Here’ a “Good News” update on Mom’s foot/leg!
It looks like the Amputation fear has possibly be overted! I took Aitan’s suggestion regarding the Hyperberic Chamber asked her vascular surgeon about it. He thought that it was a good idea and worth having her evaluated. I took her to the Hyperberic wound care clinic and was VERY pleased with the staff and facility! Mom was greeted and taken up to an operating room-type room where they ran tests on the oxygen level of her leg. It turns out she is doing great and did not need (nor qualify) for the Hyperberic Chamber! There were 5 people attending Mom including two doctors! They told me that the wound had reached a point to where they needed to remove the thick black eschar scab covering her wound as it was decaying & decomposing!! Yuk!! They numbed the area of her foot as I held her hand and her leg. They told me she shouldn't feel any pain as it was like cutting off your nails as it was dead skin. They proceeded to cut off the dead area and exposed a deep crevis in her heel and what look like yellow icky stuff which they told was her fat layer of her foot! The stench was unreal! EWWWWW!!! (Gross. . .I know. . .sorry!!) They were concerned I would pass out. . .but I didn't!!

During the entire process, Mom was constantly (and I DO mean constantly. . .) asking questions - interrupting them talking to me - wanting to know what this word meant, etc. She was really precious and melted everyone's hearts as she told me how much she loved me and what a wonderful daughter I was (her FAVORITE . . lol!) The woman doctor came over and gave her a great big hug asking if she could take Mom home with her! Mom said: "Sure!" lol! Anyway, the doctors and nurses all seemed VERY confident that they can heal Mom's foot but that it will take a long time. They said they had treated worse cases! So, that really set my mind at ease! They told me that she will need to have extreme care of her now "Open - deep" wound at the nursing home and come back to the clinic every week! Which is better than every day with the Hyperberic Chamber!

I took Mom again for her second treatment this week and low and behold. . .Her foot is beginning to show signs of healing and it has gotten smaller!!! HURRAY!!!
They said that she isn’t out of the woods yet and there’s still a lot of decay that they need to remove, but so far. . .so good!

Mom's Podiatrist, seemed a little skeptical and worried still about infection and wants to keep an eye on her wound as well. But I feel very confident with the wound care clinic as that is their specialty! She will be seen on a weekly basis by the wound care clinic, bi-weekly by her Podiatrist and every three weeks by the vascular surgeon Never bad to have too many doctors than not enough in my book!!

As I mentioned in Jackie & Kelly's post, I'm finding that I am both emotionally and physically exhausted each time I've taken Mom to her doctors and then out to lunch. I don't know if it's the physical activity of taking her in and out of the car and putting her into her wheelchair, the bathroom, etc., or the stress of dealing with the nursing home nurses, and all the doctors and then reports to all my sisters and brothers. First, it's an all day affair, driving to the NH is about a 30-45 minute drive one way, then I take her to the doctors, then out to eat and wheel her around at a mall or park just to get her outside. But the guilt plays havoc on me as well when she tells me she feels ashamed for being "in jail"! So I feel that somewhere inside, she feels like she is being punished . . and it goes on from there! So, by the time I get home, I just crash and have to take a nap! Not really complaining. . .just wish I had more energy or more help. Sisters and brothers all live in other cities - hours away. We've been invited to my stepdaughter's house for Thanksgiving, but my sister in Tampa said she couldn't come get Mom, so I guess we'll stay home so Mom will have a place to have Thanksgiving.

My very special heartfelt “THANKS” goes out to Aitan for his suggestions of the Hyperberic Chamber! Your suggestion may have very well saved my mother’s leg!! God Bless you!! Can I adopt you?? lol! And my heartfelt thanks to ALL of you - my dear friends on this board who are constant with your love and care and advice! I am SO blessed to have you in my life and that of my mother's! You ALL helped save her! THANK YOU!!

Connie-
I'm so happy to hear your mom is doing better, and that the treatments are working.
Hugs to you both, and to Aitan for the suggestions.

Connie,

That is such good news, Thank God!

I know what you mean about exhaustion, it really can get to you after awhile. It is not only physical Connie, it is very much mental exhaustion, especially any guilt part. I don't have Mom saying anything about jail, but she keeps on telling me she wants to go "home" and should have never moved in with me. It's like taking the knife and twisting it when you hear them talk that way. But I guess we just have to understand that it is not them speaking, just the AD. That's the hardest part.

So do exactly what your doing now. Go home and crash and take that nap. I have never been a nap person, but I have to say, lately, that couch has been looking and feeling really good, so I just go ahead and nap. It's either that, or I will tear my hair out from exhaustion.

The way I figure, if I don't rest, and stay somewhat healthy, who the heck is going to take care of Mom? So rest when you can. And start complaining a bit more to your siblings. Maybe they can figure out to come and take a little pressure off you once in awhile. With six of them, geez, each one of them would only have to come once a year! I wasn't a complainer with my brother and sister, but I have to say, I sure am now. Seems like they have gotten the hint more than before. You might want to start a discussion with all of them, and just see if they can figure out a little something for you to give you a break, especially with holidays approaching. They have to realize that your husband has a family also that he should be seeing, and its not fair to him to start missing holidays.

I just have a hard time understanding why our siblings can't realize how much work and mental strain this is on us, and why we need to tell them how hard it is. It is there Mothers also. What are they thinking?

Jackie

Oh Connie, I am jumping for joy. What wonderful news.

Of course you are exhausted sweetie. You are doing so much under such difficult circumstances. I agree with Jackie, get on that family of yours for some help.

Yayyyy Connie!
And kudos to our very own "hero-guy"--Aitan!
Carol

Thanks "Ya'll"! lol! Yes. . .I lived in Atlanta, GA for 16 years and those southern roots grew and have stayed with me!

But thank you for all your supportive well wishing for my Mom! It truly IS a miracle. . .one I hope will continue! I truly believe that it is all your support and prayers that have not only helped her, but me as well. Those positive thoughts and prayers trickle down and help so many people. I guess you could call it "Paying it forward"! And I can't TELL you how grateful I am to you all!

Please DO keep those prayers for her and I will do the same for you and your loved ones! Now that we're somewhat over this hump, hopefully I can be more active on this board to help others as well!

You all are wearing "Halos" in my eyes! God Bless you! I will continue to keep you posted and will let my mother know she has a lot of angels watching over her! It will make her day!

.. . .So where's my hero Aitan??

Thanks for the update Connie! I'm glad for the good news!

Go Aitan!!!

Kat

Hey Connie, I'm here! So glad to hear your mom's foot is doing better. The description sounded really bad, but I am happy that they were able to save it. I knew about the hyperbaric chamber therapy because I had a homeless patient once who was complaining of heel pain, and when I removed his wet sock I found half of his heal was gone! I asked him what the deal was, and he said that he had diabetes and a small cut turned into a poorly healed, gaping wound. I found out later that the hyperbaric chamber helped his foot. Definitely put a smile on my face today. Thanks

Thanks everyone! Good to hear from you too, Aitan! May I just say that I have come to realize (AGAIN!) that you just can't rely on the opinion of one doctor! And going to a specialist in that field is absolutely the way to go! (Speaking about my mother's open wound and the wound care clinic!) My mother's podiatrist, although very good in his field and had treated these kinds of wounds before, was an expert in the entire foot and not specifically with wounds. He was telling me that Mom's foot was getting worse and we are getting closer to looking at amputation. While her Vascular Surgeon, was saying that before we came to the point of amputation, he would do the angioplasty or bypass surgery. Yet nothing was even mentioned by either of these doctors about the Hyperberic Chamber or the wound care clinic??!! I don't get that! Are these doctors SOOO worried about losing revenue from their patients and they would risk them losing a limb to keep them? Or is it that they just have tunnel vision?! I have to tell you. . .it's SCARY!! I guess doctors are so specialized that they can't know everything that is out there. We REALLY have to do our homework and make sure we get 2nd, 3rd and 4th opinions!

But then. . .there's also the power of the "Many" and the arms that reach out to all those "Angels" looking out for us that lead us in the right direction! So, thank you - - with ALL my heart for ALL your help! You ALL are a God-send! You really are!

God Bless you!

Connie

P. S. Aitan. . .don't ever lose that compassion you have in people! It's a very rare and special trait! And it separates you from all (. . .most) the rest of the docs!

That's fantastic news! I remember when this whole thing started, and by the time it's done it will have been a long journey indeed. I'm glad it's finally on the up swing.

Ah - I just heard the news. My condolences.