Thread: Today is not going to be a good day

You will be fine

Stay strong Steve. I know you can do it. It's for the best. Just keep telling yourself that it's to save your leg and God knows what else. I'll be praying for you.

You made the right decision. It will be worth it in the end, and you will beat the infection and be playing tennis and mountain climbing again before you know it. Or if not, at least walking on your own two feet.

I had cellulitis once, really bad, and it is some of the worst pain I have ever experienced. I hate going to doctors but when I was nearly passing out from pain when I tried to stand, and my lower legs were grotesquely swollen, I looked myself up on Web MD and just happened to notice that I was probably only a couple of days from being dead, so I decided to bite the bullet and go get fixed up. That is some serious stuff and calls for serious remedial action. In my case, I was on my feet in three days but not every bug responds the same to the standard antibiotics. But it sounds like you are in good hands if you can just get that procedure.

Good luck and fingers crossed for your speedy recovery once they can get the right stuff in you. Don't take no chances. Losing a leg can have far reaching consequences beyond just not having it.

Originally Posted by STF

I probably shouldn't post this but i need to say it i guess.

For the last month i have had cellulitis and vienous ulcers on my leg.

I was given wide spectrum IV antibiotics and a nurse cam every day to do it.

The hospital had swabbed the sores and it turns out the the antibiotics weren't the right ones so down to the hospital to change them.

the IV had been in my arm for too long so they removed it to give my a fresh one but after 15 minutes and 9 tries they could get a vein, apparently they collapsed or rolled.

Eventually they said i needed a picc. A picc is where they push an IV tube into your arm through you veins and to your heart, I cannot think of anything more terrifying so i said something less savoury than no thank you and was given antibiotic pills and warned they aren't strong enough and if the infection progresses too far it could cost me my leg.

The pills didn't touch it, my doctor extended them even.

I'm now in a mess and he told me its time to get this fixed, my leg is getting close to being at risk, he said I'm getting a picc and he doesn't care if i like the idea or not, the alternative is a bone saw.

Im going to Hospital this morning, I'm having the picc to my heart so they can get me back on intravenous IV antibiotics.

I'm having it but I'm so scared, I'm sorry to go on but shit, I'm going to cry, i know it.
At least because it can stay in for up to 3 months i wont have to go through it again.

Wish me luck.

Steve good luck.
PICC is nothing to be afraid of. We use it like water on most of our patients. Some people will occasionally get a small clot around it and then it comes out but otherwise it's very safe.

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your well wishes and confidence boosts.

Worthwhile update:

I arrived for my PICC, they called me in and I was shaking so badly i could hardly sign the form.

They put on the table and i don't think I've ever been so frightened.

I played my music but it turns out that the nurse and doctor both like Chris De Burgh so I let it play loud, I put on an eye mask.

They were both excellent, so compassionate and sympathetic.

The needle to numb the area didn't hut much it was like a flu shot on the inside of the arm and after that i felt nothing at all.

Apparently there are no nerves in the veins.

The long and the short of it, nothing to worry about.

Originally Posted by STF

The long and the short of it, nothing to worry about.

Good on ya Steve, thats great news.

Well, now that you be a veteran lets see what we can think up of next for you.

Dont know what it was called, but a couple years ago Mic Jagger had that heart valve surgery. My dad had it at the same time. Same surgery. They went in through his groin some how as the vains are bigger. Up to the heart and cut the sew and good to go.

I was more worried than my dad was.

Get in line Steve. Lol.

Attaboy, Steve! You showed 'em!

Originally Posted by alex1921

Steve good luck.
PICC is nothing to be afraid of. We use it like water on most of our patients. Some people will occasionally get a small clot around it and then it comes out but otherwise it's very safe.

"Most " doctors are not idiots.

We have to trust them.