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Help! I am so overwhelmed!
Started by S |
Posted: December 3, 2009 at 03:05 | |
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My husband has had bad "acne" all over for weeks. A lot of them have gotten really infected & painful. He finally went to the dr after a friend of his that has/had MRSA told him he NEEDED to see a doctor. Before that he had been picking at them all the time (& I think making them infected) The dr told my husband "probably MRSA" took a sample & sent him for blood work & sent him home with some oral antibiotic. That's it... I am freaking out! We have a toddler & an infant & a cat & a bird. I have no clue what I should be doing to protect my family & the doctor gave no information. I have so many questions: How do I disinfect my house? What excatly needs to be done? Should I throw out our carpets? Do I need to change our bed sheets every day? Should the kids be tested or do I just keep looking out for sores on them? My husband gets sick all the time (just in general) how can I boost his immune system? I just want him to be ok & for the kids & myself to be ok! Where do I start? Oh I usually clean with natural things like white vinegar because I hear horrible things about bleach & other toxic cleaners, but with this I think I need to break out the bleach right? Aghhh I just want to do whats best for my family & I am really overwheled! Please help Thank you 15661
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Re: Help! I am so overwhelmed!
Reply #1 by S |
Posted: December 3, 2009 at 03:08 | |
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Another question--How long does it take to get a diagnoses? I am on pins & needles waiting. AND I read somwhere that if he was on an antibiotic when they test for it it might not show up? He has been on something for the acne on & off for a couple months willl that affect the results? Thanks again in advance 15662
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Re: Help! I am so overwhelmed!
Reply #2 by ladyk |
Posted: December 3, 2009 at 04:14 | |
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S - First of all take a long deep breath and take a minute to relax a bit. We will help you through this all we can, you're not alone. Lets not speculate until C&S come in usually 5-7 days. Has physician order antibiotic? Name and dose? What type of physician did he see? It is quite plausible this could also be MSSA. So until you know absolutely there are some things you can do. I believe… your husband, yourself, (? toddler’s age) should follow topical care protocol to reduce bacteria on skin. Common topical care is to use Hibiclens (you can buy at your local pharmacy, thereafter order online if you choose for best price) 3x weekly in shower. This product holds warning - AVOID EYES AND EARS. Is 'acne' isolated to face? Does he shave? If he shaves his face he needs to change blade directly! Did physician order Bactoban antibiotic oint? If not equivalent is Bacitracin antibiotic ointment (can be purchased at local pharmacy). This ointment can be applied to lesions, if caught in early stage often progression is stopped. He must NOT touch these lesions (or pick at them) cover draining lesions with band aids... if this is MRSA drainage is a human contagion. He can cross contaminate bacteria to other sites about his body, and others as well. WASH HANDS and WASH OFTEN. I'd go so far as to put clean sheet over his clothes, with washed hands before he handles infant. His clothes, towels, pillowcases/linens should be washed separately in hot water... bleach when appropriate. Beach clean all hard surfaces. Lysol spray all touch sites such as light switches, door knobs, TV remove control, etc. There is data available that these products kill MRSA bacteria. What has he been on and off for a couple of months for acne? Steroid type meds? Also in my opinion I would get some Tea Tree Oil and patch test this on one of his less angry lesions. Often Tea Tree Oil will kill staph aureus, which is parent if you will to mutated MRSA. I am emphasizing SPOT TEST FIRST! You would not want to amplify the situation with a reaction. Also he might consider Pro-Active regimen as this often solves facial bacterial issues. I’ll get back to you about immune support. Wanted to get this off to you in case you’re still up worrying. Hang in there S, ask the million questions. Best wishes, ladyk 15663
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Re: Help! I am so overwhelmed!
Reply #3 by Nancy R |
Posted: December 3, 2009 at 04:17 | |
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Please calm down. Frankly, MRSA has been all around you for a long time. The fact that your husband is sick a lot means that he was a better host than other family members. Use common sense. I would absolutely change pillow cases often. I would also buy white towels and cases so that you can bleach them. Yes, you really will have to use bleach. Be sure that your family washes their hands often. Your carpets are fine. Your furniture is fine. Your husband is not fine. Depending on which test was given, it could take as little as 24 hours or as long as 72 hours to get results. Antibiotics can throw the test results off. In any event, if it is MRSA, it will be known soon enough. As for boosting his immune system, you will likely have to really tweak his diet. I would recommend lots of dark, green leafy veggies, orange and yellow veggies (squash, pumpkin, sweet potatoes), limit starches and sugars when he is on antibiotics for you could wind up with a yeast infection. Yeast loves sugar. I would recommend 5000 MG of vitamin C daily. Vitamin B12, either by injection or by using an oral tablet called NO SHOT that dissolves under the tongue. Garlic and oregano are also thought to help reduce bacteria and boost the immune system. Choose lean meats, natural yogurt (not pasteurized)I like Activia, pre-biotics and probiotics. If you check out the thread recently posted by LadyK, she addresses all of this. Once diagnosed, he will likely be told to use Hibiclens. Again, LadyK has adequately addressed how to use that. It's not the end of the world. It's just a bump in the road. 15664
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Re: Help! I am so overwhelmed!
Reply #4 by S |
Posted: December 4, 2009 at 14:49 | |
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Thank you for the responses. I still have not heard back from the dcotor. He saw a dermatologist. The infected areas are on his face, back, chest & 1 on each arm. They put him on Sulfamethoxazole-tmp 1 pill 2x a day My Mother in law had some leftover bactroban ointment & gave it to him the dr said to keep applying that too. He has been good about not picking at them since he went to the doctor but that is because he has not been out of bed. His head hurt 1st day, then head & stomach pain & today (3rd day in bed) his back & joints hurt in addition to head & stomach pain... could this be MRSA related? It is normal for him to not get out of bed for days when he feels sick (excpet to go to bathroom) so I don't know if this just him or MRSA!! OK doctor office just called & said the inital test is negative for mrsa! good right? however I am still concerned because he is so sick & he was on doxicycleen (no idea how to spell that). Could that produce a false negative? Dr office didn't seem to have much info on that... Could I use some tee tree oil in the laundry? Would that kill mrsa? Is it safer then bleach? HOw about the kids? If they had mrsa they would have some sort of skin infection right? If not should I assume they are mrsa free? What about visitors... don't really want to announce that we may have mrsa here but I don't want to infect other people. How does that work, I think I read mrsa is airborn & you don't even need to come in direct skin to skin contact with the person... I am sorry if these questions have been answered on other posts but I can't handle reading about people dying from it right now so I have not been browsing the posts too much. 15676
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Re: Help! I am so overwhelmed!
Reply #5 by Nancy R |
Posted: December 4, 2009 at 15:22 | |
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S You need to get it under control. You have a lot of sound information right in this thread that answers most of your questions. Especially if your husband is so sick and you have children. You are now the captain of this ship. I wouldn't use tea tree oil in your laundry. It will likely stain and I haven't a clue how much to use to be effective. The bleach will do just fine. Be certain to launder with very hot water. Not cold. The doxicycline could certainly influence any test results. He should be retested when he is not on any antibiotics. Nobody is suggesting that your husband is anywhere near death's door. Far from it. Exactly what does the dermatologist think he has, then? You may want a second opinion. Seek out a GOOD infectious disease doctor and go from there. He may very well have something entirely different. 15679
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Re: Help! I am so overwhelmed!
Reply #6 by ladyk |
Posted: December 4, 2009 at 16:53 | |
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Dear S – The reason you see so many topics here on this forum is because we are the ones who have fought MRSA, learned how to control it, and survived! Dealing with the hard issues is just part of life. By not reading information you will not be prepared in how best to deal with affliction, and that IS what puts people at further risk. You wrote: [“My Mother in law had some leftover bactroban ointment & gave it to him the dr said to keep applying that too.”] *Why did your mother-in-law have leftover Bactroban ointment? *Using another’s antibiotic ointment (Bactroban) is a good way to cross contaminate (? whatever) she has/had to your husband who is demonstrating he is currently immune compromised (ill). As well, especially since leaning is/was toward contagion MRSA… physician should have not advised you/him to use another’s antibiotic ointment, rather he/she should have prescribed it for your husband. A Dermatologist who deals with skin issues should know the dangers in communicables! Between whatever infection is brewing, along with antibiotic effects on the body, there is no doubt your husband feels pretty lousy. When physician’s office called and said his initial culture is negative… did you ask what grew??? You can call them back and obtain this information. As I said before, it is possible infection is MSSA or even SA. Yes, having been on antibiotics it is quite possible to render a false negative and he should be re-cultured via needle stick directly into active lesion for most accurate results. I have not tried nor heard of Tea Tree Oil in laundry. I understand it is your wish not to use bleach… but you must understand the aggressive nature of staph aureus. This bacteria evolves around our most advanced medical remedies. I’d say that tops any toxic concerns you have toward the use of bleach since we know this product does kill MRSA/MSSA/SA bacteria. In my opinion if this were my family/friend’s situation… I pack everyone up and get into see an Infectious Disease specialist. You have several people in your family who are at risk, and all should be nare cultured and followed by one who wears the correct hat for the affliction of infectious diseases. You wrote: [“HOw about the kids? If they had mrsa they would have some sort of skin infection right? If not should I assume they are mrsa free?”] MRSA can colonize our nares and remain as such where bacterial colony in our noses does not cause any infection until individual’s immune system is compromised with illness as simple as the common cold and/or bacteria is cross contaminated to a minute opening in skin surface causing lesion. MRSA can also be cross contaminated to others who do experience infections even though carrier doesn't. This is example of carrier/colonized. If husband is to get back on road toward feeling better you would do best to read up on immune support and how this has helped so very many here on forum. Best to you. ladyk 15680
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Re: Help! I am so overwhelmed!
Reply #7 by Nancy R. |
Posted: December 4, 2009 at 20:15 | |
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LadyK: Excellent post. You do have a way with words. 15687
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Re: Help! I am so overwhelmed!
Reply #8 by ladyk |
Posted: December 4, 2009 at 20:43 | |
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Nancy R. - Thank you. As do you my friend, as do you... I'm so glad to see yours daily. Hugs, ladyk 15688
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Re: Help! I am so overwhelmed!
Reply #9 by Buck Boy |
Posted: December 13, 2009 at 17:02 | |
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Yes, if you are on a antibiotic while being tested for MRSA. You can be positive but get a neg report. Been there done that... 15781
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