Bad Burn on LE arm & Out of Town-- Please HELP!

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  • bookart
    bookart Member Posts: 564
    edited June 2012

    Hi all, Mom2,

    Thanks for this posting and all the follow-ups.  It's an eye-opener, indeed.  I have trunkal LE, not horrible, but have had cellulitis once during the first few months after surgery.  I wish-wash back and forth about being careful and not, and after reading these posts I think I will incline to the more careful side from now on.  Yikes!  Good advice about keeping Cipro or some such antibiotic on hand.  I do Neosporin and bandage more than I ever have in my life.

    Mom2, I hope they get a handle on the infection - staph can be bad even without the LE issue.  Better they keep cycling those antibiotics until they get it defeated, even if SEs arise.

    Hugs to you, and best wishes.

  • bookart
    bookart Member Posts: 564
    edited June 2012

    Hi all, Mom2,

    Thanks for this posting and all the follow-ups.  It's an eye-opener, indeed.  I have trunkal LE, not horrible, but have had cellulitis once during the first few months after surgery.  I wish-wash back and forth about being careful and not, and after reading these posts I think I will incline to the more careful side from now on.  Yikes!  Good advice about keeping Cipro or some such antibiotic on hand.  I do Neosporin and bandage more than I ever have in my life.

    Mom2, I hope they get a handle on the infection - staph can be bad even without the LE issue.  Better they keep cycling those antibiotics until they get it defeated, even if SEs arise.

    Hugs to you, and best wishes.

  • BeckySharp
    BeckySharp Member Posts: 935
    edited June 2012

    Mom2--Wish we could do more for you than give you advice.  Thinking about you everytime I log on and hope you have responded.

  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited June 2012

    Mom2--you can get IV antibiotics at home. My husband had a severe parotid gland infection once, and the home IV infusion nurses put in the IV and I pushed the antibiotic twice a day, for 10 days. They would change his IV every 72 hours. I was terrified to push the meds: I had benadryl and an epipen on the table, but it was much nicer for him to be at home.

    Working in rad onc for the last three years, I saw a ton of women who had low white counts for a long time after chemo. And without white cells, you're a set up for infection.

    And, if you got MRSA from your hysterectomy, that nasty bug can reappear.

    I completely understand how you could feel like this infection is going to be insurmountable--it's really, really scary.

    You're in good hands now, and maybe you can get your IV's at home soon. 

    Healing thoughts, gentle hugs and strong hopes for turning this corner on this nightmare.

    Kira

  • mom2twins34
    mom2twins34 Member Posts: 185
    edited June 2012

    Thank you Becky & Bookart...  Hugs to you!

    And thank you, Kira.  How are you?  I hope you are doing much better.  I did ask about the home IV antibiotics a couple of times, but those were times when I was told to go to the ER and ended up getting admitted instead.  So maybe now that I am really doing everything I can to avoid another hospital stay, they might consider it?  I avoided speaking to any of the doctors this weekend because I didn't want to end up back in the hospital, but I have another appointment tomorrow, so if she brings up the hospital again, I'll ask.  I don't want to jinx it, but I actually think the arm doesn't look any worse than it did yesterday, so I'm hoping this means things are at least stable now?...  I still feel pretty rotten, but I'm hoping that's just because my body has been through the wringer.  I guess we'll see what the morning brings (oops, it is morning now! Smile), but I'm hoping this is a step in the right direction and that this will be over with soon! 

    On a positive note, I was just thinking of how fortunate I am that I was able to see my boys finish another schoolyear this week...  When this all started a couple of years ago, I was afraid this wouldn't be possible.  And here it is! 

    Wishing everyone a cool, quiet week... 

  • Chantal10
    Chantal10 Member Posts: 105
    edited June 2012

    Mom2, I just read trough this thread. I'm hoping and praying that you catch a break very soon. Take care. Xo

  • Nitocris
    Nitocris Member Posts: 187
    edited June 2012
    Mom2, like Chantal10, I just read through this entire thread. I hope you are feeling better today.  The road to recovery is sometimes long and bumpy.  Today will be a better day and your boys will be walking by your side.  Laughing  Take care. 
  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited June 2012

    Mom2, Please take care of yourself. The cellulitis kicked my butt too. I know being away from your boys is horrible , but you've got to beat this thing into submission.

    Congratulations on another school year!

    Just know there's a lot of women sending healing thoughts and hoping this ordeal is over soon.

    Hugs

    Kira

  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited June 2012
    Mom2, just want to add my wishes for a good report from the doctors today, and renewed strength for you soon. Get well quick!Smile
    Binney
  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited June 2012

    mom2, I know what you are saying about seeing your kids do another school year.

    The one thing I wished for in this whole journey was to see my girl graduate. (I figured then my job raising her was then mostly completed, and that was I wanted to do most in life,) Well, I did see that and another two years beyond Smileand I hope I will see her a few more years. I see you have stage 3 like me. I had a 10cm plus lump and I am still here. My very wish came true!Smile  I hope this encourages you. Once the rotten cellulitis beast leaves, I just know you are going to have a rockin summer with them!Cool They grow up so fast.

  • mom2twins34
    mom2twins34 Member Posts: 185
    edited June 2012

    Thanks so much, girls.  You are all wonderful...

    Thank you Chantal and Nitocris for taking the time to read the whole thread--it's a long one!  Smile--and for your well wishes--they are appreciated!...

    Thanks, Kira.  Hugs to you, too, and I hope you are feeling much better...  xo

    Thanks, Binney...  Your support means so much.  And I've been eating lots of chocolate like a good patient!  You deserve some, too, for being so helpful to all of us! xo

    Thanks, Hugz, your story IS inspiring.  Sometimes it seems like it won't be possible to see them through elementary school, especially after times like the past few months, so it's nice to have a reminder that it's possible.  I hope you are also here for many more special moments with your daughter.  Smile

    I am doing better, I think.  Still so weak and exhausted, but my arm is definitely healing.  I think some of the other symptoms may be due to my blood counts, etc.?  But I am happy to say that I think I'm finally overcoming the infection.  Having to have the hysterectomy/ooph was certainly more than I bargained for--but picking up an infection like this when I was in was something I didn't even consider.  Sometimes I am absolutely shocked by how rotten cancer and LE can be.  The silver lining for me is all of YOU & knowing that there are people out there who understand & care.

    Thank you for being there for me.  Big hugs to all of you!!!

  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited June 2012

    Mom2, I'm so glad you're feeling better.

    My first comment when I was diagnosed was "I want to see how my children turn out!" I know I'm a lesser stage, but still.

    LE and cancer do stink, big time, and sending you strong healing thoughts.

    Kira

  • BeckySharp
    BeckySharp Member Posts: 935
    edited June 2012

    So happy to hear you are doing better Mom 2. 

  • allisontom911
    allisontom911 Member Posts: 425
    edited June 2012

    Hi Mom2,

    Just read thru the entire thread....wow you sure have had a rough go of it. When I got cellulitis last summer I was in the hospital about 6days then went home on IV antibiotics (had a PICC line put in) for another 2 weeks.

    Sure hope you are on the mend. Hugs to you

  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited July 2012

    Mom2, I hope your arm has continued to heal. 

  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited July 2012

    When I saw "Bad burn" I had to check out this thread.  I have fought the cellulistis on & off for 2.5 years now.  You think the evil beast is gone & then it rears its ugly head again.

    What happened to me was I burnt my foob, no idea how.  Then only thing I was doing that night was making icetea.  Guess some of the hot water hit the foob & since there is no feeling in the foob I didn't realise it until a couple of hours later.

    I was so embaressed that I had done such a thing, I tried to self treat.  BAD..... Because of the burn, the evil cellulitis came back.  I did go to the doctor then & the infection is gone nowl. But I still have some red skin areas that just won't go away.  Sigh......

    It's been a rough couple of months because my mother died in April & my MIL took sick a month later and has been in the hospital since then.  Her prognosis isn't good.  There are other things going on as well but it would take too long.

    I hope & pray that you are on the mend and the evil cellulitis goes away & never comes back. NJ 

  • BoobsinaBox
    BoobsinaBox Member Posts: 550
    edited July 2012

    Nancy,



    I'm thinking of you and hoping you get some peace and time to heal soon!



    Dawn

  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited July 2012

    Oh Norma June, not you too. So many of us have had cellulitis this late spring/early summer. I'm so sorry about your mother and MIL.

    Hoping that you and Mom2 are healing and feeling stronger every day.

    Kira

  • mom2twins34
    mom2twins34 Member Posts: 185
    edited July 2012

    Thank you for the continued well wishes--and for checking in on me...  I continue to battle the "other" big C--cellulitis.  

    I feel like wearing a big "watch out for cellulitis" poster to the hospital/cancer center--and carrying "LE bites" balloons.  I'm sure I'd look like a nutcase, but it would be worth it if one person could avoid this...  I still find it hard to believe that something I knew so little about (and was not really told to watch for specifically) could be reaking such havoc...  And I'm sorry to see that it is affecting so many of us already this summer...

    Thinking of you all & wishing you a happy & infection-free 4th of July filled with lots of Binney's chocolate  Smile  (which I have, unfortunately, found does not cure cellulitis).  I've eaten as much as I could, thinking it could be the next big breakthrough, but it hasn't worked on the infection.  I am much happier, though!!  Thank goodness for chocolate...

    xo 

    P.S. Hope you are feeling better, Norma June... So sorry about your mom and mil... 

  • mom2twins34
    mom2twins34 Member Posts: 185
    edited October 2012

    Hello old friends...

    You may remember my "Bad burn on LE arm" post from just before the summer (when I was still clueless about cellulitis)...  I just wanted to say hello again.  After faithfully coming on bc.org a couple of times a day for as long as I can remember, I just stopped visiting all of a sudden when I was really sick & couldn't seem to shake the staph/strep infections & cellulitis.  I began to feel as though I had nothing positive to contribute with my repeat hospitalizations and ongoing sickness, so I decided to wait until it was all under control before visiting again... 

    I am happy to say that with the help of a great infectious disease specialist, I am now cellulitis free & have been off all the antibiotics (we've joked that they were enough to keep a small village (and its livestock) infection-free for months! Smile) for 2 weeks now.

    You girls helped me so much during a really difficult time...and I hope to be able to contribute something now that I'm 'on the other side'.

    thank you... xo 

  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited October 2012

    MOM2, Thanks for checking in. Glad things are in order:) One thing for sure you should reconsider is when you are ill, you need to come here for ongoing support.



    Your experiences with Cellulitis/staph, etc. are needed here so we can gain insight and masterery over our LE issues. Never feel like you are not adding positive thoughts here. We value all :)



    This LE thread is great for encouragement, wisdom and general happiness. Remember we are all in the same boat heading in the same direction, which is to be comfortable and controlled with our LE and to have a decent measure of quality of life. Oh and a bonus, we get to rant and grrrrr whenever! :)

  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited October 2012

    Mom, I've been wondering how you are: and it sounds like a long, long haul. So glad it seems to be behind you.

    thanks for letting us know.

    Hope it never, ever happens again.

    Kira

  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited October 2012

    Mom, cheers to you and your journey on the road to recovery.  It's nice to hear from you.

  • BeckySharp
    BeckySharp Member Posts: 935
    edited October 2012

    Mom2---I often wondered how you were faring!  Thanks for letting us know. 

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

    Mom2, welcome back! I do understand how you might want to curl away from the world while you heal, but at least please know you're always welcome here, in whatever messy state you may be.

    Hooray for the ID doc! Tell him thanks from all of us!

    Stay well!Smile
    Binney

  • mom2twins34
    mom2twins34 Member Posts: 185
    edited October 2012

    Thanks so much for the warm words, Hugz, Kira, Marple, Becky and Binney...  You are all so kind...

    Though I haven't been 'around', I was thinking of you... I hope you are all 'hanging in there' and that the cellulitis 'epidemic' from earlier in the summer settled down...  I'll have to do some catching up with the older posts...  Hugs to you all!    

  • mom2twins34
    mom2twins34 Member Posts: 185
    edited October 2012

    p.s.  I like the "in whatever messy state you may be" comment, Binney... That was perfect for what I was feeling-- and I'll have to remember that the next time I think of shrinking away because I'm not doing well...   :) 

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