Very Sick...

My son loves to bathe and wash his hands, so he is having fun washing his hands and what not some more.

The DR explained about MRSA to me, and I talked about it with a girlfriend last night. She works in a nursing home and she sees it very often. Plus, she had a friend that got it a year or so ago. She gave me some helpful hints, helped me out with Timmy a bit and made me feel better. Lucky to have her as a neighbor!

I am feeling, right now, that I am not going to be able to help around the house, and thus feel like I'm too lazy. I straightened up a bit yesterday, and that prompted in my arm hurting. I went overboard then. This morning, I took it easy and had my son put some things away for me, and I did just a little.

I can not wait until my Tim gets home from work so he can help me with taking a bath. Because of where it is, I will need help in and out of the tub so i don't fall. Washed my hair in the sink last night and boy does my head feel better!! I hated being at the hospital and not being able to take a shower. UGH

I am missing out this weekend on some plans I had made and that is upsetting. I only get to see my one friend once a year or so and this was the weekend. So glad that he understands.

Trying to find out some more info on the MRSA, but I find the same info over and over, so I must have found all that I will for now. Got to make a few lifestyle changes on some things, but it's worth it.

Thank goodness for that OUST campaign. I had bought a few cans while I was in it, to help me bzz to friends and the neighbors and it has come in handy to help disinfect areas. Especially the bathroom!

Thank you again to everyone and thier support. I am a tough cookie and will not let this bring me down.

I had contacted OUST during the campaign about MRSA and OUST doesn't help with MRSA.

But I feel it is helping with killing other germs that I am right now more easily able to contract. And with having such an open wound like I do, even though it is covered with a bandage, I still feel better with having the house cleaner than it was before.

I know this sounds stupid, but since MRSA is resistant to antibacterial agents, your best bet may not to try to kill it so much as wash it away. Kind of like washing your hands. You don't use bleach to kill the germs. You use soap to loosen them from your skin, and water to rinse them away once they aren't clinging so tight. There probably are products that kill MRSA, but it might be easier to just keep washing and rinsing your hands, face, and arm, and of course laundry and linens. Then wash and wipe dry hard surfaces. I have no training in this, but it should be effective if you remember to not reuse a sponge or washcloth, but use disposable wipes or paper towels.

I am not going insane with the cleaning. I am just making sure that the house is clean, that the corners have no cobwebs, dust is gone, floors are washed, and then the handles and seats are sprayed. i don't use bleach on anything unless neccessary. It is too strong a scent for my son.

I know that if I were to "overclean" I can kill the stuff that is needed to kill the bad stuff. Kill the good bacteria, so to speak.

Washing the sheets since I got home, just the once, just to make sure they are clean.

I am not going overboard.

When i was gone for the 2 days, when i came home, I saw what kind of differance me being home made to the house being clean in general. (2 guys, 1 being a toddler left in the home, like it would be cleaned while I was gone? ha ha)

Both my grandchildren had MRSA in the first few weeks after I got them so I'm very familiar with it.
Here are a couple of things I found to be very helpful:
this site has a great guide in PDF format that can be printed and given to friends or relatives who have concerns

http://www.tpchd.org/files/library/2357adf2a147d1aa.pdf



Understanding MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
What is MRSA?
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's resistant to some commonly used antibiotics.
The symptoms of MRSA depend on where you're infected. Most often, it causes mild infections on the skin, causing pimples or boils. But it can also cause more serious skin infections or infect surgical wounds, the bloodstream, the lungs, or the urinary tract.
Though most MRSA infections aren't serious, some can be life-threatening. Many public health experts are alarmed by the spread of tough strains of MRSA. Because it's hard to treat, MRSA is sometimes called a "super bug."
What causes it?
Garden-variety staph are common bacteria that can live on our bodies. Plenty of healthy people carry staph without being infected by it. In fact, 25-30% of us have staph bacteria in our noses.
But staph can be a problem if it manages to get into the body, often through a cut. Once there, it can cause an infection. Staph is one of the most common causes of skin infections in the U.S. Usually, these are minor and don't need special treatment. Less often, staph can cause serious problems like infected wounds or pneumonia.
Staph can usually be treated with antibiotics. But over the decades, some strains of staph -- like MRSA -- have become resistant to antibiotics that once destroyed it. MRSA was first discovered in 1961. It's now immune to methicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, oxacillin, and many other antibiotics.
While some antibiotics still work, MRSA is constantly adapting. Researchers developing new antibiotics are having a tough time keeping up.
Who gets MRSA?
MRSA is spread by contact. So you could get MRSA by touching another person who has it on the skin. Or you could get it by touching objects that have the bacteria on them. MRSA is carried, or "colonized," by about 1% of the population, although most of them aren't infected.
Infections are most common among people who have weak immune systems and are living in hospitals, nursing homes, and other heath care centers. Infections can appear around surgical wounds or invasive devices, like catheters or implanted feeding tubes. Rates of infection in hospitals, especially intensive care units, are rising throughout the world. In U.S. hospitals, MRSA causes up to 40%-50% of staph infections.

missmissylette wrote:I am not going insane with the cleaning. I am just making sure that the house is clean, that the corners have no cobwebs, dust is gone, floors are washed, and then the handles and seats are sprayed. i don't use bleach on anything unless neccessary. It is too strong a scent for my son.

I know that if I were to "overclean" I can kill the stuff that is needed to kill the bad stuff. Kill the good bacteria, so to speak.

Washing the sheets since I got home, just the once, just to make sure they are clean.

I am not going overboard.

When i was gone for the 2 days, when i came home, I saw what kind of differance me being home made to the house being clean in general. (2 guys, 1 being a toddler left in the home, like it would be cleaned while I was gone? ha ha)

Use alcohol based products to clean with.
Good old rubbing alcohol is great (plus it's cheap)
Keep your wound covered and don't let anyone come in contact with it...especially your baby boy

You'll carry MRSA from here on out, likely.
It can be treated by a few antibiotics, vancomyacin being one of them.

I'm a carrier since I worked in a hospital for 15 years. It's very prevalant in nursing homes as well.

I've had one random infection on my ear, that wasn't able to be cultured. I was put on Cipro and it cleard. I'm sure it was MRSA.

Most likely it'll only show up when you're compromised, sleep, stress, etc ...... just keep a watchful eye and call the doc if something looks suspicious.

I'd suggest probotic products and getting sleep, but i'd guess you'll be OK from here on out

Glad your doing so much better!

Sleep.. I don't think I have gotten as much in the past few weeks! I probably slept the better half of yesterday! And it was nice to be in my own bed, so I had a restful sleep last night (plus, having my hubby next to me for the first time in a week helps). I feel refreshed.

Still a little sore, but I have been diligent about my medicine (I am on Bactrim and I will be filling the pain prescrip today. I am mostly only in pain right before bed. When my resistance is down and I feel the pain alot more.) and I make sure that my bandages are clean. I was given a handful of gloves, plus I have a few that my hairdresser sis gave me. My son is kept away from this arm. And I have been checking him over to make sure of any bumps, as well as the hubby.

The only problem I have been having is finding a way to sleep without hurting myself. Plus, I did get sick a couple of times, but not too much. Today, is the one day the hubby will be off this week until the holiday, so I will definately be taking advantage of his help.

Monday, I call and make an appointment with the surgeon for a follow-up, so we'll see then what she says about my healing.

Good. I'm relieved that you are healing so rapidly and are able to sleep. I'm so glad you're OK.

UPDATE ON ME::::

I am doing so much better, as I am sure you can tell with all the posting I have done today. It is still very sore (well, I do have a large wound) especially first thing in the morning. But, I have been taking my meds as prescribed, and I believe that today was my last day for antibiotics. The doc only wanted me to continue what I had for so many days, so I have to double check my calendar.

I will be making a follow-up appt for next week, but I am sure the doc will be happy with my progress. There is no more swelling and the redness is now just around the actual wound.

I am now folding the gauze bandages in half so I have more of a cushion, but also less of my arm is covered in gooky tape. lol

I will keep all you wonderful, caring people up-to-date, but fear not. I FEEL a whole lot better than I did one week ago.

That's great to hear!

I'm glad you are feeling better!

Thank God. I was so worried when you disappeared. I kept thinking that if something happened we'd never even know it. Missy, I don't know what your instructions for cleaning the wound are, but my sister worked at a hospital for years and also has had several staff infections similar to what you had. Not MRSA, but ones that required them to remove the dead tissue. She told me that one of the doctors noticed that some of the patients would run water into the actual wound, either in the sink or with a shower head that's on a hose. Not just over the top of it, but directing the flow of the water into the hole. And the doctors noticed that when the patients did this 2 or 3 times a day, it seemed to heal faster. They thought maybe it flushed germs out. She started doing it with her staph wound and her doctor commented on how fast she healed. My MIL tried it when she was healing very slowly after a surgery (discussing it with her physician first), and she suddenly began to heal much faster. So if your Dr. has approved showers or cleaning out the site, you may want to ask about trying it. My MIL said it hurt a little the first time she did it, but she was careful to have the water on a low setting so that it didn't damage the healing tissue. And she said it hurt a little less each time.

My water here is gross, I won't even drink it, so maybe I will use some lukewarm purified water. Cold from the fridge would be nuts! lol

My DR did tell me to allow water to get on it, but not to use soap. I have been hesitant on it so far, because of Tim's schedule. If I were to somehow hurt myself more, or be in a lot of pain, I would want him around to take care of Timmy. I have taken a bath, but washed my hair seperatly. No showers just yet. To be honest, scared of the pain.

I have always healed pretty fast. i no longer have the yucky discharge, so that is a great thing.

I can assure you that if anything were to happen, it would get posted somehow. Most likely my Mom or Tim on my myspace, but I am not thinking anything like that just now... I am looking upwards and in good ways.

Plus, this is one of my top bookmarked sites, so I am sure someone would know to come here. ;-)

I appreciate all the tips though! They definately will help! i will have Tim help me with the water idea when he gets out of work for the holiday. With him taking a few nights off last week though, they have been giving him all the OT they can. Poor guy is so overworked. But it will all pay off in the end! He may get the shift change that we have been gunning for, so keep your fingers crossed!