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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on April 10, 2006, at 18:50:11
Apparently those waterproof bandaids aren't a good idea, because I think it's infected.
So... Clean it good with peroxide? Some neosporin? And keep it uncovered as much as possible?
Posted by Dinah on April 10, 2006, at 18:53:38
In reply to oh heck. my first foot sore as a diabetic., posted by Dinah on April 10, 2006, at 18:50:11
I am such an idiot.
Posted by MidnightBlue on April 10, 2006, at 21:28:39
In reply to Re: oh heck. my first foot sore as a diabetic., posted by Dinah on April 10, 2006, at 18:53:38
You are not an idiot! You are just uninformed when it comes to the proper care of a diabetic foot sore!
So am I, so I'm afraid I'm not going to do you much good except offer you a bit of sympathy!
Hugs,MB
Posted by Dinah on April 10, 2006, at 23:07:35
In reply to Re: oh heck. my first foot sore as a diabetic. » Dinah, posted by MidnightBlue on April 10, 2006, at 21:28:39
my husband's taking over. it should be all better in nothing flat. he's not a diabetic, but he knows all there is to know about disinfecting. :)
thanks, midnight blue.
Posted by ClearSkies on April 11, 2006, at 6:45:34
In reply to Re: oh heck. my first foot sore as a diabetic. » MidnightBlue, posted by Dinah on April 10, 2006, at 23:07:35
Dinah, perhaps you could check with your internist for care instructions, since this is your first experience with a wound as a diabetic.
I googled the subject and I was alarmed to read of the extreme importance of wound care.
Take care,ClearSkies
Posted by Dinah on April 11, 2006, at 7:34:45
In reply to Re: oh heck. my first foot sore as a diabetic. » Dinah, posted by ClearSkies on April 11, 2006, at 6:45:34
I was planning to do that, having scared myself on the topic. But it looks much better this morning. Pretty much normal for a place that somehow got rubbed by my keds (which worries me a bit by itself. skin isn't supposed to rub off from keds and no unusual walking.)
I think it was the waterproof bandage.
Believe me, I'm going to be really careful, and start doing regular foot checks. My mother's lost parts of both feet from sores, and was in the hospital for months at a time getting intravenous antibiotics. It's not a fun thing. :(
Thanks, Clearskies.
Posted by shasling on May 26, 2006, at 7:18:56
In reply to oh heck. my first foot sore as a diabetic., posted by Dinah on April 10, 2006, at 18:50:11
> Apparently those waterproof bandaids aren't a good idea, because I think it's infected.
>
> So... Clean it good with peroxide? Some neosporin? And keep it uncovered as much as possible?
>
>Dinah, I don't want to sound alarmist, but have to share this with you. My brother started with a small sore on his toe and did not go to the Dr. Took care of it himself with peroxide, etc. The sore didn't heal, got a little bigger/deeper, and when he did go to the Dr there was too much dead tissue to heal. After 3 years of hell, unimaginable pain & extended hospital stays, and after 6 different amputations, his entire leg is gone now up to the hip. Dying tissue is apparently unbelievably painful and he'd get where he was begging them to cut more off because he couldn't take the pain anymore. ...And this was after already losing his other leg to the hip - both legs gone now due to minor foot wounds that escalated. He never learns... If it has not healed, please find a wound specialist - not the regular dr.
What I did learn during this time is that diabetic wound care is VERY technical. At least google diabetic wound care or gangrenous wound care and know what you are dealing with. Briefly - it should NOT be uncovered or dry - it must remain moist and absolutely sanitary in order to heal. If self-tending you should have sanitary gauze, new neosporin and some sanitary wound cleaner. Lots of hand washing when dealing with it - stuff like that. It should never get wet or in water - too many critters in there.
If your diabetes is of any magnitude, please take even small wounds very seriously. Never mind the loss of the legs, my brother really truly suffered during the whole episode.
Take care and good luck.
Suzie
Posted by MrBratt on May 26, 2006, at 10:59:22
In reply to Re: oh heck. my first foot sore as a diabetic. » Dinah, posted by shasling on May 26, 2006, at 7:18:56
You guys will have to excuse me, but I am new here, However after reading the last post I felt I needed to add my two cents. I have been diabetic now for about 5 years. In the last 2 or 3 years I have had problems with sores. I have not gotten any on my foot yet. I say foot cause I lost my leg in a really bad car accident in 1993. However the sores I get I am assuming are from sitting in a wheel chair most of the time. The first sore I got was in between my stump and my crotch ( hopefully that is a nice way of saying it ) When it started to get big and painfull I went and saw my Doctor at the time. When I showed him the sore, he told me not to worry about it and that it would pop on it's own, with that being said I went on a trip and was back home after a week. on the way back the sore had gotten to the size of a softball before it finally "popped" on it's own. I ended up in the emergency room and found out that I was lucky because it could have popped inside and sent the poison through my body and could have killed me. That sore stuck me in the hospital for 2 weeks with me being on IV antibiotics and very painfull dressing changes. After I left the hospital I spent 3 weeks after that having nurses come to the house and do more painfull dressing changes. If I learned anything from this is that don't hesitate to see a good Doctor about the sores, I now have a infectious disease Doctor that looks after these sores that I get. Depending on how deep the sore is it has to be packed so that it will heal from the inside out, if it does not heal like this it can form a pocket and lead to another infection and start all over again. My problem is that no one can figure out why I get these sores. Hopefully this helps out atleast a little bit, Also be carefull, being diabetic it is easy to get an infection, once an infection sets in it will raise your blood sugars which in turn will make the infection worse making your sugars go even higher, talk about a viscios circle
Posted by gardenergirl on May 26, 2006, at 11:46:57
In reply to Re: oh heck. my first foot sore as a diabetic. » shasling, posted by MrBratt on May 26, 2006, at 10:59:22
> My problem is that no one can figure out why I get these sores.
You may already know this, but...
I would think the likely culprits would be pressure, friction, and moisture. You might want to consult with a wheelchair fitting specialist who can assess the distribution of your body's pressure across the cushion of your chair and recommend adjustments or a new cushion, etc.
It might also be related to friction from scooting forward and back as you get in and out of the chair. And any area that gets damp or moist and stays that way for even a short period of time can lead to skin breakdown.
I'm sorry you had that experience with the sore. It sounds awful.
gg
Posted by shasling on May 26, 2006, at 17:10:25
In reply to Re: oh heck. my first foot sore as a diabetic. » shasling, posted by MrBratt on May 26, 2006, at 10:59:22
> You guys will have to excuse me, but I am new here, However after reading the last post I felt I needed to add my two cents. I have been diabetic now for about 5 years. In the last 2 or 3 years I have had problems with sores. I have not gotten any on my foot yet. I say foot cause I lost my leg in a really bad car accident in 1993. However the sores I get I am assuming are from sitting in a wheel chair most of the time. The first sore I got was in between my stump and my crotch ( hopefully that is a nice way of saying it ) When it started to get big and painfull I went and saw my Doctor at the time. When I showed him the sore, he told me not to worry about it and that it would pop on it's own, with that being said I went on a trip and was back home after a week. on the way back the sore had gotten to the size of a softball before it finally "popped" on it's own. I ended up in the emergency room and found out that I was lucky because it could have popped inside and sent the poison through my body and could have killed me. That sore stuck me in the hospital for 2 weeks with me being on IV antibiotics and very painfull dressing changes. After I left the hospital I spent 3 weeks after that having nurses come to the house and do more painfull dressing changes. If I learned anything from this is that don't hesitate to see a good Doctor about the sores, I now have a infectious disease Doctor that looks after these sores that I get. Depending on how deep the sore is it has to be packed so that it will heal from the inside out, if it does not heal like this it can form a pocket and lead to another infection and start all over again. My problem is that no one can figure out why I get these sores. Hopefully this helps out atleast a little bit, Also be carefull, being diabetic it is easy to get an infection, once an infection sets in it will raise your blood sugars which in turn will make the infection worse making your sugars go even higher, talk about a viscios circle
****Exactly - my brother is with an infectious disease doctor now; she takes better care then even the wound center did.
The worst part about this whole thing is that once a wound really takes hold, even the very best - sparing no expense, the very best medical care you can get - cannot necessarily save the foot/leg/whatever. There's a point where its Just Too Late and the wound will win; and many many doctors don't even know how frighteningly early that point can be...
Mr. Bratt, I'm sorry for your suffering; I know it had to be horrible, all the moreso because it was largely unnecessary. I am glad you have found a good doctor to care for you. You have many similar isssues to my brother, and I know it is hard on him, the scrubbing, the digging, the packing, the bandaging; endless daily efforts to ward off another wound... You have my compassion.
Posted by MrBratt on May 27, 2006, at 9:53:58
In reply to Re: oh heck. my first foot sore as a diabetic. » MrBratt, posted by shasling on May 26, 2006, at 17:10:25
thanks for the support, I just wanted to add my two cents to help show the importance of watching for these things, especially with being diabetic
Mr Bratt
Posted by Dinah on May 27, 2006, at 10:32:11
In reply to Re: oh heck. my first foot sore as a diabetic. » shasling, posted by MrBratt on May 27, 2006, at 9:53:58
Mr. Bratt, I I'm so sorry for what you're going through. My mother's been in the hospital more times than I can recall with central lines giving antibiotics, and she's still got half of her foot amputated. I know what a source of pain and frustration it is for that very active woman.
I think that's why I'm a bit paranoid about the entire thing.
Both sores are healed, and I've changed my footwear choices. I still wear Keds or ballerina flats when I go out but as soon as I get in I change to slippers. I bought several extra pair so that there would always be one available.
The last rub healed a lot more rapidly, and I'll make sure to mention all of it to my doctor when I see her next, because it *just* seems to be my feet. Sores elsewhere have healed with their customary speed.
Thank you again.
Posted by MrBratt on May 28, 2006, at 9:10:55
In reply to Thank you Shasling and Mr Bratt, posted by Dinah on May 27, 2006, at 10:32:11
I am glad to hear that everything is going good, I hope I was some kind of help, I know when all of this started for me I did not think it was anything to worry about and I was embarrassed to talk to my doctor about it. I just wanted to give my two cents
Mr Bratt
This is the end of the thread.
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