Some Doctors just don't listen and Nurses are priceless!

So, I have had one hell of a month.

I had an accident in July and fractured my leg and ankle in four places. I had a titanium rod inserted into the fibula and screws to pull everything together.
I told the surgeon that I was a WG patient on Rituximab and would be susceptible to infection. I also told him I was being tested for polycythemia vera and would be susceptible to clotting.
Without regard to my warning post-op he only put me on baby aspirin and needless to say I ended up with a pulmonary embolism one week after surgery with clots in both lungs.
Three weeks post surgery my wound care nurse in physical therapy notified the same surgeon that the suture area that hadn't healed correctly didn't look good and she thought I should be on antibiotics. He refused to come look at the wound choosing to rely on pictures on the nurse' phone and told her she was wrong and I didn't need antibiotics. Three days later I was in the hospital with a severe infection on IV antibiotics.
If this arrogant ass had just listened to the warnings I gave him before surgery and the nurse who was hands on with the wound care; all of this could have been avoided.
I also found that during my ER visits I had to be forceful and stand up for myself with the doctors in the hospital being my own advocate to make sure that mistakes were not repeated. My hospitalist for the infection stay was the exception to the rule, he was an amazing doctor who listened intently and got input from multiple specialists to make sure that the treatment and continued care would be appropriate all things including WG and treatments taken into consideration.
The other thing that I observed was that the Nurses in the hospitals were amazing to the person. Nurses are the biggest asset that a hospital has and it was my nurses who ultimately gave me the confidence in my care. So to all of the nurses out there in the World; I appreciate you all more than you will ever know!

gunnyl,

I'm very sorry to hear about your plight. Do you think your leg fracture was a byproduct of weak bones and long term prednisone usage, or was it the type of accident where someone with bone denser than steel would have suffered a fracture?

I'm floored that they did not take your medication and prior medical history into account with your procedure. The longer I'm sadly in this world of chronic illness, and exposed to the medical professionals across the various disciplines, the more I've come to realize that it is all just a business, and nothing more. Doctors are no different than appliance repair people, but instead of working on refrigerators, they work on people. The specialists are the worst, as they only care about their area of "expertise". When I got COVID, my Rheumatologist slammed the door in my face and said she doesn't treat COVID. I also spoke with my Rheumatologist about diet, and she said she wasn't a dietician (guess the role of diet on inflammation got glossed over in med school).

Anyhow, best of luck with your recovery, and thanks for all of your solid input to this forum.

I just did round two for the infection, the oral antibiotics I was prescribed leaving the hospital weren’t up to the task. Ended up having surgery to clean out the wound and close it and another week of multiple IV antibiotics.
And again, my nurses to the person were incredible. The care and attentiveness they provided were unmatched. And again with this stay I had doctors who listened.