So, I woke up with celluitis

Options
prayrv
prayrv Member Posts: 941
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

Crap,

I woke up this morning and my LE arm hurt like I really slept on it wrong .  After my shower, I noticed that the top of my hand was splotchy and felt bruised.  I called my onc's office let them know and in the meantime starting running a fever.  I kept an eye on it (starting to spread) and finally on antibotics this evening. I will be on them for 10 days.  

My question is - other than elevating the arm and drinking lots of water, what do I need to do?

Thanks,

Trish

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
«13

Comments

  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited February 2012

    Oh, Trish, bummer! Yes, elevate and drink lots of water. Lots. You might want to draw a line around the reddened area with a permanent marker so you can see if it's spreading or retreating as you begin the antibiotics. No MLD, wrapping, or compression until it's definitely retreating and no longer actively raging around. Take it real easy and heal quick!

    And when you're all better, ask your doctors for an antibiotic prescription to fill and keep on hand so you can get the jump on it if it should ever rear its ugly head again. (Of course if you ever do have to start them, you'd call the prescribing doctor and let him/her know as soon as possible).

    Keep us posted! Real gentle hugs,
    Binney

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ma111
    ma111 Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    I recently had cellulitis in my arm. While the infection is active only elevate as you do not want to any bugs making it into your systemic system by use massage or compression garment right now.

    I did notice that after the infection was gone that the swelling went down with massage and compression garment much easier.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Suzybelle
    Suzybelle Member Posts: 920
    edited February 2012

    Trish,

     So sorry you're dealing with cellulitis - I just got over a bout that took 2 rounds of antibiotics to be rid of it.

    Nothing new to add here other than to echo what Binney said - for those of us with LE, a bottle of 'in case of emergency' antibiotics is a necessity. 

    Cellulitis makes me feel very odd...I get very emotional and down, and it's almost a relief when I realize that I'm not losing it, but in fact have cellulitis.  I know this sounds nuts.  Undecided 

    Hope you're feeling better very soon!

    S.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • prayrv
    prayrv Member Posts: 941
    edited February 2012

    Thank you everyone for your help.  Right now it is looking better (not bright red any longer) but still there and warm/painful/swollen..  I do know that I have been very emotional these past tow days.  Really not wanting it to be celluitis as now I know I will be prone to having it in the future.  Crap, Crap, Crap.

    Thank you and thanks for listening to me whine.

    Trish

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Nordy
    Nordy Member Posts: 2,106
    edited February 2012

    Trish, I have nothing to add, but just want you to give you hugs. Cellulitis... and lymphedema in general certainly take their toll. Hang in there.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited February 2012

    Trish, you jumped on it right away, and you'll be prepared if it ever dares to recur. 

    LE just plain stinks, and I'm sure there was a sense of horror when you woke up to the sore, red hand.

    Hope it never,ever happens again.

    Kira 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • prayrv
    prayrv Member Posts: 941
    edited February 2012

    I give my thanks to this website, SUSO and in particular all the women in this forum for the heads up on celluitis.  If it wasn't for you, I would not have caught it for what it was as early as I did.  I would have thought it was some sort of rash or bad reaction (I did just have my hair trimmed the night before and almost thought it was from the salon I had been to).

    Thank you all!!

    Trish

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited February 2012

    I am so sorry to hear this.....sometimes I wake up and have slept on my arm wrong too, what a bad feeling to wake up with it bigger than before I went to sleep.

    What is the suggested antibiotic to keep on hand? I travel often and probably sould get this...

    Thanks.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited February 2012

    Prayrv, thanks for checking in, and I'm so glad it's looking better!Cool Hope the pain level (not to mention the depression and panic) is better too. Get well quick! Congrats on jumping on this so quicklyKiss
    Binney

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited February 2012

    Crystal: it will depend on if you have allergies--the usual antibiotics are

    1) keflex 500 mg --take 4 a day, either every 8 hours or 2 twice a day (cephalosporin)

    2) Augmentin 875 mg--take one twice a day with food (penicillin derivative)

    3) Amoxicillin 875 mg--twice a day (or some version of Amoxicillin dosing) (penicillin derivative)

    4) Levaquin 500 mg once a day (quinolone)

    5) Cipro 500 mg twice a day (quinolone)

    6) Bactrim/ Septra DS one twice a day (sulfa drug)

    7) Clindamycin 300 mg three times a day (lincomycin)

    And there are others, like doxycycline, azithromycin, dicloxacillin. Somewhere we had a reference for it.

    Kira

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited February 2012

    Crystal, I have augmentin, but I'm allergic to a lot of things. Some women have keflex or cipro. What you need is a broard-spectrum antibiotic, and --YES!-- if you travel it's a huge help to have it along. Keep it in its original pharmacy container for travel, so you don't have a TSA hassle. Be sure to ask your prescribing doctor for instructions about how to know when to self-start it, and how to notify him/her if you do. Hope you never need it, but best to have it on hand. (And mark your calender with the expiration date so you can re-order in a timely manner).

    LE is an education, yes?Tongue out

    Stay well!
    Binney

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • prayrv
    prayrv Member Posts: 941
    edited February 2012

    Kira,

    I am on Clindamycin 150 mg every 6 hours.    I only wonder why the dosage is different.  Thoughts?

    Trish

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited February 2012

    Trish, that's a standard dose for clindamycin, when my husband was put on it at Mass Eye and Ear, it's the first time I ever saw people use it as a three times a day drug. I did just look it up on uptodate, and they recommended clindamycin 300 or 450 mg three times a day.

    The dose you're on is standard for it.

    Here's the dose range from epocrates:

    Clindamycin:

    infections, bacterial

    [150-450 mg PO q6h]
    Max: 600 mg/dose IM; 4800 mg/day IV; Alt: 600-2700 mg/day IV/IM div q6-12h; Info: use IV for severe infxns

    See, big range, so a moderate infection will respond to the lower dose, but some people start higher--it's just clinical judgement.

    Kira

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited February 2012

    I'm very allergic to sulfa.........are any of those antibiotics sulfa based?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited February 2012

    Yes Sharon, Bactrim/Septra are sulfa based, and used more often lately as it works against MRSA--methicillin resistant staph.

    I'm allergic to sulfa also.

    Kira

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    Kira, thanks for posting this list. I was going to ask what's best. My primary gave me amoxicillin when I requested an in-case-of-emergency script, but it's time for a new one. My doc isn't too familiar with LE, and I wondered if there was something preferable. I guess you don't have to understand LE to know how to treat cellulitis. Looks like there are a lot of choices.



    I am allergic to sulfa, too. I also took clindamycin after my exchange surgery, and that stuff is hard core. I swear it did something funny to my feet, as they did not feel right. It was toward the end of treatment, and the symptoms went away not long after I stopped taking.



    By the way, I take a probiotic daily but double up on it when I'm on an antibiotic. I take at opposite times from antibiotic, and it really helps keep my tummy in check. My primary had me do that for all of my surgeries.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • prayrv
    prayrv Member Posts: 941
    edited February 2012

    ok - doing well in that the redness is starting to fade from its brightness (still red) .  But now I am starting to see a few spots that look like an ant bite.  They were NOT there earlier today and it is only on the red areas.  Is that something that occurs with celluitis?

    Thanks.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited February 2012

    Trish, not exactly sure what an ant bite looks like--but I just figure it's a bug bite--is it like a blister?

    When in doubt, best to have your doctor check it--as long as you're getting better, it sounds like you can wait until tomorrow.

    Kira

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • prayrv
    prayrv Member Posts: 941
    edited February 2012

    The red spots look like a cross between an ant bite and a flea bite.  I did google "red dots with celluitis" and it did come up with some hits.  I'll see what they look like in the morning and go from there.  Tongue out

    Trish

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • elaineg
    elaineg Member Posts: 198
    edited February 2012

    Which doctor is the best best to diagnose cellulitus?  Radiologist / onco or would a GP be familiar with it?  I have mild LE in my arm and breast and breast feels warm to the touch, mild red rash but it doesn't itch and breast feels hard compared to the other non le side.  I finished rads last april...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited February 2012

    Elaine, cellulitis is an emergency, so anything suspicious of cellulitis needs prompt attention from any doctor on your team. Or the emergency room, if they aren't immediately available.

    Please get somebody to look at it and take it seriously right away. Mention the words "lymphedema" and "cellulitis" in case they don't pick up on the possibility themselves. Here's information about lymphedema emergencies:
    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Emergencies_and_Medical_Care_lymphedema.htm

    You might draw a line with a permanent marker around the reddened area so you and your doctor can note any changes.

    Please keep us posted.
    Gentle hugs,
    Binney

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ma111
    ma111 Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    Kira,

    The every 6 hour dose keeps the blood level of the antibiotic at it's peek all the time. It's a smaller dose then the every 8 hours, but it all adds up and sounds good. If the half life is 6 hours and you take it every 6 hours, then very good. Half life means the time that it takes your body to get rid of half of the medication. When I was in the hospital with it they gave it to me every 6 hours.

    Glad to hear it is getting better. My doctors would rather me go to the ER on weekends and get started on IV antibiotics. Then once it starts getting better I can go home on oral. After a week I started throwing up the oral. They sent a nurse to the house and she accessed my port and I gave myself the IV every 8 hours. I like that much better then going back to the hospital. A port can stay accessed for 1 week.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • elaineg
    elaineg Member Posts: 198
    edited February 2012

    Binney4 thanks so much for that link, I am on the phone now taking care of this!!  I had many of those same excuses, this has actually been going on for a few days.  I am just so over going to the doctor but you made me snap out of it, thanks again!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • prayrv
    prayrv Member Posts: 941
    edited February 2012

    Good morning ladies!

    Question, the cellulitis is resolving (yea!!), so when should I be able to start wearing my glove and sleeve again?  I'm starting to see swelling in my hand again and I really don't want to see that happen.  But I also don't want to aggrevate the cellulitis either...

    Sigh.

    Trish

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited February 2012

    Trish, as the infection wanes, you can go back to compression and MLD again. Glad you're feeling better.

    Kira

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited February 2012

    Well, hey! So glad you're feeling better.Smile If you have a night garment that's a good way to start back to compression because it's gentler than the day garments. Or just try some self-MLD first, only remember it's REALLY gentle and REALLY slow (when I'm stressed out about new swelling I find myself going too fast and furiousEmbarassed -- have to work hard at remembering to keep that kitten-petting, slow-as-a-slug paceTongue out).

    Whew!
    Binney

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Katiejane
    Katiejane Member Posts: 789
    edited February 2012

    Well, here I am, in the hospital with my second run in with cellulitis. I had the typical symptoms at onset but this time the arm went from slightly pink to a raging purple red w/ a temp of

    104 in about 35 minutes. I have been on Rocefin IV--tomorrow will be the 4th dose. Being dosed with 2gms every 24 hours..Doc said he will probably send me home withi a script for Augmentin. It does look better but not where we want. This sucks!! Katiejane

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited February 2012

    katiejane!!!

    I hope you stay in as long as needed to beat this cellulitis back with the IV's---you sound like you got very sick, very quickly--I'm sure that was/is very scary.

    Get better soon.

    And yes, this totally SUCKS. 

    Gentle hugs and wishes for steady recovery.

    Kira

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Katiejane
    Katiejane Member Posts: 789
    edited February 2012

      Kira,  thanks for the encouragement and hugs.  I was discharged on oral Augmentin and am feeling pretty good.  Even baked a batch of Chocolate Chip cookies.  My arm is still swollen more that usual but that is to be expected & the redness is just a very subtle pink. And the fever is gone-hopefully all of this means I'm on the mend!  I have always been encouraged to get to the ER with any sign of cellulitis but I'm still amazed at how quickly I went from a temp of 99 and being alittle achy to a raging temp of 104.0 and so very sick!  Let this re-enforce to all of us who suffer from lymphedema-even if you just "suspect " you may be developing cellulitis, get to th closest ER ASAP.  There really is no time to waste!!   Katiejane

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited February 2012

    KatieJane, thank you so much for thinking of all of us in the middle of everything you're dealing with. It's scary to think how fast that got out of hand, but so important for us to keep in mind, so thanks for sharing. Get all better soon!

    Uh...mind passing those chocolate chip cookies this way?Wink
    Very gentle hugs,
    Binney

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories