My uncle was diagnosed today with STERNOCLAVICULAR JOINT SEPTIC ARTHRITIS (sorry it's all caps but I copied and pasted so I didn't get the spelling wrong). Basically, he said it's a flesh eating bacteria that is quickly eating his body from the inside out. I've tried to do some research on it but everything I've found are doctors reports and I can't make heads or tails out of it. I know we have members here in the medical profession and just wanted to know if someone could tell me ins and outs in basic language so I can understand it.
I know anything with "septic" in it is serious but you have to understand my Uncle. I love him to death, but he is a drama queen and always has been for as long as I can remember. If he gets a paper cut it's like he needs major surgery so I'm never sure how much of what he says is true or an exaggeration. He also lives in NY and I'm in WVa so I can't really talk to his doctors.
He's saying right now he doesn't want the treatment. Apparently, from what he says, the treatment will involve doses of the strongest antibiotic available and he says it will put him in a coma and probably kill him. He does have other medical issues such as Arnold Chiari Malformation (ACM II) and Syringomyelia. I'm not sure about the second one but the first one affects his brain and spinal column. He is in constant pain and is on so much medication it's not funny. His quality of life has really gone down hill in the last 10 years which is why he is thinking about not getting the treatment. Which, not being in his shoes, I really can't judge him.
He's really the only one in my mom's family I'm still in contact with. My two aunts are still alive but I rarely hear from them and I really don't care if I ever see them or not. Things got kind of nasty when they were handling my Grandparents estate and they basically screwed the rest of the family over so my Uncle is really the only one I have left. I just need to know how serious it is and if I should start preparing myself (I already know I'm going to have to handle his estate and I am his only beneficiary. He already told me that). Any help would be appreciated.
I know anything with "septic" in it is serious but you have to understand my Uncle. I love him to death, but he is a drama queen and always has been for as long as I can remember. If he gets a paper cut it's like he needs major surgery so I'm never sure how much of what he says is true or an exaggeration. He also lives in NY and I'm in WVa so I can't really talk to his doctors.
He's saying right now he doesn't want the treatment. Apparently, from what he says, the treatment will involve doses of the strongest antibiotic available and he says it will put him in a coma and probably kill him. He does have other medical issues such as Arnold Chiari Malformation (ACM II) and Syringomyelia. I'm not sure about the second one but the first one affects his brain and spinal column. He is in constant pain and is on so much medication it's not funny. His quality of life has really gone down hill in the last 10 years which is why he is thinking about not getting the treatment. Which, not being in his shoes, I really can't judge him.
He's really the only one in my mom's family I'm still in contact with. My two aunts are still alive but I rarely hear from them and I really don't care if I ever see them or not. Things got kind of nasty when they were handling my Grandparents estate and they basically screwed the rest of the family over so my Uncle is really the only one I have left. I just need to know how serious it is and if I should start preparing myself (I already know I'm going to have to handle his estate and I am his only beneficiary. He already told me that). Any help would be appreciated.