Our Second January Meeting and a Surprise

As soon as Tim said we would have our second meeting this month, Brenda and Jason have been busy, and both Brenda and Sue have been in contact with me about images to use. I pulled up several images like the ones below and emailed them to both.

 

Brenda said she was forwarding both to Tim and she said the top picture was close to the one she saw. She was not sure she could get the name of the antibiotics used, but she knew the place where the member received her prescriptions and maybe the member would let her see them.

When the date arrived, January 24, we were ready. Only one member was absent and that was the one that Sue was working with to heal the foot ulcer. Sue said the doctor had ordered her to stay off her feet for a week or more and she did have crutches. Tim called the meeting to order and stated that we have told you we are interested in helping each and every one of you and for you to ask questions. He said we have one member absent because of a foot ulcer and another person that is here while still recovering from a cracked heel. The doctor has also ordered her on crutches. So before we start this evening, everyone sit down, take off your shoes and socks or stockings, and have your feet ready for inspection.

There was a lot of grumbling, but everyone complied. Allen brought out the two stools for the people to rest their feet on during the inspections. Tim had not told us he had two podiatrists coming, and he went to the door and invited them in. Tim introduced them and said he had arranged for everyone to obtain a free foot inspection. The one podiatrist that knew me came to me first while the other went to Allen first. When they had finished with us they explained what they had seen and the podiatrist that examined me asked me to sit on the rolling stool and pushed me around the group to show them the big toe that he knew about and he announced that it had not changed much since he had last seen me. He did say that the damage was under the toenail and not the toenail as he had originally thought as the toenail was growing. He said I had notified him at my last checkup and he would keep watching it. With that he asked me to notify his office if there were more changes, but for now he was not concerned. He asked me to put my socks and shoes back on and assist him.

The podiatrist that had examined Allen said he found nothing and that Allen's feet were in good condition and to get ready to help him. With that we moved the stools while the doctor took the chairs they would use. They checked the older members first and found nothing other than one scratch on Rob's ankle which Rob said he was using Neosporin on it before bed each evening. The podiatrist said it looked like it was healing. Next they started with the member with the cracked heel and the podiatrist said it was healing well and if she continued to follow the treatments she should be okay in another two or three weeks.

Next, my podiatrist examined Jerry and said that the foot ulcer was healing nicely and as long as he continued the treatment the doctor has prescribed, it should be okay in another month. Jerry said that was what the doctor had told him. We continued with the rest of the new members and found two more members with minor cracked heels and another member with the start of a foot ulcer.  One in-grown toenail was also found. They were advised to see their doctor as quickly as possible or to make an appointment with one of them the following week. The three were told if they wanted prescriptions to help them start the healing, they would be given one.

Tim said that this evening was done for their benefit and the rest of the members wanted what was best for them. But with the problems happening the prior two weeks, this was what brought this meeting about. Then he asked if anyone did not have insurance. When no hands were raised, he asked why people were not taking care of their health. He apologized to the doctors for interrupting and asked them to finish their talk about proper shoes.

The doctors said most of the cracked heels were probably caused by wearing the incorrect shoes or foot support around the house or apartment. During the winter, wearing shoes without proper heel protection helps aggravate dry and cracked heels, and he was not talking about high or spike heels for women. If they wanted to wear elevated heels with proper foot support, those could work.

For the foot ulcers, they strongly recommended wearing foot support in the shoes and these needed to be custom fit by a specialist and they could give them at least three that the person could chose from. They had seen the supports that Max had and asked him. Max gave the name and they agreed that the person was good. Jerry asked how soon he should consider getting fit for them and they said not until the ulcer had healed, but that he could get one for the other foot anytime.

Tim asked if anyone else had any questions and there were a lot of questions from the newer members and a few from the older members. In the meantime he told Brenda and Jason that he had taken over the program when he got acceptance from the two podiatrists as he felt that this was best. Brenda and Jason agreed that this was more effective and had been well received. Tim thanked them and said he would not do this again without notification, but he had only received confirmation about an hour before the meeting.

I went to thank the podiatrists and they admitted they had hesitated, but after seeing the number and the interest, they admitted that it was worth the trip. I commented that they should pick up a few patients as well. They both agreed and Tim said the meeting is over. About another half hour was spent with many asking questions and then the two doctors needed to leave. Many of the members said thank you to us as they left.