Hi all,
As you know I had surgery 2 wks ago. I've been back to the docs a couple of times, the last being this friday. I've developed a horrible infection in my foot. It is sooo swollen, bleeding, ozing pus, and hurt like you know what. Doc said I had 2 options. In the hospital, or try several oral antibodics. I opted for the oral meds. He drew a line around the edge of the inflamation, and said that if it passes the mark, that I must be in the hospital. Just changed the bandages,Gross, and the red has gone beyond the marker in a small area. Not alot tho. I really don'twant to be put in the hospital. I'll wait till morning and ruin everyone's motherw day. You can tell I'm so depressed. My daughter is flying in tomorrow for 2 weeks. We have a funeral this thursday for my husbands dad. I'm just not able to help with anything, and the family has enough to worry about without me being in the hospital. I guess there is nothing I can do about it, but it still makes me sad. Just needed to vent. I'm sure things will be ok..
:mad:

Try not to feel guilty about not being able to help or being an inconvenience. You didn't choose to have all these problems. You certainly aren't exaggerating a small issue. And I'm sure that your family understands. So try not to worry about everything else and just do what you need to do to get better. Maybe it's good that your daughter will be there, because she will be able to help. Sure, you could have more fun if you were healthy, but you're not. So try not to linger on the stuff you can't change. Just hang in there!

Mary,
:( I am sorry things are going so poorly. The post op bone pain is bad enough, but at least the percocet knocked it down to bearable. I can't imagine the infection on top of it, or having to do it again and again! :eek:
As bad as it may seem to be in hospital on Mother's Day, I really hope you will go. Your oral antibiotics aren't going to cut it, you need stronger, IV meds to go after this, and the ability to have it kept open, clean, and dry.
I don't know if they will kill your pain altogether or not, but most hospitals are gaining a much better handle on pain control, and as long as you communicate your needs, you will more than likely be put on stronger meds, IV, and may have more control.
I will be praying for you and for your family. It sounds like you're all being tested, and I pray you will soon find a smooth spot. It sounds as if you have a loving family, and I'm sure they would rather spend it visiting with you in a clinical setting where you're closely monitored and being cared for than have to deal with the alternative... Take care of yourself, and do let us know how you're doing as soon as you're able. Kim :angel:

Mary, I am sooooo sorry that this is an extremely difficult time for you! It's good that you are coming here to vent your feelings.

At times when people die, we often neglect ourselves and our own needs. The best thing you could do for your husband and family is take care of your own health. Do not compromise it one bit, even if it means going into the hospital to get IV antibiotic treatment.

I understand why you feel guilty about not being able to help out like you would do if you were healing and infection free. Maybe there are other ways you can help that do not require getting up and moving around. You could help with making phone calls, writing thank you notes, organinzing pictures/memorabilia for the funeral home, getting addresses and contact information for people to notify etc.... The best thing you have to offer are your ears, not your feet. Listening and being there are most important. This can be done using the phone or being in person. I am praying that this infection gets under control.

Take care of you so that you can be there for him later!

Mary god helps those who help themselves. Call your doc..take care of this now..you can become septic or worse..an infection like that can quickly become very,very serious. you need to act on it!!

Mary:

I second all the good advice you are getting here. Since the infection spread (even it was just a little), it indicates that the oral meds are not working. You must get the infection under control. I think this is your first post since your most recent surgery. Did the infection start shortly after surgery?

One step at a time and the first step is IV antibiotics.

I ended up having my plantar incision operation last week. I can't imagine what it will be like to walk on the scar. My doc decided to use absorbable sutures.

Lostmary....How are you doing? Did you get that infection under control....I hope you are feeling a bit better....I have been thinking of you and all the trauma you have been through with your foot! Please let us know if anything has improved! Sophie :angel:

I'm back and slowly getting better. I kept on the meds, and kept says give it another 12 hrs to see if the meds work. It was touch and go, but by Monday morning I thought I saw a small reduction of swelling. Went to the dr. and he kinda agreed. wasn't 100% sure it was better, but at least it wasn't worse. He agreed to let me stay home and see what happened. Glad to say that the meds have been working. It looks ugly, purple, black, yellow from the pus,but it has started to shrink. Now when I put my foot down below my heart, it hurts, but only about half the size it did before. I'm changing the bandage every day, (just did it), and every day I see a small improvement. I went to the funeral yesterday, and did manage to open a stitch, but even today it seems to be ok. I will never go thru this again. If my foot isn't better, I will live with it. Doc said I will hopefully get the stitches out of the bottom of the foot next week, but in order to remove the ones on the top and between the toes which had gotten so infected, he would have to numb the foot up. That's ok with me. I asked him if he could put me to sleep and remove all of them.. I can't handle any more pain...He said no..(didn't think he could) :) I really appreciate your listening to me when I had to vent. It helped me calm down and think. I hope I'm on the road of recovery. I'll keep you posted.

WOW! I'm amazed you went through all of this at home on oral meds! (Sympathise with wanting to be knocked out! I don't have infection like you do, and don't want him even looking at my foot.) I will keep you in prayer, that you continue to improve, and your pain lessens. Keep us posted! Kim