So... Is the pedicure lady over-reacting or am I being silly?

[JoKalsbeek]

Hey folks,

Something's been bugging me since last week, and I can't seem to decide on how to feel about it. What do you think, yea or nay?

Basically, I have spent my life having difficult feet, and avoiding medical care. When I was in my early twenties, I hobbled around on an infected ingrown toenail for three years before seeking help. (It had happened before then, in my teens, but I always managed to pick the offending nail out eventually, after a month or so). My dad had the same toe-issues, so it's no surprise I've since had multiple surgeries for the same problem, as he had, on both big toes, and all surgeries were botched when it came to searing the wound with acid. Something always grew back, and with no nail bed, but the nail thinking there should be one... Yeah. It's been problematic. And more surgeries would just mean the same issue coming up again, and again, as it has before. So it's safe to say I'm an old hand at dealing with this, and at one point I asked a pedicure for help, because I couldn't do it anymore. Eyesight going and whatnot, as I got older. She's been amazing and has kept me on my feet for years. But, me being me, after every visit I end up with little infections which last about a week. That says everything about me, nothing about my pedicure, as it doesn't matter who I let at my feet or how many years of diabetic foot care they have under their belts: It always happens. (The first pedicure I ever saw didn't believe me, and took it personally. I've taken pictures of every red, oozing toe ever since. I do NOT appreciate being called a liar.)

So my usual pedicure lady is on hiatus due to personal reasons, and the last time we saw one another, those issues kept her head in another place while she worked on my feet, which meant a few slips here and there. I don't blame her at all, I'm not sure how she managed to open up shop at all really, but rather than the usual one-week recovery period, this time my toe went "whelp, let's see how you do when you have no-one to help you!" and it went ugly for over a month. So I got in touch with the podiatrist's practice, and they have a pedicurist who could see me and try to get my toe sorted. (Yes, I did send along a pic. The photo-reel on my phone is absolutely lovely. Blood and cats. It balances somehow. )

She was horrified at the state of my feet... To me, they were actually pretty good, considering... But she immediately went to the diabetes thing. How long had I been diabetic? (10 years diagnosed, but long before that). Every single wound to my feet, every little nick, is a risk of amputation. I could lose my toes, my feet, more... I said my blood sugar control, bloodflow etc were excellent, no neuropathy, but she wasn't having it. I shouldn't be walking on these feet. Now, as she stuck a scalpel in she was muttering about being worried about the wound, but not able to do anything other than this at this stage, and kept going on about walking... I can't walk. Uh, yeah, after having a knife stuck in there I couldn't, had to ask my mum-in-law to pick me up and drive me home (a 1,7k walk back wasn't going to happen), but she meant all the time... She did say she couldn't absolutely forbid me to walk, but especially long distances were realistically absolutely out of the question "with your feet and diabetes". I explained I can't cycle due to joint/muscle issues, can't drive because of the AuDHD, too terrified of people to get into public transport (which in our area would mean taking 2 hours for a 10 minute drive), so walking is all I have. "But no long distances!" I asked what she considered long.

Eight, maybe ten kilometers.

Oh.

As some here know, I've been training to get my calf/ankle back to good after injury sustained in April, actually bought a treadmill and due to that, I was just hitting 10k without being laid up the next day. (I can do 10 with an ankle brace, 7 to 8 without one.). I made it to my first goal, being able to keep up with my long-distance walking in-laws during a midweek in the south of the Netherlands, and I felt I kept up pretty well, in spite of a sore toe complicating matters... No nights laying awake in pain, yay! Next goal was a fox workshop where I'd be walking about 15k on uneven terrain to photograph foxes in their natural habitat, which I haven't dared re-book yet... (Was originally supposed to happen the week my ankle first gave out). The next goal was doing an average of 15k for about 9 days straight in London in September (granted, we booked 9 days so if there was rest required, I could). I have an amazing physical therapist advising me on achieving those goals, it's not like I'm just winging it for a change. And now she says I "can't" walk long distances, or rather, would do so against her very pressing advice, because AAAAMPUUTAAAATIONNNN!!! That would mean that after decades of being too afraid to leave the house on my own, my only independant mode of transportation and hard-won, relatively recent ability to go outside these past 7 years or so, would be taken away. Might as well schackle me to the radiator. We're at the edge of our town, so the hospital, GP, pedicure, physical therapist, they're all a decent walk from here. I'd have to ask others for a drive constantly. Which feels like an over-my-dead-body situation to me.

I get infections easily. I heal slowly. That's been a fact of life for me throughout, long, long before diabetes even became an issue. I feel them though... It's not like I'll let an ulcer or something get out of hand because I can't tell it's there. Not likely to get ulcers either, as my blood flow is excellent, and these days my feet get looked after about once a month... I just get wounds during nail care, because my nails aren't shaped the way they should be, especially not after repeated surgeries. (And sometimes my cracked heels will be a bit angry, too.).

At the moment the toe is healing. I asked the GP for an antibiotic cream and that sped up the process considerably. It's still a bit sore of course, but the inflammation is visibly receding and there's no buckets of pus and blood in my shoes anymore. It's looking like it's headed in the right direction, not so different as it would look after surgery. I guess with a scalpel involved as well as a tiny little curette, and her doing much the same a doc would in the process, but without numbing, it pretty much was surgery, for all intents and purposes. Isn't it lovely when someone picks up a scalpel, pauses a moment and asks "Are you afraid of pain?". Uh, it's not my hobby, but needs must and all that...

What do you think? I'm not asking for medical advice, just, reading all this backstory, do you feel the interim-pedicurist may be overreacting and assuming all diabetics are created equal? That good blood sugar control, no neuropathy, and good blood flow count for absolutely nothing? Because she sounded like my toes were all already black and the gangrene halfway up my leg. Honestly, I've had worse toe-issues in the past, than I do now, and they're all still present and accounted for! Wriggly, crooked and ugly, but all little piggies are still there and oinking!

I desperately need to be able to walk. Not just for my physical health, but my mental one, too... But if I am so much at risk as she says I am? I do think she's over-reacting, but at the same time I don't know whether I'm just being stubborn to the point of stupidity.

Am I stupid? Or has she, in her carreer, just seen so many diabetics derail and lose feet, that she might be overly concerned in this case?

Again, not asking for medical advice, not really. Just want to know whether I'm a silly git.
Thanks!
Jo

 

[Pipp]

Seek another professional opinion, @JoKalsbeek .
That is what I did when my private podiatrist recommended removal of a toenail, with complete eradication of any regrowth, because she said it was likely to cause infections possibly leading to amputation etc. The treatment recommended would have cost me hundreds of pounds for the surgery, and subsequent dressing appointments and checks. Also, it wasn’t guaranteed that the nail would never grow back.
I chose to go to a different podiatrist, who has trimmed and treated the damaged nail, and it gives no trouble now.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Seek another professional opinion, @JoKalsbeek .
That is what I did when my private podiatrist recommended removal of a toenail, with complete eradication of any regrowth, because she said it was likely to cause infections possibly leading to amputation etc. The treatment recommended would have cost me hundreds of pounds for the surgery, and subsequent dressing appointments and checks. Also, it wasn’t guaranteed that the nail would never grow back.
I chose to go to a different podiatrist, who has trimmed and treated the damaged nail, and it gives no trouble now.

The podiatrist in the practice saw me a few weeks before this happened, and my toe when it wasn't half bad... She considered it under control at that moment, -knowing ingrowns are an issue for me- as long as I kept pedicure appointments going, which I have, and she didn't say anything about not walking as much. They know walking is my thing, it's in the file. We discuss what shoes to wear, stopping never even came up! Just got complemented on glucose control, checked the pulse and sensitivity in my feet and called it all excellent. I might've inadvertently already gotten that second opinion, then... Hmm. The toe isn't acting any different than the many other ingrowns I've had over the years. I'd just never seen this pedicure lady before, and she doesn't know my feet as well. (Or at all, really).

Stuff to mull over. Thank you. She mentioned going to a city down south to get the toes done "properly" far as surgery goes... With a waiting list I have no time for at the moment, too much going on with other medical appointments. (Would likely be covered by my insurance though, there's that...) And it'd take a few weeks to heal, and no guarantee, like you said, it'd stay off. If it's a surgery I can avoid, I will! Good on you for getting it sorted elsewhere. All medical pedicures in my town have waitinglists as long as my arm, and there's only one podiatrist practice here I can get to by myself... Anything else'd be the next city over. But with a bit of luck, my regular pedicure'll be sorted again soon. Fingers crossed she'll be able to set up shop before July is over...!

Anyway, again, thanks for the input... And I am glad things got sorted for you!
Jo

 

[Pipp]

Just for clarity, @JoKalsbeek . Have you been seeing a qualified podiatrist? In UK they are highly trained registered healthcare professionals. Sometimes called chiropodists.

Not sure of the system in Nederland.

The distinction here in UK is that pedicures can be done by somebody without having to go through the rigorous training to become registered. Sometimes that is just a short course at a further education college, and they sometimes call themselves pedicurists. I would never let the latter advise me on foot health, or use any other instrument on my feet that a nail polish brush.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Just for clarity, @JoKalsbeek . Have you been seeing a qualified podiatrist? In UK they are highly trained registered healthcare professionals. Sometimes called chiropodists.

Not sure of the system in Nederland.

The distinction here in UK is that pedicures can be done by somebody without having to go through the rigorous training to become registered. Sometimes that is just a short course at a further education college, and they sometimes call themselves pedicurists. I would never let the latter advise me on foot health, or use any other instrument on my feet that a nail polish brush.

Oh, there's the regular can-do-anyone pedicures here, who have no waitinglists to speak of. But the ones who are qualified to work on people with diabetes, rheumatism etc are registered with something that's called ProVoet (ProFoot), and they're sown rather thin, alas. If someone is unregistered with them, I wouldn't be getting 75% or so of the care funded by my insurance. So yes, these people should know what they're doing.

 

[Antje77]

I absolutely hate it when HCPs throw in diabetes as a cause for whatever ails me (yes, I'm looking at you, last year's neurologist, and I've had a couple of others do it as well).
Usually they shut up and sometimes apologise when I ask: "Oh. I've been told by my endo that diabetic complications are caused by prolonged high and fluctuating bg. Everything I've read says the same. Can you please explain how having diabetes but normal, below prediabetic numbers can cause <insert ailment>".

I think that the problem is that podiatrists, neurologists, GPs, rheumatologists etc. have been taught some about diabetic complications, and especially the foot and nerve people see diabetic damage every day.
They haven't been taught about diabetics with non diabetic numbers, we're a very rare breed outside this forum and diabetes isn't their specialty.

So no, I wouldn't think you risk on amputation is much higher because of our diabetes. Although it likely still is a little higher: Should we get a raging infection, it could be that our bg goes up by a lot, which impairs healing, which increases bg even more and so on and so forth.
This risk is of course higher with diabetics who don't think to test bg when something's off, but it isn't zero for us.

If it were me, I'd go with the opinion of your long standing pedicure, plus the opinion of your physio and keep walking while keeping a close eye on those pesky toes.
Maybe show them to your GP as well to see what she thinks for peace of mind.
This part seems pretty relevant to me:

Hmm. The toe isn't acting any different than the many other ingrowns I've had over the years.

Now, as she stuck a scalpel in she was muttering about being worried about the wound, but not able to do anything other than this at this stage

Interesting. I saw a pedicure (with the extra allowance for treating diabetes) once for a spot of callus that was bothering me. She scraped off a little but left most, still thick enough to bother me because "she wasn't allowed to go any deeper with diabetics, and I had to see my GP instead if I wanted anything else done", again, didn't matter that my numbers were non diabetic. Yeah, thanks for still having me pay for the appointment with no help.
Very surprised that yours is allowed to actually create wounds!

Off topic, but I did indeed go back to my GP where I got an appointment with the physician assistant and got exactly the treatment I needed, accompanied by lots of laughter. It did bleed a little, wound care advice was to abstain from walking barefoot in my dirty garden for a day or two.

 

[Melgar]

Not wishing to derail @JoKalsbeek 's thread. @Antje77 you can buy electric callus removers. They sell them on Amazon. I use one as I get callus' due to all the hiking I do. I wouldn't be without one.

 

[Resurgam]

My father's mother nicked herself when removing hard skin from her feet and although she lasted a few more years that was the first infection and it ended very badly.
These days I rub an antiseptic cream into my toes before cutting my nails, and then again afterwards, as I got cellulitis soon after cutting my toe nails - and I did not cut anything but the nail, and I don't cut them short, but the second time was too much of a coincidence. Since using the cream I have had no further infections.
I need to moisturise or oil my toenails or they roll inwards and would dig in if I cut them short. I take a small amount of the cream or oil out of the container and do not return it - something from way back - my father's mother's family were nurses midwives and herbalists and they were aware of infection lurking on the surface of creams and lotions. They were credited with saving fingers and limbs in the South Yorkshire coalfields where injuries were commonplace and infections deadly.

 

[Antje77]

Not wishing to derail @JoKalsbeek 's thread. @Antje77 you can buy electric callus removers. They sell them on Amazon. I use one as I get callus' due to all the hiking I do. I wouldn't be without one.

Pretty sure the package of every over the counter trick for removing calluses has a large warning against diabetics using them. Which makes sense if the diabetic has a bit of neuropathy and can't feel what they're doing.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I absolutely hate it when HCPs throw in diabetes as a cause for whatever ails me (yes, I'm looking at you, last year's neurologist, and I've had a couple of others do it as well).
Usually they shut up and sometimes apologise when I ask: "Oh. I've been told by my endo that diabetic complications are caused by prolonged high and fluctuating bg. Everything I've read says the same. Can you please explain how having diabetes but normal, below prediabetic numbers can cause <insert ailment>".

I think that the problem is that podiatrists, neurologists, GPs, rheumatologists etc. have been taught some about diabetic complications, and especially the foot and nerve people see diabetic damage every day.
They haven't been taught about diabetics with non diabetic numbers, we're a very rare breed outside this forum and diabetes isn't their specialty.

So no, I wouldn't think you risk on amputation is much higher because of our diabetes. Although it likely still is a little higher: Should we get a raging infection, it could be that our bg goes up by a lot, which impairs healing, which increases bg even more and so on and so forth.
This risk is of course higher with diabetics who don't think to test bg when something's off, but it isn't zero for us.

If it were me, I'd go with the opinion of your long standing pedicure, plus the opinion of your physio and keep walking while keeping a close eye on those pesky toes.
Maybe show them to your GP as well to see what she thinks for peace of mind.
This part seems pretty relevant to me:


Interesting. I saw a pedicure (with the extra allowance for treating diabetes) once for a spot of callus that was bothering me. She scraped off a little but left most, still thick enough to bother me because "she wasn't allowed to go any deeper with diabetics, and I had to see my GP instead if I wanted anything else done", again, didn't matter that my numbers were non diabetic. Yeah, thanks for still having me pay for the appointment with no help.
Very surprised that yours is allowed to actually create wounds!

Off topic, but I did indeed go back to my GP where I got an appointment with the physician assistant and got exactly the treatment I needed, accompanied by lots of laughter. It did bleed a little, wound care advice was to abstain from walking barefoot in my dirty garden for a day or two.

Well, granted, the wound was already there, she just made it bigger to be able to pick stuff out and relieve pressure from the nail into the wound. (So it went from just my nailbed being an infected mess, to cutting a millimeter or two off the nail from top to bottom. So yeah, in the live tissue under the nail along the side of it. Scraped debris from the wound, fresh and old as well.). And with my cracked heels I've had scalpels on my callouses quite often, though my regular pedicurist uses a Dremel-ish device these days. With a scalpel the crack would tear into the life flesh too, and tear, with the dremel she can't do as much, but infections and wounds are less frequent. No-one ever believed me before her, though. "This can't hurt, the skin is dead, you're just afraid I'll hurt you, no're not actually hurting!!!" That it wouldn't bleed until I'd walked home on it didn't help, they never daw the damage they did, or believed the tears ripped into live flesh when they worked on the dead skin. It wasn't the knife I felt, it was a little deeper... That's why I love Naomi so much. When I tell her something, she believes me without photographic evidence; she's seen what my feet can do these past years. She knows my feet, and what they can handle. Silly question, but did the pedicure you saw about your feet have a ProVoet licence? Because the regular kind has to stay well away from cutting callouses off too deep, but a medical one should be able to... Your GP could also get you some very strong ureum cream -the over the counter stuff can be rather useless if there's a lot of it- that might help as well, should it start to return.

I know, the risk isn't zero... But I also know when to call in the cavalry. And I will, even if I am more afraid of calling than people cutting into me without numbing.

Hugs,
Jo

 

[JoKalsbeek]

My father's mother nicked herself when removing hard skin from her feet and although she lasted a few more years that was the first infection and it ended very badly.
These days I rub an antiseptic cream into my toes before cutting my nails, and then again afterwards, as I got cellulitis soon after cutting my toe nails - and I did not cut anything but the nail, and I don't cut them short, but the second time was too much of a coincidence. Since using the cream I have had no further infections.
I need to moisturise or oil my toenails or they roll inwards and would dig in if I cut them short. I take a small amount of the cream or oil out of the container and do not return it - something from way back - my father's mother's family were nurses midwives and herbalists and they were aware of infection lurking on the surface of creams and lotions. They were credited with saving fingers and limbs in the South Yorkshire coalfields where injuries were commonplace and infections deadly.

Antiseptic cream... That sounds like a plan!

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Pretty sure the package of every over the counter trick for removing calluses has a large warning against diabetics using them. Which makes sense if the diabetic has a bit of neuropathy and can't feel what they're doing.

Yeah... Not allowed if you're of the sweet variety. Mind you, I did go too far once with one of those Veet things, and that got nasty too.... But that was before T2 rolled around. That could've been a problem, so slow and steady, if you do decide to go there.

 

[Antje77]

Silly question, but did the pedicure you saw about your feet have a ProVoet licence?

I have no idea what her license was called but she was a medical pedicure actually working in a hospital, and I know she had the thing for diabetics or she would have refused to treat me.
And don't worry about my feet, it's just a small spot on one of my toes sometimes bothering me. Not buying something fancy for that, and definitely not doing cream! (Yuck, no cream or lotion anywhere on my body. Someone applied some sun cream to my leg last week, no warning. It felt so icky that I had to go swimming again, despite just having gotten dressed.)

Mind you, I did go too far once with one of those Veet things, and that got nasty too.... But that was before T2 rolled around. That could've been a problem, so slow and steady, if you do decide to go there.

I'm afraid I do far worse stuff on a regular base...

 

[Pipp]

@JoKalsbeek . Have you ever been given aftercare instructions when you have had nail surgery?
It should include how to clean the wound with salt water, and how long to carry on with this. Also keeping wound covered with clean dressings, until the dressings have no discharge from wound on them.
It is sensible not to wear shoes that put pressure on the toes while the wounds healing. It would hurt a lot and the pressure from walking would irritate. So walking at a minimum until better, which could take several weeks. I remember my son having nail surgery as a teenager. He didn’t want to miss school, which had strict uniform policy, and wouldn’t allow any other footwear but closed leather shoes to be worn. He refused to miss school, particularly the 2 mile walk to and from there with friends, which was the highlight of his day. We made him wear sandals, but carry shoes to wear in school. Of course, as he didn’t have diabetes, he didn’t need to take the extra care that those of us who have do.

I digress. The point I am trying to make is that you ought to have been given information such as this…
https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/patient-information/patient-leaflets/podiatry-nail-surgery-dressing?q=/patient-information/patient-leaflets/podiatry-nail-surgery-dressing.

Also, could it be that the podiatry clinician didn’t mean you should never walk distances? Just for the healing period, which would make sense, as even though you have no neuropathy, and well managed diabetes, there could be the possibility of further damage or prolonging the healing phase, by the pressure on your toes through walking shoes. This in turn could mean infections take longer to heal.

Hopefully your toes will heal after rest and you will be able to pick up the walking again. I would certainly be seeking another professional opinion if I had concerns. Those of us with diabetes , even so well managed, are a bit vulnerable and feet need looking after.


Edit typo

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I digress. The point I am trying to make is that you ought to have been given information such as this…
https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/patient-information/patient-leaflets/podiatry-nail-surgery-dressing?q=/patient-information/patient-leaflets/podiatry-nail-surgery-dressing.

The last surgery was a few years ago, and wound care advice I got then, turns out to be rather out-dated... So yes, I got a whole new set of instructions that I have been following: luke-warm water, gently washed over the site etc, rather than absolutely bathing it in peroxide and an enzyme-rich detergent Dutch people, including myself, have sworn by for infection-care baths for many, many decades. Seems it destroys the fresh structures trying to heal the wound... Who knew? No chemical burn this time because that wasn't going to happen without numbing, which she can't use. Funny, a scalpel isn't a problem, but a q-tip of acid is a bridge too far? I keep hearing her say "Are you afraid of pain?", like some Spanish Inquisition movie. So the no-acid thing should mean the wound won't take anywhere near as long to heal as a surgery in the GP's or hospital would have. Stacks of hypo-allergenic, very soft band-aids have been delivered as well, so I haven't run out yet. Keeping my foot elevated as much as possible because this being the lowest point of my body, the pressure/gravity of blood puts pressure on the wound. So I've tried to keep walking to a minimum, which was a hit-and-miss success. (Come on, David Tennant and Billy Piper were at Comic Con in Utrecht, I couldn't just let those tickets evaporate!) Took anti-inflammatories, added in the antibiotic cream my GP gave me for this express purpose... It's looking pretty decent by now, and I haven't seen anything a goopy yellow or grey-green peeking out from it in a day or two. My shoes always leave ample room for my toes by design, so they're quite safe and don't get knocked about, while it does keep dirt and such from my toes, and at home I've taken to wearing my husband's bathslippers; they're open-toed and three sizes larger than what I usually wear, so they're also not about to touch anything they shouldn't.

I was crestfallen because I'd actually asked for clarification on the long walks bit... I could understand not walking for a while on newly treated ingrowns, that's par for the course, and I've been through that whole song and dance four, five times now? I don't even remember. But she meant all the time, and said so when I asked "Surely, not always?". I didn't mind the ban on tennis and the like, which I don't do anyway, but basically the kind of thing where you plant your feet sideways? (Not sideways, not straight ahead... So what's left then?!) Though that didn't bode well for ever getting a kickbike, which is why I didn't specifically ask whether that'd be okay, because she was in a mood to nix everything. What am I supposed to do, float?! But yeah... She meant that I should stay off my feet as much as possible, throughout life, which was a kick to the head. Because I am "a diabetic who is prone to foot problems", I should just pack myself in bubblewrap and practice my astral projection more, to get to places and appointments, I guess. Walking is my mode of transportation, and it's the only excersize I get. With a bum hip and a wonky shoulder it's all my body'll somewhat let me do. I'm quite proud of how muscular my calves are now, compared to a few years ago, and I've used Pacer and Conqueror Challenges these past years as a motivator. They make walking extra fun. My physical therapist and usual pedicure make an effort to keep me walking, and my GP/diabetes nurse offer a 10k walk for diabetics in groups, with a nurse of GP in attendance once a week, but I never signed up for that because eew, people. Toes and "imminent amputations" didn't factor into that descision at all. I don't even always need to see my physical therapist, but he knows if I don't leave the house semi-regularly, I might revert to being a hermit again and avoid care when I do need it. If I don't leave the house for a while, it becomes more difficult to get out there, especially alone. (Anxiety and phobia's.... They kept me indoors, medically undertreated and socially isolated for a very long time. There's a reason why my diabetes went on for years before diagnosis!). So we just have appointments every other week, whether I really need it or no, without having really discussed it... It's just something that works. There's always something to do because there's usually something, somewhere that could do with some loosening, but not always something that absolutely needs to be done to function. I've adjusted my health insurance accordingly, so I can see him throughout the year. Between Jesper the therapist and Naomi the pedicure, I've been able to walk ever longer distances, even without my husband/emotional support human by my side... All this backed by both GP's who think my getting out there and being physically active is a good idea... While 10 years ago, I could barely walk the length of our little flat without my knees giving out and making me face-plant. And now this lady takes one look at a single messy toe, and tells me to stop? I know she knows what she's about, some things she told me made sense... But the ban on walking, with just this one incident, after years of doing fairly well considering the circumstances? Yikes. That's why it's hard to judge what to do next.... She made sense on other points. So maybe she's right about the walking too? But so many people, some specialists in their fields who have known me and my issues for years, are helping me keep on my feet... Are they all wrong to do so?! I doubt it...

So, yes, I'll speak to others about it, get their input... And I see the interim-lady again a week from now, so hopefully she'll be satisfied with how the wound looks by then. I assume the "I want to see signs of improvement, or I'll refer you for surgery in Eindhoven's foot clinic" stance will be mitigated when she sees nothing being oozy anymore...? Oh, I hope so!

As a teen, I can see how the whole surgery thing would've thrown a wrench into his social life... And at that age, weeks or even months, seem like years. Insane though how a school won't cater to post-operative adjustments to the uniform...! Ah well... I'm glad he got through it, in spite of them...! At 15, 16 I just walked on with icky toes, but I cycled to school. Didn't have to walk back and forth for miles like he did, which I'm sure would've made a difference in THAT descision!

Anyway, thanks for the reply.... And the info sheet. I forget stuff, and this is bound to happen again... Saving this in my medical file should help. (Before I grab peroxide again... ).

Hugs,
Jo

 

[Pipp]

I think you have this sorted, @JoKalsbeek. It seems all of the other health professionals you see on a regular basis support your regime of walking for your physical and mental health? Just that one who has recently worked on your feet has not seen the bigger picture, and has given your confidence a knock? Why not talk with the others to ‘reassert your independence’ and regain confidence? You live with your body and mind all the time, and know and understand your own strengths and weaknesses better than anyone. I can see this person has given you a knock with her advice, but you have several health professionals who agree with your walking regime. Talk with them again, but relax while the foot heals, and don’t dwell on the somewhat negative recent experience.

Get well, soon.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I think you have this sorted, @JoKalsbeek. It seems all of the other health professionals you see on a regular basis support your regime of walking for your physical and mental health? Just that one who has recently worked on your feet has not seen the bigger picture, and has given your confidence a knock? Why not talk with the others to ‘reassert your independence’ and regain confidence? You live with your body and mind all the time, and know and understand your own strengths and weaknesses better than anyone. I can see this person has given you a knock with her advice, but you have several health professionals who agree with your walking regime. Talk with them again, but relax while the foot heals, and don’t dwell on the somewhat negative recent experience.

Get well, soon.

My confidence has been kicked about after being scammed when I ordered a set of ETA's for our next trip to the UK. Looked like Home Office, but was a "travel agent" in the US who charged us well over 400 euro's. (And since he now had photo's of our passports and creditcard information, all of that had to be replaced too... So we're now 600 euro's out, and nothing to show for it.). I knew what I was doing, I've grown up with computers and I should've seen the signs. And I didn't. I got it horribly wrong, and now I keep thinking... I could be wrong about other things as well. I was confident about the ETA, and I messed it up. I was confident about my health, and now she says I'm wrong... It's an entirely different area, but yes... I do know my body well, so do my usual pedicure and my physical therapist... I'd rather put my faith in them, and a little bit in myself, then. I'll discuss it with both when my pedicure is back in business, and I'll see Jesper again next week. But I do feel better now.

Thank you. I needed this.
Jo