October 3, 2005
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New Leg Problems
The skin on my legs just above my feet is very delicate. I can't use tape there because it would pull the skin off, leaving a hole that would develop into a sore.
During the summer I had no protection on my legs because I wanted to keep as cool as possible in the heat. I brushed against the lids of some cardboard boxes, scraping holes in my leg. Most of them just scabbed over and started to heal. One cluster of three became infected six days ago. They doubled in size overnight and merged into one big sore the following night.
Fortunately I already had an appointment set up with Dr. G. He took my temperature (98.8), took a culture sample, prescribed an antibiotic and sent me to my dermatologist, Dr. B. When I saw Dr. B the following morning, he took another culture sample, prescribed a different antibiotic and set up an appointment for me with the Wound Care Center in La Jolla.
There are wound care centers at Grossmont (part of La Mesa, near where I live), at Mercy and in La Jolla. The one at Grossmont is understaffed and is turning patients away ... or giving appointments four months in the future, which amounts to the same thing. I know nothing about the one at Mercy. The one in La Jolla has an excellent reputation and was able to give me an appointment in just ten days from last Friday, seven days from today.
Dr. G called me on the phone yesterday (Sunday) afternoon to tell me that the preliminary results of his culture were that I have a simple staph infection. He told me to stay on the medicine Dr. B prescribed until they learned more.
Today I had an appointment with Dr. J, my diabetes specialist. Delia drove me, so I wouldn't have the strain of driving my car and so she could meet the doctor. She and Dr. J got along very well, both being interested in my welfare, but Dr. J warned Delia that nagging me about my health was her special right and Delia wasn't to nag too.
I've been ordered to give up walking with my Mall-Walking group. When the sore heals, I'm to do exercise in a swimming pool, not by walking. For the next few weeks, until the sore heals, I'm to keep off of my feet with my feet either elevated or at the same level as my heart.
Dr. J very pointedly informed me that if she has to order my foot chopped off, I'll be in a wheelchair for eight months before they can even consider getting me a prosthesis, which we are unlikely to find. I weigh too much for an artificial leg to be very workable.
Delia lapped it up as if the thought of me being stuck in a wheelchair was sweet. On the way home she outlined ways she was going to control my diet (by doing all the grocery shopping and throwing out my "junk" foods).
I suppose I'm not supposed to be sitting here at my computer, either.
Comments (2)
I'm sure you know that sores on the lower legs are very serious for a diabetic. I hope yours heal quickly. Wound centers can do wonders sometimes.
I guess I should have read this before I sent you an email. Don't feel obligated to answer it. Rest and recuperate. I'm sure your doctor has told you this.