AIBU - Is it fair for me to live like this?

I hope you can get the pain relief prescribrd by the GP delivered to your home and that you dont have to go out again to collect it. Please ask.

DH has his delivered here by Boots, but I cannot remember quite how that came about and who authorised it. Ask the surgery to save an additional journey..
Best wishes for a better sleep tonight.

Ferry23. Please continue to keep us updated. Is there absolutely no relative/friend/neighbour who could help you in this desperate situation?

Hello Ferry . No it's not right to expect you to live like this but I'm afraid this is what the NHS has become like, nobody cares anymore. I've been living with constant and severe back pain for the last 2 years, I'm housebound with it , I got sent for an x-ray with no reason given for the pain and just left by the medical profession. It's not fair for me to live like this either but nobody cares.
Hope your leg starts to heal properly and you get a full recovery. I don't hold out much hope for myself.

It's difficult to move around or stand for any length of time and I do have to eat and make myself a drink. Sometimes medical staff seem to forget that when they wave you goodbye you have to go home and manage by yourself.

ferry23 if you aren't admitted to hospital via A&E I suggest you ask to speak to a social worker and tell them bluntly what a state you are in, both physically and mentally.
Stop trying to be brave, people are taking advantage of your stoic nature.
Ask for some help at home at the very minimum.

You need to say you can no longer go to the surgery: you really aren't fit to drive and it sounds like you shouldn't be walking either as it's so painful.

I can't believe how callously you're being treated by people who should be caring for you.
Enough is enough now, it needs to change xx

damaged no, I didn't damage him!
managed.

District Nurse will not accept a referral for anyone who can leave the home even if it is by taxi or with the help of a career, friend, relative.
I remember that from when DH had a big operation. The District Nurses came to dress his wound, then I mentioned thst I'd damaged to get him to the car and taken him for a little run as he was fed up.
They refused to come again. It was about six steps to the car and it's a trek to get to the hospital, plus a long walk through the hospital to get to the surgery!
Rules is rules.

Sorry, but if it doesn't improve now, I'd really urge you to find someone to take you to A&E so that a hospital Consultant can look at it. It's gone on for too long.

I was with the nurse for ages and also GP came and looked again. I said to them pretty much what I put on here this morning. Despite the pain I was in, they both said it's looking much healthier and is much drier than it was on Monday. The nurse left the bandages off for a bit then massaged with barrier cream and applied trimovate. It is actually a lot more comfortable now. I came home and fell asleep so it must have eased off for me to do that. We've agreed a plan of action for the next 48 hours and a contingency for the weekend. Pain relief will be prescribed by GP this afternoon.
District Nurse will not accept a referral for anyone who can leave the home even if it is by taxi or with the help of a career, friend, relative. However....it may well be of course, that by Friday I may not even be able to manage to get down the step from my front door, in which case, I shall technically be housebound.....

Let us know, please, ferry23, if you are able to, we're all concerned about you.

GrannyGravy13

ferry23 I think you should ring 111, you cannot continue like this.

Please ring them 🙏🏻

GraanyGravy13. I wish we had a like button because your post would get several. This poor lady needs to be in hospital and refuse to leave until she has answers and sees some improvement.

My heart goes out to you, I also think it’s time to simply call for help, give in and tell the nearest A&E dept via taxi that you can’t cope alone.
Please don’t try driving yourself anywhere again this entails having your leg down and walking from car park to department. Enough is enough. Give this leg a healing chance and yourself a break.

I said I'd help if I lived nearby but unfortunately, I'm not.

I’ve just read this whole thread and really can’t believe they’re allowing you to go on in this terrible situation. I agree with others that you should be seen by A&E. If your hospital is near enough go by taxi, you can’t possibly drive, for your own safety as well as others. I know a taxi might cost a lot but I can’t think of any other way. Could you PM the kind Gran who offered help on here? I think you should be hospitalised. I’m so sorry for you, but you’re not forgotten, we’re all behind you, I just wish someone could be there with you in person. Let us know how you get on.

Ferry please find a way to get to A&E. or at least call 111 for help, this simply can’t continue. Don’t minimise your situation, you need help now. I’m so sorry it’s got to this.

Personally if I were in your situation I would tell the nurse today that I am feeling suicidal and cannot go on like this. They cannot ignore that. That I cannot afford taxis to the surgery and can no longer drive myself. Unsafe to be on the road as you cant operate the pedal properly.
Personally if in a bad state at night I would ring and talk to the Samaritans. Please dont feel no one cares as we all do here and Samaritans I am sure would be a sympathetic ear when you have no one else to actually talk to.

Have you family to ring?

Ferry23 I had hoped daily dressing change would help but it obviously hasn't. Your nurse can't be using the right dressings to absorb the fluid as they are allowing it to still be in contact with your skin.

What are they using to clean the wound? When my leg was like yours the DN used Prontosan(?) in tap water to bathe it.

Atrauman & Kliniderm dressings suited my skin and made me feel much more comfortable although at the beginning there were days when the dressings needed changing again later in the day.

I find it unbelievable.
Me too, Charleygirl

I'm shocked.

Yes I also think hospital is the answer. Best not to drive and then they’ll have to think of a way forward. If they think you’re mobile less help is available. My mum had similar although not so bad, and she was in hospital with her leg. Regarding any scans, I’m sure they’d give you anaesthetic beforehand.

Ask for the referral to be urgent - it can be done!

You need to see a Consultant, someone who knows what they are doing. Otherwise, do you have a friend who can take you to A&E?

This has gone on long enough and the surgery seems incapable of dealing with it. You need specialist help.
You could phone PALS for advice.

I feel very 😡 on your behalf.

My advice is to go to the local A&E, where they should be able to see your leg at its worst. I wouldn't be surprised if you were hospitalised.

That leg needs high elevation, perhaps steroid cream applied, a light covering and allow the leakage to drain out where you do not have to worry about your bedding, floors etc.

Once the wound is on the mend, we will discuss the next steps regarding the surgery. I find it unbelievable.

I'm due to see the nurse later this morning. I'm going to press her into referring me to the District Nurse Team. That way I can get out of hours and weekend help with the dressings. Plus I don't think driving is an option right now and I can't really afford £100+ for taxis if I have to go every day.

It's the fluid burning back into my skin that's causing the problems. At the dressing change yesterday the nurse remarked that she could see the the wounds actively discharging and she was having trouble keeping the discharge at bay so that she could clean the wounds.

There's no way I could go from Friday to Monday. Everything is wet and heavy and leaking within a few hours. I can't tolerate another weekend like last week. It's difficult to move around or stand for any length of time and I do have to eat and make myself a drink. Sometimes medical staff seem to forget that when they wave you goodbye you have to go home and manage by yourself.

The GP has said he's going to expedite the referral - which is good and bad - it seems likely they'll give me an ultrasound but the thought of the probe being pushed around my leg is making me feel nauseous. I can't bear anything near my leg right now, the dressing change is bad enough.

..... help for you.

I'm so sorry to read your update.
The whole situation is just terrible and can't go on.

You certainly can't continue like this.
What did the GP say/do yesterday?

Please do ring 111 and tell them the whole sorry story and they will need to react to get some help for.

Ferry23. This is a totally unacceptable situation. Please seek assistance without delay, either by speaking to the lovely nurse you saw recently, ringing 111, as suggested, or contacting the very kind gran who offered to help. You really cannot carry on like this.

This seems truly awful to me. There has to be some alternative for you. Is it possible to see somebody privately if you can afford to? At least you’d get continued care with a specialist. Should you be driving? Could you get to A&E or call an ambulance? Others with better knowledge than me in these situations will surely come up with advice.

ferry23 I think you should ring 111, you cannot continue like this.

Please ring them 🙏🏻