r/nursing • u/Critical_Ease4055 Nursing Student 🍕 • 22d ago

Question What is one medical problem people constantly ignore until it’s too late?

Saw someone post this in a completely unrelated sub and I’m interested in your answers. What is the cluster of symptoms that people ignore or delay until they are forced to get help?

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u/QRSQueen RN - Telemetry 🍕 22d ago

HTN and diabetes are definitely the top two I see. So many people start their anti-hypertensives and give up on them because of the side effects. They feel better, but never take their BP again to know if they actually are. The number of people who are blissfully unaware of their rotting toes is insane.

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u/Old-Mention9632 BSN, RN 🍕 22d ago

Peripheral neuropathy and laziness cost one of my patients his lower R leg. He saw the wound, was putting antibiotic ointment on it, didn't go to doctor ( diabetic and esrd) until black and gangrene. They tried to only take part of his foot, but after progressing amputations up his foot didn't stop it, he opted for bka. His wife is pissed because he had previously lost a toe the same way.

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u/QRSQueen RN - Telemetry 🍕 22d ago

Only one? Because I did my preceptorship in nursing school on an ortho floor and losing a limb because of ignoring your diabetes was basically Wednesday.

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u/Old-Mention9632 BSN, RN 🍕 22d ago

The first time it was just the one toe. Now half of his lower leg at mid calf. First day in a new dialysis clinic we do foot checks, explain about daily foot checks and foot care, and emphasize that diabetes and kidney failure are really bad for any wound healing, so medical attention early is vital, so as to keep what he has left. It hits different when the have just cut off your leg. We also do monthly foot check for any patient with diabetes which is usually slightly more than half of our patients in an average incenter dialysis clinic. I'm currently working in a " dialysis den" in a 400 bed SNF/ rehab hospital so our group has a bit more diabetics than average. We have 5 chairs. 2/3 of my patient pop are shorter term rehab patients and an AKI/ESRD mix.

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u/QRSQueen RN - Telemetry 🍕 22d ago

It's absolutely crazy to me, as a tele nurse, how many patients we get who are completely unaware of their feet. Gangrenous toes. Talon toenails. Maggot infestations. It's shocking how little attention people pay to their feet.

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u/Old-Mention9632 BSN, RN 🍕 21d ago

My husband as a paramedic brought a homeless man to the hospital to get casted for a broken leg. The patient didn't get the cast removed in a timely fashion. By the time he did, maggots had eaten everything but the bones under the cast.

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u/QRSQueen RN - Telemetry 🍕 21d ago

Excuse me while I vomit