WOW! I just looked at the pics of your wound and leg. You need treatment right now, not tomorrow, but now.
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WOW! I just looked at the pics of your wound and leg. You need treatment right now, not tomorrow, but now.
Are you soaking with *just* hot water or adding a tsp of sea salt per cup of water? Yes I'm splitting hairs, but upping the salinity of the soak may have at least a slight effect.
However, if tissue integrity is suffering that much, introducing water may actually be worse for you. Maybe someone can confirm or deny this for me, but I would be more apt to recommend a dry, hot compress like a heating pad or the like.
Yeah, the red irritation is a bad thing. Has the infection been cultured? Do they know what type of bacteria they're working with? Apparently the broad-spectrum antibiotics hadn't been working. :rolleyes:
I'd be most concerned with the possibility of septicemia with such a long, ongoing infection in progress. How much vitamin C are you taking? If you're not on antibiotics at all right now (and even after you are...) I'd suggest at LEAST a 1,000 mg/day, up to 5 or 6,000mg. I will PM you on this.
My suggestions are modest at best, but at this point, every little bit that you can do will help.
A therapy used increasingly in California and with relative regularity in other countries may be an option... I'm linking to it here but it may cause distress in those with weak stomachs... But it's proven effective even in wounds infected with MRSA group A and B streptococci, gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic strains.
Best of luck to you.... I hope it all turns out okay.
OK, so today despite it being a holiday I called the Wound Center and convinced them to accept the necessary documentation faxed from me and not from the clinic (before they had only wanted to accept it from the doctor's fax number). I'm glad that I requested a copy of all the paperwork! The appointment is first thing Friday morning.
Here's some facts about public health care in Washington state. Most institutions require that you earn no more than twice the federal poverty line for your household. For a single adult, the poverty line's about $9k a year, or doubled is $18,000/year. I make a little more than that - last year I brought in $21K. I do not have full time permanent employment (I am working as a temp contractor) and don't have medical insurance, but don't qualify for any sort of state benefits. I could rant on about how I would be raking in the bennies if I was a single mom or an illegal alien, but I'll leave that for some other time. yes, the emergeny rooms would have to offer me treatment, but I would be billed and becaue I'm over that magic 200% of federal poverty guidelines, I would have to pay for it in full - and that's more expensive than seeing a specialist. The $2100 tab for the ER visit after the accident proves that.
I do go to school, but there's no relief becuse I'm going to a very small and brand new branch of a private art school that does not offer things like a wellness center or insurance.
It was difficult to find anyone who'd even see me without medical insurance. The treatment I've had is the best I could expect from a low-cost clinic and a general practitioner, except that I think the doctor could have been a little more aggressive in treating the infection, which the lab results defined as "staph, but not a resistant form, and some other bacteria as well." The area surrounding the wound responds to the antibiotics but was never 100% cleared of infection, so it would return quickly once the run ended.
Richard is fairly stable; he was two thirds the size he is now within a week of it opening and has grown very slowly and shows minimal erosion into the underlying tissue. This was, by the way, the point of contact where the bumper of the car hit my calf in my accident at the end of August; the ulcer opened nearly a month later.
By quirk of Washington State law, if you are a cyclist or a pedestrian involved in an accident with an automobile, the insurance company must extend personal injury protection coverage to you regardless of fault. I don't want to get into the fault and liability issues of the accident (suffice it to say that it's murky enough that I may yet decide to get a lawyer) but it doesn't matter - the driver has $10k PIP coverage and I get to use it. But rest assured, ladies, even without it I would have been seeking medical care regardless of cost after the new year. Richard isn't exactly a great roommate, you know?
:) Thanks for getting help Hip. Take care k.
c
Hip,
I am so glad you will be seen on Friday! Keep us posted.
You're calling him "Richard"? Oh dear. UK Elephants bf's name is Richard, and I'm sure UK would declare him a very sweet roommate indeed. Would you consider changing Sir Ulcer's name? How about Ulrik?
The name is a horrible, horrible joke. The Earl of Ulster is a secondary title for the Duke of Gloucester. So Richard, Earl of Ulcer is a terrible parody of the official title of Richard III before he ascended to the throne of England.Quote:
Originally Posted by Duck on Wheels
WOW!!! That is horrible. Seriously, go show the lady at the clinic your leg and she will probably faint. I am so sorry! I hope everything turns out okay. Good luck :)
One more thing...like a pesky roomate that you can't stand, tell Richard to go away! I love the fact that it has a name. You seem to have such a positive attitude which can go a long ways toward healing. Good for you!
Maybe you could get an Rx written for you and fax it to Monarch yourself? Only if this drags out any longer, that is...
I like the idea of going to a full clinic waiting room, pulling up the pant leg, and loudly saying, "I think this is contagious! What do you think? Gee, I wish the doctors would see me!" to everyone else in the waiting room!
But I'm evil. :D
i'm sure you would get results if you followed that idea!
I absolutely adore the idea of walking in wearing capris and kicking your feet up on the table. See how fast it gets handled now! :rolleyes:
Holy sh*t! I just read this whole thread and I am just beside myself here. The whole thing is just not right! You poor thing. And i am sorry i did not read this sooner i feel bad. But not as bad as your poor leg. Please know I am thinking of you and praying that it all comes together and works out for you. I will be checking back as well to see how your next app. goes! Damn I can not believe how bad our system is it really makes me angry! This country really needs some big changes! I am so angry right now!!! You should have driven to canada and got treatment there! I truely hope you will be on the road to recovery following your app. this friday! Screw my stupid toes thread!
Yep. The system is scr@wed. And yep, the working not-poor-enough and the self-employed take the brunt of it. The very poor are in the next-worst position, since they at least get coverage for emergency care (at least some bare bones version of it, although they often get the run-around before some institution caves and takes responsibility). But nope, it is not the poor folks or the illegals who are draining the system. Face it. It's the drug profiteers and the tax evaders and the war mongers who are draining the system. In a good system, there is coverage for all, all get good care, and we're all better off for it. The half-hearted treatment your Earl of Ulcer has been given is contributing to bacteria developing antibiotics resistence. That harms the health of all, and we all wind up paying. What goes around, comes around, and in the end a bad system is not cheap, while a good system doesn't have to cost all that much. Here in Europe we pay half what gets paid per capita, all in all, for health care and insurance in the US, yet here we're all covered, legals and illegals alike.
OK. I'll stop ranting and get back to crossing fingers that your appointment Friday gets you on the right track at last.
BTW: the U.S. now has the highest per capita infant mortality rate in the developed world. We used to be behind South Africa, but they got their sh*t together, and now WE'RE NUMBER ONE!!! (and aren't we proud?)
I work in health care. I see this b.s. every day. It makes me CrAzY!!
Hip, take the pics of your leg and send them to KOMO's "help me out" reporter, along with your story.
(local TV station for all you non-Seattlites. They've got someone to cover stories of injustice like this. It's an "if it bleeds, it leads" reporting mentality, but if it gets some action I think it's justified.)
Yes i agree tell your story!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
Another great idea. Didn't you always want to be the poster child for MRSA when you were a little girl? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
I don't want this to become a political statement or rant on my part but I do have to say... the system here is not that bad - really. Help if there if needed. Poor people here get excellent emergency care. The problem is that poor people don't have the money for routine medical care - like sick children exams so they clog up the ER making it difficult to get service for everyone - insurance, money or not. It's not the ER system that's bad. What we need to do is provide routine medical care for people who otherwise don't get insurance.Quote:
Originally Posted by Duck on Wheels
Most people here have a good insurance plan that covers most anything. That is the norm. I'll not get into a discussion re why illegals should not be covered but keep in mind in Norway and other places where everyone gets free medical care, taxes are extremely high. Everyone pays for the poor to get care. I would like to know if your illegal immigrant problem is as bad as California's (or the entire West Coast). This may sound hard but I work hard - and I don't like the fact much of my taxes go to supporting people who can't or won't make the effort to become legal immigrants. I don't care they come here - just make some effort - dang it!
If Hip needs help she can get it. She just needs to be proactive. Our system here, with few exceptions, is really very good. The only change we need is 1) to deal with the rampant illegal immigrant issues - folks who otherwise damage a fragile health care system , 2) provide well-care medical services to those who can't afford it to clear up our ER's and 3) provide services for preventive medicine - nutrition programs and other services to help poor society on the whole become more healthy.
Anyway I apologize for the semi off topic rant but just had to put my 2 cents in for the USA. No response is neccessary as I know many of you have different opinions. I just hate to see my country bashed that's all.
Yes, what you were saying was true that most people have health insurance. But it also means that 47,000,000 Americans do not. And you said it; most of them are the poor and the children of the poor. Implying that all poor people are illegal immigrants (and therefore do not deserve health care) or that even "WE" shouldn't bear the burden for our country's poor just doesn't sit right with me. Just because some little kid was born in another country, we should let him die from... whatever? What happened to compassion in this country?
Why do you think our country is so unpopular now?
Right now, in the USA half of all the bankruptcy cases are caused by illness and medical bills. that's right, people are poor because they couldn't pay their health care costs.
And while it is true that anyone can walk into most hospitals in the USA and get instant care, that's only good for a few days. People with chronic conditions like Hip, either have to come up with a bunch of dough to afford the prescriptions they need, or they go home and wait until they are sick enough again to go back to the emergency room.
Our health care system stinks here. We pay more (or those of us who are more fortunate, our employers pay more) for health insurance than any other country in the world. It's clearly broken when senior citizens pay huge portions of their income on medicine and medical insurance.
Too many people in our rich country have to choose between paying for prescriptions or for anything else.
Don't get me started on immigration, it doesn't belong here. But suffice to say, immigrants legal and illegal pay taxes. They pay taxes on the cars they buy, the houses they buy, and all the products they buy. Those that are lucky enough to get jobs "OVER" the table are paying plenty of taxes too.
The people who aren't paying taxes are the super rich. Those are the sliders in this country, not the poor.
Here are statistics for anyone who is interested.
http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml
Like I said, I work in health care and see this stuff every day. It can burn you out, and make you want to change careers.
when i was going to school full time in sunny arizona and wasn't working, my appendix ruptured. i went to the ER and they saw me as soon as they could, but it was misdiagnosed as the flu and i went home. i put off going back to the ER for another 5 days because i didn't have medical insurance and i was already terrified of the bill i was going to get from the first ER visit. eventually i had no choice and went back. they finally figured out what was wrong with me and i had emergency surgery and spent good time in ICU.
i still remember a gentalman coming in and talking to me. he got me all set up with ACCESS which is AZ's medical program for the less fortunate. they even set it up so that they paid for my first visit to the ER. they were wonderful.
i was able to stay on it for about 2 years until i started making just to much to stay on it, but not enough to have it through my employer or pay for it on my own, but bless the people at DES for trying their hardest to keep me on it.
if it wasn't for DES i would still be in medical debt. so all of you that pay your taxes and do believe, THANK YOU!
Quote:
Originally Posted by bcipam
I agree in part. However, I did want to address one issue. [I think - please excuse if I'm not right] Hip was concerned about incurring medical debt that she knew she would not be able to pay, thus forcing her into bankruptcy (and all attendant problems). Further, this was/is something that needs *ongoing* care. Sure, she could have gone to an ER. But she would not have received the appropriate follow up care, which is critical for something like that. She couldn't see a private doc because she didn't have insurance and couldn't pay up front. So yeah....she could get care....but not really the care she needs. So, address your point number 2 above, and I think she would have been set.
CA
Here's the line girls:
____________________________________________
Let's not cross over to Politics.....:rolleyes:
mimitabby "Right now, in the USA half of all the bankruptcy cases are caused by illness and medical bills. that's right, people are poor because they couldn't pay their health care costs."
keeping it above snaps line .... and here I thought the bancruptcy is from 100k weddings .... and too many fine Italian steel bikes ;)
Something I think we all can agree on is yes, we do not do enough here on preventative care, nutrition.
I'm puzzled for example I can go to the same store in my neighborhood and find few "health food" options. Same store in _____ more choices, same place in _____ choices abound.
Begs the question do folks make bad nutrition choices or lack the info and availability?
What makes it hard is when people see fast food as "the friend of the poor". Hungry? Got a buck? You're in luck. ;) :cool:
I think we all agree on is that this is a wonderful country, we're lucky to live here where things can be discussed. And we're lucky to have an international board here. :)
It's a great country and Duck on wheels country too, she was born and raised here as I happen to know. :)
oooh, I've only got 2 minutes left on break....just enough time to get some chips :cool: :eek:
Richard is one ugly character! I am a healthcare worker and that is one nasty wound that has decided to live with you.You've had that for such a long time! I am distressed that no one seems to care..I hope you find someone at your next appointment and I hope that person wants to see you again and again and agian until that wound is eradicated..forever!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by CA_in_NC
I understand the debt thing - lord knows I just went through cancer surgery - and a severe back injury (plus collarbone surgery late last year of which I was still paying off bills when I found out about the cancer) have any idea what my bills are (even with insurance)? I called each vendor and all were willing to work out a payment plan with me. It may take about a year to get everything paid off but it will get paid.
I have my opinion about health care, and have been a victim of the system myself. It takes hard work to get things cared for. But with some effort - it gets done.
I am by no means a wealthy person - I live pay check to pay check like most people. I pay my share of taxes (probably more than a fair share since I'm divorced and renting and sit somewhere in the lower "middle class"). I do agree we need to come up with a well care (as oppose to ER) system. I believe we pay a sufficient amount of taxes unfortunately the money paid into the system is poorly managed (this is not a liberal or conservative issue - it's a government issue). If someone had the b*lls to clean up the system, there would be adequate money nationally to provide well-care health benefits.
Anyway Hip - I know its tough. Just keep pushing for help. I know its out there - you just have to sort through some tape here and there...
I sure hope we get an update today! Today is hip's appointment at the wound treatment place! I hope it is a good one!
HIP???????
How'd it go??????
I am going nuts here! I sure hope she is ok!
Me too! That is one mean looking wound. Reminds me how lucky I am to be in good health and have good health insurance.
since we haven't heard from her, hopefully this means she's getting good treatment!
I know exactly what you mean. My insurance isn't great but I am covered enough I wouldn't loose my house. I hope:oQuote:
Originally Posted by CA_in_NC
I was thinking the same thing. We just have to be patient and hope for the best. Does she have any family around there? I can't remember if she has mentioned any?Quote:
Originally Posted by chickwhorips
Her family is here in the Seattle area.
Honestly, whoever suggested going to Canada had a good idea. Even if you pay cash (non-resident price for healthcare or medicines) it's often cheaper than what you would pay out-of-pocket here. The drive from Seattle would get expensive for the long-term care an infected wound would require, though.
I grew up right on the US/Canada border, and we'd often go to Canada for things that were just too expensive here. Sometimes I feel more Canadian than US. (and I'm told I sound Canadian, too.)
LOL... all of you who are like, check in! check in! are so cute. :-) It's only just now 6, and I stayed at work until 5 like a normal person today.
Anyhow, the nice people at the wound clinic did the following things:
1. They took a new wound culture and will have the results when I go back early next week. They don't think there's serious infection left, but the damage was done by a MRSA infection so they want to be sure which antibiotics will be effective. They feel that this is primarily stasis ulcer caused by swelling and then excaberated by the MRSA infection, so they're going to treat with compression therapy.
2. They listened with a little microphone tool to the circulation in my leg and foot below the wound to check for problems. That was fine, which was kind of up in the air - the wound had its genesis in a car accident so there very well could have been blood flow problems.
3. They dressed the wound. And they were for serious about it, too. It's a compression dressing to force the fluids out of the limb. They started with an ointment on the cracked, irritated skin around the mouth of the ulcer and then topped the ulcer with a sponge covered with some sort of iodine paste (they told me the name but I forgot). They topped that with some sort of non-stick mesh, then wrapped me up in an absorbent cotton dressing from the ball of my foot to the knee. That was topped with an elastic wrap, and on top of that is a layer of self-adhesive stretch gauze. I go in for a dressing change on Tuesday afternoon, and then once a week thereafter.
4. They asked me to do my best to elevate my foot 10 inches or more above my heart for 1-3 hours a day, with more being better than less. And drink plenty of water, and walking is beneficial - it creates a kind of pumping action that helps move blood and fluids through.
And that, my friends, is all the treatment they think I'll need to clear up this miserable wound! No surgery, no grafts. It's a cost-effective solution, and we can all sleep better knowing that I'm not going to lose all or part of my leg. YAY!!!!!
I will keep you all informed if there's any changes, and plan on taking photos at each of my dressing change sessions. I know, a little morbid, but I want to watch Richard smother. Ha.
Finally! Great news, Hip. :) People who know what they are doing are actually doing something for you for a change.
Yeeeeessssss! That all sounds awesome! Very good. It all sounds really posative! Can't wait to see your progress! And thank you for keeping us updated and finally with some good news.
Hip, you've earned the right to watch the Earl of Ulcer "smother"! Go for it!
So glad you're getting treatment!
OOh! OOh! Pictures! :D :D :D Call me a ghoul, but I love case studies etc. :D :cool:
These are going on your lj?
Glad the solution looks like it's going to be cost-effective. I woulda put my money on it being MRSA related, but what do I know? ;)
Glad things are working out! *HUGS*! Take care, heal well. Lots of water, and then while you're upping your water intake, up the amt of water soluble vitamins you're taking (particularly c) to make sure they're not getting flushed outta ya.