Excerpts of text msg form the main message below plus some details I learned later from the doctors and nurses, etc (sorry but I'm not able to use a keyboard beyond 4 fingers)
At hospital now - in a room but yet to see a doc. Nurses think I need IV with heavier antibiotics. I would like to get the infection completely out so I'm fine with that. Better be able to drain it totally though as I don't want to be back here (3.5 hrs on Tuesday, 5.5 hrs today all mostly just waiting). Forgot to mention boil-like pimples erupting on my neck - must be related (yep, they were). They better give me a local or I'll be screaming to wake the dead ... Stay tuned
2.5 hrs later
Asked Dr Drake about prevention. She said I could try to improve cuticle health especially during winter. Get some moisturizer for the cuticles specifically.
While awaiting prescription at SDD I spoke with cosmetician who recommended two products. One looks like lip butter pot and made with apricot oil. Handy for the purse so I can use it after swim, at work, whenever. The other is almond oil she uses herself and suggested I keep at bedside so it can work overnight. I'd love to never have this happen again! Dr Drake said I'm likely pre-disposed but with using these and not swimming in chlorine and starting the antibiotic the moment I feel the symptoms I might be able to prevent or lessen the impact of future infections.
Back to text
Still at hospital.
OMG had bad doc at first, very traumatic & dramatic screaming exchange with me, then Barry. We had to insist on another one who was awesome. (weird, Barry and I overheard this male doctor on the phone for ages. He had several one-way chats with staff about having to shovel and being told he needed anger management help. When Barry left to get us some peppermint tea at Tim's my sinking feeling was confirmed, the very same doctor was being told about me and waved his hand to silence the nurse and headed my way. His opening line was "so you have a hang nail?" I began to give him some background and he was dismissive. He said he'd open it and drain it. I told him it was very painful. No reaction. I asked if he'd give me a local first, he said "no" and ordered me to come over to the trolley where he was setting up the instruments. I warned him I'd scream and he said as long as I didn't hit him. I said I wasn't making any promises. He said that I'd better get myself under control. I told him it happened before and the doctor gave me a local and it wasn't as bad as it was today. He said he could leave me here and not do anything if I preferred and without warning jabbed the wound. Lots of fluid came out as I knew it would but the pain was blinding and I was nauseated. He told me to press on the wound to drain it and walked away. I sat there sobbing. I could hear a nurse use an angry tone with him about what she must have overheard. I was stunned. In agony. Then Barry returned. I told him what happened. He asked the nurse to get the doctor. He returned and immediately I noticed his tone had altered but only when addressing Barry. Great - a misogynist . He tone changed again when Barry began to insist he do something more - give me something for the pain at least and finish his job. The f bomb came out a few times. Finally the doctor said he could ask one of his two other colleagues to attend. To which I politely replied "yes, please. that would be appreciated. "
Enter Dr Wanda Drake who did and said everything as you would expect. She asked what happened and listened. Examined it and said it needed to be treated surgically. She decided that I needed a double dose of a local and then re-doubled it, started me on an IV antibiotic, gave me something for pain. Then she went to work removing the infection not just but draining but scraping which unfortunately I felt. I got more stronger pain medication. She dressed it and she and the nurses kept checking back on the pain until it was finally under control.
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I will go home with IV needle in. Back tomorrow for recheck of wound & more antibiotics. Got good take home pain meds - Dilaudid...so I can sleep. Also a standing prescription for antibiotics for future. Won't be working tomorrow. Sorry for ramble = decent drugs. Finally pain relief after 4 days!
OMG had bad doc at first, very traumatic & dramatic screaming exchange with me, then Barry. We had to insist on another one who was awesome. (weird, Barry and I overheard this male doctor on the phone for ages. He had several one-way chats with staff about having to shovel and being told he needed anger management help. When Barry left to get us some peppermint tea at Tim's my sinking feeling was confirmed, the very same doctor was being told about me and waved his hand to silence the nurse and headed my way. His opening line was "so you have a hang nail?" I began to give him some background and he was dismissive. He said he'd open it and drain it. I told him it was very painful. No reaction. I asked if he'd give me a local first, he said "no" and ordered me to come over to the trolley where he was setting up the instruments. I warned him I'd scream and he said as long as I didn't hit him. I said I wasn't making any promises. He said that I'd better get myself under control. I told him it happened before and the doctor gave me a local and it wasn't as bad as it was today. He said he could leave me here and not do anything if I preferred and without warning jabbed the wound. Lots of fluid came out as I knew it would but the pain was blinding and I was nauseated. He told me to press on the wound to drain it and walked away. I sat there sobbing. I could hear a nurse use an angry tone with him about what she must have overheard. I was stunned. In agony. Then Barry returned. I told him what happened. He asked the nurse to get the doctor. He returned and immediately I noticed his tone had altered but only when addressing Barry. Great - a misogynist . He tone changed again when Barry began to insist he do something more - give me something for the pain at least and finish his job. The f bomb came out a few times. Finally the doctor said he could ask one of his two other colleagues to attend. To which I politely replied "yes, please. that would be appreciated. "
Enter Dr Wanda Drake who did and said everything as you would expect. She asked what happened and listened. Examined it and said it needed to be treated surgically. She decided that I needed a double dose of a local and then re-doubled it, started me on an IV antibiotic, gave me something for pain. Then she went to work removing the infection not just but draining but scraping which unfortunately I felt. I got more stronger pain medication. She dressed it and she and the nurses kept checking back on the pain until it was finally under control.
back to text
I will go home with IV needle in. Back tomorrow for recheck of wound & more antibiotics. Got good take home pain meds - Dilaudid...so I can sleep. Also a standing prescription for antibiotics for future. Won't be working tomorrow. Sorry for ramble = decent drugs. Finally pain relief after 4 days!
Asked Dr Drake about prevention. She said I could try to improve cuticle health especially during winter. Get some moisturizer for the cuticles specifically.
While awaiting prescription at SDD I spoke with cosmetician who recommended two products. One looks like lip butter pot and made with apricot oil. Handy for the purse so I can use it after swim, at work, whenever. The other is almond oil she uses herself and suggested I keep at bedside so it can work overnight. I'd love to never have this happen again! Dr Drake said I'm likely pre-disposed but with using these and not swimming in chlorine and starting the antibiotic the moment I feel the symptoms I might be able to prevent or lessen the impact of future infections.
Back to text
On way home with morphine in my veins and a bottle of dilaudid! Back to hospital in morning for 9:45am recheck and more antibiotics - all good. Glad Barry was here to drive
So no swimming for a week which to me means - work on kick for a week! and do swim specific strengthening exercises.
What an ordeal for an infected "hangnail"!!!
I prefer "pool nasty" a heck of a lot more à propos
So no swimming for a week which to me means - work on kick for a week! and do swim specific strengthening exercises.
What an ordeal for an infected "hangnail"!!!
I prefer "pool nasty" a heck of a lot more à propos
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