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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

My father going into hospital tomorrow to have at least a toe amputated, possibly more. :(

42 replies

duchesse · 20/07/2011 22:07

To cut a long story short, he's had an injury on his toe from dropping a log on it in January that has refused to heal, and in the last couple of months his foot has gone black. We've all been nagging at him to see a doctor but he refused until today . He's been told he has gangrene in his toe and will lose it, and may lose his foot or even up to his knee. It appears that he has circulation issues in his legs (his veins are blocked) and he may need a bypass.

He's a hospital and doctor-phobic who is now going to be in hospital for at least 10 days.

Does anyone have any experience of this and is there anything he can do that the doctors may not advise him on (supplements etc.?) I was thinking that Gingko may be a good idea.

We are all very worried obviously.

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Report

GwendolineMaryLacey · 02/08/2011 10:27

Fingers tightly crossed, it's very very frightening for all involved, I know.

duchesse · 02/08/2011 17:50

He went in late (into surgery at noon French time)- still not out now... It's now nearly 7 French time.

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OnlyWantsOne · 02/08/2011 19:10

he'll be fine

mn hugs duchesse xxx

duchesse · 02/08/2011 19:33

He's out! We just got a call. Apparently he has woken up now and they were able to use one artery- both the others are knackered. He's lost the entire middle toe, but at least it's a middle one... Gone as well as could be expected, just very very long...

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MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 02/08/2011 19:58

I'm glad it was reasonably good news, hope he recovers quickly and I hope you're feeling better now he's out of surgery x

duchesse · 02/08/2011 23:38

Very relieved, thank you! It was supposed to be less than 5 hours and when it started to look more like 8 I was getting really worried. I think my stepmother only rang when he was properly out of the anaesthetic, hence the delay.

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jasper · 02/08/2011 23:43

hurray! GO Dad!

KurriKurri · 03/08/2011 13:29

So glad its done Duchesse - waiting for loved ones to come out of surgery is awful. Hope he makes as speedy a recovery as possible

duchesse · 11/10/2011 00:24

And...he's back in hospital as of today with another infection, in the little toe of the same foot this time. Looking like he might lose this one as well. The only good news to emerge from his visit to the clinic today is that the bypasses seem to be holding up well and his previously arteries are starting to function again. Although obviously not enough to keep the little toe free out of trouble.

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Anna1976 · 11/10/2011 10:38

Duchesse, I'm sorry to hear this. It's not unexpected. But I am pleased to hear that he's actually been seeing some doctors in the interim rather than just relying on TCP! How did he hold up with the temporary indignity of being in hospital? Were you all able to help him with his fear/pride etc?

duchesse · 11/10/2011 19:25

He is going to lose the toe. He hates the hospital, but to be honest he has been so lucky with his health (especially in view of the 30 units of alcohol a day for the last 40 years) that he has no idea about them. He knuckled down quite well to hospital routines in August- he was in for 3 weeks so plenty of time for them to get used to him.

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kunahero · 11/10/2011 19:37

Duchesse, Hi. Sorry to hear about your df. Hope he is bearing up well.

I run a foot health clinic and have some experience in this field and the outlook is not good for the rest of his foot I'm afraid. Gangrene is a very unpleasant condition and once someone has lost 1 toe to it then eventually they tend to lose them all slowly though this is not always the case.

I am a big believer in being upfront and honest with my clients and think that this is always the best policy even if it may not seem so at the time.

This is usually associated with type 2 diabetes, does he suffer with it? If he has consumed that amount of alcohol for the last 40 years then he is incredibly lucky to have gone this long without any other major health issues.

One of the best 'herbal' remedies for circulatory problems is garlic so living in france has probably saved his life!

Hope you are all coping. Best wishes.

duchesse · 11/10/2011 23:37

Bizarrely kuna, no, he seems to have not a trace of diabetes. They all manner of tests on him and even his liver is absolutely fine. It's incomprehensible really. He must have the constitution of an ox.

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duchesse · 13/10/2011 20:24

Quote of the day from df: "most people die all in one go, I'm doing it one bit at a time".

He had his op this afternoon. Haven't heard anything yet.

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kunahero · 13/10/2011 20:31

thats what I ilke to hear.. smiling and joking to the end.

My D mum was like that, when she had a terminal stroke she told my brother to go on his long planned holiday. He agrued saying 'what if something happens while i'm away' My mum replied ' you're a car mechanic, i dont need servicing. Stick me in the fridge and burn me when you get back'!!

try to stay strong.

duchesse · 14/10/2011 12:20

Spoke to him this morning. The nursing staff have looked at his new wound and apparently it's bleeding slightly, which is good news as it means that area is getting blood. So hopefully, given the lack of diabetes etc, that might be the end of the problems. ho-hum.

Your mother sounds a hoot, Kuna!

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kunahero · 14/10/2011 14:41

she was a hoot. we got thrown off the ward for laughing too much. She refused a funeral saying they are too morbid and however much we cried she wasnt coming back. No one was allowed to wear black at her thanksgiving service and she made sure she planned a party afterwards. She always wanted to die happy and she did which made it really easy for me.

Sorry to go on about dying when your dad seems to be doing so well. The bleeding is good news and hopefully he will make a full recovery soon.

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