[tps_title]She knows she was bitten by Bed Bugs[/tps_title]
A. I just know that I got bit by the bedbugs, and it was the same swelling that I had back in September, it was the exact same swelling.
Q. Okay. So what did they treat you for at that point?
A. At that point they just gave me Ace bandages and foot braces, and they gave me an antibiotic. And so none of that was working, and that’s when, after that, they started trying to do tests with rheumatology, et cetera, and — but they would not conclude that it was from the bedbugs, so they never would give me a diagnosis.
Q. Okay.
A. But prior to that, because it was the left foot, they kept referring back to the fracture, until the right foot got swollen, so they knew they couldn’t refer back to the fracture.
Q. Okay.
A. So once they realized they were wrong, they wouldn’t give me a diagnosis.
Q. And then it seems like they gave you Ace bandages?
A. Ace bandages, yes.
Q. At one point it says they advised you to go to the ER but you refused. Do you recall that?
A. Yes.
Q. Why did you refuse to go to the ER?
A. What it was, they told me if — they said if I can’t get an appointment on the same day — I need an appointment with my doctor. They said if you need an appointment, the only way you’re going to get one is to go to the ER.
Q. Okay.
A. And I didn’t — that didn’t make sense. I said, I don’t have an emergency, I want to see my doctor.
Q. When you went on March 27th — or, I’m sorry, March 24th, it looks like there was an additional visit on the 27th —
A. Uh-huh.
Q. — are you aware that when they examined you, they said that there was no other joint pain or swelling, no fever, no chills, no rash, on that area of your ankle and your foot?
A. I’m aware of that.
Q. Okay. So by then is it fair to say the rash had gone?
A. The rash — there was swelling, that’s the reason why they put the foot is swelling.
Q. But there’s no rash?
A. No rash, yes.
Q. Okay. So there’s no actual signs of bites on that area at that point?
A. Exactly.
Q. Okay. And so it looks like they send you to podiatry?
A. That’s correct.
Q. And so you went to podiatry on March 31st?
A. That’s correct.
Q. And your records are still sort of referring to more so of a left foot pain; is that fair to say?
A. Yes. That’s correct.
Q. But you’re saying that both of your feet at this point are paining you?
A. That’s correct.
Q. Okay. At this point they did a dermatological exam, so saw no signs of infection, no edema, no arrythmia, no hyperpigmentation, no open wounds, and that seems to be left ankle/foot. Is that correct?
A. That’s correct.
Q. And so at this point it’s still a swollen issue?
A. That’s correct.
Q. And so it looks like they want you to do an MRI?
A. That’s correct.
Q. Okay. Well, no, they have you do x-rays.
A. Okay. Whatever’s on the record.
Q. Not an MRI.
A. Whatever’s on the record.
Q. Yeah, I’m just trying to walk us through all of these.
A. Uh-huh.
Q. Okay. So you do the x-rays. And that’s when I think it started over here. And by April 2nd you return to podiatry, and this is with Dr. Cramer. Does that sound familiar?
A. Yes.
Q. And you’re using the Ace bandages to control the swelling. And it says here that you relate that the pain and swelling has improved since your previous appointment. Do you recall it improving around April 12 of 2015?
A. Yeah. The Ace bandage allowed me to walk on it better, support —
Q. And it says here that you relate that you do not have pain when ambulating, which is moving. Is that correct?
A. That’s correct.
Q. And again, here it says here that you state you were bitten by bedbugs, and since March 1st chronically swelling with discomfort in your left foot, but that you have no other pedal complaints. Is that correct?
A. That’s correct.
Q. It seems here again they do another examination of you, and they look at your x-ray from the 1st, which was the day before, and they see no acute fracture at this location of your left foot, but they see something called a pes planus in your left foot. Are you aware that they found something in your left foot?
A. No.
Q. Okay. That they find mild degenerative changes as well. Are you aware of that?
A. No.
Q. And that they found a very mild arthropathy of your first joint of your left foot. Are you aware that they found that?
A. No.
Q. Okay.
A. Maybe in their terminology they just kept seeing the fracture from — that was their terminology they gave me, what you just read.
Q. Okay.
A. You understand. Oh, well, you see this is happening, but it’s from your fracture that you had from before.
Q. Before?
A. That’s the terminology I think they’re using.
Q. And then at this point they’re saying you have a suspected peroneal tendonitis of your left foot, a possible sprain of your left foot, and then this mild pes planus of your left foot, and edema which is resolving at that point. And so at this point they’re not noting anything about the bedbug bites —
A. Exactly.
Q. — related to the left foot swelling?
A. That’s correct.
Q. Okay. You’re going to continue the Epsom salts at that point, the Ace bandage on your foot. What. Is a Darco shoe? Do you recall a Darco shoe?
A. Yes.
Q. What was that?
A. It’s about the size of a big man’s boot.
Q. Okay.
A. You put the Ace bandage on, you cannot put a shoe on, that’s at the point your foot’s too swollen, and you wear that out. It’s almost as if you had a cast on.
Q. Okay.
A. So yes, I had that.
Q. So their next course of treatment is an MRI. You’ve already had the x-ray.
A. That’s correct.
Q. And so they want you to do an MRI. And that seemed to have taken place on or about April 13th. And this is an MRI of your ankle in particular. And at this point they say no fracture or dislocation, no abnormal marrow within the bone or the ankle. And then they do see — again, this is medical jargon — an anterior talofibular ligament which is ill-defined, reflecting chronic sprain? Do you recall them saying anything about a chronic sprain?
A. Their main words they kept telling me is that it has to relate to the fracture that I had back in — whatever year I had that sprain.
Q. Okay. And there’s no evidence of muscle edema or atrophy; no evidence of denervation, edema or atrophy; and it’s generalized soft tissue swelling at the ankle, extending into the dorsum of the foot. And so that’s from the MRI results. And they kind of sum them up saying that you have pes planus deformity noted, and a chronic ATFL sprain of your ankle. Do you recall them discussing any of that with you?
A. No. They kept referring to the other fracture, which I kept telling them I did not sprain — they thought that I sprained my foot recently.
Q. Okay.
A. And I told them no, the swelling is not from me spraining my foot recently —
Q. Okay.
A. — the swelling is from the bedbugs. But they kept relating to the fracture for swelling —
Q. Okay. And that’s despite the fact that the MRI actually does show a sprain?
A. Yes.
Q. Okay. So that’s on April 13th. And let’s see. You go back to podiatry, Dr. McRudin. Does that sound familiar?
A. Yes.
Q. And that’s on the 14th. So the day after the MRI he wants to see you back. And it appears here again does a dermatological exam; skin is warm, dry and supple; there are no open lesions or maceration noted. So again, they’re not noting any of the bites or anything on that area —
A. Right.
Q. — just the swelling? Again, they want you to use the Ace bandages to control the swelling. And it says here that you relate the pain in your left foot 4 to 10; is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. And then here they write: She does relate ankle sprain 10-plus years prior. So in other words, I think you agree that there had been a sprain in the past?
A. They asked me — yes, they asked me did I have a sprain, yes.
Q. Okay.
A. They’re trying to connect the ten years prior with that. So they asked me did you have a — yes, I had a sprain, but this is not because of the sprain. Please take notice this deposition is found on bedbugsbite.org
Q. Okay.
A. For some reason they just kept staying away from the bedbugs.
Q. And each time you were presenting at the doctor, are they taking your temperature and your vital signs and all of that?
A. Yes.
Q. And it’s all coming back normal as well, is that correct?
A. Sometimes the blood pressure was up every now and then.
Q. Okay. Do you have blood pressure issues?
A. No, not at all.
Q. Okay. Do you ever get nervous when you go to the doctor and have elevated blood pressure?
A. The VA, yes.
Q. Okay.
A. Can’t stand the VA.
Q. So there were times even prior to all this where you would get a little bit anxious going to —
A. The VA, yes. The VA, yes. VA, definitely.
Q. Okay. And then it seems like you were then measured for some sort of orthotics; is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. An ankle sleeve?
A. Yes.
Q. Again, for your left side?
A. Yes.
Q. Now, are you telling them there’s issues with the right, are they just ignoring it? What’s going on with the right side?
A. That’s exactly what’s going on. I’m telling them there’s issues with my left, but I’m telling them with my right, and they are saying to me, well, right now we’re going to focus on the left.
Q. Okay.
A. For some reason, with the VA, they look at what’s in the charts, what’s more prevalent at the time. The right, it was swelling, but it wasn’t as large of a swelling.
Q. Okay. So the more obvious issue was to the left?
A. Exactly.
Q. And would you say your pain and discomfort was more so to the left as well?
A. Yes.
Q. Okay. But you said that because you had right ankle complaints, that got you into the VA in the first place?
A. Yes. That’s what that means there. Once the right ankle began to swell, that’s why they decided to see me. So they know obviously I didn’t sprain that one, so something must have been going on.
Q. Got you. But they didn’t even look at the right ankle?
A. No.
Q. Okay. And so you come back on the 21st to see Dr. McRudin again.
A. Uh-huh.
Q. And it looks as though you had an injection of Valium in anticipation for the left foot appointment. Do you recall that?
A. Yeah. I think that was — I forgot what that was for. Either that was for — I had PTSD or put — they supposed to do a procedure, and I wasn’t able to deal with the procedure. And I forgot what it was. I think they wanted to stick a needle into my ankle.
Q. Yeah. I think this might have been a steroid injection at this point?
A. Thank you. Yes. See. It’s very hard for me to remember, but I’m pretty good at that. Yes.
Q. Okay.
A. And I told them I have a low tolerance to pain.
Q. Was it similar to the injection that you had described you got I think for your — was it your —
A. My back.
Q. — back or your shoulder?
A. Yes. And I have a low tolerance to pain, so I told them as before, I need to have some type of Valium. And so he agreed to that. Uh-huh.
Q. Okay. And at this point it’s again just for your left ankle?
A. Yes.
Q. And at this point you’re wearing the brace, you’re wearing the supportive shoe?
A. Uh-huh.
Q. Again, it seems like the doctors are noting that you have a chronic left sprain. And then you have something called sinus tarsi syndrome, and then the mild pes planus of your left foot as well. And again, they’re just not noting anything about the bug bites; is that correct?
A. That’s the VA. Yes.
Q. Okay. And then you go back on the 30th. Did you find any sort of relief from the injection to your left ankle?
A. No.
Q. Okay. So it didn’t give you the relief that you’d had —
A. No.
Q. — with your back in the past?
A. No.
Q. So you go back on the 30th of April, you’re seeing a Dr. Pham at this point, Christine Pham. Does that sound familiar?
A. No.
Q. Okay. It might have been just someone with a particular —
A. I had been asking for my primary — Dr. McRudin should have been my primary care with the podiatry.
Q. That’s who you had been seeing?
A. Yeah. And when they send someone else, they’ve got to kind of catch themselves up with it.
Q. Okay.
A. So they’re not familiar with my case. So I don’t know who Dr. Pham is, no.
Q. Okay. And so it looks here that this Dr. Famm is noting that you had about three days of relief and then your foot went back swollen?
A. Exactly.
Q. And it was red and warm?
A. I’m glad I have a good memory.
Q. And the swelling had decreased on Friday, and you took some medication. And you did indicate that you had a family history of arthritis; is that correct?
A. Yes. That’s correct.
Q. Including rheumatoid arthritis, which your mother has?
A. Yes. My mom. That’s correct.
Q. And then you also indicated the bedbugs to this doctor?
A. That’s correct.
Q. Okay. So this doctor notes that you’d indicated bedbugs?
A. That’s correct.
Q. And she also gives you an examination. Notes again no lesions, no sign of the bugs on your ankle; is that correct?
A. That’s correct.
Q. Then you’re again diagnosed with the sprain and the sinus tarsi syndrome. And again, even though she knows about the bedbugs, she’s not relating them at this point; is that correct?
A. That’s correct.
Q. And you are discussed to continue to wear the shoe and the brace?
A. That’s correct.
Q. And now you’re being sent to rheumatology. Is that fair?
A. That’s correct.
Q. Okay. So we’ve got a little bit of a break in your treatment at that point; is that right?
A. That’s correct. I refused to go back.
Q. Okay. Describe — or explain the refusal.
A. At that point, when I — I did not know, was that when the VA see you, they see you on what is called I guess a level one or level three. So if you’re not shot or stabbed, they’re not going to treat you on that level. So if you’re — they’re doing tests — I didn’t know this existed. There’s three levels of tests. They do a blood work; if nothing shows up, they give you an Ace bandage or whatever they’re going to give you. But then if it continues, there’s a second level, which I did not know, that they test you on of blood work. I didn’t know until someone told me. Then they go to see whether is it an infection.
Q. Okay.
A. And I asked them why didn’t they do that the first time, because obviously I had been going through and they could have found something before that.
Q. Okay.
A. And once I questioned them, they got upset with me.
Q. Okay.
A. So I told them I was going to my congressman.
Q. Okay.