Category Archives: MRSA

MRSA Update

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13

My infection continues to improve.  I am very thankful for that.  I did receive news today that it is definitely a MRSA infection.  Which makes me even more thankful that it is responding to the antibiotics I was given.  I am experiencing little to no pain now, however, the darn thing is very irritating.  Itching constantly!!  Between the bandages and the wound itself that part of my body is one giant itch.  I keep telling myself that means it is getting better.  I hope that is true.

When I went to have a doctor to look at my infection, the swelling was about three inches in diameter.  Now the swelling is about the size of a nickel.  Here is what it looks like now.

Since I have had this infection, several people have asked me what is MRSA, so I thought I would take some time and share what I have learned about it.

  1. MRSA is short for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.
  2. MRSA is nothing more than a staphylococcus aureus (staph) infection, however, it can cause huge problems because it is so resistant to many antibiotics.
  3. MRSA infections are primarily spread in a hospital environment.
  4. MRSA infections, just like any other staph infection, are extremely contagious.
  5. The bacteria that make up staph are found on everyone’s skin and in their noses.
  6. MRSA developed mostly because of the following reasons, 1 overuse of antibiotics, 2 people not taking all of their antibiotics and 3 bacterial genetic change.
  7. MRSA is NOT a virus, it is a bacterium.
  8. MRSA was first discovered in 1961.
  9. A weakened immune system puts you at more risk for developing a MRSA infection.  Illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, HIV …
  10. If you have been hospitalized and needed an IV, a catheter, dialysis, or anything else that can be considered even mildly invasive could put you at a higher risk for MRSA.

Freaky Friday

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7

Please be aware this post contains some pictures that some readers may find disturbing, or just down right gross.

I had to go to the emergency room yesterday.  Nothing major or life threatening, just something that really needed a doctor to take a look at it.  I had this very large bump, about three inches in diameter.  It was extremely painful and was looking worse and worse as time went on.  I figured it was a skin staph infection, the kind that are fairly easy to treat.  I did know that it would have to be drained and that would involve a scalpel. Draining it also would relieve the pain I was experiencing.

This is what it looked like before I went to the emergency room.  It is not the best picture I ever took, but it will give you an idea about how it looked.

Unfortunately, when the doctor sliced it open to allow it to drain, barely anything came out. She said that meant that the infection was still hard, I believe she called it a core, or a pus core. Since it could not be drained, it meant no relief from the pain. The doctor decided to give me an antibiotic to clear it up, and also some pain medication. I was also told that, even though the cultures had not come back yet, it appears to be MRSA. If the cultures say something different when they come back, then I was told the hospital would call me and let me know if I needed a different type of antibiotic.

In the 24 hours since the attempt at draining and the beginning of the course of antibiotics, I think it is starting to look better. The swelling has gone down some, and it is draining a little bit. Draining is good, it means the infection is getting out. However, it is still incredibly painful. Here is what it is looking like now. Again the picture is not that great, but it sort of gives you an idea.

I scared the emergency room people. When I got there my blood pressure was 175/125. I am sure it was because of the pain and the fact that I was freaking out a bit about the procedure I knew was going to happen. The Doctor insisted I take something for my my blood pressure. About thirty minutes after I took it, my blood pressure came down to acceptable ranges.

Fortunately, the doctor knew without me saying anything, that I was in a great deal of pain. Before I left, she had the nurse give me something for pain.

After I left the Emergency Room, and got my prescriptions filled, we headed down to Augusta to visit my parents. Farrol is helping dad complete a wooden fence so it is easier to keep up with my parent’s dogs.

I am hoping that by tomorrow, the infection looks even better than it does today and the pain is greatly reduced. I have pain medicine but it makes me very sleepy. I do not know how it is for anyone, things like pain medication that make me so sleepy, affect my mood as well. It sort of makes me feel down in the dumps or close to it. Does anyone else experience that with pain medication?