What, me? Cellulitis strikes again.

kira66715

Missingboobs, I'm so glad you've done so well, but cellulitis is potentially life threatening, and far too many physicians don't realize, and unfortunately women who are unaware of the risk don't realize how quickly they have to act.

The woman who posted above is a health care professional, acted quickly and still got very ill. Another woman on this forum mistook her cellulitis for sunburn and also became very ill.

I think we all need to be aware of the risk, act quickly, have our health care team "on board".

Of course we'd all rather be alive with LE than the opposite.

I would not call cellulitis "managable", I'd call it a potentially life threatening complication of LE that everyone should be aware of and prepared for.

Kira

Binney4

Missingboob, welcome! Congrats on 10 years--that's just wonderful!

You're so right that many times it's impossible to track down the exact cause of cellulitis. Bummer! Some of the women here who have had it repeatedly have found it very helpful to see an infectious disease specialist who's familiar with lymphedema. Every bout of cellulitis can cause further damage to the lymphatics and create a situation where it's easier to get cellulitis again, so getting help to put a stop to repeat infections can make a big difference.

It's great that you can now identify the earliest signs of cellulitis coming on and act on it quickly. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms. For some, itching precedes any other outbreak, for others there is no fever at all, or flu-like symptoms hit first, and only later is there evidence of cellulitis. Still others have no warning at all and awake to a blazing-red arm or chest. The StepUp-SpeakOut page on LE emergencies identifies other signs to be on the look-out for:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Emergencies_and_Medical_Care_lymphedema.htm

Purple, small dots appearing on your skin here and there may also be a local reaction to compression. It's good to be vigilant, but if cellulitis were brewing it would likely take more than topical antibiotic to put an end to it.

Enjoy your Cancerversary, Missingboobs!
Binney

purple32

Purple, small dots appearing on your skin here and there may also be a local reaction to compression. It's good to be vigilant, but if cellulitis were brewing it would likely take more than topical antibiotic to put an end to it.

Thx Binney
Sometimes  I get them on the chest or ' good arm'.

I'm a mystery!
If it ever should bloom I will reach into my med., chest and grab my keflex.

Thank you .

bourscheid

All clear with the cellulitis!  The antibiotic worked quickly and the arm was back to normal within 3 days.  Doc said he will call in an antibiotic for me anytime I think I need it.  

Binney4

Lori, such good news! Some of our doctors give us a prescription to fill and keep on hand--even in your purse if you're going to be out for the day. Sure helps when we're traveling or over weekends and holidays when it can take awhile to get hold of your doctor. If you go that route be sure to check the expiration date at intervals and keep your supply fresh.

Stay well!
Binney

bourscheid

Thanks, Binney.  My onc said he would rather I called him at this point.  If I travel, then he will let me get a prescription.  

mumito

I woke up this morning with a red swollen and sore right ear.No reason for it.I have never had LE or Celilitis but hate to run to the doctor for every little thing.(Swolen red warm to the touch external ear.)I guess if it is still like that tomorrow I will go to urgent care.Any thoughts?

Binney4

Mumito, DO NOT WAIT! This stuff is a serious medical emergency and it can spread like wildfire. If it becomes systemic you'll be in the hospital for days or longer--and that can happen in hours. Your doctor or the ER--NOW! TODAY! Please!

Here's information about it, but don't waste too much time reading--get help now. Better to be over-cautious than really sorry.
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Emergencies_and_Medical_Care_lymphedema.htm

Please keep us posted as you're able.

Gentle hugs, but pushing you out the door!
Binney

bourscheid

Mumito, I agree with Binney4.  Get to the doctor or call now.  Mine spread like crazy within a few minutes.  

Binney4

Bumping just to say we're thinking of you mumito!
Binney

Outfield

Mumito, I hope you've been seen by now.  Don't ask me to explain why, but in my experience the external ear is a fairly common place for out-of-the-blue cellulitis.  That's regardless of piercings.  

mumito

I did not see your replies until late last night.I am on my way to urgent care now.Thanks ladies.

Outfield

Thank you to everyone on this site who ever suggested learning how to wrap.  

I'm back in a sleeve today, after wrapping most of the week.  My sleeve didn't fit when I first tried after the redness receded.  I only know how to wrap because I insisted on learning back when I was first diagnosed, and that was because I had read about it here and on the SUSO site.  My CLT didn't think I'd need to do it.  She thought a sleeve and a night garment would be enough for me (which they generally are).  I think she was a little annoyed to teach me.  But if I didn't know how to do it myself, I'd be waiting until sometime next month to get in for an appointment and I'd still be too swollen for my sleeve.

Binney4

Outfield, good for you!

You might consider dropping your CLT a note "thanking" her for teaching you to wrap and telling her how it turned out to be helpful? She really shouldn't be thinking of it as optional.

So glad you're back into a sleeve--whew!
Binney

purple32

Good to know, outfield .  Thanks.

Glad u r doing better!

hugz4u

Outfield, I practice wrapping about once a month though I don't need to wrap. I got the suggestion off this site to learn for emergencies.

I have a thread somewhere here about the woes etc on wrapping. Haven't posted there lately but once in a while I do, It keeps me on track and also the are some good ideas there. I'll bring up the thread.



GOOD FOR YOU GIRL IN WRAPPING! And that's not presents either.

Marple

Yikes Mum, where are you?  I hope you're ok.

mumito

Hi there am feeling worse if the antibiotics don't start helping me tonight I will go into the hospital tomorrow.You were right I should not of waited.

Marple

Oh Mum, so sorry.  We don't realise how vulnerable we are........until it happens.  I hope you are on the mend as quickly as it started. 

Marple

Mum, don't forget, when you travel it might be a good idea to have antibiotics with you.

mumito

For sure after this I would not leave home without a refilled prescription.I am lucky this didn't start while I was on the cruise ship.Thanks everyone you have been a big help.once again this BCO site has been such a godsend.

Binney4

Aw, Mumito! Looking forward with you to a quick turn-around. Uh, don't wait until morning if you see/feel spread, okay?

Stupid cellulitis!
Binney

Outfield

What irony.  My recent cellulitis actually protected me from something potentially worse.  

I travelled out of state for the holiday, now with a fresh bottle of antibiotics just in case, although I was still taking antibiotics for the cellulitis.  I was warned that the cat where I was staying would bite if petted, so I didn't pet him.  I did repeatedly push him off my lap when he was trying to make a little nest on the NY Times Magazine I was reading.  On the third such removal, he sank his teeth deep into my hand.  Of course it was the hand on the bad side.    

Cats are particularly likely to harbor a particularly nasty bug in their mouths, and sometimes completely normal people can get into serious trouble from a catbite.  Fortunately, oral antibiotic of choice is the one I was already taking.  I did find out which nearby ER was in-plan for my insurance, but nothing happened, except bruising and puncture-wound healing.  I could not have timed a cat bite to my lymphedema extremity better!

Binney4

Outfield, that's an amazingly upbeat take on an awful experience. But you're right--if you've got to be attacked while reading the NYTimes, best to do it while already well protected. Take that, cat!!!

carol57

Outfield, phew...I'm not at all fond of cats, and hearing your story, I feel like my cat phobia has been validated (yes, I know there are some sweet cats out there....).  Out of curiosity (and because my parents have an odious cat), which antibiotic is the best one to have in case of a cat bite?  I carry Keflex around with me in my LE bail-out kit.

mumito

Keflex is what I was prescribed and it worked well.When I went for my followup with my family doctor.I mentioned that another script would be nice to have because I travel so much.She told me you don't need it you will not get Cellulitis again.I do not have confidence in that statement at all.

purple32

you don't need it you will not get Cellulitis again.I do not have confidence in that statement at all.

And while I have not had cellulitis , I would not go for that one either mumito!  You have other DRS.  IMO, I would ask one of them .

I have keflex on hand from an M.O.  If he had refused me , I would have asked my PCP.

Good luck to you!

mumito

Will do purple32 I will call my MO's office before I head out on my next trip.

purple32

It's just my opinion mumito, but i really would!

Take Care.

carol57

I had to do some convincing with my primary care doc to get the Keflex the first time.  I travel on average 26 times per year, often working in areas that do not have easy access to 24-hour care, and I usually must rely on taxis to get anywhere. Even after explaining this to my doctor, I had to press her for the script. I believe that she did not realize how susceptible LE makes us to cellulitis, until I brought out some SU-SO information to make my point.  My doctor readily acknowledged that she knows very little about LE. Recently I saw her and my keflex bottle was expiring soon, so I asked for a new script.  This time, no argument, thank goodness!