An infected bug bite landed me in the ER, but I was in great hands

My daughter Jill and my wife, Wendy, are my primary caregivers. In August, Jill and Wendy traveled to Iceland together. The day before their departure, we had a “bon voyage” family picnic. It was a lovely gathering, but I ended up with a couple of bug bites on my left calf that evening.

Regrettably, those bites didn’t heal. They were positioned perfectly to get scraped whenever I got in and out of my wheelchair or a car. Eventually, the bites developed into open wounds that became infected. I knew they weren’t healing, but I assumed they eventually would. By the time I asked my wife, Wendy, to take a look, the surrounding area was red and inflamed.

I scheduled an appointment with my primary care physician two weeks ago on Thursday. She prescribed an antibiotic and advised me to follow up in a week if there was no improvement. However, by that Saturday, after two days of antibiotics, my condition had worsened. My ankle and foot were swollen, prompting both Wendy and Jill to suggest I go to the emergency room (ER). I was initially hesitant, so I called the nurse hotline that my Medicare Advantage plan had provided. After answering various questions, the nurse advised me to seek immediate care that day.

The nurse recommended that I go directly to the ER rather than an urgent care facility, as I would likely need blood work and other medical tests. Since moving to Pittsburgh, UPMC St. Margaret has been my hospital of choice. Wendy drove me to their ER. Anticipating a long wait due to the horror stories we’d heard about emergency rooms, we came prepared with several books and magazines and knitting supplies for Wendy.

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In the nick of time

We arrived at the ER around 10:30 a.m. To our surprise, only a couple of people were waiting to be seen. We quickly completed the necessary paperwork, spoke with a triage nurse, and were directed to a treatment room within minutes.

My nurse, Kelly, took care of the preliminary assessments, including checking my blood pressure, temperature, and pulse oximeter levels. I explained that I have facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy and would need assistance moving around. An ER doctor came in within a half hour to examine my leg.

He inquired about the antibiotic I was taking and suggested that I probably needed a stronger one. He also ordered tests to rule out blood clots and to ensure the infection hadn’t spread, along with some blood work.

We soon realized we had arrived in the nick of time, as the ER became increasingly crowded. Treatment rooms filled up, and patients were queuing in the hallway. The ER staff handled the situation exceptionally well, maintaining their concern and kindness throughout.

Eventually, I was taken for X-rays, and the technician assisted me with positioning my leg properly. An ultrasound followed, and again, the technician provided the help I needed to complete the test. There was a slight delay when they came to draw blood since I was out for testing, but given the number of patients they were handling, I couldn’t complain about a minor delay.

While we were waiting, I realized I needed to use the restroom. This can be an awkward situation, but Kelly managed it perfectly, asking me to let her know if I needed assistance.

Around 3 p.m., the doctor returned to inform me that the tests had come back negative for any serious issues. He prescribed a stronger antibiotic and gave me instructions for treating the wound until it healed.

Kelly returned to remove the intravenous line and other medical equipment. She apologized for the delays, explained that she would be on duty until 11 p.m., and asked us to say a prayer for her. I was glad to offer prayers for Kelly and the entire ER staff. What a blessing it is to access such a high level of medical care delivered with kindness and compassion! May God bless them all for the wonderful support they provide to their patients.

Note: Muscular Dystrophy News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Muscular Dystrophy News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to muscular dystrophy.