ITCHY? Don't scratch!

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moogie
moogie Member Posts: 499
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

I got itchy. So I scratched, like anybody would. Absentmindedly.

Well, seems my fingernail cut someplace microscopic when I did it, or there was already someting brewing there which caused the itch in the first place. Now I have a red angry armpit....( not cellulitis yet ), pain in my arm, chills, and a belly full of KEFLEX. Can't drive the 4 hour round trip to work due to the pain and inability to compress the arm!

MORAL TO MY STORY: If it itches be sure it isn't red to begin with..., and do not scratch, rub!

I just hope the KEFLEX works and I am not in for an ER visit tonight....because it always goes whacky at night. 11:45 seems to be the lymphedema hour !

Moogie 

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited February 2011

    MOOGIE!!!

      I just noted that Joe Zuther put up a blog entry on cellulitis, and he says it's okay to do light compression:

    http://acols.com/lymphedematoday/?p=315

    Manual Lymph Drainage should be suspended during episodes of acute infection and fever. In order to prevent excessive swelling, light compression should be applied during these episodes if tolerated.

    He is a smart guy, so something to think about.

    Fingers crossed that the keflex kicks in soon: hope you're taking 500 mg four times a day, or some variant of the 2 gm daily dose--some people under-dose keflex.

    Let us know how you're doing.

    Hugs and healing wishes.

    Kira

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited February 2011

    Youch, Moogie! Thanks so much for the reminder -- it's way easy to do that. Scary! Heal quick -- keep us posted!

    Gentle hugs,
    Binney

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  • moogie
    moogie Member Posts: 499
    edited February 2011

    Thanks gals for the support. I have the mega keflex dose of 4X a day, and just took my second pill. Who knew the most mundane action could be so troublesome? My sleeve is quite compressive, so I am just elevating the arm, and accepting that for today I am down for the count.

    Moogie 

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  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited February 2011

    Oh so true, I accidentally scratched my arm when putting on my compression sleeve & I still have a red spot and it's been months since I did it. NJ

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  • moogie
    moogie Member Posts: 499
    edited March 2011

    Well it finally cleared up, and my doc says the itching in the beginning WAS PROBABLY CELLULITIS in the first place. The cuase could have been something as mundane as cutting my gum during brushing, a scratch someplace else entirely, etc.. I did not know that.

    I know now: if it is hot, and hurts--take the meds right away, I waited 8 hours hoping I was imagining something. Anybody else do this? Sometimes I just do not want to believe what I see when it means the dreaded KEFLEX gas for 10 days! But waking with the big red hot evidence is a worse case!

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited March 2011

    I'm so glad it cleared up.  I'm sure there are a lot of other people who were hoping it was 'just in their head'.  Long ago, I had one acquaintence who cut her finger on a knife when doing her dishes.  She thought maybe the hurt/discomfort would go away by itself.  By the morning red streaks were going up her arm.  She ended up losing all of her teeth in her 20s.

    I'm so glad your infection was sensitive to Keflex!  

    But I'm sure it was very hard.  One nurse told me that one antibiotic she took was 'better than a Fleet's enema'.  What scariness you have had to go through.

    Best wishes to you, moogie.  You've been so kind to me.

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  • moogie
    moogie Member Posts: 499
    edited March 2011

    Much thanks Leaf! Back at you!

    The best answer I have had to the Keflex stomach is ginger ale, the jamaican kind with lots of real ginger! 

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