Followup: tissue infection

[spindizzy]

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!!

[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

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...

[Brandi]

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!

[Blueberry]

HIP???????

How'd it go??????

[Brandi]

I am going nuts here! I sure hope she is ok!

[Blueberry]

Me too! That is one mean looking wound. Reminds me how lucky I am to be in good health and have good health insurance.

[chickwhorips]

since we haven't heard from her, hopefully this means she's getting good treatment!

[Brandi]

Me too! That is one mean looking wound. Reminds me how lucky I am to be in good health and have good health insurance.

I know exactly what you mean. My insurance isn't great but I am covered enough I wouldn't loose my house. I hope

[Brandi]

since we haven't heard from her, hopefully this means she's getting good treatment!

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?

[KnottedYet]

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.)

[HipGnosis6]

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.

[colby]

Finally! Great news, Hip. People who know what they are doing are actually doing something for you for a change.

[Brandi]

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.

[KnottedYet]

Hip, you've earned the right to watch the Earl of Ulcer "smother"! Go for it!

So glad you're getting treatment!

[Kitsune06]

OOh! OOh! Pictures! Call me a ghoul, but I love case studies etc.
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.