My Achilles Rupture, part 14

Sooooo... doctors. I hardly know where to begin. Because of the redness and swelling, I called for an immediate appointment Monday morning, the 4th. The doctor who was in the wound care facility that morning looked at my leg and said, "I don't see any infection. Could it be from the boot?"

I'm a pretty mellow guy, but I sat up at that point and after I pointed out that the redness was really red, that it was warmer than the rest of my body, and that it had been oozing earlier, he grudgingly gave me a 5-day course of Bactrim. The nurse, who's always been great, said "That's so embarrassing." Then we arranged to keep my other appointment that had been scheduled weeks before for the next day.

When I arrived Tuesday morning, the other doctor (I've always liked him better) said, "Oh yes, that's infected, and you need to have it cut open and cleaned out." So he sent me back to my surgeon, who was on vacation, and his office sent me to a new surgeon who was covering. I think the new surgeon is better. He looked my leg over and scheduled me for emergency surgery that same afternoon. So, long story short, I had a surgery that maybe I should have had with the first infection. This surgeon kept me on the bactrim - a double dose. Let's hope it works. Do I still have to pay the guy who told me yesterday that he thought it was from the boot?

Tomorrow I have a follow-up with the surgeon, and Friday, I have an appt. with an infection specialist in Buffalo. Longer drive - maybe better results.

I don't even want to think about the number of office visits I'm making, and how much all the copays added up will be...