I am an idiot.
I did not ask the basic care question and I don't know., can't figure out the answer either.
Am I supposed to keep my wounds moist or let them dry out?????
very basic information that I should have asked, That they should have let me know.
I don't know the proper way to wash my face...
I have all of these crusty areas that come off when I wash and then bleed....
I am a mess.
The bactroban cream is to be applied twice daily.
my sister said it would probably get worse before it gets better....
sigh
this is only day 2
bizi
not very happy right now...not at all.


found something very useful they did not tell me to do this:

Topical antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe a prescription antibiotic that you apply to the affected areas (topical antibiotic), such as the ointments mupirocin (Bactroban) or retapamulin (Altabax). Before applying the antibiotic, you need to gently remove any scabs so that the antibiotic can penetrate the sore.

I basically did this when I washed my face...something right!

Daer Bizi

i'm glad you are taking the probiotic although one with a few different strains might be better. anyway, now you have this one, so that's fine.

i just wanted to suggest you do not take it at the same time as the antibiotic.

you can take the probiotic without food. i would put at least a 30 mins between it and the antibiotic, more time if you also take the probiotic with food - yogurt is a good thing to take it with as it naturally contains other probiotics.

since the wounds were oozing before, i would think to keep them dry rather than wet, other than when you must apply the cream. but if you are not sure, call the doctor's office on that.... you are NOT an idiot, so what if you forgot to ask something even if you consider it basic - that is understandable - this is all very trying for you. (fwiwi would not have thought to ask, and wondered later.)

i hope you feel better soon. i had impetigo once when i was quite young nasty round blisters that bust up oozed and became these sores and scabbed over... UGH. don't recall what they gave me - too long ago. it was nasty and i felt utterly gross and embarrassed walking around with it. so i know what you mean. did they advise whether what you have is contagious? mine was so that made me feel even worse about it.

i hope things start to clear up soon

~ waves ~
p.s. i do not recall it getting worse before better. but it didn't go away overnight.

thanks waves for your thoughtful note to me.
I take the probiotics 2 hours after the antibiotic same thing with the yogurt. The pharmacist said that the align is the best thing when taking the clidamycin so I respect her. also I have conflicting feelings about whether to even eat dairy while taking antibiotics it can interfer with absorption...though the pharmacist looked at all of the literature and no where did it warn to not take dairy...so she said it was safe to take.
what gets me is that I have to remove the scabs to get the medicine on the wound thus making it bleed, vicious cycle to me and scarring has to be the result of all of this trauma...
thanks again I am tired need to go to sleep.
have a good day tomorrow.
I look hideous, don't think I am going anywhere.....
bizi

Bizi,
The oral medication is going to work along with the topical medication. Give them both time. Definitely call the mdoc on Monday if your face gets worse. Your skin should start to look better in two or three days.

You've got more knowledge than I do and you need to go by your own instincts, but taking off the scabs to apply the medical does not make sense to me. Go by what feels right. Or call and check with the pharmacist over the weekend.

M

I got that info from a mayo clinic site. I very gently removed some of the loose scabs but left the others in place. only a little bleeding. eye is starting to get involved more puffy this morning and a little crusty...great.
bizi who got up late today which will throw the whole schedule off...I needed to sleep, could not get to sleep until 2 am, so sleeping into 9;30-10 was right for me. thanks for your support.
bizi

sigh. i hope things look up for you soon, Bizi.

sending you (((hugs)))

waves

the itching is driving me crazy today.
So I called my mother and she suggested ice which helped so grateful for that.....helped while on but not much after I took it off.
I also took a zyrtek, didnot have any benadryl in the house...
more whining...sorry.
bizi
waves the lab results won't be for a few days, my guess is that it is a staph infection and yes was contagious before put on antibiotics, sis said that they let kids go back to school after 24 hours on antibiotics so I am no longer contagious. jeff won't kiss me though

well i'm hoping the infection responds to this current abx so it will hurry up and heal quicker. but if it is resistant, logic suggests to me that you might still be contagious. i wish the doc had advised you on that aspect i am rather at a loss.

btw impetigo (what i had) is caused by staph or strep... sounds similar from the sores you are describing.

i don't know if antihistamines work for itching not caused by histamine release. this itching probably has more to do with reaction to microbial toxins as well as healing of tissues.

i'd suggest plain aspirin if your stomach can take it. should help with itching-burning of any type. i know you tried advil already. sometimes one works better than the other.

hang in there. dang that waiting on the labwork.

(((hugs)))

waves

Bizi,

One suggestion for the itching is a benzo. I can't remember if you take them. A benzo would not help with itching but it could make you less concerned about it.

My suggestion is to eat a meal and take the Geodon and go to bed early. Sleep will take your mind off the discomfort.

Tomorrow wash and dry the the pillow cases and sheets on hot if you can.

M

thank you mari and waves for keeping up with me here.
thankfully the infection is on my left side of my face...again. and I sleep on my right side all night so there has not been any chance of me contaminating my sheets. I am using alcohol to depress my system but will remember using the clonipin if needed later on. Because I got up late it put me behind my antibiotic schedule so I will have to stay up until later.
Jeff went to the symphony with out me....just couldn't see myself being able to tolerate sitting still and not using tissues or applying ointment or washing my hands after touching...for over 2 hours then going out afterward with our friends. Plus I feel crummy and look awful the bandaid only covers part of it so that is not good either.
This is what I juggled today.
up at 10, breakfast of 2 eggs and toast and banana, coffee antibiotics at 10:30, geodon and vitamins, Carefully wash face and apply bactroban, just got dressed, showered last night...that was interesting...
(wait 2 hours to take probiotics) at 12;30, then at 2;30 had a lite lunch of one piece of bread and almond butter and raspberry jam with banana took antibiotics, I wandered around the house until 6 dinner of talapia with garlic and lemon and spices and a big salad(mixed greens, celery, chives green onion, carrots, green pepper, tomatoes) hubby makes a great salad.
took geodon and antibiotic and calcium(thankfully I can take the calcium any time, last time with the tetracyclin I had to wait 2 hours before taking them. but I was only taking antibiotics once a day...not 4 times a day!!!!!)
I took a zyrtec and have used ice intermittantly thru out the day. The only productive thing that I did was water my outside plants...and about one hour of charting. The rest of the day I was working on my face or taking meds or making sure I ate so that I don't get the dreaded nausea or vomiting or diarrhea that people usually get with this harsh of an antibiotic.
it is 8 oclock. hopefully jeff will come home at a decent time so that we can watch an episode of lost, I have one more dose of antibiotic to take, so I have to eat again(have to sit up half an hour after taking it.) and have to wash my face and remove all of the crusty drainage and apply bactroban ointment just before bed and then take my night meds.

How the hell am I going to work and do all of these things?
I have started a working sheet to keep track of things, that has been very helpful. I did not sleep much on friday and got up early at 6am that is how I managged to do this all by getting up early. Jeff will help me get up....I need to just relax and have another cider.

HOping that this is not a resistant strain of staph...if it is then I would probably have to be admitted for IV antibiotics...and just send me to a pysch ward if that happens.

The doctor did not say anything about me being contagious...I hate it when they know I am a nurse, they figure I know the whats and etc.
ok so If you have gotten thru this much,
thank you.
As you can see I am getting hypo about all of this...The infection seems to have spread, I have more bumps outside of my bandaid area. more on my nose. The itching and stinging could be signs of healing or just cracking of crust...sorry I know it is gross.
I am off to have another cider.
I will be off and on till jeff comes home then lost then face then meds.
~sigh
thank you for your support.
my life sucks right now .....but I know that there are a lot of people who deal with far worse things than this on a regular basis.
This is temporary.
bizi