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

It's not cheap - ie seeing a private doctor. But may be better than feared? It's between £80-£110 for the one I've seen here a couple of times and the appointment slot is 20-30 minutes.

It is not a case of seeing a private doctor. One cannot flip backwards and forwards between private and NHS and dressings are expensive.

Things are now moving in the right direction and I would emphasise this has been going on for 8 months and you have had enough.

Maybe the "flipping" depends on what the issue is?? As I've "flipped" myself before now.

If the money can be found to pay - then perhaps an initial "This is what is needed" report sent back to the NHS doctor might help and then the NHS supplying the dressings???? From a latter post on this thread - maybe the NHS has now been sufficiently "kicked up the backside" - considering an NHS doctor has made contact now finally...and perhaps that's a tactic that can be held in reserve in case of need.....

I did speak about inititally seeing someone privately with the GP yesterday. He wants to look at it today and depending on the outcome of that he will do one of 3 things

- attempt to expedite the referral by speaking to the appropriate person in the vascular unit

- talk to me about private treatment

- advise me to stick to the new treatment for three weeks and then review the situation

I don't want to jinx anything, so I'm almost reluctant to say this out loud, but, apart from a little episode of pain about 10 last night which 2 paracetamol zapped quite quickly, I've had no pain since the trimovate cream was applied yesterday morning. I've had little sleep due to the constant pain - usually waking after an hour or 2. Last night I was able to sleep for over 5 hours.

This is the first time in around 5 months that I haven't been in almost constant burning pain. Many times I've sat and cried with the pain.

There is some dampness but nothing like I've recently been experiencing and I'm back for the cream and a dressing change this afternoon.

We shall see.

That sounds cautiously optimistic.

I'm so pleased you managed to sleep well last night.
This certainly sounds like you may at last be on the right course of treatment.
Please do update us after the appointment this afternoon.

Best wishes Ferry23, this is all very miserable for you as health matters are. We all trundle along without a care in the world until it’s our turn to be felled by something.

Do you havea patients panel in your area? They are good to use to state what is happening and to ask their advice on how you may proceed. Here we have a community group which does a variety of things, taking people in cars to whatever, visiting people, playing whist or bridge there etc. I really think that this is the way to get some help. Your surgery may also have a "social" sort of nurse, where they do not deal with medicine but are very good at directing you to groups or whatever may help you . To have something good to look forward to each week, is both in itself beneficial but also galvanises you to get ready for that day and start to organise your weeks a bit better.

Do hope you find some assistance

“Your surgery may also have a "social" sort of nurse, where they do not deal with medicine but are very good at directing you to groups or whatever may help you”.

Called a Social Prescriber 😊

ferry23 hope your wound improves and you get the treatment you so deserve..

I had heard my surgery had a 'social prescriber' after Covid - I requested a call/appt to see said 'social prescriber' and I'm still waiting...

Ferry, you are being treated very poorly and no wonder you are fed up. Where are the district nurses? They're usually real whizzes when it comes to dressings.
Keeping your legs elevated is very important. Incontinence pads are really absorbent and they could sit on top of the bandage as an extra padding with an elastic stocking to hold it in place. It's called tubinette i think.

It might be worth asking if you could see a Wound Care Nurse Specialist. They are up to date with the best treatments for wounds and leg ulcers. They may be based in the hospital or run by Community Services

What a wonderful supportive bunch you ladies are. It must feel very lonely when experiencing pain and worry and you can’t see the wood from the trees. More than touching to read of all your help, care and wisdom for ferry23.
I hope sincerely that things have improved for her today.

Goodness my heartfelt good wishes to you. Back in the day (70s) as a District nurse in Brixton changing dressings on leg ulcers was the thing we did the most. I really would try to get an appt with a sympathetic GP and get a workable (to you) plan in progress. All the very best in getting things sorted.

Just wondering, does your hospital have a wound clinic?
The one at our local district hospital was very good. After seeing about 4 different nurses at the GP surgery who all used different treatments for my wound over several weeks, I got consistency from the wound clinic and the wound eventually healed.

Oh dear Ferry23, there is no way you should be putting up with this at all. I really feel for you and think you need to rattle a few cages here and make a fuss. I am not assertive at all but finding as I get older I need to stand my ground more and be more forceful. Have you got any back up with a friend/relative/neighbour who can go with you today for your appointment? Two heads better than one as they say.

Have you thought of taking a higher dose of Vit C tablets to aid the healing?

We all wish you well, truly we do.

My hubby had Bullous Pemphigoid - a rare skin condition which caused weeping blisters on arms. After dressing, then bandage, they added a tubular bandage which helped keep it all together. Woukd that help?
He also had medication to help dry it up but can't recall what that wS - sorry.

Ferry 23
This is such a sad story but leg ulcers are so so hard to heal. The best advice is to sit with your feet up almost 24/7.
So only up on feet for essentials….this is so hard to do but it really does in some cases make all the difference

Just to say I hope you get some answers and at least the promise of effective treatment this afternoon. You do realise that there are lots of us Gransnetters in the consulting room with you, don't you? 🙂

Do you have someone strong minded you can call for help?

I would be taking you to hospital and insisting they take good care of you.

I think you have been treated very badly, you should have had a nurse coming in every day. I saw a programme about maggots being used to clean and heal ulcerated legs, they were bred in ultra sanitised conditions and know it sounds yucky but it worked. Keeping everything crossed for you.

Thanks everyone.

Just to clarify. I live alone, I have no siblings and neither of my children live close by. I do have a cousin and my Godson nearby and they have helped, but they are all working people with their own lives to lead, plus my cousin's husband snapped his achilles tendon a few weeks back and has only just come off crutches himself. I hadn't lived here long before this happened so I hadn't had a chance to make any friends.

I am not considered totally housebound so I cannot be referred to the District Nurse Team.

I have been to the wound clinic who liaised with my surgery about dressings and sent me back there.

I am perfectly capable of making a stand for myself, I'm usually the one called upon for support!

I know that leg elevation is important - but there is a wound on the back of my leg and this is the most painful one - as soon as I rest my leg on something the pain increases until I can't bear it. I've tried various shaped pillows and other contraptions so that part of my leg isn't resting on anything but so far, none of them have worked.

I'm not being negative about any of your suggestions - far from it! There's been a lot of really good ideas and advice here and I'm really grateful.

I just thought if I added a bit of meat to the bones it would make my situation clearer.

Has the fluid from your leg been tested for anything? I ask as my friend's mother had a vaguely similar problem and it was a serious issue. At the very least you should be told the probable cause of this long term issue .
My understanding is that all attempts have been topical (apart from antibiotics) but is there a nutrient which is missing in your diet ? Vitamin K helps clotting so there maybe something similar for fluid issues ?

ferry23

I did speak about inititally seeing someone privately with the GP yesterday. He wants to look at it today and depending on the outcome of that he will do one of 3 things

- attempt to expedite the referral by speaking to the appropriate person in the vascular unit

- talk to me about private treatment

- advise me to stick to the new treatment for three weeks and then review the situation

I don't want to jinx anything, so I'm almost reluctant to say this out loud, but, apart from a little episode of pain about 10 last night which 2 paracetamol zapped quite quickly, I've had no pain since the trimovate cream was applied yesterday morning. I've had little sleep due to the constant pain - usually waking after an hour or 2. Last night I was able to sleep for over 5 hours.

This is the first time in around 5 months that I haven't been in almost constant burning pain. Many times I've sat and cried with the pain.

There is some dampness but nothing like I've recently been experiencing and I'm back for the cream and a dressing change this afternoon.

We shall see.

I'm thinking of you, Ferry23 and keeping everything crossed that this trimovate treatment works its magic. Along with others, I don't think you've had the best deal so far. Pleased that your GP has eventually stepped up. Here's hoping they take charge and ensure you get the best from now on.

kjmpde - they've taken 4 swabs, the latest one being yesterday.

Thanks Blinko, I shall be stting off for the surgery shortly so it will be interesting to meet a GP at last!