# A serious infection (TMI) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 7, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279 "2010-12-07T15:59:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/21 "2010-12-07T20:29:28Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > I don’t understand why anyone would lance their own “pockets of pus”. Especially a diabetic!! Are you using sterile instruments when you do that? Are you aware that your extremities can be very insensitive to pain because of diabetic neuropathy, and you can really hurt yourself poking around in there? Aiiiii! Get better. Also, the “pus” is more often pockets of white blood cells and serum trying to combat the infection. NEVER lance a boil yourself for any reason. It’s part of you body’s own defense, and not having the proper equipment to do it sterilely is just asking for problems. Even if it is an infectious process, getting the gunk on other parts of the skin can spread the wealth. **panache45** , good luck to you. Keep us informed as you can. ---
**Author:** ![Sodalite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@Sodalite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sodalite)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/22 "2010-12-07T20:58:34Z")
I can’t be the only one who immediately thought of MRSA. Weird looking itchy lumps can be the symptom of a lurking infection. Apparently a lot of people mistake it for a spider bite but there are no puncture marks in the skin. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/23 "2010-12-07T21:50:37Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > I don’t understand why anyone would lance their own “pockets of pus”. Especially a diabetic!! I’ve actually known a number of people to do this, and it’s almost always associated with a lack of health insurance and/or lack of access to professional medical care. Since I related the Epic Pustule Saga some years back I have been the recipient of a few dozen unsolicited e-mails on the topic. > [@](#): > > Are you using sterile instruments when you do that? One would hope so. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/24 "2010-12-07T21:54:32Z")
I don’t have anything to add, but I do hope that \*\*Panache \*\*comes out all right. He’s a good guy, and it hurts to thing about him going through something this scary. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/25 "2010-12-07T22:07:10Z")
> [@Sodalite](#): > > I can’t be the only one who immediately thought of MRSA.\ Nope, you sure aren’t. I’m very glad the OP has gone to ER - that sounded very serious to me. I read a book on MRSA recently, and what he was describing was practically textbook. I hope very much that it is a simple staph infection, not MRSA - fingers crossed a week or two of IV antibiotics will do the trick! Sending good, healing thoughts your way, **panache!** ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/26 "2010-12-07T22:19:05Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Something similar to this happened to my husband. A minor scrape on his shin that five days later put him in the ER with cellulitis and a horrible fever. I had an encounter with this in October, minus even any minor scrape I knew about. It’s no picnic. ☹ No boils though, so **panache45** ’s condition may be unrelated. Hope it turns out OK! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/27 "2010-12-07T23:12:39Z")
Just got back from the ER. They tried to get a wound specialist to come down to the ER, but she couldn’t, so I have an appointment to see her tomorrow afternoon. The doctor I saw was amazed that my injury began with a scrape that wasn’t even deep enough to bleed. He said it almost looks like I’ve been burned in that area. And yes, diabetics have to watch out for every little thing. We bruise more easily, with more complications, and with longer recovery time (or no recovery at all). A wound like this can lead to amputation. And the boils that I was draining . . . they turned out to be filled with fluid, not pus. It’s the same fluid that was making my leg swollen. And the reason why I didn’t go to the ER sooner: I had already been to Urgent Care, and I’ve seen my own doctor twice. I was trying to get in touch with him, but finally gave up and went to the ER. And as far as my insurance is concerned, after not having any for 15 years, I now have Medicare. I’m still getting used to the idea that as long as I have a legitimate problem, I can now go to the doctor (or hospital) without fear of economic disaster. And they did a blood test, but had no diagnosis for the itching. The really strange thing is that it moves around from one body part to another. Now it’s my belly, left upper arm, right shin and ass. I think it’s my body’s way of distracting me from the painful leg. So . . . no real news until I see the wound specialist tomorrow. And thanks so much for everyone’s good wishes. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/28 "2010-12-07T23:35:24Z")
Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. Keep us all updated. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/29 "2010-12-07T23:37:36Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Now it’s my belly, left upper arm, right shin and ass. Are you sure you aren’t [the late John Connally](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Connally)? Srsly, get better quick. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/30 "2010-12-08T00:52:28Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Something similar to this happened to my husband. A minor scrape on his shin that five days later put him in the ER with cellulitis and a horrible fever. This exact thing happened to me. It was also MRSA. My doctor told me to go to the hospitalrighthefucknow. 3 days and lots of fever and chills and IV drips of antibiotics. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/31 "2010-12-08T04:49:44Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Just got back from the ER. They tried to get a wound specialist to come down to the ER, but she couldn’t, so I have an appointment to see her tomorrow afternoon. > > The doctor I saw was amazed that my injury began with a scrape that wasn’t even deep enough to bleed. He said it almost looks like I’ve been burned in that area. And yes, diabetics have to watch out for every little thing. We bruise more easily, with more complications, and with longer recovery time (or no recovery at all). A wound like this can lead to amputation. > > And the boils that I was draining . . . they turned out to be filled with fluid, not pus. It’s the same fluid that was making my leg swollen. > > And the reason why I didn’t go to the ER sooner: I had already been to Urgent Care, and I’ve seen my own doctor twice. I was trying to get in touch with him, but finally gave up and went to the ER. > > And as far as my insurance is concerned, after not having any for 15 years, I now have Medicare. I’m still getting used to the idea that as long as I have a legitimate problem, I can now go to the doctor (or hospital) without fear of economic disaster. > > And they did a blood test, but had no diagnosis for the itching. The really strange thing is that it moves around from one body part to another. Now it’s my belly, left upper arm, right shin and ass. I think it’s my body’s way of distracting me from the painful leg. > > So . . . no real news until I see the wound specialist tomorrow. > > And thanks so much for everyone’s good wishes. Is your urine output ok? If not, TELL the doctor that. If they did the right blood tests they’ll know if your kidneys are involved. (uremic itching is occasionally the first sign of renal disease.) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/32 "2010-12-08T06:56:46Z")
My urine output is ok, and my last blood work didn’t indicate a problem with my kidneys (now that I’ve reduced my dietary protein). But the itching is driving me crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/33 "2010-12-08T13:54:12Z")
Try an oatmeal bath? You can either purchase some ‘oatmeal bath’ in a box, or just put some oats in a cloth bag, soak with water, and rub over your skin while bathing. The slimy goo helps the itching. Get better! ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/34 "2010-12-08T14:11:44Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Try an oatmeal bath? You can either purchase some ‘oatmeal bath’ in a box, or just put some oats in a cloth bag, soak with water, and rub over your skin while bathing. The slimy goo helps the itching. > > Get better! I think if he has any sort of open sores or wounds it’s probably not a good idea to get slimy oatmeal goo in there. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/35 "2010-12-09T01:28:25Z")
Eeek. You’re right. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/36 "2010-12-09T06:36:10Z")
Good luck Panache. Let us know how you get on. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/37 "2010-12-09T22:40:13Z")
**panache45**? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/38 "2010-12-10T01:12:18Z")
Hm, did Panache get admitted? 😕☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/39 "2010-12-10T02:06:45Z")
Dayum, I missed this the first time. Hub is a diabetic and i just clipped his cuticle when trimming his nails. I’ve been on edge dressing the wound with neosporin every day and it appears to be healing. Diabetes is scary stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279/40 "2010-12-10T02:38:02Z")
Itching can also be a sign of liver dysfunction. Although in your case it sounds like it is related to your infection. I suggest trying benadryl. That might help with the itching but will also make you sleepy. Best of luck please keep us updated! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-infection-tmi/563279.md?page=3)