Honey, it's only a sore toe
 

So, June 27 our 49th anniversary. I in a hurry to get a few chores done...dragging hoses, watering flowers, setting up our usual 4 sprinklers, etc. I knew better, but in a hurry, so just slipped on a pair of tennies sans socks, despite medical advice that we diabetics really need to care for our feet.

So, wore a small patch of hide from my left big toe. almost a perfect circle on the ball, near the top..only 1/3" or so in dia. Pulled the loose hide off, patch underneath raw & bleeding. Cindy, in a panic, got on the horn to our podiatrist's office...there his girl informed us we couldn't possibly see him until near the end of July. So, being a male who should know better, I decided to treat with Neosporin & band aids. Hey, such a small wound, it'll be fine. Well, things seemed okay, so time went by, but never did completely heal. Finally, 3 days ago, at Cindy's insistence, a visit to our P.A. She was kind, telling us that I did well by paying immediate attention, didn't think it was infected, but to be safe, prescribed an oral antibiotic & sent me to the local hospital for X rays.

Later, a phone call: Check into the Albany Hospital e-room, where she had me set up with people there for more tests. Seems the Xrays looked like an infected big toe bone.

Tobra might weigh in, explaining how this is serious caca for diabetics..

Anyway.. I'll try to keep this short. Just back from 2 days in the Hospital. Two days of being prodded, poked, tested, IV bagged. ,vitals checked every hour on the hour all night long as the IV's dripped in. Four MD opinions, or predictions prior to the testing...most thinking I was about to lose a toe. But they wanted to be sure, so the tests. More blood draws and blood sugar tests than I can count. This was day one. Day two, started at 6:00 A.M I pushing the buzzer in panic, still hooked to tubes in both arms, I had to go..now! Severe and sudden case of the trots. I was lucky. Nothing hit the floor, just a ruined pair of shorts & hospital issued PJ bottoms. A very understanding RN explained that yes, aggressive antibiotics like that were the cause. She brought me a few boxes of wipes as I cleaned up. 'Nuff on that topic...other than it sure didn't take long for them to get me naked.

Next, an ultrasound given by a young blond technician scanning every vein and artery in both of my legs, seeing whether or not I had enough circulation blocking plaque to keep the antibiotics from doing their needed work on my toe. If I wasn't so scared, this could have been a turn on, because she scanned all of both legs, well ALL...from my scrotum to the tip of my toes. Then, off to the MRI....luckily just my legs in that nosy SOB...Claustrophobic I am...they'd have to knock me out to run my whole body through that. Somewhere along the line I was also given an EKG. They did cover all the bases.

By this time, Cindy had arrived...I'm still on yet another antibiotic IV..no idea how many I really had. During this time the MD's were consulting..couple of hospitalists, one surgeon, one podiatrist. A fear factor triggered when the wound specialist surgeon entered the room...she explaining what I'd done, why diabetics need to be really careful about any foot injury, and why it's important to get help right away. From her bearing & speech patterns, I'd bet a dollar to a donut she's military. Then, the good news...that ultrasound and the MRI led them to the conclusion that the earlier Xrays were wrong..that I did NOT have an infection spread to my toe's bone, so now to go home and go through a 6 week program of oral antibiotics, and damnit, be careful!

Moral..listen to your wives guys...This lucky old guy is going to sleep well tonight.

Wow ....

Best to you Paul .... be well!

Get well soon, Paul.
And thanks for not posting pics. :)

Wow, what an awful experience. Glad it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Hospital stays are no fun, sorry you had to go through it.

Glad that it turned as best it could given the circumstances. Feel better Sir. :)

Take care and keep listening to your better half. A fellow I used to work for ended up in a chair without a leg to stand on because he lost 'em both to complications with his diabetes.
Don't go down that path.

Best
Les

Glad you're back on the mend, Paul.

Did a lot of similar work with folks as a PT Aide (who knew that PT did wound care stuff?!) when I worked at an acute care hospital in the early 90s.

Good luck!

Get some probiotics for the loose stools

Sort of stuff dumbasses that don't listen to their wives die from all the time

Thank you for not posting pics. SmileWavy

Glad you're going to be ok. Had a good friend, also a diabetic, that banged up his foot and ankle pretty bad on a sailboat, he refused to go the ER when we returned to shore. So, his wife tried, and he nixed it saying alcohol and aspirin would take care of it. Did not end well, his infection was literally out of control within 10days or so and he died about a week later. Sad. It's terrible how such a minor thing can become fatal.

Thanks...and of course, you're right. I was definitely a dumbass. More than once I answered the what's your problem question by saying I was stupid before telling the tale about the toe wound. Yes, I really did luck out! Probotics on the list. Explained to me that I need to replace the good guy bacteria that the antibiotic kills.

Congrats on keeping all of your OEM parts!

Heal up!

I hope you're back to normal soon.

Can I just say, how much I love reading about you and Cindy. You, taking care of one another is a wonderful thing.

Funny...we had a brief exchange about that last night...together, we work well...not so much so when apart. Hard to describe...I guess after 49 years together, we kind of like having the other one around.

Another thing...lots of sexy fantasies on a "beautiful women" thread here. Far as I'm concerned all those ladies in scrubs, the RN's who helped me, are the beautiful women.
Physical appearance had nothing to do with it. The one who helped me the most has tattoo arm sleeves, and a nose ring. I hugged her just before I left, thanking her...she then thanked me for being a nice and non judgmental patient.

Damn Paul, that sounds like quite the ordeal. Glad it sounds like it's all going to work out.

This to me is VERY troubling......given the circumstances.

Glad it wasn't worse, Paul! SmileWavy

Be well friend.

Wow. Terrifying. Heal up!

Yeah, missed that first time around, WTF. It sounds like I need to take a little trip on I-5 and put a beating on someone

Not out of the woods yet Paul, just antibiotics does not always get it done.

PT wound specialist is indeed a thing. Seen them pull a rabbit out of a hat for patients more than once

Actually, I'm not sure he was in the office when Cindy called. I don't have great hearing, let Cindy do much of the phone work. Young female MD office workers are difficult for me to understand. (edit: Not that I have any reason to speak with them otherwise. ;))All too often I fail to understand the through the nose enunciation, fast cadence and upspeak of today's young women. So, could very well be my fault. When Cindy told me no appointment until late July, I got into "screw it, I'll take care of it myself" mode.

What I should have done was go to the local hospital ER, paid the $100 co-pay, and at least have gotten somebody to look at it. My own stubbornness cost me...and surely almost cost me more!

The day I left the Albany hospital, had a visit from a PT guy there...he had me walk the hall, observed how I deal with my floppy left foot, made some suggestions, advised I look for a good PT near my home. I really like the lady who helped Cindy after her latest MS bad episode...plan on seeing if my PA can set me up with her.

I also have a follow up appointment with this podiatrist, so will learn more then.

I'm glad that all turned out OK.

Piling on with another PSA: I have a friend that almost died a couple years ago from a sore toe (his "ring toe" on his right foot). He said it was sore for a couple of days, he came down with a significant fever, became semi-unresponsive, and his wife took him to the hospital. It took a couple days but the docs finally figured out that the bone in his toe had become infected and necrotic. They removed the toe bone (left the floppy toe) and he was laid up with a wound vac for a couple of months. He did not remember injuring the foot and there was no external sign indicating injury.

Be careful with your feet!

I wear slippers constantly -live in those LL Bean mocs. Almost never go barefoot. And stuff like this reinforces that decision…

Wear light colored socks. You never see blood on black socks, notice right away on white/light colored ones

Buy shoes in the afternoon, feet swell. Buy leather shoes, leather stretches.

Buy one of those magnifying mirrors women use to put on makeup, look at your feet every single time you take off your shoes

Treat your feet like you would an infant child. Not a clever infant either,one that would stick its hand in a fire

All great advice...You'd approve of my drawer full of white crew socks. I buy 'em all the same brand and style. Probably about 15 pair. The oral antibiotic prescribed for me is called doxycycline mono 100 Mg. Twice a day. Dunno what was in the 3 different IV antibiotics they gave me, but they were "aggressive" according to my RN daughter who had access to the info. Must be working, the wound seems to be healing nicely now.

Tobra, I promise...no more outside excursions without white socks.