Cellulits, again

Options
knowledgeforpower
knowledgeforpower Member Posts: 184
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema
Cellulits, again
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • knowledgeforpower
    knowledgeforpower Member Posts: 184
    edited April 2013

    It's been two years since my first bout with breast cellulitis (etiology unknown).  A visit to urgent care this morning confirmed my suspicion that I had cellulitis again.  I owe this round to a tick bite.  I woke up Thursday morning with a tick firmly attached to the top of my ca breast.  I removed the tick, no problem.  Later in the day my breast looked swollen and the bite was itchy and red.  Last night the lower half of my breast started turning red.  I remembered everyone's admonitions to take the redness seriously.  I am on doxycycline, atarax, and ibuprofen.  Please keep your fingers crossed it is much better by the end of tomorrow.  I am flying to Philadelphia on Monday for 4 days, will come back home for one day, and then leave for Boston for 5 days. Both are business trips which I can't miss.  Take care everyone....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited April 2013

    Oh, yikes, KforP!Frown What rotten timing (but then, there is no good time for this sort of thing...) And on the other hand, GOOD FOR YOU for getting yourself to urgent care so quickly!Cool Prayers for quick healing, and gentle hugs just because we GET it!Tongue Out Rest up, and keep us posted, please

    Do something chocolate!
    Binney

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 5,972
    edited April 2013

    yes, definitely you need chocolate

    think I need some as the arm is achie so my excuse

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited April 2013

    and...thank you for sharing your experience here, because so many women are unaware of their cellulitis risk after BC, it's very helpful to have real life reminders from time to time. I hope the business trips go well with no further issues.  Be sure to stay well hydrated as you fly.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited May 2013

    Just want to say that Nordy had a cellulitis episode and I didn't get a chance to well wish her. I hope she beat it out of her system completely by now. I think it was a couple weeks ago. She is such a trooper helping us with our excercise questions and biking questions.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • paige-allyson
    paige-allyson Member Posts: 781
    edited May 2013

    Cellulitis again here too : (

    Last time was a year and a half ago. Luckily this time I caught it really early, versus ending up at the fever, chills, adding needing IV antibiotics. I noticed a hot, red blotch on my arm this am- started antibiotic called in by my PCP before noon and already my arm is back to normal temperature to the touch. No clear source of infection either time.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited May 2013

    Paige, so GLAD you were able to catch this one early! Rest up, stay really well hydrated, elevate as much as you can, and get well quick!
    Gentle hugs,
    Binney

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SwgeeWi
    SwgeeWi Member Posts: 315
    edited May 2013

    Hi all.....Sheila here. I spent Wed night thru Sat. noon in the hospital. Official diagnosis is lymphedema of breast with superimposed cellulitis. Ahhh, breast cancer, the gift that keeps on giving, Ha! I will call my BS tomorrow to get in ASAP and get appt with lymphedema specialist. I've been browsing the topics and this was the first place I saw anything about lymphedema in the breast/cellulitis, so any information anyone can pass on about it would be greatly appreciated! So, there are bras to help with this? My breast is still so swollen and red. I've got 12 days of oral antibiotics and pain meds. How long will it take for this to go down? Do the bras really help? Recommendations for books or websites? Thanks so much!

    Sheila

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited May 2013

    Ah, Sheila, I'm so sorry you had to join our Sorority of SwellFrown, but I'm glad you found us.Smile Lymphedema management is a steep learning curve, and that's made even harder when you start with cellulitis. Get well quick!

    Here's information about truncal lymphedema. At the bottom of the page you'll find links to several kinds of compression options.
    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/breast_chest_trunckal_lymphedema.htm

    With a good therapist and some self-care, you should start seeing some reduction of the swelling very quickly. Learning to manage it yourself, though, takes a bit longer and usually involves some trial and error. Stick with us and feel free to ask questions--lots of experienced gals here. Tell us how we can help.

    Gentle hugs,
    Binney

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SwgeeWi
    SwgeeWi Member Posts: 315
    edited May 2013

    Thanks so much Binney!! I don't know what I'd do without these BCO forums and all of the very special women here. I'm sure I'll be talking with you again soon. Sheila

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SwgeeWi
    SwgeeWi Member Posts: 315
    edited July 2013

    i was wondering if anyone with cellulitis of the breast went on to have a biopsy for IBC.  I started antibiotics for cellulitis again on Sunday. (I just finished a month long course of antibiotics 3 weeks ago from my first bout with cellulitis.)  No fever this time, but pain, redness, swelling, peau d'orange skin, sharp, burning pains that come and go. (All of these symptoms of IBC, also.)  I see my BS on Tuesday. I know it would be highly unlikely for me to have IBC after finishing rads, etc. for IDC.  But, when i read up about IBC I see that it is misdiagnosed all the time and a highly aggressive cancer.  By the time you have peau d'orange it is stage 3. So now I'm getting paranoid.  I guess my MO (who has since moved to Colorado at the beginning of June) mentioned the possibility of IBC to my BS (but not to me) after my first bout with cellulitis. Right now I'm thinking a skin punch biopsy is the only thing that will put me at ease......?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited July 2013

    Swgee, then do it! The stress of worrying rots, so by all means do what you need to to put that to rest. But just for the sake of discussion, cellulitis doesn't always start with a fever, and if you've started antibiotics it hopefully won't ever get to that stage. Repeat cellulitis is unfortunately fairly common, and it may be time to get the help of an Infectious Disease specialist who's experienced with lymphedema.

    Keep us posted! Very gentle hugs,
    Binney

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2013

    Swgee, Im sorry for what youre going through and having to take antibiots plus the added worry of that thing that hangs over all of us at one time or another. The only ones who get it are the ones who've had it. BC and all its hangerons is rotten for sure. Know we are thinking of you and yes please chime in anytime you feel like it or want to ask questions. Gentle and warm hugs.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SwgeeWi
    SwgeeWi Member Posts: 315
    edited July 2013

    Thanks Binney and Musical! I kind of wish I hadn't looked up so much info on IBC, but now that.i know it, I can't "unthink" it. But, I'd certainly hate to have survived IDC and end up with IBC that wasn't checked out. I hate feeling like a hypochondriac and worrying all the time!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2013

    Swgee BC or any Cancer has soooo much excess baggage (its the gift that keeps giving) we are FORCED to look at ourselves a lot... thats why we feel like hypochondies and worry worts.... if anyone else dares to point the finger at us about this then Id say how about trading places LOL  For some of us it's not as if life was perfect (health-wise)  before BC came along either. 

    When it gets dark enough you can see the stars.   Love that ...and in fact Hubby and I were bemoaning the bright moon out on our early morning walk couple of days ago, which blotted out an other wise crystal clear sky. Where we are rurally the night sky can be spectacular!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SwgeeWi
    SwgeeWi Member Posts: 315
    edited July 2013

    Musical, we're out in the country also and it's still awesome to look up at the night sky and see the Milky Way.

    My BS did a punch biopsy today and will call with results, probably Thursday. I'll keep you posted!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • planetbananas
    planetbananas Member Posts: 206
    edited July 2013

    I had cellulitis and ended up in the hospital for 11 days and had antibiotics I had to self infuse through my port. Yes, bc is the gift that keeps giving, one of the meds gave me renal insufficiency and the worst nausea since taxotere.



    They didn't do a biopsy, but they did do a ct scan of the implant.



    I think I waited too long to address the issue, I should have gone to dr at first sign of redness/leaking but nothing like this has ever happened. It was on the side that they took 14 nodes. So, don't wait if you see a problem, I wouldn't wish this last experience on my worst enemy!



    Good luck with the biopsy!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2013

    Oh yes Swgee please keep us posted and all the best for those results. I can't think of anything more stressful than being in the wait club. May you have many more views of your  lovely rural night sky. Yes the milky way is spectacular isnt it. Sometimes we see many satelites go over including the international space station. Im not sure if where you are latitude wise, you can see circumpolar stars....where we are the Southern Cross never sets and if one knows where to look, you'll see the closest stars to the pole doing a tight circle. Astronomy is fascinating!

    planetbananas wow 11days in hospital. Ughh. I bet that was fun NOT. Cellulits sucks big time.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SwgeeWi
    SwgeeWi Member Posts: 315
    edited July 2013

    Test results are back and are negative for cancer and infection, Yaaaaaayyyy!!! Radiation damage to skin & lymph system. I'll stay on antibiotics to keep cellulitis away for now. What a relief!



    Planet Bananas, it's not like you've been through enough, then to have to endure 11 days in the hospital for cellulitis. OMG! I hope you're past all of that now!!!



    Musical, I'm in Southern Wisconsin. Your views sound incredible!! Do you get to see the aurora borealis? (Are they called Northern lights where you live??). We've seen them twice here. Both in the winter-January .

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited July 2013

    Swgee, SO GLAD to hear your report! And so glad you got tested and can now put those fears to rest. Cellulitis, be gone!

    Hugs,
    Binney

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2013

    Swgee Oh wonderful news! Good for you.  Hopefully that cellulitiss will GO!! ASAP

    I think they are called Northern lights in the northern Hemisphere but Im not sure about that. Im pretty rusty on my astronomy ...it might be aurora borealis. Unfortunately where we are Ive never seen them, but down the SOuth Island they do. My hubby wants a telescope and I say yeah sure go for it, with one condition. Don't just buy anything, get a good one, and to do that you need to "look into it" properly (sooorrry...that  pun just sorta arrived on me lol )

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • planetbananas
    planetbananas Member Posts: 206
    edited July 2013

    SO happy about your results!



    I am doing much better, I finished my last home infusion almost 2 weeks ago and I no longer have any symptoms. They said time will tell. One of the worst parts about all of it was that I had scheduled a prophylactic oophrectomy, the date was during my hospital stay. Now it has been put off indefinitely.....I would like to move on, I know you ladies know what I mean!



    For all who can see them, enjoy the stars :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories