Staph Meeting is Now in Session
 

Come to order, please. It's time for staph meeting.

Hello, my name is Twink and I'm a picker and a grinner. :o (mostly a picker)

Back in Feb. of this year I got a teensy tiny scrape on my right shin. When I saw some red streaks appearing, the doc put me on antibiotics to treat CELLULITIS. He said "It's good you caught it -- it can spread to your face." Yeesh! I felt good about that.

In June I got some pimples on my face; of course the biggest one (about the size of a nickel, was right on the end of my nose. ugh It oozed for a week or so, then I thought it was getting better. Things kept getting worse. It did not occur to me that it could be anything other than some zits. I had some ointments that I applied that didn't do anything. It became challenging to get them covered with makeup so I could go out.

Then I kind of became a hermit because they were just UGLY! :(

I did have to go to work on Thursdays, but I sit in the back of the office and just do my computer thing most of the time. I made DH get groceries.

When September rolled around and the same sores were still on my face, and new ones were appearing on my leg (the old cellulitis one had never completely healed), I finally broke down and went to the Dr. cause I suspected I had a bladder infection.

He dxd bladder infection + STAPH INFECTION. Put me Septra + another drug with it. It worked fast and good. The Dr. NEVER SAID IT MIGHT RETURN. Other than the MS, I come from healthy stock and we just take for granted that stuff is going to go away and we'll be healthy once more.

I put off returning, but finally did when I suspected another bladder infection. He said the first one never left me (my sx are very subtle and hard to recognize). Then he prescribed AUGMENTIN. The pharmacy gave me AMOXICILLIN, which I have taken faithfully since Wed.

Okay, so now I have a sore heiny due to lovely *whispered* ( diarrhea ). And my face isn't any better. AND I'M ORNERY!!!! :mad:

Now what? Some expert Dr. on a video from "The Doctors" said this stuff can recur 5-10-15-20 times before it finally burns itself out. *GASP*

My original case of cellulitis turned into staph -- is this going to turn into MRSA? Will it ever GO AWAY?



I should mention that I just got dxd with diabetes recently. I was bad with sugar until just last week, when I finally wrapped my head around changing my diet. I've done pretty good so far, but I know sugar can encourage infections. And yes, I've been eating yogurt (but I don't really tend to get yeast infections, thank goodness!)


One more thing: I did miss 2 days of thyroid pills yesterday and the day before (forgot to take them on a little trip).

I hope it gets better soon. I'm sorry you have to deal with this. :(

Ooh, that stinketh. I hate when people have things happen that I worry about and have other people say, "Oh, don't worry about that, how likely is that ever to happen?"

In your situation, I'd be checking every inch of skin that I could reach about every five minutes. Staph??? YIKES!!

I'd be ornery, too. Keep us posted. Praying for a speedy and uneventful recovery!! :hug:

Thanks, friends. Hoping MrsD will check in...?

MRSA is scary stuff. http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-a...ococcus-aureus Hope it doesn't turn into that.

Take care and keep us posted, Ttoes!

I hope you start feeling better soon, Twink. :hug:

Hey Twink.....

I was on an errand this morning, and just got back.

Sounds like you are having a bad go of it.

I would get those draining zits cultured by a dermatologist to
find out which antibiotic will work. Sometimes, you can pick up an organism from tap water, called mycobacterium chelonae.
It is everywhere, but once established in a sore, it doesn't respond to some antibiotics. Dermatologists are better at this and would give the appropriate antibiotic for it.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/222790-overview
you may need to join medscape to view...but that is quick, easy and free.
http://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins...erium+chelonae
Sometimes people get it in the sinuses, if they use those netti pots with tap water. There is also an outbreak now in upper NY state with contaminated tattoo inks! Not that YOU got yours from a tattoo... ;)

The very best thing for sore bottom from antibiotic induced diarrhea, is Kefir. If you can find some where you live, that would work the best, and very fast. This Kefir has 12 strains to help whereas yogurts have 3 to 6 at best.
There is a store locator at this site:
http://lifeway.net/Products.aspx
The smoothies are really good...tasty, and not expensive.
I get mine at Kroger's and Costco now.
The Kefir will help female areas too, and may reduce likelihood of bladder infections, as it also colonizes those tissues with beneficial bacteria to keep nasty ones away.
People with sugar problems often have yeast, and the Kefir will help keep that down too. Antibiotics encourage yeast as well.
Drink at least 4 oz of Kefir a day. More if you want, of course.

For the immediate sore bottom issue... Use paper towels with
hydrogen peroxide liberally on them, to make a compress for your irritated place, this cleans off bacteria etc... then throw in the trash (don't flush them).
Pat dry and then put A & D ointment on the area, (best to wear a panty liner), to speed healing and prevents more soreness if you still have "issues" there. If you have any bleeding down there, you can use triple antibiotic on those areas for a short time,
then move on to the A & D ointment. Most stores still carry A & D, the original formula... Target, for example has it...in the baby section. It will act as a barrier to the irritating diarrhea, which tends to cause alot of grief down there. But only apply it to that area after cleaning well with the peroxide compresses.
The peroxide does not hurt or sting, BTW.

MRSa is supposed to be susceptible to peroxide and the RX ointment Bactroban.

Any further questions, and I am here all day.

Sending get well wishes your way Twink! :hug:

Oh Twink!:( I'm so sorry about all of this. That is not a "Staph" meeting I would want to attend. (I almost didn't post in this thread because I didn't want to be exposed to any executive Staph. j/k:D) I do hope you start feeling better soon and you and your doctors keep on top of it so that it doesn't turn into something more serious. Hang in there! Keeping you in my prayers.:hug:

LOL, Trish! :D