WWYD advice needed

[Odonata]

It's been a while since I've been on here - summer school has me running ragged- so sorry to just pop in here with some "HELP" post.

But it's 12 am, I'm home alone until next week, I'm in pain and need some advice.

I have an infection in my big toe.  About 3 weeks ago I had a pedi (ug) and she dug the shit out of one side of my toe.  It got a little red and was a little tender for three or four days and I thought "oh shit" but then right it cleared up.  For over a week or so it's been fine.

Then last night out of the blue I woke up with it sore and red, right in that spot.  I thought I slept funny but when I got home from work it was worse, but not severe. I went to my OB today (who suggested I come see them and not my PCP) and he said it's definitely an infection and there is even a little puss.  He looked up what to do and said it is not recommended to do oral antibiotics for pregnant women if the infection is not severe so to do a warm soak 3x a day.

So I soak it today, put on antibiotic cream...but by the evening it feels and looks SO much worse.  Right now it's to the point that I cannot walk and I cannot sleep.  The amount of pain I am in is alarming.  My whole toe hurts, the whole thing is BRIGHT red, but feels like it is numb at the same time.  The pain is all consuming and I can't be distracted from it.  And I'm home alone so now I'm freaked.

SO - WWYD - follow the OB's instructions (who had to look up what to do b/c obviously toe infections are not his specialty) and see how things are Monday, or head to the ER and get it looked at again by someone who has more experience in the "toe" area of the body?  

I don't want to be an alarmist, but I don't want to sit on a staff infection getting any worse for the next two days.  OR - does it need more time and I"m in so much pain b/c the big toe has so many damn nerve endings?
And why the FUCK do things always seem to go wrong as soon as the weekend starts - when Dr's offices are closed?  I hate going to urgent care and/or the ER b/c I want to see my doctors.  

Thanks for any advice!

[awick14]

Honestly I would go to the ER. I wouldn't take any chances with it getting any worse.

((hugs))

[mrspost08]

I would go in if it's gotten that much worse. That's awful! Part of me thinks maybe it's getting worse before it gets better. I don't think you should take a chance with being pregnant.

[Odonata]

Yeah, I'm sitting on the line of "it's worse! go fix it!" and "it'll have to get worse before it gets better, chill".

Having a little human hooked up to my blood line really changes the way I look at things now, for sure!

And I really dislike the home alone/weekend limbo I'm in right now.

[MamaMaui24]

I'm so sorry! Sounds awful. I'd go to urgent care.

[sparkythelawyer]

Go to the ER. Infections like this can get really hard to treat the longer you sit.

[rbp]

Your OB doesn't know how to treat an infection?

I am on oral antibiotics (dicloxacillin) for a suspected skin infection in my surgical incision. My OB was not concerned about the meds at all. One of my friends warned me about disrupting the baby's intestinal fauna, but that's not really my main concern at the moment.

[mandymay]

I'd definitely either wait until morning and go to urgent care or go to the ER to get a more generalized dr to look at it instead of your OB. I'm really sorry you're in so much pain! Definitely never go back to that salon again!

[purrbox]

I'd go to a walk in clinic first thing in the morning if you can make it until then. If you can't, then go to the ER immediately. Sorry you're dealing with this.

[rbp]

I might be concerned about seeing a physician who's not an OB. My orthopedist initially suggested Bactrim, which my OB immediately vetoed.

But unless my OB is on the fringe of medicine (which I don't believe he is),
there are plenty of oral antibiotics that are safe for pregnant women.

[FastHands]

Jul 26, 2014 0:17:04 GMT -5 rbp said:

I might be concerned about seeing a physician who's not an OB. My orthopedist initially suggested Bactrim, which my OB immediately vetoed.

But unless my OB is on the fringe of medicine (which I don't believe he is),
there are plenty of oral antibiotics that are safe for pregnant women.

If it's not better in the morning, I'd go to urgent care. I would also call the on-call ob before taking anything because of the issue rbp mentioned above.

[Odonata]

Jul 26, 2014 0:01:44 GMT -5 rbp said:

Your OB doesn't know how to treat an infection?

I am on oral antibiotics (dicloxacillin) for a suspected skin infection in my surgical incision. My OB was not concerned about the meds at all. One of my friends warned me about disrupting the baby's intestinal fauna, but that's not really my main concern at the moment.

See, this concerned me too. The dr I saw today is not my normal OB. He was not in. I'm wondering what my normal Dr would suggest. I'm doing another foot soak now and it feels better but will be seeing someone in the AM. I guess if they prescribe something I can call the after hours line at my OBs and ask before I take anything. 

Im wondering if a walk in urgent care is ok or if the ER has access to an OB that can give better advice. The walk in is so fast and close and the ER is, well, the ER. 

[Odonata]

Jul 26, 2014 1:02:53 GMT -5 FastHands said:

Jul 26, 2014 0:17:04 GMT -5 rbp said:

I might be concerned about seeing a physician who's not an OB. My orthopedist initially suggested Bactrim, which my OB immediately vetoed.

But unless my OB is on the fringe of medicine (which I don't believe he is),
there are plenty of oral antibiotics that are safe for pregnant women.

If it's not better in the morning, I'd go to urgent care. I would also call the on-call ob before taking anything because of the issue rbp mentioned above.

So I've been living in compression socks while teaching because the swelling is out of control. The ones you suggested work wonders!  But now I'm wondering if sweating in them all day might have caused this!!

[FastHands]

The ER has access to an ob, but I feel like you can be seen by urgent care AND talk to your on-call ob long before you'll be seen at the ER for a toe infection.

[Odonata]

Jul 26, 2014 1:06:36 GMT -5 FastHands said:

The ER has access to an ob, but I feel like you can be seen by urgent care AND talk to your on-call ob long before you'll be seen at the ER for a toe infection.

Very true. 

[FastHands]

Jul 26, 2014 1:05:45 GMT -5 Odonata said:

Jul 26, 2014 1:02:53 GMT -5 FastHands said:

If it's not better in the morning, I'd go to urgent care. I would also call the on-call ob before taking anything because of the issue rbp mentioned above.

So I've been living in compression socks while teaching because the swelling is out of control. The ones you suggested work wonders!  But now I'm wondering if sweating in them all day might have caused this!!

Glad they are helping! Are you washing them out at night? Idk if they would cause the issue, but I could see them exacerbating it. If you end up getting checked out, it's worth mentioning that you wear them and whether you should take a break until it heals.

[Odonata]

Jul 26, 2014 1:09:54 GMT -5 FastHands said:

Jul 26, 2014 1:05:45 GMT -5 Odonata said:

So I've been living in compression socks while teaching because the swelling is out of control. The ones you suggested work wonders!  But now I'm wondering if sweating in them all day might have caused this!!

Glad they are helping! Are you washing them out at night? Idk if they would cause the issue, but I could see them exacerbating it. If you end up getting checked out, it's worth mentioning that you wear them and whether you should take a break until it heals.

I got a few a few pairs and wash between wearing them. 

When I first had a toe issue after the pedi I wore flip flops bc of the pain and just let my feet swell. Once I "healed" I started the socks again with sneakers. I think I put them back on too soon!  I can't think of any way to get an infection like this almost 3 weeks after the initial incident. Putting the socks back on this week was the only change.  

[MrsDarcy]

Way late now, but I'd probably call the on call OB.

[Deleted]

I've had an infection like that (when not pregnant) and it did get a little worse before it got better. I did not wear anything tight on it.

I would go to the ER and have them look at it.

[Odonata]

So I wake up (after falling asleep finally at 4 am) and it's less red and not painful, just maybe a very little twinge if I move it too much. I'm pretty sure it would hurt like hell if I hit it, though. So now I'm all chill about it. Probably b/c it's day time and the sun is out, which makes all scary ailments better, right?

I'm going to start doing some house work (not too much) and see how it goes. I'll do a few more soaks and if it flares up again I'll head into urgent care right away. But maybe I'm over the big bad night and on the mend?

Thanks for the advice early this morning!

OH - and I really do want another pedi b/c I just don't want to try and cut my own nails. Think I'll be safe if I just say don't mess with my cuticles? Or should I just avoid those things all together?

[starburst604]

Go to the ER, I had something like that once and saw a podiatrist who took care of it, he was able to drain it and started me on oral antibiotics. He said if I'd waited much longer to come in he'd have had to admit me for IV antibiotics.

[hbear]

I'd seriously consider being an oral antibiotic. It is not going to hurt you or your baby (provided you take a safe one, off course.)

With my last pregnancy, I kept getting minor toe infections after a pedi because I was so swollen. I stopped letting them cut my big toe nails.

If you must, maybe just have them cut straight across and not too short?