The great foot mystery of 2025. So, I'm Sunday messaging my friend Dee Stanley at 5:36 am, when my…read moreleft foot decides to stage a rebellion - it's all red and weird, like it joined a radical protest without telling me. I rush to see a PA, who felt it was necessary to rule out a blood clot, which I felt was odd. I went due to anxiety over my health for reassurance it's just a rash- and I felt like you probably don't get blood clots on top of your foot?
Next thing I know, I'm getting a D-Dimer test (clot time) and a venous Doppler ultrasound. After the blood test comes back normal, a different PA who gave me the results sends me a message saying, "Maybe you spilled some lime juice or a margarita on your foot?" (Both of these PAs were super nice by the way!)
The ultrasound tech then does their thing and gives me a thumbs-up, saying, "Looks like a rash, just go see a dermatologist."
Fast-forward to the dermatologist's office, and - plot twist - the redness has vanished like a magic trick. I'm left standing there, foot looking perfectly normal. But I've got the proof and evidence - photos of the rogue redness, taken with the precision of a photojournalist capturing one of the biggest events in history. I even brought the socks I had on when this happened, still stuffed in my bag, and show them to the dermatologist.
The dermatologist examines my foot, notices the rash's shape based on the photos, and says, "I think I know the culprit. The rash is right where Hello Kitty's image was." I nod, and the dermatologist looks at the socks, confirming his suspicion. "You've got contact dermatitis - a reaction to the dye in these socks. By the way, where did you get them?" I reply, "Five Below discount store." The dermatologist nods, "That explains it."
Public Service Announcement: Spend more than $1 on your socks, fellow feet users. Your skin might thank you. (It might just be sensitive me, though)
P.S. I found out you can't get a blood clot in the top of your foot. There are no major veins there! The dermatologist told me PAs often may not even be aware of this due to lack of adequate education and training. Another thing learned!
Summary :
*Type of Care:* Urgent Care/Primary Care
*Quality:* The PA was very nice, and the office experience was great - easy to get an appointment and a pleasant atmosphere. However, the quality of care was lacking, as the PA initially considered a possible blood clot in the top of my foot, which isn't even possible due to the anatomy of the foot.
*Office Experience Recap:* The office was very nice, and the PA was friendly. Getting an appointment was easy, which was a plus. Despite the positive experience, I wouldn't go back for something like this again, especially when it involves considering diagnoses that aren't even feasible given the symptoms and anatomy. For skin-related issues, I'd likely go straight to a dermatologist.