Re: Medical negligence : Tue Aug 19, 2014 10:53 pm  

p1nkyw1nky1 wrote: To be fair though , the problem is normally only in the limbs . The difficulty can be distinguishing between an alergic reaction and an inflammatory response to infection or some autoimmune issues. I think this is why you have been given IV antibiotics in the past. The reaction being limited to the limbs suggests inflammatory response. I am assuming you have seen rheumatology specialists? If your symptoms were at the same time as or just after something like a sore throat that could indicate a strep related response for example. I have been through this for the last few years with my daughter and after seeing some pretty top level specialists (and having some frustrating trips to casualty) the facts in some cases are that it can be incredibly difficult to diagnose and treat inflammatory responses. They can re-occur randomly long after any initial trigger, eventually dissipate (as in the case of my daughter) or become more severe after exposure to another stimulus or just spontaneously. I had some understanding as I develop the tools (and train people to use them) many researchers and medics use to study inflammatory responses in a wide range of disease states. In my daughter's case it was probably a reaction to strep that caused the main reaction and then after that the rest were aftershocks due to hypersensitivity to the bug. Eventually it died down and stopped. In your case it looks more serious. My daughter was at the point of being prescribed penicillin for the forseeable future (strep is extremely sensitive to penicillin). That did not happen as rheumatic fever was eventually ruled out. It is important you are given treatment - especially if it's related to an infection. Something like systemic strep can destroy the heart valves as well as cause other complications. Can't comment on the legal stuff, been there with my nephew, total nightmare. Hope they sort you out. My daughter presented with classic rheumatic fever symptoms but the repeated antibody tests were all negative, the echo cardiogram was also negative. It can be very difficult to nail these things down. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheumatic_fever

p1nkyw1nky1 wrote: To be fair though , the problem is normally only in the limbs . The difficulty can be distinguishing between an alergic reaction and an inflammatory response to infection or some autoimmune issues. I think this is why you have been given IV antibiotics in the past. The reaction being limited to the limbs suggests inflammatory response. I am assuming you have seen rheumatology specialists? If your symptoms were at the same time as or just after something like a sore throat that could indicate a strep related response for example. I have been through this for the last few years with my daughter and after seeing some pretty top level specialists (and having some frustrating trips to casualty) the facts in some cases are that it can be incredibly difficult to diagnose and treat inflammatory responses. They can re-occur randomly long after any initial trigger, eventually dissipate (as in the case of my daughter) or become more severe after exposure to another stimulus or just spontaneously. I had some understanding as I develop the tools (and train people to use them) many researchers and medics use to study inflammatory responses in a wide range of disease states. In my daughter's case it was probably a reaction to strep that caused the main reaction and then after that the rest were aftershocks due to hypersensitivity to the bug. Eventually it died down and stopped. In your case it looks more serious. My daughter was at the point of being prescribed penicillin for the forseeable future (strep is extremely sensitive to penicillin). That did not happen as rheumatic fever was eventually ruled out. It is important you are given treatment - especially if it's related to an infection. Something like systemic strep can destroy the heart valves as well as cause other complications. Can't comment on the legal stuff, been there with my nephew, total nightmare. Hope they sort you out. My daughter presented with classic rheumatic fever symptoms but the repeated antibody tests were all negative, the echo cardiogram was also negative. It can be very difficult to nail these things down. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheumatic_fever

Re: Medical negligence : Wed Aug 20, 2014 10:17 pm  

No way can I afford to fund a solicitor . Looks like my best route if I were to take that course would be a 'no win no fee' , and stick to my morals and donate anything awarded to me to a suitable charitable cause .

DHM .. They have me in for a few hours . Give me IV on a drip . Then they send me home with all the plumbing in my arm to return next day for some more of the same . Then I am sent home with flucloxywotsit tablets and a letter for the doctor .
So far this year my list is as follows
23rd May Left arm
7th June left elbow
25th June both arms
21th July head
27th July right hand
29th July left wrist and neck
3rd August right hand
6th August right hand
8th August neck
10th August ears/left side of neck
14th august whole of neck and head

They say it is cellulitis . I have read up as much as I can on the subject . Most items I have read regarding recurrence suggest that if you get it once you are likely to get it again . BUT . The average time before it comes back for a second bite is three years . I have had it two or three times a year for around six years . This year has been particularly bad for me . This thing hurts like hell . I am a mechanic/welder by trade , so I can cope with a fair bit of pain . I have had a fair few burns over the years , but none compare to the pain of this . I could only compare it to how I imagine it would feel to dunk your arm in a chip pan .
I am at Chapel Allerton for some tests in the morning . I am so hoping they can finally tell me what causes it and how I can avoid it in the future .

When I get home I will be having cake . It's my birthday . Can't have a beer , so will have to have extra cake .

.

Re: Medical negligence : Wed Aug 20, 2014 10:30 pm  

p1nkyw1nky1 wrote:

They say it is cellulitis . I have read up as much as I can on the subject . Most items I have read regarding recurrence suggest that if you get it once you are likely to get it again . BUT . The average time before it comes back for a second bite is three years . I have had it two or three times a year for around six years . This year has been particularly bad for me . This thing hurts like hell . I am a mechanic/welder by trade , so I can cope with a fair bit of pain . I have had a fair few burns over the years , but none compare to the pain of this . I could only compare it to how I imagine it would feel to dunk your arm in a chip pan .

I contracted cellulitis in January 1995.

Initially I thought i had flu, I was running a fever and my MD sent me home. The following day it manifested itself as what looked like a scald on my shin, the day after that I struggled to get physically out of bed, I couldn't bear to put weight on my leg.

I wouldn't wish it on anyone, It took me months to get anywhere close to normal mobility

Re: Medical negligence : Thu Aug 21, 2014 10:10 am  

p1nkyw1nky1 wrote:

No way can I afford to fund a solicitor . Looks like my best route if I were to take that course would be a 'no win no fee' ,

Legal Aid is still available for medical negligence, if you qualify.

p1nkyw1nky1 wrote:

and stick to my morals and donate anything awarded to me to a suitable charitable cause .
.

If you don't mind me saying, that is muddled thinking. If you really don't want the money, then it seems just wrong to cost the NHS maybe tens thousands of pounds in legal costs just to effectively force them to transfer more taxpayers' money from their budget to some charity of your choice.

You want the money, claim. I have no problem with that. You don't want the money, stick to the complaint routes aimed at doing something to try to save others from suffering any similar errors. There's at least a point to that.

Re: Medical negligence : Thu Aug 21, 2014 3:20 pm  

Been to hospital today . Was expecting to have some tests done , but it turned out to be more of an informal interview . We discussed my history with my problem , and plans for future action .
The doctor was very helpful , and seemed genuinely concerned . I actually feel like I could finally be on track to finding the cause .
He didn't actually do any tests , but has given me an 'any-time appointment' .
He said there was nothing he could do today because (un)fortunately I am having a few days free of the infection . I have to call the hospital at the first sign of a problem and go in immediately/ASAP for biopsy .
To me that sounds like a man that really does want to help me .

He gave me advice about making a complaint , and was shocked that it has taken so long for me to get referred to his department . I will be following his advice and have booked to see somebody at my local GP's surgery to discuss my issues .

Coddy . If you have suffered it only once you have been very fortunate . I too wouldn't wish it on anyone . Having been there and had a taste of it I guess you have an idea why I feel that it is a matter of urgency that I get some help to try and prevent it biting me so often . When I had it in my legs I was sent home with crutches . They were of no use whatsoever as it isn't a muscular/skeletal problem . There is little or no pain if the leg ( or arm ) is elevated . It is when you stand up , or put your arm down by your side that the problems start . Would I be correct in thinking that you could actually walk a few steps when you had cellulitis , but by about the tenth step it felt like you had stepped in a fire ? Excruciating doesn't even come close to describing the pain .

Thanks everyone for the advice . I appreciate it . I really had no idea where to start , what to do , or where to turn . I knew you ladies on here would know what to do .

Cheers

BaldRick

Re: Medical negligence : Thu Aug 21, 2014 5:17 pm  

p1nkyw1nky1 wrote:

Coddy . If you have suffered it only once you have been very fortunate . I too wouldn't wish it on anyone . Having been there and had a taste of it I guess you have an idea why I feel that it is a matter of urgency that I get some help to try and prevent it biting me so often . When I had it in my legs I was sent home with crutches . They were of no use whatsoever as it isn't a muscular/skeletal problem . There is little or no pain if the leg ( or arm ) is elevated . It is when you stand up , or put your arm down by your side that the problems start . Would I be correct in thinking that you could actually walk a few steps when you had cellulitis , but by about the tenth step it felt like you had stepped in a fire ? Excruciating doesn't even come close to describing the pain .

It was something similar, I also suffered from dizzy spells too but once the leg was elevated, the pain subsided.

I was intially misdiagnosed and given some piss-poor antibiotics, these were changed the following day and when I returned the day after that, I was told then that if they hadn't started working I was going to be hospitalised. There were two distinct lines that were tracking from my lower leg towards my groin. Another side effect was personal smell, my breath, sweat, saliva and urine absolutely reeked.

Re: Medical negligence : Thu Aug 21, 2014 5:40 pm  

i was unaware about the tracking until one of my visits to the LGI A&E Dept . I think it was my third time with cellulitis . I was expecting tablets and a ticket home . The nurse said she had one final test to do before she would clear me to go home . She pointed out the red line that was on my my arm pointing from my elbow to my armpit . She put a finger in my armpit and applied a bit of pressure . I nearly went through the ceiling . That was the first time i was made aware how dangerous it can be if it spreads to lymph nodes and was on a Sunday morning . I was offered a choice of either a bed on the CDU ward , or permission to go home. It was made clear to me that if I made the choice to go home I would probably be dead by Thursday .
I chose the hospitality offered on CDU and spent four nights in there on IV antibiotics .
I was told that the foul smell is due to dehydration . The result of the IV ABs clearing out the bad stuff is a condition that can be best described as ass-pi55ing . You could dump through the eye of a needle , but not without also spraying the whole sewing box and the immediate surrounding area .

Re: Medical negligence : Thu Aug 21, 2014 6:37 pm  

p1nkyw1nky1 wrote:

. I was offered a choice of either a bed on the CDU ward , or permission to go home. It was made clear to me that if I made the choice to go home I would probably be dead by Thursday .
I chose the hospitality offered on CDU and spent four nights in there on IV antibiotics .

Ah yes, good old NHS "Choices"

WTF happened to clinicians making the fooking decisions? After all, they are supposed to be expert or at least a damn sight more experienced than Joe Public.

p1nkyw1nky1 wrote:

I was told that the foul smell is due to dehydration . The result of the IV ABs clearing out the bad stuff is a condition that can be best described as ass-pi55ing . You could dump through the eye of a needle , but not without also spraying the whole sewing box and the immediate surrounding area .

The moste embarassing moment for me was getting a blowie off a girl, I honestly thought she was going to puke her ring up.

Strangely, I never heard from her again

Re: Medical negligence : Thu Aug 21, 2014 7:27 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Legal Aid is still available for medical negligence, if you qualify.

I was of the impression that since LASPO legal aid for medical negligence has gone completely, unless children or unborn babies are involved; but I might be wrong?

Even if it hasn't gone completely, the chances of getting it are somewhere between slim and none.

Re: Medical negligence : Thu Aug 21, 2014 7:50 pm  

The Video Ref wrote:

I was of the impression that since LASPO legal aid for medical negligence has gone completely, unless children or unborn babies are involved; but I might be wrong?

Even if it hasn't gone completely, the chances of getting it are somewhere between slim and none.

Good old Tories: "Justice for all, so long as you can afford it"