Yet another ER visit

[Sailorsong]

Today was a busy day for me again. I had to take my truck in for service and since I was already 1/2 way to the VA ER I headed up there due to an inflamed and very sore index finger.  I was actually surprised at how quickly I was going through the ER. Reminded me a lot of when I have been to an ER due to heart attack of bee stings. I checked in and was immediately taken back to the triage nurse. She took one look at my finger and said it was an ingrown nail and sent me off to the OPD (Don't have the slightest idea of what that stands for) clinic where surgeons take care of things like that. So 1 half hour after getting to the VA I was checked into the OPD clinic to have my finger worked on.

I did have to wait about 2 hours while there as the clinic was standing room only when I got there. I was seen by a young PA that was going through training in the department and an older Surgeon. When the Dr. asked the PA what she thought it was she told her Paronychia and the Dr. concurred. For those not familiar with that term it is an infection of the fold of tissue around a nail. My case was fairly acute and they informed me they would need to cut open my finger and drain it. When they doctor was having me sign the consent form she said that there are really no risks since the finger was already infected and besides I really had no choice. Both the PA and I laughed at that one. After all how often can a doctor make that kind of statement. LOL

While waiting for my finger to get numb I was talking to the PA and doctor about some of the weird things with me like that if I don't watch a needle being stuck into me I will pass out and also that some of my nerves are not where they are suppose to be. Of course they didn't believe me. So they started to cut open my finger and I'm jumping around in pain. Yes one of the nerves in my finger was not in the right place and didn't get numbed. So the doctor gave me another shot where I told her I was feeling the pain and we were again ready to go. She also commented that she has never had the problem of a nerve being missed like that in her career. So they now both believed what I told them about me being weird.

They spent about 1 hour cutting my finger open from the first knuckle to the tip and draining it out. They also took a culture to find out what had infected my finger.  I'm also on an antibiotic since I take an immune suppressant drug for my MS.

I also seem to have gone through a short lived pseudo flare during this. the right side of my face went numb for a while and when I first got up after they finished working on my finger it felt like I was trying to walk on ice even though the floor wasn't slippery at all.  By the time I finished flushing the opening under HOT running water ( which didn't feel hot at all since by then my entire hand was numb) the slippery floor was back to normal as was my face.  

  Surprisingly I am not really having any pain in that finger. I can feel the pulse in my finger and an occasional twinge of pain from that one nerve that was originally missed and that is about all so far. But I guess after all of my bouts of TN, MS Hug, and the other MS pain I have had for the last 20+ years this is nothing.

  So overall this experience at the VA was very good (other than getting my finger cut open that is LOL). Both the PA and doctor were very nice, professional, and caring. The doctor went through all of my medications / supplements to make sure there would be no conflicts with the antibiotic which is something I've never seen any other doctor do. Speaking of antibiotics this one contained a warning I have never seen before. It states to not lay down within 10 minutes of taking the medication.

Dennis

[karryon55]

So they did an ordinary X-Ray? I had a bone scan which showed a pitch black thumb. I don't know if an X-Ray will pick it up that clearly but they are the docs.

I did have to have my arm up in a sling all the time because of the pain from the infection in the bone & I couldn't bend the thumb at all. I was also Neutropenic at the time so this probably made a big difference.

It's wise to come off the immunosuppressants because I think that is why it's not healing. I had spent most of my life on them until Rituximab came along & nothing would heal. I used to be on two at a time most of the time as well. I have scars all over me from wounds that were open for up to 6 months at a time. Lol most from a rather nasty cat that used to bite.

I just hope you don't have a flare up from ceasing them. It might help your chest to be off then for a while as well.

Good luck & whatever you do "don't hurt any other fingers lol".

Hugs,

Karry.

[Sailorsong]

Karry,

  The good news is that the doctor didn't keep me in the hospital. She did order an X-Ray of my finger to see if the infection did get into the bone and it doesn't look like it did.  She also felt it looked better than the last time I saw her.

  So the treatment today consisted of soaking the finger for about 15 minutes and then she removed the scab for the cut and cleaned it out again.  She then had me go over to the sink to rinse it out with running water. Just as I stopped that the sink decided to leak so I ended up with a soaked pant leg. If something can go wrong it will with me. LOL

It was then that I headed for the X-ray and then back to the OPD to have the finger dressed. I also had a acupuncture appt. so I headed for that. When I got back down to the OPD to talk to the doctor my ear was bleeding from the acupuncture so I had to explain that to the doctor.

The plan for this week is for me to stop taking my MS medication since it is an immune suppressant, also on another 14 days of antibiotic and an antibiotic ointment to put on the cut each time I change the dressing.  I see her again next Wed. to see how things are going.

Dennis

[karryon55]

That doesn't sound very good to me Dennis. Good luck at the appointment & I really hope this can be resolved soon for you. Even if you have to be kept in hospital it's a much better prospect than losing a finger.

Keep us updated on how it goes.

Karry.

[Sailorsong]

Karry,

  It is very tender and very red right now. I go see the doctor in about 11 hours. The redness now goes all the way to the knuckle and along the side of my finger to the tip.

I don't know what the doctor will do this time. Since the cavity she found went almost to the bone I suspect she will be considering Osteomyelitis as why it is still infected. But if you don't hear from me by tomorrow night it probably means she kept me in the hospital in order to get this taken care of once and for all.

And here I thought I was doing good on Monday morning as other than the wound still being open slightly it looked normal in color. And to top things off I think I'm getting an upper respiratory infection since my nose is runny, sneezing and coughing a lot.  Just what I need to stir up my MS. LOL

Dennis

[karryon55]

Hi Dennis,

How is it today?  I hope it's improving but if it isn't be careful because I left my thumb so long I got an infection in the bone (Osteomyelitis) so make sure you aren't getting any pain from anything other than the wounds.

Karry.

[Sailorsong]

Bump for Karry & Sarah