Followup: tissue infection

[HipGnosis6]

Here's the back history for those who haven't been following:

In August I was hit by a car while riding my bike. The bike had about $100 of damage which has been repaired. I was taken to the ER and checked out; nothing major.

Maybe a month later a spot that was utterly unremarkable started swelling; it caused my foot to swell up so much I couldn't get my shoe on. The skin was peeling around the center of the area and then it kind of collapsed in on itself and turned into an open, weeping wound. I self-treated the best I could for a few days and then decided it was beyond my ability to take care of on my own. The catch was that my health insurance had come to an end a few days after the bike accident. I finally made an appointment at a local sliding scale clinic (where I did not qualify for discounted care because I have a temp gig that makes too much money - the two months where I was out of work and I'm still not caught up on the bills from don't matter). The doctor gave me an injection of a high dose antibiotic, took a wound culture, and sent me home with a prescription for a double dose of an oral antibiotic. The preliminary diagnosis: MRSA.

I went back after the end of the oral antibiotic run and they rounded up the lab results from the wound culture. It apparently didn't test as MRSA after all, and both of the antibiotics given should have been effective. The infection was mostly cleared out and the drainage had almost completely stopped, and so I was taken off of the antibiotics and told that this type of wound heals slowly and I should soak it twice a day etc etc. That would be virtually impossible for me, though, since I'm out of the house from 6 am until 10:30 pm or later five days a week. I did the best I could, taking fresh dressings with me so I could at least swab and clean the ulcer along the way.

It's been a little bit more than two weeks - and the infection is raging again. The hole in my skin is getting larger (though it's not like the horrific necrotizing fasciitis you hear about on TV - we're talking a few mm larger in each direction) and is draining off enough yellow fluid that I've gone from using gauze dressings to cutting a maxi-pad in half - and finding that to be pretty well soaked at the end of the day. And now it has become painful, which it hasn't been until now. I know I have to go back to the doctor, but each trip there is a financial hardship for me and the earliest appointment I can get isn't until the 13th.

But worst of all is the general malaise that's come along with this. I'm not sick enough to stay home from work or school; I don't have a fever. But I DO have a feeling of not-quite-nausea, and I'm achy and distracted. It's kind of like being borderline hung over, except that I haven't had a drink since the 4th of July. I'm not productive at work and my schoolwork is suffering. Add some pretty serious depression on top of it all. I can't tell where the physical symptoms end and the emotional/psychological ones begin. I'm really tired of feeling bad.

[Eden]

Not to be worrying you more, but have you ever been tested for high blood sugar? If it's not an MSRA, that can be a cause of slow healing wounds (especially of the feet) and cause other physical symptoms like fatigue too.

more symptoms of high blood sugar

[Grog]

Big hug your way, HG6.

(Isn't that guy with the free hugs in Seattle?)

I hope you can find a way to see a doctor again. It seems like pretty necessary to me. Being in Canada, I feel malaise and anger every time I read reports here about how the costs of basic, required medical treatment (not frivolous stuff!!) and how it is handled by your insurance companies prevents you from receiving proper care, down in the US, and puts you in a situation where things can get worse. I find this totally absurd.

Good vibes your way. I hope you find your way around this soon.

[HipGnosis6]

Not to be worrying you more, but have you ever been tested for high blood sugar? If it's not an MSRA, that can be a cause of slow healing wounds (especially of the feet) and cause other physical symptoms like fatigue too.

more symptoms of high blood sugar

I have indeed been checked for sugar levels. Everybody's always suprised when they're normal, since I have PCOS which frequently goes hand in hand with insulin resistance.

[Eden]

Good to hear that. Take care of your foot though and hopefully they'll keep you on the anitbioitics a little longer next time, since it seems like it almost worked before.

[Bikingmomof3]

(((((HipGnosis6))))) I understand about it being a financial hardship, but it sounds as though you need to be seen again.

[LBTC]

sending health and money vibes your way, HipG. I'm sickened also when I hear about how much it costs for basic medical attention, which you *need* right now.

I also, though, understand about the wondering where the physical problems end and the psychological stuff starts. I still have no answer on the possible gallbladder issue, and my next appointment, which will be with the GI specialist is Dec 12. I'm glad I don't have to pay out of pocket for all these tests and doc visits, but it sure is moving slowly. So, I too, am experiencing the fatigue that is not bad enough to miss work, but bad enough to not be able to do a whole much of anything other than work....

It sucks, but remember, as with all things, this too will pass.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Dogmama]

Hip

Report in! How are you?

[HipGnosis6]

Yes, ma'am, Dogmama!!

I'm OK. I've been calling daily trying to get an earlier appointment to see the doctor, but the chances of that aren't great. It's sickness season and it's the local free clinic. Bah. I'll be all right until then. I do think the ulcer is getting larger, though not radically so (we're talking a few mm), and it's become painful when up until recently it didn't really hurt unless you jammed your finger into it.

I have pictures but they're just too icky to put up.

I swear I am not diabetic - they did a sugar screen at one of my recent appointments and it came out dead normal. I worry about it, though, and wish I had the means and a life that wasn't too hectic for continuing with the treatment for PCOS. I just can't manage it, though; the medication is very demanding and adding that on top of my already nutty life doesn't work for me. I hope to be able to do so after I graduate from design school.

[grannieann]

I had a similar experience when I stabbed my leg just above the ankle with a fork when turning compost. I washed the wound immediately but about a month later a large red throbbing spot came up, it was cut open & drained, antibiotics taken & I had time off work to elevate the leg. I was seeing my Doctors surgery daily for wound dressing but it was not healing. I saw a programme on ABC TV about ulcers & Manuka Honey from New Zealand & its exceptional healing qualities. I bought some the next day from the health food shop & I swear that was the turning point-from that day on it was visibly getting better. I went to see my Doctor the next day & told her what I was doing-she was OK about it but somewhat sceptical. However I did not need to go back in regard to
the ulcer & I am a great believer in this honey. Ordinary honey is treated & would not work. Maybe it is not for you but when I read about your troubles I had to join & post this & hope all is well for you & that the ulcer has improved after seeking medical help. All info re manuka honey & the scientific research to back it up is available on the net.

[KnottedYet]

One of my coworkers had a hysterectomy and the site got badly infected. Her doc took out the stitches and had her pack the wound with honey (plain ol' off the shelf honey). The sugars concentrated in honey dehydrate and kill bacteria. She changed the wound packing every day, and said she could watch it healing from the bottom up.

We had a dermatologist in town who had folks pack excision sites with plain ol' table sugar for the same reason.

[mimitabby]

Hip, drag yourself down to the doctor and camp there until they let you in!
There are frequent cancellations at every dr office!
these things can KILL you!

please please please!

Mimi

[HipGnosis6]

My dr. appointment was on Monday. She said she thought it looked better - and then measured the ulcer and decided to prescribe another run of antibiotics. She gave dire warnings about what would happen if I didn't make the time to soak the wound daily, etc etc. I asked her how I should go about doing that in a bus station loo.

As Knotted mentioned and as I'd run across when researching what exactly was wrong with my leg, the evidence is both plentiful and reputable that honey really is good for wounds. Unpasteurized is better than pasteurized and certain plant sources seem to make it even more effective. The catch here is that the act of actually dressing a wound that's 3 inches across and two inches high and a 1/4 deep in the shallowest part with a honey dressing is more than one can really manage in the ladies' room at work. If it's not doing any better I might give it a run during winter break from school, though.

I'm a full time student and must also work full time to keep a roof over my head. I can't go to the Providence Wound Center; it would cost me tons of time and money I don't have. I don't have health insurance and because I'm temping my income for the last 90 days is too high to qualify for any sort of aid or discounted care. This sucks.

[Bikingmomof3]

I understand you have a hectic schedule, but if you do not find time to care for you, who will? Your health is vital. Please find a way to fit in the soakings as prescribed by the doctor. I am sorry you are going through this. I do understanbd the financial side, I have been there. It does not seem fair, I know. Please, for the sake of your health, take a few moments in your day to soak the area. Things could turn badly as your doctor told you, then you would not be working or going to school.

[Dianyla]

I'm a full time student and must also work full time to keep a roof over my head. I can't go to the Providence Wound Center; it would cost me tons of time and money I don't have. I don't have health insurance and because I'm temping my income for the last 90 days is too high to qualify for any sort of aid or discounted care. This sucks.

From my personal experience, I can assure you that Providence is very good about charity health care. If you can prove that you have limited (or zero, in fact!) ability to pay, they will work something out with you. This link explains more.

Keep on it, whatever you do.