Damn, what a fuss over a little staple.

[R J]

I was walking around the bathroom door in my pressure socks to go.  Enough on that.

Stepped down normal and damn what a pain done did shoot through my heel.

Pulled my leg up and I saw this little silver thing sticking out of my heel.      Yupper, it was a used staple that had been removed from a RX sack.

It wouldn't pull out, so I walked on my toes to the tool drawer.

Found the vice grips and clamped down on the tail of the dude.

Drove up to Urgent Care, checked in, and the, A'holes panicked.

They were afraid the staple would sneak back under the heel skin and then it would have to be cut out surgically.

I asked where the vice grips were, and was told oh they ARE OVER HERE, THEY ARE NOT SURGICALLY (STERILIZED).    So I asked the one RN to put it back on my staple, which she did.    I took the vice grips from here and gave a good yank.      Yup, I got the staple out of my heel.       Oh were they pissed off at me.  LOL.    Told the RN, well, I got it out without it having to be surgically removed. 

So they ended up putting a band aide on it, I told her to have the billing dept send my insurance a bill, I walked out the door and came home.     So far I have received 4 calls from them that I HAVE NOT ANSWERED.   The messages they are leaving now are getting nasty.

Seems as I have to sign out when ya do that.   

[Bighead]

Wussies
Don't pa em damnit

[The emperor has no clothes]

RJ, you need to send them a bill for doing your own surgery. 

[R J]

RJ, you need to send them a bill for doing your own surgery. 

I thought about that.........   

If they don't shut up on the phone I going to report them to the DO NOT CALL REGISTRY.

[The emperor has no clothes]

RJ, you need to send them a bill for doing your own surgery. 

I thought about that.........   

If they don't shut up on the phone I going to report them to the DO NOT CALL REGISTRY.

 

[cookiedough]

my guess is they are calling for fear of being sued for some reason not following protocol/procedure.  Way too many sue-happy people out there getting millions over somewhat simple stuff like this. 

Hope it heals well though.

[R J]

Wife made it home and looked at it.

Said it looked clean and started to clot blood over it.

She put some of her special mix stuff on it and all the soreness is out of it.

I'm walking on it in a normal procedure right now.

[Willow]

RJ, you need to send them a bill for doing your own surgery. 

Really??  He went to the medical office, took up their time, asked them to apply their expertise to deal with something he could've handled himself in his own bathroom and now you think he should cheat them out of their fee.  They were not able to deal with other patients during the time they were occupied with his issue and even at that he is supposedly out nothing, "Bill my insurance."  If you wonder why medical attention costs as much as it does, you've got a pretty good example right here.

I have a high degree of appreciation and respect for those who devote their lives and time to our medical care.  I have no patience with folks who go out of their way to make those people's lives more difficult.

Pay them, R J, and sign their documents.  If you don't think they're worth the money or the bother, don't employ their services or take up their time next event.

Incidentally he staple could have caused serious issues if it had reached the bone or was contaminated with germs enough to cause an internal infection.  I'm glad it came out cleanly.  I'm sorry it scared you as much as it did.

[RainMaker]

That must have been some staple to puncture a tough old bird like you, RJ.

RainMaker

[MarkT]

If it's like my recent emergency room experience you'll be getting a BIG BILL.

I cut my pinky finger to the bone while putting an edge on a knife on the polisher.  Went to the emergency room.  They debrided the cut, x-rayed it to check the tendon, sewed it up and bandaged it.  The bill was $3500.  Negotiated by United Health Care to about $2k.  They paid NOTHING - the insurance co contribution was the negotiation ONLY.  To add insult to injury, the medical staff gave me the suicide intervention counseling.  Right.  I tried to kill myself by almost chopping off a pinky.  I'm pretty sure that's the preferred suicide method.

I could have debrided, antiseptized, and sewed it up myself.  Without the completely ridiculous bill.  Not squeamish about a little blood including my own. What happened to reasonable charges?  I recall back in the day, such attention used to be perhaps a couple hundred or so.

Now I usually don gloves when buffing blade edges on the high speed polisher.

[RDAbull]

Wife made it home and looked at it.

Said it looked clean and started to clot blood over it.

She put some of her special mix stuff on it and all the soreness is out of it.

I'm walking on it in a normal procedure right now.

Hey RJ, can we get the formula for that stuff.  This getting old hurts and anything that helps could be worth a fortune!

[R J]

Wife made it home and looked at it.

Said it looked clean and started to clot blood over it.

She put some of her special mix stuff on it and all the soreness is out of it.

I'm walking on it in a normal procedure right now.

Hey RJ, can we get the formula for that stuff.  This getting old hurts and anything that helps could be worth a fortune!

It is something she buys over the counter at Walgreens.

It comes in a squeeze tube.

I can't lay me wittle fingers on it right now, and she hasn't woke up yet.  She gets home from work now at 3:30 AM.

I'll get a name from her around noon when she gets up.     Be patient, OK?

[Jess from VA]

If you want a bad experience, on many levels, go to an emergency room.

I won't, they'll have to drag me in kicking and screaming (or unconscious).  

[The emperor has no clothes]

RJ, you need to send them a bill for doing your own surgery. 

Really??  He went to the medical office, took up their time, asked them to apply their expertise to deal with something he could've handled himself in his own bathroom and now you think he should cheat them out of their fee.  They were not able to deal with other patients during the time they were occupied with his issue and even at that he is supposedly out nothing, "Bill my insurance."  If you wonder why medical attention costs as much as it does, you've got a pretty good example right here.

I have a high degree of appreciation and respect for those who devote their lives and time to our medical care.  I have no patience with folks who go out of their way to make those people's lives more difficult.

Pay them, R J, and sign their documents.  If you don't think they're worth the money or the bother, don't employ their services or take up their time next event.

Incidentally he staple could have caused serious issues if it had reached the bone or was contaminated with germs enough to cause an internal infection.  I'm glad it came out cleanly.  I'm sorry it scared you as much as it did.

Willow I was joking (should have used the little laughing dude)

[Willow]

Willow I was joking (should have used the little laughing dude)

I recognized the joke.  I was mostly addressing the general direction although I did reference the joke.  Jokes most often contain one way or the other the mindset of the joker.  The wisdom writing of the Old Testament contains the proverb, "Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, 'Was I not joking?'"  Isn't it interesting that that is one of the few times the book references joking?

Be careful of your commas and periods.  You are better than that.       I hope we're still buddies.  

[G-Man]

RJ, knowing a bit about your health issues, I would have the heel looked at by a Podiatrist.  You may not have gotten all of the staple out, or it may have been contaminated with something.  You never know.

Had you come into my office I would have taken an x-ray of the foot, 2 views to make sure nothing was left behind and I would have started you on antibiotics just in case.  A 20 year old I'd treat differently.

If you don't want to go back to a doctor, have someone with good eyesight inspect it twice a day at least for redness or drainage.  Feel it for warmth and swelling.  Press with fingertips to see if there is pain.  Keep it clean and covered.  I would use a triple antibiotic ointment from any drug store.  Clean, dry, white socks and wear foot gear that you sweat the least in, sandal is best.  And walk as little as possible in the next few days.

Be careful.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Willow I was joking (should have used the little laughing dude)

I recognized the joke.  I was mostly addressing the general direction although I did reference the joke.  Jokes most often contain one way or the other the mindset of the joker.  The wisdom writing of the Old Testament contains the proverb, "Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, 'Was I not joking?'"  Isn't it interesting that that is one of the few times the book references joking?

Be careful of your commas and periods.  You are better than that.       I hope we're still buddies.  

Damn it, I knew when I wrote it I should have put in the comma  And yes we are 

[Valker]

Most little stuff like that, I take care of myself (even though my feet are "at risk"). I weigh the chances against the expense. If I think it's worth the price of 'proper' healthcare, I go and pay. If not, I take care of it myself. Ultimately, I will probably not die from "old age", and I'm ok with that.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

I was wondering why go there in the first place too after getting the vice grips on it. 

[J.Mencalice]

Microbiology reference: Clostridium tetani (aka lockjaw).  Get a shot.
Ever seen a case of it?  You don't want to; maybe they're just trying to do you a favor over a longer outlook than just that day.

A flesh-eating-streptococcal-bacteria (see necrotizing fasciitis) can sneak up on you in a matter of hours.
Bye-Bye leg, maybe?  Sepsis, maybe?

You left AMA (against medical advice) and they are not responsible for anything that happens to you from that moment you exit.  Medical people get pretty angry when someone comes to an emergency facility and says "Help me!" and then turns around and kicks them in the crotch.  We'll still do our job, but we won't like you and we won't forget you next time around (see "turfing a patient").

The money is secondary to the individuals that actually rendered care to you and you have insurance, so that shouldn't have been a money issue to them.  If you return with a septic infection it's on you that you refused treatment and a lawyer won't win that one when you end up as a stiff.  The "magic salve" infections are ones we see so commonly from well intentioned family/friends.

Best to you and I hope it heals properly...but...get the vaccine/booster, please?

[solo1]

RJ, as you know I'm bull headed but when I go to the ER I do as they say.  If I don't like it, I ask questions but still do as I'm told.

You are on their turf, and you don't want to get in a pissing contest with a skunk (no disrespect meant but the term fits.)

[fudgie]

Last summer I was stapling felt paper down on a roof with a slap stapler. Corner kept rolling up before I could staple it so I thought Id flatten it out then staple it. My hand eye coordination must notta been good that day cause I slapped my forarm with it. Staple went right in. I had to dig my fingernails into it to be able to grab it. Pulled out a 3/8" staple. My arm was sore and numb for a hour.

[R J]

Last summer I was stapling felt paper down on a roof with a slap stapler. Corner kept rolling up before I could staple it so I thought Id flatten it out then staple it. My hand eye coordination must notta been good that day cause I slapped my forarm with it. Staple went right in. I had to dig my fingernails into it to be able to grab it. Pulled out a 3/8" staple. My arm was sore and numb for a hour.

WHAT HAD YOU HAD TO DRINK PRIOR TO SLAP STAPLING?

[Serk]

When I was a teenager working at a grocery store, had a redneck hick co-worker that thought it was impress the ladies for him to repeatedly put staples in his arm with a staple gun then pull 'em out with a pair of pliers...

 

[R J]

I'll bet if he'd of put one or 2 in his  willie he would have quit that sheet.

Some kids don't think past the end of it too much.

[The emperor has no clothes]

When I was a teenager working at a grocery store, had a redneck hick co-worker that thought it was impress the ladies for him to repeatedly put staples in his arm with a staple gun then pull 'em out with a pair of pliers...

 

Yeah I bet he had ladies swarming him. For the record, real tough guys staple their penis . Forearms are for pussies.  
Damn it RJ beat me to it. I knew I should have taken typing in school.

[Serk]

I'll bet if he'd of put one or 2 in his  willie he would have quit that sheet.

Some kids don't think past the end of it too much.

Funny you say that, he managed to impress the uber-religious holier than though (But admittedly very hot) blond cheerleader... She was so angelic she made a big point of getting non-alcoholic bubbling grape juice for them to share on New Year's Eve... Then turned up pregnant by him... Maybe he should have stapled his nether regions instead...

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'll bet if he'd of put one or 2 in his  willie he would have quit that sheet.

Some kids don't think past the end of it too much.

Funny you say that, he managed to impress the uber-religious holier than though (But admittedly very hot) blond cheerleader... She was so angelic she made a big point of getting non-alcoholic bubbling grape juice for them to share on New Year's Eve... Then turned up pregnant by him... Maybe he should have stapled his nether regions instead...

That bubbling grape juice is nothing but trouble 

[PAVALKER]

I was wondering why go there in the first place too after getting the vice grips on it. 

Yep...me too.  Pull it out, squeeze to get some blood to wash any other stuff out, then spash with some antiseptic and put on a bandaid.  Oh, and grab a beer then throw the vice grips back in the tool box.  Not worth the time, aggravation and gas to get to Urgent Care.  However if it swelled up in a day or two then I would consider the Urgency and make the drive.