The man's side of it!

Friday evening, after I got home from work I sat down on the couch to relax just after dinner. I had some pain in my feet which I associated with walking around a job-site on Thursday. I had taken some Ibuprofen for the pain and just figured I needed to put my feet up and relax. There was some pain in my leg just above my ankle and I saw that the socks were cutting into my leg. I took my sock off and was shocked at what I saw! My big toe was swollen to almost twice it's size there was a red line running up my foot and the toe was a dark ugly purple. The nail on the big toe was hanging on by a small piece of skin. My other toes and the whole front of my foot was an ugly red color as well. I also noticed that there was a smell and I immediately thought, "Holy Crap it's gangrene!" I showed Cassie and we agreed I needed to get to the emergency room ASAP.

I knew that I would be requiring some antibiotics but I was unprepared for what the doctor at the ER actually recommended. (No not amputation!) He said I would have to be admitted and spend two days with an IV antibiotic. Holy Cow! I knew it was bad but not that bad. (I have a fear of hospitals after my first wife died during a supposedly routine procedure and as a result of someones incompetence.) So I get admitted and sent up to room 709 at the Virtua Memorial Hospital in MT Holly.

The doctors had me on an intravenous IV antibiotic every four hours they would even wake me if I was asleep. (not that that happened very often if at all) The man in the bed next to me had a problem with his pancreas, (it was inflamed) and the poor guy was in terrible pain. I hoped it wasn't contagious. They wouldn't let him eat or drink anything for four days! The first night there I didn't have my CPAP machine (for sleep apnea) and I couldn't sleep for more than a few minutes at a time. (I would wake up from feeling like I was suffocating and from the loud snoring) After the first night the swelling in my toe was about half and the dark purple and red color had been reduced to an angry red I knew I would be alright. (that is if I didn't catch something while I was in here) I had some great nurses and met a very nice new doctor from the physicians group I see.

It's now Wednesday and I still haven't posted this entry yet! After staring at the computer at work, I have a hard time getting into blogging at home. Maybe I should blog during my break, hmmm.......

My foot is doing much better. The antibiotics are doing the job well and I'm up and about.

So glad you are home and feeling better!!!!! :-) You've been in our thoughts and prayers.