That doctors shouldn't refuse to treat self harm ? TW

[Riggsisadino]

I have struggled with self harm for 10 years know in many ways I am doing a lot better. I am finally getting some therapy and the frequency has massively reduced. I am going through a very rough time at the moment and I have been using it as a coping strategy I am working as hard as I can and engaging as much as possible but it's so hard to stop a 10 year habit. It happened about a month ago and the resulting injury had to be fixed by my local plastics department a hospital over. It took them a while to do. They said they had better things to do and wouldn't be prioritising mental people. But they did fix it. It has happened a few days ago but the plastics department have said they won't fix it as they've done it before. I may be able to live with this but it has gone through the muscle and resulting structures and I can't move my leg or weight bare it is also very open and has become very infected. I have a weakened immune system so am worried about this. I have a temperature and high heart rate. Nurses are struggling to dress it due to the size. I have had doctors and nurses escalate this but they aren't budging. They are going to try and get my consultant psychiatrist to get in contact so it's from a consultant. I have tried to get in contact with pals but no luck so far I just don't know what to do. I am worried about losing my leg or getting sepsis or never being able to walk again. I understand I did this to my self and I deeply regret it. I really wish I didn't do it. But as my doctor and therapist said it's a long road.
I just don't know what to do

Despite the fact I have done this myself. I just think I should be able to walk and for it to made that the infection doesn't spread as if it's left I will loose my leg. Things have already been so hard to deal with recently. I am not meaning to drip feed I just don't like to talk about it or the situation but I lost my son a few months ago and I still can't move past it so hVe gone back to unhealthy coping strategy's given what has happened but from when it was at its worse I am coping better showing treatment is working. Twice I have had things I've needed to deal with to do with my son unexpectedly I was by myself and I have reacted badly. I am not expecting anything else so I am hoping to be able to start working towards moving on. This is why it happened within a close proximity. So the people saying I would just undo there work. I strongly believe I wouldn't. Things are hard to deal with at the moment and going around on crutches is a struggle.

sorry to hear about your son, you have had a very difficult time recently. I do think that another poster is right, that the plastics team may be reluctant to do any surgery atm if you have an active infection, that could spread it and also any sort of skin grafts may not work. has any doctor in either hospital suggested you stay in hospital to have antibiotics and the wound cleaned out, that may be all they can do at the moment which is hard for you.

Yes my local hospital has but has said that orthopaedics won't admit as it's a plastic issue. They will admit if it does get to the sepsis stage. Despite twice a&e wanting me admitting for IV anti biotics and a wound clear out/debridament and ortho agreeing this is what's needed but it needs to be led by plastics

Are you currently admitted at your local hospital? If not could you go to A&E at the bigger hospital?

That sounds very frustrating and I don't know why the general surgical team cannot admit you. I dont really understand why it has to be led by the plastics team.

It does sound a lot like some people passing the buck and blaming others. Any competent hospital should be able to deal with infection control.

I just think I should be able to walk
Sorry OP - I am really sorry for your personal circumstances, and for your illness. But you could walk. How many times do you think that the NHS should fix you (assuming they can do so)? I can't walk hardly at all. I didn't do anything to bring this on - and I had to wait 12 months for surgery to fix my broken tendon and ligaments.

That was long before the pandemic and current waiting lists. Assuming that the plastic surgery team can do anything, and I am not convinced they can, who do you suggest pushing back down the queue so that you can take their place for treatment that you already had and destroyed through your own actions? I really am sorry that you are struggling. I am sorry that your mental health is bad. But you are not the only person in the world struggling and having ill health. What about everyone else? It is not all about you.

@Jalisco why is OP not allowed to think about themselves.

Why us your situation no fault of your own, but you are blaming the OP for her actions? OP is unwell. The NHS should give her the treatment she needs. People should be prioritised according to need. Their circumstances shouldn't come into it.

Our trust does prioritise people who self harm on a holistic level. Mental health problems are every bit as dangerous to health as any other disease. What about fat people or smokers with gangrene or cancer. Should we not treat them because its self inflicted? A lot of diseases are self inflicted.

This.

OP, really sorry to hear about your situation. Self-harm is, as I have learned, addictive behaviour. It's notoriously complex to treat, a bit like bulimia as there are so many factors contributing. I hope you will get the treatment that you need and deserve both for your mental and physical health.

You don't have to answer this, but, out of interest in the topic, do you mind saying if you have ever visited or communicated on online forums that specifically provide a 'safe space' to discuss self harm without judgment from posters? You don't have to answer if you don't want to but I'd be really interested to hear.

I think you need to focus on PALs

I am not blaming the OP for her actions. I am saying that the hospital has to consider everyone and the relative priorities - her "need" may not be their priority and nor may it be clinically possible to give her the treatment that she wants. There are waiting lists and her self-harming doesn't get her to the top of the list. Not everything is about her and her needs. I am sympathetic with her struggles, but "I want" doesn't always get. She is blaming everyone else for outcomes that haven't happened - she has no right to priority treatment on demand. Any competent hospital should be able to clean and treat a wound, and manage infection control.

@Jalisco you're being ridiculous. OP is unwell, she wants treatment. Obviously we can't comment on the clinical need and whether that's a factor, but I am sure if this was someone with a broken leg, OP would have everyone's sympathy and not accusing her of wanting 'priority treatment on demand.'

OP is entitled to treatment regardless of how her injuries have come about. I don't think she is demanding priority treatment- she only wants proper treatment for her wound.

It's a shame so many people still stigmatise mental health issues

I have never said that she isn't entitled to treatment - quite the contrary, I have said that any competent hospital can manage treatment. But there are waiting lists for specialisms and you don't get to the top of the queue for plastic surgery (assuming that they can actually do anything anyway) just because you want to. I have pointed out on numerous occasions here that sympathy for her situation (which I have) does not override the reality of the treatments available to her. The team she wants treatment from have said no. Taking a few words from many and choosing to have a go at me because of your own interpretation isn't helping anyone. I am not saying that she should not be treated because of her mental ill health. I am saying that nobody gets what they want when they want it just because they want it. And since, as we agree, it is impossible to comment on the clinical realities, which may be very complex, then it is impossible to say that the treatment path she wants is correct or available. And that is my point.

It is equally a shame that some people rush to assume that simply because someone disagrees or puts another point of view, that they are being ridiculous or that it’s ok to make offensive comments about them. And with that I’m not responding here anymore, because apparently other opinions are just treated with nastiness.

@Jalisco who has made an offensive comment or been nasty? I think you've completely misinterpreted OPs post and have said some very unhelpful things. Maybe try putting yourself in her shoes.

OP hasn't tried to "jump to the top of the queue" or scream "I want" or any of the other nasty things being said here. She just wants the basic treatment she's entitled to. If she had the exact same injuries inflicted by accident, there's no way she'd be receiving this kind of treatment.

How many times do you think that the NHS should fix you?

How many times should the NHS treat someone with reoccurring cancer? How many times should the NHS fix someone who regularly needs treatment for sports injuries?