Cellulitis after long flights?

Emilyc

24 hours after a return trip from Europe, I came down with a cellulitis in my LE arm. I did everything that I was told to do while away...bandaging at night, MLD, sleeve during day. There were no cuts, etc to have caused this.

I was very sick and in the hospital for 2 days on IV antibiotics. Better now but confused as to why this happened.

Has anyone experienced a cellulitis just from long flights??

Can I get cellulitis in my LE arm from a cut elsewhere on my body?? It seems that some posts here suggest that?

paintThesky

I don't know about long flights and cellulitis, but I developed it after a bee sting in the spring. The bee stung me on the affected arm, and at the time I didn't realize I was in a LE flare. My arm, underarm, breast, trunk areas had been bothering me, and after 14 years of surviving breast cancer, I didn't think the LE would get bad. Anyhow, since the cellulitis, my swelling has been worse in general. I did not have to go into the hospital; thankfully oral antibiotics took care of the infection, and I was better in about a weeks time. I am pretty sure the cellulitis caused me to turn the corner with LE. I wear compression all the time now, and it seems like I always will.

Emilyc

Just an update on my original post..........I had a nasty cellulitis as I described above. The reason : I had a rash under the breast on my affected side and that was most likely the cause of the cellulitis. The rash was just from sweating. I honestly did not think that something like that could/would affect my arm. Lesson learned!!!!!!!

Thankfully, I have an excellent therapist for the LE and I started up sessions with him once the cellulitis had resolved. My arm is now back to the size that it was prior to all of this which is a huge relief.

I appreciate now how important it is to have a good therapist. He has treated not only my arm but my brain as well! I am very thankful for him.

glennie19

Rash from sweating,,, I know that story!! Emily: my LE therapist recommended washing daily with Clean & Clear Essentials foaming facial cleanser. It helps to keep the sweat bumps,, kinda like acne,, under control. And I live in FL,, so nuff said about sweating,,,,

Emilyc

Important lesson for me!! Never have trouble with rashes but sweating on vacation just irritated the area.

paintThesky

Thanks for the tip about the sweating. I'll have to try the Clean & Clear Essentials Foaming facial cleanser Glennie. North Carolina can be pretty muggy and hot too.