WW(Dr.)WWD?

DG1

So this foot thing is going to be the end of me.  When I went on Friday, they took a small punch biopsy of the thing, since it is now officially a medical mystery. Before they did it, I specifically asked, "What's involved in aftercare? Will I be able to walk and run and stuff?"  Response: "wash with mild soap & water. Maybe no walking today, but you'll absolutely be able to do those things."

Yeah, guess who spent just about the whole damn weekend on the sofa since I can't really even stand on the damn foot?  When I do have to walk, I wrap that bitch up crazy tight and still hobble around on my heel.  I actually considered riding the rascal scooter in Target today.

I am hella pissed. I don't know if the doctor who told me that was dumb or just lied, but either way - bad news, lady. And I had the boys with me - it's not like they were under any assumption that I was free of weight-bearing responsibilities. Also, I think the nurse knew the doctor was wrong and/or lying and didn't say anything for fear of stepping out of bounds. I get it, but I also think it's hella wrong to put yourself above the patient's needs like that.

Anyway, I think it's the stitches more than the biopsy itself and am considering premature removal of the stitches. I mean, that has to be better than having them rip out on their own, right?

Compounding the issue is that I have to be presentable for clients today, tomorrow, and Wednesday, and my only shoe option at the moment seems to be my running shoes. (and yes, still wrapped and hobbling on the heel.)

I called the dermatologist more than 2 hours ago and have not yet received a call back.

WDYT?

*Candi*

Damn, that sucks. I have no advice about the stitches though. So you think it's healed enough to remove them so your foot doesn't bleed or whatever?

6fsn

Leave the stitches.  When you meet the clients apologize immediately for your choice of footwear and say you have an injury.

DG1

I don't think it will be too bad. It's only 2 stitches - not like this giant gaping wound or anything.

I also asked my college friend who is an ER doc. He hedged his answer and wouldn't outright tell me to go ahead and take them out but did say that it was bad for things to be pulling on the stitches the way this seems to be.

I mean, I have my "Attire: HOT" event in less than 2 weeks. I can't be all couch potato between now and then.

6fsn

Well hell, if you have a doctor friend why are you asking us?!?!?!?

*Barbie*

i wouldn't take the stitches out so soon  - they likely had a good reason for putting them in and you'll be in even more pain if your foot splits open or gets infected/doesn't heal properly.

do you have anyone that you can borrow another (larger) pair of shoes from?

can you just pad the stitched area further without wrapping your whole foot?

if swollen - could you ice it or take some ib proufin?

do you have any really good (not expired) painkillers?

6fsn

The knot is eating my posts.  I did reply to just wear your shoes and apologize immediately citing a foot injury. 

ElleB87

That sucks.  Doctors always seem to downplay the pain/recovery time involved in diagnostics (at least in my own experience anyways...). I don't really blame the nurse for not saying anything though, since she/he would have probably gotten crapped on by the doctor for stepping up.  I would probably say something the next time I saw the doctor about how much you've been put out because of this and if you had known it would have been this bad you could have made other arrangments to accomodate the effects of the biopsy.

MinM

Go to Urgent Care.

DG1

I called the doc. FIVE HOURS LATER, they returned my call. Naturally, I was in a client meeting and missed it. Thankfully, they took my return phone call in real time.

The nurse was all "It really doesn't usually hurt that much. It's usually only one stitch." Yeah, lady, I know. Except I do know this was 2 stitches, because I watched her do it. And that's still not a lot, and I think it hurts because of the location. If it were on my forearm or something, it wouldn't be getting all beaten up all the time.

Anyway, they are going to call me back "first thing in the morning!" which is still useless, because I will already be at the client site by then, and I'm working until after they close. Lather, rinse, repeat for Wednesday.

No urgent care tonight, because H has firefighter training. If it were unbearable, I'd call someone to watch the boys while I go. But I don't know that it's to that point yet, so I will wait and see what they say tomorrow. If necessary, I will go to urgent care tomorrow night while H has the boys.

ER doc friend said, "well if its pulling the stitches it would pull the wound so there is a good chance you might open the wound. I might try wrapping or taping to take some strain off it i guess there is a theoritic risk that could delay healing if you wrapped it really snug. I would be sure to unwrap it whenever you are off of it."

But I am already wrapping and taping, so yeah, dead end.

I will keep you posted.