I JUST DONT NO WHAT TO DO NOW

[KEVIN BTN]

20 YEARS OLD 6'7" 280 LBS
TWO YEARS AGO(JUST GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL)I CUT THE BOTTOM OF MY BIG TOE.IT WAS BAD ENOUGH I NEEDED TO SEE A DOCTOR THEN. (THE CUT WAS THE SIZE OF A NICKEL) BUT DIDNT SO A MONTH PASSED BY AND IT JUST GOT WORSE SO I WENT TO THE WOUND CARE CENTER THEY TOOK SOME TESTS TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A INFECTED ULCER GAVE ME ANTIBIOTICS AND TOLD ME TO STAY OFF MY FEET.THEY ALSO FOUND OUT I HAVE NEUROPATHY, SO THEY TESTED ME FOR DIABETES. THEY CAME BACK NEGATIVE, BUT I STILL NEEDED TO GET CHECKED OFTEN.I ADMIT I DIDNT STAY OFF MY FEET. I DID GET SOME SPECIAL SHOES AND WORK BOOTS WITH INSERTS TO TAKE THE WEIGHT OFF. BUT I WAS STILL WORKING.I HAD TO SINCE THE INSURANCE WOULD NOT COVER SOME OF IT SINCE IM NOT DIABETIC. I HAD TO GO TO THE WOUND CARE CENTER ONCE A WEEK FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.I ALSO HAD CELLULITIS ON MY RIGHT LEG. IT WAS TREATED THOUGH.THE CUT WAS GETTING BETTER. BUT THEN MY DAD LOST HIS JOB AND ALL OF OUR INSURANCE. SO I HAVENT SEEN A DOCTOR FOR SIX MONTHS.BECAUSE I SIMPLY CANT AFFORD ANYMORE DOCTOR BILLS.
NOW MY TOE IS VERY RED AND SWOLLEN,HURTS BADLY.THE DRAINAGE STINKS AND IS LIGHT BROWN.I DRESS IT WITH JUST GAUZE AND TRIPLE ANTI. CREAM. HERE RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN SOAKING IT IN EPSON SALT. BUT ITS STILL NOT HEALING AND I NOTICED I WAS GETTING CELLULTIS BACK.AND MY WHOLE FOOT IS SWOLLEN. IT LOOKS BAD.IM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I JUST DONT HAVE ANY MONEY.I NEED TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE ITS TOO LATE THOUGH.IS THERE A WAY I CAN GET DISABILITY OR SOMETHING TO HELP ME UNTIL IT HEALS.IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT COULD HELP LET ME KNOW PLEASE.

[jdrf team dm]

Dear kevin btn,

I am so glad that you went to the hospital. While the cost seems extreme, it is worth your health. I hope medicaid comes through for you. If you are turned down, you might seek legal help if it is determined by a physician that you are disabled. Even if it is short term. Many legal teams will do this for a percentive of moneys that may be owed to you from Social Security. It can be a trying system, but it can work. I also hope that you have talked to the hospital resources to find out, if due to your financial issues, if they have a program that could reduce your bill.

Please remember that this is only my own personal opinion. I am not a physician and I do not have a law degree. I am strictly coming from my own experience.

I wish you well and please keep in touch.

dm

[KEVIN BTN]

I just wanted to thank everyone for the comments, they scared me enough to go to the hospital.  I went to the emergency room and they admitted me. The infection in my toe did go to the bone. So after six days in the hospital they sent me home. i have to do IV antibiotics for six weeks. hopefully it will work because if not they are going to have to take my toe.
i applied for medicaid while i was in the hospital but that is still pending. im crossing my fingers its approved because so far I owe about $20,000. i know i can make payments though.

[jdrf team dm]

Dear Kevin,

There are too many people who have no insurance who are dealing with medical problems with no health coverage, but I agree with the past comments. You can go to a hospital for treatment. They cannot turn you away. You can pay a very small amount each month. It is not worth losing a foot. It sounds not only very painful, but extremely dangerous to let this go one day further. My son, while he does have type 1 diabetes, is dealing with a major infection in his ankle. Either way you need to take care of it with medical attention immediatley.

Please,let us know how you are doing. You have many in here that are concerned with your outcome. You are in my thoughts.

Keep in Touch,
dm

[jdrf team dm]

Dear Kevin,

There are too many people who have no insurance who are dealing with medical problems with no health coverage, but I agree with the past comments. You can go to a hospital for treatment. They cannot turn you away. You can pay a very small amount each month. It is not worth losing a foot. It sounds not only very painful, but extremely dangerous to let this go one day further. My son, while he does have type 1 diabetes, is dealing with a major infection in his ankle. Either way you need to take care of it with medical attention immediatley.

Please,let us know how you are doing. You have many in here that are concerned with your outcome. You are in my thoughts.

Keep in Touch,
dm

[nurse12hr]

Kevin,
Go to your local hospital.  They cannot turn you away, and as mentioned before you can pay gradually.  Just send them something every month and they can't press your for the whole amount unless you miss a payment.  My sister had a similar situation with over a $6000 bill, and has faithfully paid about $50 a month for years.  They can however, sue you for the whole amount if you are even so much as one day late with your payment.

In any event--GO TO A HOSPITAL.  You will find yourself losing a foot if you do not act quickly.  This is an emergency.  GO.

[JDRF-Team-LRS]

Kevin,
None of us are physicians here, but what you describe sounds incredibly serious -- as you well know.

My best advice is for you to get to an urgent care facility as soon they open in the morning.  Wounds that do not heal can lead to devastating and more serious complications.

When they treat you, follow their advice to the letter.  Work out a gradual payment plan and then dedicate yourself to taking good care of yourself.  

I can understand your fear and also the challenge of trying to manage wihtout health care.  Find an ER or urgent care facility right away.

Will you let us know how you're progressing?  Good luck, and please do see a doctor right away.

[JDRF-Team-maw]

Kevin,

It sounds like you have something verious serious going on with your foot that needs immediate medical attention.  I can see that you are very concerned and am glad that you have come here to get some help with your problem.  As LRS suggested, it is very important that you get to a clinic quickly and get your foot treated before it becomes any more serious.  

I know you mentioned not being able to afford the medical bills and the missing work.  I am not sure where you live, but Medicaid may be available to you.  Medicaid is insurance for those with low income and is available in most if not all of the 50 states.  If you do live in the US, check out this website: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/ and see if you qualify for this benefit.  You may also go to an urgent care facility or emergency room for treatment.  They will work out a payment plan with you, even if it is only $20 a month as long as you pay on it.  

It sounds like you may have a deep infection that is spreading into your foot and needs antibiotics immediately. Diabetic or not, you never want to let your feet get infected without proper treatment.  As LRS mentioned before, please follow the doctors advice exactly.  I cannot stress enough to you how important it is that you get to a doctor right away.  

Please do let us know how everything turns out.