Ummm. Is he a diabetic (not mentioned)? Obviously if so I would think it would make the whole situation a bit more serious and nerve racking.
I’m sorry to hear about your husband. I don’t have any specific experience, but wanted to share some words of encouragement. I know that you must be feeling quite afraid now, but you need to be strong. Having an infection like this is very serious for us diabetics, but it does not mean that all hope is lost. And you need to have the right attitude about this and convey that to your husband. His attitude towards this will have a lot to do with how this plays out. He needs to stay positive and keep his diabetes well controlled, that will make a big difference on how well he fights the infection and recovers.
Oh yes Gary… he’s diabetic. Type 1… just got on pump in June… was out of control before that…
So, yes… very nerve racking. sigh.
Thank you bsc. That is one of my biggest concerns — his attitude is like he’s already given up. I said he should try to be positive and he said, “for what?!” I said, “Me and the kids.” He said, “he can’t do anything with any of us so he’s just an observer in our lives.” So… this is very frustrating. I’m strong. And positive. But you can’t will someone to be positive.
I just feel so helpless.
I went thru what your husband is going thru. Mine started as dry, cracked skin. I had to move & change doctors and that is when the trouble started. I was having a weird drainage and pain and the doctor insisted it was fine. I got really sick and went to the ER – I thought it was my stomach because I was sick in the stomach. I had a fever of 103 and didn’t know I was burning up. Didn’t even tell the ER doctor about the ulcer on my foot! I was admitted and found out I had osteomyelitis. I was sent home on IV antibiotics. I managed to pick up MRSA while in the hospital.
After I got out of the hospital, I switched to a local wound center. That is when I found out I had the MRSA and was switched to vancomycin. That was in Sep. In Jan, I had a culture & an MRI and the doctor said the infection was gone. He stopped antibiotics & put a wound vac on my foot which should not be used when you have an infection in the bone. Things kept getting worse so I decided to see a doctor in Pittsburgh several hours from me.
The day I decided to do that, my sister (who is a nurse) called the wound center & talked to my nurse. She found out that the last MRI that I had said I still had the infection – I thought maybe the nurse was looking at the wrong one since I had several but she wasn’t. That night I ended up in the hospital again. I ended up having to check myself out to go to Pittsburgh.
After I went to Pittsburgh, I was told to come back in a week and plan on being admitted. I ended up having 3 surgeries on my foot – the first to remove all the infected bone which had turned to mush from the wound vac. The 2nd to remove the antibiotic beads that had put in. The third for a bone graft once they were sure the infection was gone. I also did hyperbaric oxygen treatments. I literally took two years from start to finish but I have my leg today. My one leg is very swollen from the lymphedema.
I would recommend that you find someone that specializes in wounds. Get copies of all test results so you know exactly what the report says. I was put on wrong antibiotics – the culture will say what antibiotic is best for what infection your husband has. Don’t let them cut his leg off without getting a second opinion at a different hospital. Before I went to Pittsburgh, the doctor I had been seeing said I wasn’t allowed to go to Pittsburgh and actually called someone in for my 2nd opinion – needless to say, if I had not gone, I would not have my leg today. When I went to Pittsburgh, the two doctors that I saw both said, “we have to be aggressive.” If his doctor is not being aggressive, find someone that will be.
Here is what my foot looked like before it was even at its worst (don’t look if you just ate!):
Pray you sleep well tonight, reneesboys …hugs from across the line !