Jenny and Optimus Primal's Journal page 40

[Jenny]

Seconded. My "pretend it's fine" plan is already not working, since I know damn well that pus means it's infected. I'm practically frothing with frustration here.

Nothing I can do till I call them in the morning when they open again, though.

They gave me a couple days of antibiotics When i had the surgery but apparently that didn't prevent this.

Rrgh. I'm gonna go rant at my microbiologist friend who used to work in a vet clinic. I know she's no doctor but she agrees that it's ridiculous that I'm having any trouble at this stage. Wait till I tell her this.

[Patrick]

Can't go into the ER?

[geostump]

Can't go into the ER?

I'd almost be willing to go that route at this point. You've been through way more than enough with that incision.

[Jenny]

I called their emergency line and they're paging one of the (other) docs. I should get a call back in a few minutes.

I've been to the ER about this a few .. Phone now

[geostump]

I called their emergency line and they're paging one of the (other) docs. I should get a call back in a few minutes.

I've been to the ER about this a few .. Phone now

Keep us posted.

[Jenny]

To continue that thought -- I've been to the ER about this a few times already when it was bleeding before. All they ever do is hit it with antiseptic, tape on a wad of gauze, and say "go back to the doctor tomorrow".

So, she just called back. She doesn't think there's much point in going to the ER unless I'm feverish or it's gushing. Said to call in the morning to see that same doc again since he can visually compare it with how it looked today.

She forewarned me that if it is infected they may need to open it up again and just LEAVE it open to drain and heal from the inside.

So I said, well, if there's significant pus then it's obviously infected right? And of course she said "I haven't seen it but typically, yeah."

So. Yeah. I'm feeling soooo optimistic and upbeat right now.

[geostump]

To continue that thought -- I've been to the ER about this a few times already when it was bleeding before. All they ever do is hit it with antiseptic, tape on a wad of gauze, and say "go back to the doctor tomorrow".

So, she just called back. She doesn't think there's much point in going to the ER unless I'm feverish or it's gushing. Said to call in the morning to see that same doc again since he can visually compare it with how it looked today.

She forewarned me that if it is infected they may need to open it up again and just LEAVE it open to drain and heal from the inside.

So I said, well, if there's significant pus then it's obviously infected right? And of course she said "I haven't seen it but typically, yeah."

So. Yeah. I'm feeling soooo optimistic and upbeat right now.

OMG! Not fun. I remember a friend of mine going through this when she had a tummy tuck after gastric bypass. She had 12 lbs of skin removed and she had incision issues like you've had.

[Patrick]

To continue that thought -- I've been to the ER about this a few times already when it was bleeding before. All they ever do is hit it with antiseptic, tape on a wad of gauze, and say "go back to the doctor tomorrow".

So, she just called back. She doesn't think there's much point in going to the ER unless I'm feverish or it's gushing. Said to call in the morning to see that same doc again since he can visually compare it with how it looked today.

So... what the fuck's the point of you guys in the States having an ER if you can't fucking use it, or them doing fuck-all when you do use it? That's ridiculous. Anyway, I hope you get it all sorted out soon and conclusively!

[geostump]

So... what the fuck's the point of you guys in the States having an ER if you can't fucking use it, or them doing fuck-all when you do use it? That's ridiculous. Anyway, I hope you get it all sorted out soon and conclusively!

If you ask an insurance carrier, ER's are meant for life & death situations. Open incisions and oozing puss is not considered life & death and therefore can wait until your doc's office opens in the morning. Yes, I work for a medical supply company. So I know the laws

[Jenny]

Yeah, basically the ER does patch-job triage. They stop your bleeding without actually stitching anything if they can avoid it, confirm you probably won't die in the next 24 hours, and then pass the case back to your regular doctor.

Even with an infection they wouldn't likely give antibiotics unless I had systemic issues (fever).

So what do your ERs do? Actual doctoring?