Antibiotics...ok?
 

This is likely a silly question, but I figured I'd just ask. I was prescribed antibiotics for "cellulitis", which is just a skin infection of some sort on my leg (I'm hygienic, don't know how I got it!). I'm reluctant to take antibiotics unless I have to, given it seems every week another study comes out showing how important the microbiome is. But, if it doesn't get better in the next couple days I may just take them. Is there any PCS reason not to take antibiotics?

Laupala,

Check out a preparation called Vetericyn or Puracyn. http://puracyn.com/ The first is available at vet supply and horse supply stores. The later is the human version and is available at Walgreens, Rite-Aid and Meier but can be hard to find. They are the same. They are great at treating skin infections. They excite the body's healing reaction. My wife sold them off TV infomercials years ago.

For a skin infection, I would try a topical first. No gastric interference.

I was looking through the side effects of doxycycline (the antibiotic I was prescribed), and found that there rarely cause a serious increase in pressure inside the skull, which causes headache and can lead to vision problems. Seeing as I have a constant headache and visual problems, could this be an indication that I have elevated intracrainial pressure, and that it wouldn't be a good idea to take this antibiotic?

I just try to avoid anti-biotics. The Puracyn is not an anti-biotic. Systemic use of anti-biotics are a concern for me. There are many reports of using Puracyn successfully for cellulitis. Google Puracyn and cellulitis

Your vision and head aches could or could not be related to IICP.

I googled puracyn and cellulitis and didn't find much explicitly addressing it.

Is increased IICP common after mTBI? How would one know this underlies their symptoms?

There are three different US brands of this same product. Microcyn, Vetricyn, and Puracyn. Here is an overview. http://vetericyn.com/downloads/marke...ntibiotics.pdf

Regardless of the IICP risk, avoiding a systemic anti-biotic is worthwhile.

Hello Laupala, in your initial post you say that cellulitis is “just a skin infection of some sort on my leg,” but it can sometimes turn into something more serious. Here is a good article about cellulitis: http://www.medicinenet.com/cellulitis/article.htm

An excerpt on treatment:

“Cellulitis is a treatable condition, but antibiotic treatment is necessary to eradicate the infection and avoid complications and spread of the infection. Most cellulitis can be effectively treated with oral antibiotics at home. Sometimes hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics are required if oral antibiotics are not effective.”

Here is a link that includes comments from patients who have been treated for cellulitis: http://www.medicinenet.com/celluliti...mments-505.htm

Normally I try to avoid taking any prescription medications, but I’ve found that topical medications have not worked very well for me for skin conditions. Hope your cellulitis heals quickly!

Thanks for the info. Given it seems to be getting better (the swelled area has decreased significantly since it's max a couple days ago) I'd skip the antibiotics, but I'll be camping in about 10 days and don't want to risk the infection getting worse then. That's why I'm considering taking the antibiotics.