Just call me "Nine Toes"

[Frenchie]

All right, all you jokers with diabetes and circulation problems, listen up!

I fell asleep a couple weeks ago with my feet too close to a space heater. I didn't feel it because of my diabetic neuropathology that has taken most of the sensation from my feet. I tried to keep my feet clean and protected (and not let my wife know about them), then Thursday I realized at least one toe was badly infected. Off to the ER. A week in the hospital and an amputated toe later, I'm recovering at home with nine more days of IV antibiotics to go. God knows when I'll be able to take a shower again, both feet are wrapped in gauze and Ace bandages and I have an IV line under my arm that can't get wet. I really hope I can remember this lesson. Oh, no cigs since then either, I'm on the patch, let's see how long I can keep that up too.

[Trap]

   Wish you well. Frenchie.

[Delmonico]

Damn, be careful of that stuff, hate to hear that.  I opened this ready to give you grief cause you shot your toe off.  Good Luck with the healing pard, have a Sil they keep whittlin' here foot down from that stuff.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I wish you well, but that "handle" is already taken!

[Deadeye Don]

Wow,  Sorry to hear of your medical problems.  Alot of people who dont have DM or dont know people that do fail to realize just how much of a problem it can be.  I am glad you are attempting to stop smoking also.  With your brittle DM and your peripheral neuroapathy, your cerebral vasculature may aslo be compromised.  Stopping the tobacco use will eliminate an addtional risk factor for both coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular complications.  Good luck with your recovery.  Regards.  Deadeye.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Frenchie, Good Grief!  I wish you the best, pard!  Diabetes is something our family had to learn about 9 years ago, when my (then) 8 year-old daughter had major problems and we found out she had Type 1.  The extremities are OH-SO important.  Good luck, and here's German wishes for your healthy recovery with no more complications in your life.  Gute Besserung!   

Heed Deadeye Don's words: He's Dr. Don in real life. (Hope ya don't mind me tellin', Don!) 


And ... GOOD JOB on the quitting smoking, we'll root for ya!

[Deadlight Lou]

And it's not just the extremities. I've lost one eye to diabetes due to equal parts of misfortune, poverty and neglect.

On the bright side, with the aid of modern medical technology, I've been able to survive this disease for 26 years. As much as it would have been fun to live in the late 19th century roping steer and such, the reality is that I would have died at age 15.

On the even brighter side, I only started shooting less than a year ago, several years after becoming monocular. And though I'll never be the most accurate or the fastest, I can still have fun with this sport.

Frenchie, keep strong, keep vigilant, and keep shootin'!

Deadlight Lou
(Yep, that's why I've got the name...)
143rd fastest gun East of Mrs. Hip

[Irish Dave]

Hang in there Frenchie, and get well soon pard.

[River City John]

"neuf orteils" hein ?
Juste après avoir été diagnostiqué avec du diabète moi-même, j'espère que vous avez ce dernier en considération bien pris d'incident. J'attends avec intérêt de vous rencontrer (Muster?), mon ami, ainsi si vous sortez au rassemblement apporte les chaussettes thermiques.

RCJ

[Black River Smith]

Good luck and get well.

[Quick Fire]

Here's wishing ya well Pard.

[Will Ketchum]

I to have diabetes but so far haven't experienced neuropathology.  I still have good feeling in my feet and inspect them almost daily.

My doctor does test my feet every 3 months or so.  My blood sugars have been elevated since last November when I had the flu (in spite of the shots ) 


I try to do what I have been told to do but my exercise has been severely curtailed with my Achilles problems.  With that getting better I plan to join the Y soon.

Frenchy, you need to be more careful.  We don't want to be calling you "PegLeg"

Will Ketchum

[Dr. Bob]

Howdy Frenchie,

Sorry to hear of your problem.  You will be in my prayers.  I spent about 7 months on IV antibiotics for my Lyme and could shower.  Went in on Friday afternoon and got blood drawn and one bag at the infusion center and 6 bags to take home.  Mostly hooked the bag on the floor lamp next to the recliner and watched the TV while the bag dripped in.  Did it at work a couple of times, during Dessert Storm when we worked a lot of overtime [I was buying hand tools at GSA and red folders got immediate rush service.  Usually shipped by the vendor on the day that the order arrived on our desks.  Overnight to a port of embarkation and on the way to the War.

Hang in there and get better.  I know that it is HARD to kick the tobacco habit.  I think that you have some good motivation and will succeed.  You can do this!

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

We want the aka "Stumpy" to remain vacant!

[Dick Dastardly]

No, I ain't goin' to call ya 9 Toes till yer all better and finally shoot one off legitimate like.

Wishin' ya the best, pard.  I got numb toes for a different reason and I also have to be careful of 'em.

DD-DLoS

[Frenchie]

RCJ: Je guéris bien, mon ami, et attend un rétablissement complet. J'espère devenir aussi plus actif dans le passe-temps et vous rencontrer bientôt.

Thank you all, my friends, for your good wishes. This has been an important lesson, and all things considered, I haven't had to pay too dear a price for it. If I can manage to resist the temptations of the evil weed, I should come out in better shape than before I went in. The surgeon said I "turned around" better than he thought I would, and I expect he'll say I'm healing well when I see him Thursday. I feel good, better than I have in a while. I just wish I could keep smoking and still feel good, but I know that's not going to happen. It's time to grow up.

And yeah, I know someone else already has the moniker Nine Toes, and he's welcome to it. 

I am ordered to get my butt in the chair for my IV, au revoir for now.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Sorry ta hear that, pard. Heal quickly.

Slim