A YOUNG WOMAN was left devastated after a small blister led to her needing to have her leg amputated.
The 24-year-old is raising awareness to let others know of the potentially fatal impact that a seemingly minor problem – like a blister – can have.
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Charlie Beardshall-Moore, from Hull, was once fiercely independent, active and sporty before her life took a dramatic turn.
In January 2021, a blister developed on his foot while wearing sneakers.
Within a few days, the lump became infected, increased in size and oozed pus.
As she became more worried, Charlie visited several hospitals in and around Hull and received expert advice, but her foot never healed.
For the past three years I have been tiptoeing around and then I had my leg cut off.
Charlie Beardshall-Moore
The infection worsened and led to the development of sepsis – a potentially fatal reaction to an infection.
Charlie said HullLive that doctors had to remove the lower part of his left leg last week to prevent the infection from spreading.
“People literally need to go and get checked out right away. Now I’ve lost my leg. It can happen to anyone,” she said.
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RECOVERY
Charlie is recovering at home under the care of his partner, Jason Copeland, and his grandmother, Sheryl Moore.
She is confined to a wheelchair until doctors can fit her with a prosthesis, which could take up to three months to arrange.
How can you treat a blister yourself
Blisters usually heal on their own within a week.
They can be painful while they heal, but you won’t usually need to see a GP.
There are things you can do to protect a blister and help stop it from becoming infected:
- Keep the blister as clean as possible – gently wash the skin and pat it dry
- Cover blisters with a soft plaster or padded bandage
- Wash your hands before touching a popped blister
- Let the liquid from a popped blister drain before covering it with a plaster or bandage
Do not do the following:
- Don’t burst a blister alone
- Do not remove the skin from a popped blister
- Do not touch the edges of the remaining skin
- Do not wear the shoes or equipment that caused the blister until it heals.
Don’t ignore an infected blister; Without treatment, it can cause a skin or blood infection.
Seek further help if:
- A blister is very painful or keeps coming back
- The skin appears infected – it is warm and the blister is filled with green or yellow pus
- The skin around the blister appears red, but may be harder to see on dark or black skin.
- A blister is in an unusual location – such as the eyelids, mouth, or genitals
- Several bubbles appeared for no reason
- A blister was caused by a burn or scald, sunburn, or an allergic reaction
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
“They have been brilliant but I can’t understand how for the last three years I have tiptoed around and then had my leg cut off.
“I miss being able to do things alone.
Charlie remains hopeful that she will be able to live an everyday life again.
“I’ve worked all my life,” she said.
“I want to be able to go back to work and not get sick.
“I’m a girl who likes to be independent and not be in a wheelchair, not be able to go out and do the things that 24-year-olds do.”
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
SEPSIS is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that occurs when the immune system overreacts and begins to damage the body’s own tissues and organs.
Symptoms of sepsis in an adult include:
- Acting confused, with slurred speech or without making sense
- Blue, greyish, pale or mottled skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that doesn’t go away when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or breathing very quickly
Symptoms in a child include:
- Blue, greyish, pale or mottled skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that doesn’t go away when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting or stomach sucking under the rib cage), shortness of breath, or breathing very quickly
- A weak, high-pitched cry that is not normal crying
- Not responding as they normally do, or not interested in eating or normal activities
- Being more sleepy than usual or having difficulty waking up
They may not experience all of these symptoms.
If you think you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.
Source: National Health Service
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
