Don't Take Health Issues Lightly (And I Need Some Vibes)
Posted: July 17th, 2013, 4:15 pm
I won't go into the gory details, but I just wanted to encourage people not to take what might seem to be minor health issues lightly. I did and am seriously paying the price right now.
I won't go into the gory details because I am sure there are at least a few people here who have weak stomachs. Suffice it to say that for about two years I had a small patch of rough skin on the top left side of my left foot. Being a typical guy, I completely ignored it. When that patch of rough skin spread to the outside ankle on that foot I finally decided that I should probably mention it to my doctor (but still didn't do so for a few months). He sent me to a dermatologist who said that it was a very minor case of psoriasis and that it was extremely common. He injected some medication into it and told me to come back a month later for another round of injections. After that second round the patch of rough skin on the ankle erupted into an ulcer. But yet again, and most likely because I am a guy, I didn’t bother going right back in to see the doctor and waited until my next appointment before telling him about it. He had no idea why it had happened, but prescribed a special type of dressing (made of an almost rubbery material) that is designed to completely isolate the wound and enhance healing. I was to change the dressings once a week and the first couple of changes went fine. After changing it last Wednesday though that changed and things started going to shit – the next day the ankle was sore and the day after that it was much worse (there had been absolutely no pain whatsoever before this). By the time Saturday rolled around I couldn’t put any weight on the foot as doing so felt like I was having hot knives plunged into the area around my ankle, my foot, and the lower part of my shin immediately above the ankle. First thing in the morning is the absolute worst as I cannot put any weight on the foot at all. Strangely, if I power through it and force myself to walk in spite of the pain, it eases up a bit and walking becomes easier – but it definitely isn’t pain free and it seizes up again as soon as I am off of it for even just a few minutes.
I called the doctor Monday and was in to see him yesterday (basically only because I had mentioned it to my parents who threatened to come over and drag me there if I didn't go myself) and he said that I have either a staph infection or a strep infection - he thinks strep is far more likely but we won't know for certain until the results come back from the lab in a day or two. Strep and staph infections are not to be taken lightly, especially as they can develop into something much much more serious.
So that is where I am at right now (minus the gory details) - I have a badly infected ulcer on my left foot and that infection has spread to other areas of the foot and is painful to the point that I can hardly walk. I have an antibiotic ointment that is to be applied twice per day and penicillin that I am to take four times per day. These pills are strong and are making me vomit (medication never does that to me) but it will be worth it if they stop this infection in its tracks. The doctor also called this morning and said that he has decided that I need to have a wound care nurse come to my place to attend to the wound and change the dressing for me rather than to continue doing it myself as I had been. My mother had one of those nurses come to my parent’s place after she developed a post-operative infection following stomach surgery and they did a great job with her so, hopefully, whoever comes to see me will be just as good. He is initially scheduling her to come in three times per week but if she determines that I need more frequent visits she will alter that schedule. Luckily, this is all covered under my provincial health care plan so neither the nurse nor any of the supplies she brings will cost me a dime.
So a simple patch of rough skin, that I completely ignored, has morphed into something much much more serious. As a result, I encourage all of you (implore might be a more appropriate term to use) to take your health seriously (especially the guys here as we men can be somewhat cavalier about our health) as even the simplest little things can have serious consequences. If you have any medical issues that you have been ignoring please get yourself to your doctor – chances are that they are nothing but, as I am learning the hard way, it is better to be safe than sorry.
I won't go into the gory details because I am sure there are at least a few people here who have weak stomachs. Suffice it to say that for about two years I had a small patch of rough skin on the top left side of my left foot. Being a typical guy, I completely ignored it. When that patch of rough skin spread to the outside ankle on that foot I finally decided that I should probably mention it to my doctor (but still didn't do so for a few months). He sent me to a dermatologist who said that it was a very minor case of psoriasis and that it was extremely common. He injected some medication into it and told me to come back a month later for another round of injections. After that second round the patch of rough skin on the ankle erupted into an ulcer. But yet again, and most likely because I am a guy, I didn’t bother going right back in to see the doctor and waited until my next appointment before telling him about it. He had no idea why it had happened, but prescribed a special type of dressing (made of an almost rubbery material) that is designed to completely isolate the wound and enhance healing. I was to change the dressings once a week and the first couple of changes went fine. After changing it last Wednesday though that changed and things started going to shit – the next day the ankle was sore and the day after that it was much worse (there had been absolutely no pain whatsoever before this). By the time Saturday rolled around I couldn’t put any weight on the foot as doing so felt like I was having hot knives plunged into the area around my ankle, my foot, and the lower part of my shin immediately above the ankle. First thing in the morning is the absolute worst as I cannot put any weight on the foot at all. Strangely, if I power through it and force myself to walk in spite of the pain, it eases up a bit and walking becomes easier – but it definitely isn’t pain free and it seizes up again as soon as I am off of it for even just a few minutes.
I called the doctor Monday and was in to see him yesterday (basically only because I had mentioned it to my parents who threatened to come over and drag me there if I didn't go myself) and he said that I have either a staph infection or a strep infection - he thinks strep is far more likely but we won't know for certain until the results come back from the lab in a day or two. Strep and staph infections are not to be taken lightly, especially as they can develop into something much much more serious.
So that is where I am at right now (minus the gory details) - I have a badly infected ulcer on my left foot and that infection has spread to other areas of the foot and is painful to the point that I can hardly walk. I have an antibiotic ointment that is to be applied twice per day and penicillin that I am to take four times per day. These pills are strong and are making me vomit (medication never does that to me) but it will be worth it if they stop this infection in its tracks. The doctor also called this morning and said that he has decided that I need to have a wound care nurse come to my place to attend to the wound and change the dressing for me rather than to continue doing it myself as I had been. My mother had one of those nurses come to my parent’s place after she developed a post-operative infection following stomach surgery and they did a great job with her so, hopefully, whoever comes to see me will be just as good. He is initially scheduling her to come in three times per week but if she determines that I need more frequent visits she will alter that schedule. Luckily, this is all covered under my provincial health care plan so neither the nurse nor any of the supplies she brings will cost me a dime.
So a simple patch of rough skin, that I completely ignored, has morphed into something much much more serious. As a result, I encourage all of you (implore might be a more appropriate term to use) to take your health seriously (especially the guys here as we men can be somewhat cavalier about our health) as even the simplest little things can have serious consequences. If you have any medical issues that you have been ignoring please get yourself to your doctor – chances are that they are nothing but, as I am learning the hard way, it is better to be safe than sorry.
