One lesson I learnt the hard way
Dear Friends
hubby being a diabetic, heart patient, had hurt his big toe nail, as it got caught in a hole in a mat. He pulled his leg out. He didn't realise that he was bleeding, rather he bled for nearly 10 minutes, leaving a trail to trace him. Luckily, seeing the blood trail, like Shellock Holmes, one of our kitchen boys, went and asked him to see the nurse in our senior gated home. Then he informed me saying he has got badly injured. I was playing cards with my friends, just threw my cards down, excused myself, ran to the clinic, where the nurse was bandaging him.
Next day, seeing his wound over the bandage, daughter, being a Dr., told me to take him to our experienced physician, where he may need to pull his toe nail out. Yes, it was pulled out without any anesthesia, as hubby has no feelings on his leg, typical of a diabetic. After getting the wound dressed by the physician for a couple of days, then was doing the dressing. Later, when we went to the physician for something else, kept repeating that I'm not happy as just below where the nail should be had turned black. He said nothing to worry, should have taken a second opinion. Sadly didn't, as we both had some other health issues for which we had to be hospitalised, where he had a mild heart attack too.
Then I was hospitalised, as I was running high fever, which didn't respond to antibiotics for 4 days. Then in the hospital I was given antibiotic through IV, came home, me fever didn't abate. Was running fever even after some other antibiotics prescribed by the physician who comes to our senior home and steroids as last attempt. Nothing helped, got fed up, stopped all meds, as I had tested mildly positive for dengue, for which I took home remedy, as the physician said not to worry as my platelets wasn't too low. I didn't want the platelets to drop down, so took papaya leaf juice, after washing the leaf well, chopped it, put it in the blender with water, strained and drank it. I can assure you that it is no where sweet, absolutely bitter. I felt better than any meds.
Then this month beginning, saw hubby's foot where the nail had come out, had turned pink. The same physician said skin infection. Asked him to have some blood tests, prescribed 2 antibiotics for 5 days. Still no relief, it had spread to his leg, the same leg, from where the vein was taken for his double bypass surgery. Went to hospital thinking could catch vascular surgeon on time, but he left for a surgery ! That was on Saturday afternoon. Then on Monday morning went to see the surgeon, who said he needs to be admitted for 3 days at least, as being a diabetic and heart patient, he has to be monitored while they're giving strong antibiotic. Got him admitted, then came home to take clothes, meds for 5 days for both of us. Sadly, it was extended again by a couple of days, as his pus cells were still high.
The surgeon wanted his MRI of that leg taken to see how far the infection has spread. As his foot keeps shaking, after the 3rd attempt also failed, he was sedated for taking MRI. Sadly, his heart being weak, his pulse went haywire, he was given oxygen and sent to the room once his condition stabilised.
In the room itself, the surgeon was bursting the pus pockets that he could see daily during his visit in the morning. He had poked him in five places to drain out the pus. Still his pus cells count in blood was very high. So, he was taken to the OT for right leg debridement. He was cut from just below the big toe joint to roughly 5" below, it is deep cut. 2 days after the procedure, he was sent home with vacuum bandage. I was wondering how it was to be done. The guy put some sterile sponge in the cut, stuffed well. Then cut sterile plastic sheets and put it tightly around the foot. Then the usual way of putting sterile bandage and bandaging with gauze. He put like the pad that sticks to take ECG on the wound, connected to a tube, which is connected to the machine, which draws out the blood and other fluids that get collected in the wound, so that it speeds up healing. Keeping my fingers crossed, as on Wednesday the bandage will be removed.
After 12 days of hospital stay came home during the week-end. Have to help hubby for a bath, as the foot shouldn't get wet. Then keep charging the machine on and off. This is the reason, why I couldn't post anything for the last fortnight. Hope you're all keeping good health. Take care.
It is a lesson hubby has learned the hard way, that he has to keep walking, than just giving lame excuses to be on the bed always. Please those who are diabetic are not, everyone needs to be on the move, then only the blood circulation will improve. If that happens, then all the cells are well nourished, which can prevent necrosis of the foot. As most diabetics lose their foot due to gangrene. Please take care. It is never to late to start walking. Age should never be a criteria to do anything. If the mind wants, everything can be achieved. Take care, be healthy and happy,