OP. I cannot fathom the doctor she works for allowing her to continue to work if it is as bad as it has been reported to be.

My gut feeling is that the leg is more than likely "recovering" but still looks different than it used to - which can be very very scary and unnerving. I hope and pray this is the case. Because the descriptions of the leg sound awful - but I know as an ICU RN and a daughter of a person with vascular disease that there are varying degrees of bad, and sometimes what looks bad isn't necessarily acutely emergently bad.

I can think of no other plausible reason a physician who the OP works for and has seen the leg and primary MD don't insist on immediate aggresive care.

My prayers are with you.....

 

[DawnCt1]

I am of the opinion that the leg is probably not as bad as it seems to the OP. I cannot fathom the doctor she works for allowing her to continue to work if it is as bad as it has been reported to be.

My gut feeling is that the leg is more than likely "recovering" but still looks different than it used to - which can be very very scary and unnerving. I hope and pray this is the case. Because the descriptions of the leg sound awful - but I know as an ICU RN and a daughter of a person with vascular disease that there are varying degrees of bad, and sometimes what looks bad isn't necessarily acutely emergently bad.

I can think of no other plausible reason a physician who the OP works for and has seen the leg and primary MD don't insist on immediate aggresive care.

My prayers are with you.....

I agree with you and this with regard to her employer is just plain silly. I would hate to think that physicians fail to involve themselves in a serious situation because they are worried about malpractice ramifications. That is why they have insurance.

""The advice that I have gotten from my boss has been given not as her being a doctor who is my boss, but rather as my friend that just happens to be a doctor. Due to medical malpractice potential, she is uncomfortable with doing much other than offering opinions as a friend.''

 

[bananiem]

The advice that I have gotten from my boss has been given not as her being a doctor who is my boss, but rather as my friend that just happens to be a doctor. Due to medical malpractice potential, she is uncomfortable with doing much other than offering opinions as a friend. I can and do respect that. Maggie

So she won't give you her professional opinion because you're such good friends she thinks you'll sue her for malpractice?

 

[froglady]

I agree with you and this with regard to her employer is just plain silly. I would hate to think that physicians fail to involve themselves in a serious situation because they are worried about malpractice ramifications. That is why they have insurance.

""The advice that I have gotten from my boss has been given not as her being a doctor who is my boss, but rather as my friend that just happens to be a doctor. Due to medical malpractice potential, she is uncomfortable with doing much other than offering opinions as a friend.''

And a "friend" calling a colleague, ie another doctor, and saying, "I have this employee who has a terrible looking leg that doesn't seem to be responding to current treatment. She has a doctor, and will see an ID next month, but I'm concerned that it may be too late. Any opinions? Can I send her over to see you?" would not constitute malpractice, nor would it violate any confidentiality. Your boss is NOT your physician, which is why she cannot treat you. BUT, she can still, as a friend, and with your permission, talk to another doctor about your case.

Of course, I'm not sure that someone who would expect or allow you to come to work a couple of days after a hospital discharge, and in contradiction to another physician's discharge orders, is much of a friend - or doctor.

 

[DawnCt1]

So she won't give you her professional opinion because you're such good friends she thinks you'll sue her for malpractice?

Exactly. What is up with that? DH still does football physicals for the kids that can't afford to get them.Without the physicals, they wouldn't be able to play. He goes to the field every time he is asked, even though our youngest has been out of high school for a year. I couldn't imagine him telling the coach, "I can't do it, I might be sued". He would tell you, "that's what I have insurance for".