Two weeks ago, when my mom realized that a bone was pushing through the bottom of her foot, she went to her doctor who happens to be an Orthopedic Surgeon. This bone had already been removed in her other foot, it’s “genetically” an extra bone our family has and it has caused her problems in the past. Anyway, there was fluid built up around where the bone was pushing through. The body’s way of trying to cushion the spot, I suppose. When the blister opened, the fluid was clear.

The after the weekend, my mom went to the doctor. He decided to operate to remove this bone. He didn’t put anything on it. He didn’t give her antibiotic. He knew previously he took out this bone on the other foot and so he assumed this was the same course of action he would take on this foot.

Two days later, the fluid was not as clear. Mom asked the doctor if she should be on antibiotics. He said no he’d just clean it out when he operated. My sister told the doctor she thought this was a mistake. Since my mom has had infection issues in the past, the fluid had changed color, the area was red… she felt he should start her on antibiotics 3 days before the surgery. If the culture came back she needed a different antibiotic, fine… but at least get her on something. He disagreed. My sister told him “I don’t agree with you, but you are the doctor”.

She had surgery. Didn’t look infected. He irrigated the wound with antibiotics while she was under. They cultured the fluid. Still no antibiotic.

Three days later they find out it’s MRSA.

Doctor put mom on an ORAL antibiotic and tells her they probably need to amputate. Tells her to go see an infection disease doctor.

Mom calls back and tells them that she thinks she should be putting something “on the wound” since the blood supply is crappy there until she can get into the Infectious Disease Doctor. I mean… antibiotics are only going to work if the blood supply can deliver them to the infection. He says no. I suggest to her to ask him for IV antibiotics. Since my mom has had weight loss surgery…who even knows if the antibiotics are being absorbed the same way they would in a normal person. I did a whole bunch of Internet research and I really felt like she needed to be on an IV. He declined that too.

Now I think this doctor is a complete asshat.

This morning my mom went to the Infection Diseases Doctor. (First available appointment). He put her on an IV IMMEDIATELY. He’s treating AGGRESSIVELY. He’s listening to the family and to the patient and seems to at least be trying to save her foot.

The point is… we should have told this other doctor to go jump in a lake many moons ago. All the warning flags were there. Truth is, we didn’t because we all tend to think “they are doctors they have the knowledge”. But they don’t . They aren’t a God. They make mistakes. This guy is a surgeon and his solution to every problem is always to “cut it out”. You have to keep in mind what type of doctor you are dealing with when you are seeking treatment. Where is their mindset?

It’s so hard though when you are in the midst of a medical emergency to think about who all you need to consult with, what you need to research, what stones need to be turned over to find the most effective care possible.

It’s like when I was considering weight loss surgery. Any doctor I talked to about weight loss surgery just told me about the stupid Carnie Wilson Surgery. Well… if I had simply “taken the doctors advice” I’d be stuck with a 2 oz pouch and not able to eat chocolate for the rest of my life. What kind of quality of life is that? Because doctors when you consult with them only tell you about what types of surgery “They do”. They aren’t telling you necessarily what is best for you. Thank God my control freakish nature caused me to research different options.

It’s sad to think about, you really have to think about buying medical care like you buy a car. You wouldn’t expect to go to a KIA dealership, tell them what you need, and have them recommend you a Lexus SUV. They are only going to try to meet your needs with the options THEY have available, even if they know something else might work better for you. You yourself have to be KNOWLEDGEABLE about what your options are and not be dependent thinking someone else is going to spell it all out for you just because they hold the knowledge. If you aren’t knowledgeable or do the work to become knowledgeable about your different options … then you have to be happy with the substandard.

And substandard isn’t bad until you find out it’s substandard. I guess ignorance really is bliss.

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