So far, no sign of allergic reaction to the antibiotic goo - which, by the way is not Neosporin but Walgreen’s housebrand. Didn’t think there would be one, but now I’m sure.
Tea tree oil? If I had some on hand I’d try it, but it’s not that common around here, and when I’m in the store that has it I never remember to buy it.
Anyhow - my ankle is still swollen, though I think it’s gone down a little bit. The pink blush that stretched from knee to ankle has faded to normal skin tones. I still have a fulminating pus volcano on my shin surrounded by a bright red halo, but I think the edges of halo are fading to pink now. There’s still that nasty wad of puss in there, but it doesn’t want to come out and, of course, attempting to hurry it is a major no-no. So it keeps oozing the occasional dab of purulence, along with fluid and some blood. Walking is less painful, although I overdid it a bit this afternoon. Elevating my leg for a few hours seems to have done the trick. I clean it up periodically and rebandage it - I just know at some point that puss-bomb is going to blow and I’d rather it go into a 2x2 gauze than shoot randomly about the landscape.
Are folks bored yet, or do you want me to continue updates?
I had a dream about this last night, except it was on my face. I woke up and rubbed my face to make sure all was okay. I remember yelling in my dream, ‘OMG It’s just like Broomstick!’ :eek:
Last time I read the SD before bedtime. Glad to hear it’s getting a lil better.
I’m glad to hear you seem to be on the mend. I just couldn’t believe it when I read the thread title and saw your name - talk about bad luck!
For a makeshift heating pad, you can use some scrap fabric and rice. I sew a kind of pillowcase shape, fill it with rice, then sew the end shut, but if sewing’s not an option, you could always just plunk some rice in the middle of a swatch, then draw the edges up and make a bag, tying some string around to keep it closed. Microwave on high for a 1-3 minutes, depending on how much rice is in there. It’ll stay quite warm for over an hour.
The body part in question would be difficult to truly immerse for a soaking unless I soaked everything up to the knee, and I’m also leary about potentially contaminating other parts of my body - as far as I’m concerned the crap coming out of the wound is a biohazard and potentially contagious.
I will try the rice-in-a-sock thing, probably by going out and buying some cheap rice, and maybe using a wet compress with an epsom salt solution. I have no intention of attempting to clean anything can comes in contact with the gruesomeness oozing out, it’s all going in the trash.
You can also just heat a towel in the microwave. Be careful not to overdo it - I had one towel with a hole burned through several folds where it overheated. Maybe a minute for a big towel or a half-minute for a small towel, depending on your micro.
It doesn’t last as long as the rice, but it’s really easy. And you can slightly dampen the towel for moist heat, or soak it in your epsom salt solution first for a hot compress. (Be especially careful about getting it too hot if you soak it.)
Or stick it in a ziplock bag after heating, then you can toss the bag instead of the towel.
For longer heat, use several towels rolled up together - bigger bulk means more heat retention.
First of all, ANYONE can potentially get this sort of infection. ANYONE. Staph is out there in the environment, it’s found in dirt, on skin, and up in people’s noses. So getting it once doesn’t make you “prone” to such infections.
Second, the most common cause of being prone to such things is being diabetic. I have been tested for diabetes multiple times and I do NOT have diabetes. Nor has this been a simple urine test - I have also had fasting glucose tests. No diabetes. So that’s clearly not it.
Third, I do have eczema. That means my skin is frequently broken and that is most likely why I am susceptible to skin infections. There is not, however, any cure for eczema although it can be treated.
Fourth, due to my allergies I can also have a stronger than usual reaction to a bug bite or sting, which can also lead to a broken skin or infection. There’s no cure for allergies, either.
My first go-round with this sort of staph was 10 years ago. This is the second, 10 years later. While that’s not happy fun time, it’s not like I’m coming down with this every other week. There is no cure for either of the two most likely causes in my case, so really all I can do it try to get to the doctor early should an infection such as this arise.
I am fully aware that ANYONE can get a staph infection. I was hospitalized with one in late 2006.
My inquiry was out of concern because of the recurrence. Two such severe incidences would be call for an appointment with an infectious disease specialist. Perhaps he or she could offer some advice or options that a regular GP would not be aware of.
I recall that you had had some financial difficulties earlier (the whole cat/garden thing) and I wanted to inquire as to whether or not you had seen a specialist since you had only referred to your Doctor as a Doctor, and to my recollection had not mentioned any specialty.
I saw one at the time of the original infection. Short of a sudden cure for eczema/allergies there really is nothing that can be done to reduce the risk here. I realize you’re trying to be helpful, but I get tired of repeating that this was looked into years ago and there really is nothing more to be done. Not everything can be fixed.
He didn’t recommend a specialist because he’s aware I have no insurance and there’s no way in hell I could possibly afford to visit one and go through a major medical work up. Sorry, but that’s what happens when you’re a second-class citizen in the medical system. You get what you need to stay alive, but not anything above that.
The infection is on the retreat! I am seeing my right ankle bone once more, and the red halo continues to fade. Local swelling around the wound is also going down. This is leaving what appears to be a small ball of puss parked on my shin. The pus-crater appears to be sealed with a thin membrane.
The urge to smash that barrier and evacuate the puss is definitely there.
No! No! Must resist! Will only cause more harm than good! I will be strong!
::: various sharp implements in the kitchen are calling my name…:::
AGH!
Goddammit! Hate being awake at 3:30 when it’s dark and quiet and I have evil thoughts.
I’m still keeping it covered. The drainage is getting to be more blood and less pus and custard, though quite a bit of it is just fluid. The top layer of skin around the wound, where the swelling was worst and it stretched the most, is now peeling off, sort of like a sunburn.
I’m assuming this puppy will burst at some point and vomit forth foulness, after which I also presume it will swiftly heal up, but the waiting is getting annoying.
Yes, yes, I am consuming fluids. I’m peeing at least twice as often as I usually do. My appetite is returning, and now I have more energy to actually prepare a meal. Skin infections always knock me on my ass and make me tired.
Oh - and I’m back to being able to walk without pain and without a limp. That’s a relief, too!
Just waiting for the damn on Puss Creek to burst, that’s all.
Well, it’s less painful to the point that I can actually scrub a little when cleaning up. This is good for getting any dried fluids and crusty stuff cleaned off, but also I’m hoping it sort of hastens the day of release.
Although it may not be an actual pressurized glob encased in tissue. This morning the puss level seemed to be down, but with no eruptions. I’m wondering if it turned into that heavy, cream-cheese consistency puss that does eventually leave/slough off/but does not involved blast and spatter effects. So more should come away with subsequent bandage changes until finally the last glob pulls free and you get that ugly little purple pit that bleeds freely for 15 or 20 minutes, after which you start healing up nicely.
Mostly I try not to mess with these things, just let the body heal up, but it’s sooooooo tempting.
I’ve got a parrot who feels the same way, she keeps trying to remove the bandage.
Which reminds me, I’m out of 2x2’s - there were fewer in the box than I thought, although they were also thicker than expected which was nice, as they could soak more up without bleedthrough. The tape I’m using stopped anything nasty from getting loose, but really, I want the gunk to stay in the bandages.
