Hi everyone,

I'm a 42-year-old white male who just had half of my left foot amputated. Here's my story:

Nearly two years ago, I developed what I thought was a blister on my foot, but it wouldn't heal. Finally, I got chills at work and nearly passed out. I drove 45 minutes home to my wife who immediately took me to the urgent care center. They sent me to the hospital emergency room. They kept asking if I was diabetic. I kept saying no because no one in my whole family has had diabetes. My blood sugar was 495. Needless to say, they told me I was diabetic. The ulcer had infected my foot and required immediate surgery. At the time, the doctor's orders called for below the knee amputation. They ended up only amputating my great toe. After being fired from work for missing so much work, I rehabbed a home with an antibiotic IV...ended up buying New Balance gym shoes and had orthotics made. Last April, I started a new job with a great company. By June, I was out again with a new foot ulcer. It was nearly gone when I went back to work in October. Well, I worked less than two weeks when I developed another three new ulcers. That infection was also in the bone so they removed the top half of my left foot. I'm anxious for the stitches to heal, so I can get fitted for my new orthotics or new half-shoe. I pray I still have a job to go back to and that the healing is cut down to four or five more weeks, and not months, and that the new shoe will allow me to work with limited problems.

I wonder who you keep from getting bored to death...I'm also a gambling addict and have caused my family entirely too much stress, pain and agony. When I was bored this summer, I gambled online and cannot afford to take that road again. Does anyone take anti-depressants? My doctor has offered it but I'm reluctant.

Thanks for any support you can offer.