Fuzzy's Romp Room

Let's see, I can comment on a few subjects:  rats, mersa, hearing, and other stuff I cannot remember.  First rats.  DUNES, I saw a little piece of documentary on TV about some stats they did in a few little towns in England.  They counted up all the rats, and they counted up all the feral cats.  Very few rats.  Then they did the same thing in a few more towns, but this one they kept the feral cats away from the area.  Rats practically ran over the place.  Moral of story:  Aside from burning down the alleyway, get some feral cats from the shelter that are about to be euthanized but otherwise in good health (usually cage fever), and put them cats in that alley.  INSTANT decline in rat population.  Eventually call animal control and have them pick up a few ferals that may have a better chance of adoption, and enough left to keep rats under control.

Mersa absolutely terrifies me.  My brother's son had bone cancer when he was 17, they replaced femur and hip bone with titanium, a year of chemo.  A year or two later, mersa infection got in there, broke the titanium all up, my nephew was so sick and limping with crutches.  Had that slime in there, gave him meds, cleaned it all out, he walka now with just a limp and a cane.  But for crying out loud, he had Medicaid, the whole thing near 'bout would have been covered, new operation, etc.  But he's like me and husband, won't go by choice.  My father is a retired physician, surgery, so he has no problems going, he's had bunches of ops.  Perhaps life IS too hard.  Dad lost his hearing, two diff kinds of chemo, don't know which. My ears are going. I feel so sorry for my Dad.  Such a fine man, worked his whole life helping others, and he's just so sad now. Oh, he smiles right much when the whole family is around, but not like before.

Our daughter in Florida's husband lost his mind, attacked our girl like she was a slut, he's filed for divorce papers coming next week.  She's the kind of person that bends over backwards to make people happy.  Nice property, she spends hours planting stuff, but soon she had give away her prize-winning hens and roosters, her goats, the sorrow her husband has put on her is a real heart-breaker.  So, we're trying to help her, offered our home (it's a mess), advised her to look at "Roommates Needed" ads in FL and small inexpensive ads that allow dogs so she can at least take two of them.  They went to counseling, psych said this man was very sick and needed a lot of treatment. 

I told her the second she gets those divorce papers, to take her most valuable items that will fit in the car with two dogs, clothes and PJs, etc., and check into a hotel that allows dogs (we got two within a mile of our house...), and then go look at some rentals until she gets one she really likes, then in one day, her and her "move team" will take every blasted thing of hers out of there and digs up as many plants as she wants, leaving anything in the house she doesn't really need but he might.  I told her if her husband freaks out, she should have a lawyer for all this crap and tell husband he obviously doesn't want her there what with divorce papers and this is all her stuff, so what does he care if she gets her stuff outta there.  Anything else, she can get her attorney and police.  She had to call the cops on him anoher time.  If I wasn't so worn out and sickly, and so FAR away, Richard and I would have been in their driveway today beating his bully butt all over the place.  She has no family except us and her sister, who hates her for no known reason, other than huge childhood tragedy and nightmare.  I almost didn't put this in, but only us'uns know us.  So, husband (it's his daughter) is VERY depressed and I am VERY worried, senseless death has visited this famly before.  May we all pray for her safety.

It's a little early, but i want to get off.  i am just SO tired.  Happy Holidays, sisters, and this dumb year will finally be done.  I forgot to get Richard a gift, but HE REMEMEERD t get mine it' ALWAYS the other way, so he'llwait until I can get to the store.  Love to allmy Rompy Roomers, with a speial cheer for Fuzzy and Dunes.  GG

The feral cat thing really does work. Only one problem: the idiot June. She lives across the alley and she captures the feral cats and has them taken away. She also throws out huge hunks of hoagie rolls, supposedly for the birds, but the hunks are too large, so they lay there for the rats. Yet, she will pound on my door to come take pictures of rat holes and such. This is how she earned the nickname the idiot June.

I had mice getting into my cupboards earlier this year. I took everything out and did find what they were going after: a small tube of decorative icing. I removed it but they kept coming. I sprayed outside the house where I thought they might be finding a way through. No results. I put non-talc baby powder on all the shelves. No more mice. After a few days I put the dishes and things back in (after washing it all of course). I left the baby powder. Still no sign of rodent activity.

Another thing that seems to keep mice away is dryer sheets. I don't use dryer sheets in my laundry anymore because of their cancer link, but I keep them around to line shelves and even my laundry basket. I actually found mouse droppings in it, so I lined it with dryer sheets. For some reason, mice won't walk across dryer sheets.

Chevy--thanks, a lifetime of learning, what can I say. MERSA is the lay pronunciation and abbreviation. The medical is MRSA. Methacillin Resistant Staphlococcus Auerus. A mouthful. As with most medical terms. That's why they get acronyms. I feel sorry for newbies. The explosion of knowledge since I came into it in 1969 as an 18 y/o Whew. A newbie has to learn the correct term, the acronymn, the slang. For example, Coronary Artery-Bypass Graft, CABG, cabbage. To me it's effectively three languages. Drugs are even worse.

MRSA is scary, but when it first became resistant if a nurse caught it, they were prohibited from working again. Nurses were freaked. Now it is so commonplace. Eventually say 100 years. Most people will be carriers. I'm not, swabbed before brain surgery in Mar 2012. I held my breath until the result was in. Negative. First study that talked of carriers was done in an ER. They volunteered to be the test site. Nice that they did. But it established that there could be a significant number of staff as carriers. That hospital and Er put themselves in the position to having to test on a regular basis and treating staff. Good, but highly unusual that a facility would be soooo conscientious.

Mice, little buggers can get in the wierdest places. Dunes rats yuck.

Chevy, we are here, but we post irradically and this is Christmas/New Years week.  

Gail, does your DD know where the nearest shelter is ? Sorry that your Dad has gone through what he has, not fair is it?

Hi, ladies. Hope you all are doing well with the holidays. I just had to add one more rat story, related to public health. One of my best nurse friends worked in Egypt in the obstetrics ward, which had tons of cats running around, really freaked the US folks out. So the recommendation was to get rid of those cats because they were a health hazard. So the hospital got rid of the cats. Now they have rats. Hmmmm..... which would you rather have running around while delivering a baby - cats or rats??? I have to laugh at how life can be so relative to context.



Chevyboy, I remember when you were dealing with the hearing loss on the tamoxifen thread. I have often wondered if you had chemo before the tamoxifen - I have been doing a lot of research on tamoxifen, and still cannot find much on hearing loss, but I DO find a lot on several other chemo drugs that can cause hearing loss, and some of them occur quite some time AFTER end of last chemo.



Dogeyed, I share SAS's concern - DD needs a safe place to go to IMMEDIATELY is she is ever even SLIGHTLY in danger. Leaving a bad marriage is the most dangerous time for a woman as it can really trigger the guy's anger and reduce his logic and perception of reality. Prayers are with you and her. And with the husband - so many folks have anger issues that they do not know how to cope, only know how to lash out.



I see lots of sorrow and pain here, also lots of hope and love. I am heading to my kitchen table to paint today - I have been denying myself that little pleasure for the past several weeks as I "got ready for the holidays" with food, cards, gifts, housecleaning, etc. Now the place is a mess, and my watercolors are calling me. Have fun today everyone!

Is MRSA the reason we now have to spray each machine at the gym immediately after using it? If MRSA is immune to all the antibiotic drugs, does using that spray stuff really help protect us against MRSA?

Veggy, I'm sorry you are feeling so down. I'm bumming out myself today, but I don't have a good reason for it. My lovely external hemorrhoid that developed from taking the pain meds has decided to make another appearance, despite the fact that I haven't taken any pain meds in a long time. I found another A+ practice exam and only got 12 out of 100 right! They were the weirdest questions I have come across, and I found it very frustrating. I sent an email to one of my instructors asking if that particular test truly mimicked the real one. It is cold and the wind is howling, and sometimes wind makes me grumpy. I'm in bed. Screw this day!

If I do succeed in falling asleep I hope I get up in time to watch Doc Martin. It's really my ony "show" anymore, and it comes on Thursday nights.

Fuzzy - Was you mom in the hospital for 3 days at least? That will get her I think 30 days (not quite sure of the #) in NH for rehab.  Is she capable of going back to assisted living? I know there are different levels depending on what you contract for.  The social worker is your best friend now.

Hello ladies hope everyone had at least some joy this Christmas.

Fuzzy so sorry for what is happening with your mom. I'm sure she is glad she has you to help her, just don't forget to look after yourself too while you do.

Veggy know there is probably nothing to say that will make you feel better, just know that you are loved. As far as the feelings you are having about your appearance, I haven't had surgery but was trying on some clothes that I got for Christmas today and when I looked in the mirror I didn't really like anything I put on but then realized that the reason nothing looked right is because I don't 'look like me' without hair. I know its nowhere near as big a deal as yours but even that was enough to mess me up.

Dunes can't blame you for raising *&%^*& in your neighbourhood. The rat situation sounds nasty.

Dogeyed my thoughts are with you and DD hope she finds her way out of there...and soon.

Sorry to anyone else i missed can't remember everything I read lol

Had almost a foot of snow fall here from last night til this aft. Today was not the best day, the snowblower ran out of oil, the washing machine sprung a huge leak and the cable/internet/phone were all out most of the day. I wanted to go boxing day shopping yesterday but the cold i've had nearly had me beat, spent most of the day in bed instead. Christmas night the fever was pretty bad but i was so determined not to go to the hospital even though mom was getting really worried, but with some tylenol and cool cloths we got it down at home. Feel much better today tho.

Next chemo is not until Jan 4, gosh its been nice having a couple weeks where I could almost forget all this is really happening. Then what should be my last chemo near end Jan, but best of all my BFF is supposed to come visit later in January. She lives in alberta and I haven't seen her in a couple years now. We are both so excited!!

I lost my hair too (again). I have a few strands left that haven't fallen out. I've been wearing a sock monkey hat, a bandanna with dreadlocks and some crocheted hats. I have lots of scarves that I am watching youtube to learn how to wear them and two wigs. I feel so fake in the wigs.

Hope everyone's day gets better tomorrow. I love you guys.

It was an icky day. Here's hoping tomorrow will be better. I guess I will head up to bed and get on the computer there. I did manage to clean off my dresser and vacuum my bedroom. I hope to work on it some more tomorrow. I did my Wii Sports workout, minus the boxing. That's the most strenuous of the sports, but I didn't feel up to it yesterday or today.

Yes, I'm getting sleepy. I'm going to go up now.

Good morning gals!  Alyson, I can just picture your cats waiting for you!     You should have taken a picture!

And Veggy, yes!  Take a picture of your little hat!   I think I would get a whole ward-robe of wigs.... Man, they look so pretty when I see them on TV!  I had one once, but I finally let my hair grow, and wore it more like the wig....  Is there someplace that those of us that have had BC can get them for a more reasonable price?  I thought I read that somewhere...  I do crochet those caps...I don't have a pattern, just start chain-stitching in a circle, and hope it comes out to where I can wear it, Ha!   I just gave my DD one, and she is going to wear it, even to bed!  Darned cold here, lately!

Dune, glad you got something done in your bedroom... That always makes me feel like I got something accomplished.  Hope you feel better today.

Rider!  Sounds like without bad luck, you wouldn't have any luck at all!  Wow... !  Everything was going wrong.  Our DD also called to say her refrigerator was blowing warm air.... Now THAT'S not a good sign.  She had to take everything out, and put it outdoors, but God only knows it will not spoil because it's only 10 degrees out.  Maybe 30 when the sun comes up.  She is getting another one delivered tomorrow...  Ours went out last month.  The freezer was fine, but the refrigerator part just quit!  I think it runs in the family.

Glad you can look forward to your friend coming.

Sas-shatzi.... What would you do if your fingers had the WORST eczema, that drives you just plain nuts?  This  "little problem" has been with me for about 7 months...!  Two Docs.... "okay it's eczema"... "Soak hands in room temp. water twice a day, then rub this ointment Clobetisil, or Fluocinonide on them, and then put on Eucerin lotion. "  When they are red, and peeling and cracked, like for instance NOW, it hurts.  I wear little polyester gloves whenever my hands aren't in water...or in cotton lined gloves.   I wear them to bed after slathering lots of my own lotions and creams on them.  I make my own, because they feel better than the ones I buy.   I make creams with  natural  Shea butter, cortisone, vaseline, zinc-oxide...40%... Neem oil, even Tea-tree salve, bag-balm, Mentholatum, and yes, mink-oil.    They all make my fingers feel better..... but nothing makes it go away.  Even preparation H! 

I'm going to ask for a prescription of Prednisone.  I even take either Claritin or Zyrtec.   If my Daughter can give her cat Prednisone, I can SURELY take it, right?    I've taken it before.... Lots of times.... mostly for rashes, and hives. 

Okay, if any of you gals have nothing else to do today, but let me know what I could do, let me know.... 

Hi Fuzzy!   How is your Mom doing???  Get ready for a better year folks!

(Edited to remove 4,000 exclamation marks...  Have you EVER seen anyone use so many?)

Sheryl, So glad you broke the news about out of hospital MRSA--medical term "community aquired MRSA". Read the question late and decided, let's leave that alone for a bit. 

Sheryl and all, this is another thing that makes me absolutely nuts. WHY IN THIS DAY OF RESISTANT BACTERIA, IS THE USE OF CULTURING NOT ROUTINE. LACK OF CULTURING GOT US HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. Historically, cultures were routinely done up until the 70's. Then they were seen to be an added expense when such great broad spectrum antibiotics were available. So, someone was sick>>antibx>>didn't get better>>change to another broad spectrum>>finally, a culture woould be done when a person failed several antibx's.

Each use of an antibiotic incorrectly, do to lack of due dillengce by the prescriber, caused the bacteria to develop a resistance to the antibiotic.

Each time a person was  prescribed an antibx that did work for them, but the person stopped the drug before taking all the doses, slowly allowed those bacterias to gain resistance.

These two sentence summarize why we are in the mess we are today. 

MRSA first showed up in the 70's. We now have other superbugs. MRSE-Methicillin Resistant Staphlococcus  Epidermis, VRE-Vancomycin Resistent Enteroccoci. Other bugs are becoming more resistant all the time. Hospital aquired bacteria are becoming more prevalent. Biggest not stated above is Clostridium Difficile also known as C-diff, C-difficile.

Sheryl your nephews course of events could have been avoided with a simple CULTURE AND SENSITIVITY. Culture is read at 48 hrs, sensitivity(test against defined antibx's) is read at 72 hrs. It would have confirmed that the broad spectrum antibx, they put nephew on in ER was ok--meaning nonresistant. If the Er drug was resistant, they'd change the drug at that time. This does not mean the initial drug was prescribed wrong. It just means the bacteria your nephew had was resistant. Absolutely, a key difference.

To all:In the presence of a wound or infection in a mucus membrane(eye/nose/mouth/throat/urinary& or reproductive tract--vaginas/penises/urethras) that is serious enough to seek emergency care, request the following.

1st, tetanus consideration for wounds

2nd,culture for AEROBIC( lives in oxygen), and anaerobic(lives in the absence of oxgen) organisms--AND sensitivity.

3rd, ask for number to call for culture& sensitivity results(73-80hrs) and new medicine prescription should sensitivity show cultured bacteria is resistant. They will likely tell you that they will call you. Be bitchy. C&S's are read and reported to the doc's timely--day done. But if the doc's office is closed, you won't get a call for days, in the meantime time could be lost as it sits on the fax machine.

Dunes this answers your question re: cleaning of gym equipment. CAMRSA-Community aquired MRSA is a problem in gyms. Moist environments with lots of sweaty bodies, using the same equipment. But due diligence on cleaning, being aware when you have broken skin areas--see below. LOs Angeles Raiders (?, Calif. team)had an outbreak in their locker room several years back. They went public as a means to make other athletes, professional and amateur, aware. They brought in the CDC to make recommendations. Don't know if there was a follow up publication for the public re: recommendations. If there was, it would be a good list to follow. Google it.

The Community Aquired is worse than Hospital Aquired. Suggest googling it. Try the Mayo Clinic web site. They have VERY good teaching stuff.  Sheryl that's why I wanted to lay off CAMRSA a bit. CAMRSA is much more virulent (bad).

Chevy, You did the right first thing in going to a dermatologist. Did they do a biopsy of the skin site or just a diagnosis by visual inspection? No biopsy. Go back and ask for a biopsy. Goes directly back to my post on culture and sensitivity>>>DIRECTLY. You can have a fungus that appears as an eczema. Both are treated differently.

In the absence of a Biopsy/C&S, the doc is doing what I call "PAINTBALL THERAPY". THROW A DRUG/TREATMENT AT THE PROBLEM AND SEE IF IT STICKS(CORRECTS PROBLEM). Should have copyrighted that phrase in the darks ages when I first thought of it.

Eczema, topical prednisone or rather methylprednisolone. Yes, there are stronger topicals and they might be worth a try. But starting with the least strong working up to the stronger topicals. All else fails, then oral stuff can be tried. Remember though even topicals can be absorbed systemically. Once you get a shot or take it orally then you have a full affect on many systems.

I have found that I get eczema when something is happening in my body. So, think about each body part. I find when my sleep is off--insomnia, my eczema shows up. I did some work somewhere else. I will go and find it. It's a last ditch response to skin that won't heal as we are talking about it now.
Saving to prevent loss--still writing  SAS