By Wanique Block
Following his leg amputation earlier this year, South African actor Israel Zulu reflects on coming to terms with his Gangrene diagnosis.
In conversation with Drum magazine, Israel Zulu opens up about his condition which started eight years ago, the endless search of a diagnosis, not to mention the process of acceptance.
Israel also noted that in his quest to find a diagnosis, he visited various medical doctors and traditional healers. Not knowing what he was dealing with, Israel also mentioned that some sangomas told him that he had a calling and that he needed to be a healer.
He furthermore expresses that he thought he was going to die because people told him that he was bewitched.
“I thought I was going to die because some people kept on telling me that I am bewitched, I stepped on umuthi and it got into my body and that will travel to my heart and I will die. But now that I didn’t die, I found an opportunity to live again”, Israel tells drum magazine.
Israel notes that upon receiving his Gangrene diagnosis, he completed various tests because his diagnosis wasn’t aligned with the causes of gangrene.
Gangrene is often prevalent in patients who suffer from diabetes or high blood pressure, none of which Israel has.
Gangrene is the death of body tissue that is caused by the lack of blood supply to the designated area. Gangrene is also caused by various external factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, bacterial infection, traumatic injuries like gunshot wounds or crushing injuries from car accidents, weakened immune systems, and serious frostbite. This commonly affects the arms, legs, fingers, and toes.
Symptoms of Gangrene:
- Cold or numb skin
- Swelling and pain
- Skin discoloration- Skin will often turn red, brown, purple, blue, green, or black in colour
- Blisters with bad-smelling discharge
- Persistent fever
- Shortness of breath
When to see a doctor:
It’s merely impossible to assume when people should see a doctor, however, if you’ve persistently been experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, it might be best to not only consult with a doctor but to listen to your body!
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