On Saturday, September 23rd, I went to the local ER to get an abscess on my inner thigh lanced. After a ladicaine shot and a simple incision, it was drained and bandaged. Fast forward one week, to a puss-filled and infected air-filled crevasse. Couldn’t walk, couldn’t work (sole breadwinner), and limited medical coverage.
Went back to ER on Saturday, September 30th, and within 30 minutes, was immediately admitted to hospital. Wound was septic, and to top it off my blood sugar was 440 with an A1c level of 12.4, I had no idea what any of this meant, surprise, I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic, at 41 years old. But that wasn’t the only surprise of the day…….emergency surgery on the septic abscess. After an hour on the table and a cleaned wound that could have cost me my leg or worse, killed me I started a 3 day stay at the hospital.
Getting every antibiotic injected into my IV until they knew for certain what type of infection they were dealing with, getting my fingers poked and insulin injected every 4 hours, blood being taken, worrying (as a newly diagnosed diabetic) About my blood sugar levels triggered my anxiety levels immensely.
Tuesday, October 3rd I was discharged, given instructions on wound packing and care, as well as continuing the path of managing my diabetes. Just the cost of paying my copay for my prescriptions cost me over $600 and that’s just the start, and I haven’t been able to work in 2 weeks. Bills are piling up, especially the medical bills ( 2 ER visits 3 nights in hospital)Not only the hospital bills, but the prescription bills. Insulin pen, lancet, strips for the blood glucose meter, needles for insulin pen, antibiotics, to keep infection away, and supplies needed to keep wound cleaned and dressed. The expected recovery time is estimated at 8-12 weeks, healing time for a person with diabetes is a little longer, from what I’m told.
The impact of not being able to work has put my house bills in danger as well, utilities are due in 13 days, cell phone, gas, rent and food. I’ve been in touch with my landlord, my utilities company and neither can or will offer any help, I’ve been in touch with food banks and left messages. I don’t qualify for any government assistance, or loans. And my family has helped as much as they can.
I hope and pray that the good people in this world can find it in their hearts to help. For the first time in my life, I have t