Msra!

[limewave]

I've had MRSA 5 times now over 4 years. You ladies will appreciate this, my second infection started as a saddle sore. OWIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! I had to wear a drain in the "area" for a week to help get rid of the infection.

Apparently the first infection was bad enough that they didn't completely get rid of it and now it lies dormant in my body just waiting to strike again and again.

Nothing gets rid of it but an IV and a good shot in the butt. They've given me oral antibiotics to take but they never help.

[roadie gal]

There are some people who are "carriers" who seem to get infections over and over. Have they had you do antiseptic showers or put antibiotic ointment in your nose (the nasal passage is frequently where the bug lives)? Also, anyone else in the house has to be treated with the showers and ointment.

[Brandi]

You know the funny thing is when he first got this three weeks ago no one talked about. Now it is on every news channel, every paper. My dh says he doesn't feel special anymore!

[limewave]

There are some people who are "carriers" who seem to get infections over and over. Have they had you do antiseptic showers or put antibiotic ointment in your nose (the nasal passage is frequently where the bug lives)? Also, anyone else in the house has to be treated with the showers and ointment.

I have taken antiseptic showers and the nasal treatment . . . didn't work. Another doctor said that it can be carried in the gut. So she has me on some medicinal shake every night for two months. Only time will tell if it works.

[Zen]

Did they say anything about eating lots of yogurt, Limewave?

[Brandi]

I have taken antiseptic showers and the nasal treatment . . . didn't work. Another doctor said that it can be carried in the gut. So she has me on some medicinal shake every night for two months. Only time will tell if it works.

ok my dh just read that someone used emu oil and it worked! They are looking into it. Whoever "They" are.

[velogirl]

when my father contracted MRSA in 1997, he was placed in isolation (to protect him) and treated with steroids and vancomycin. vanco (a super-powerful antibiotic) was the only drug effective at treating MRSA at the time. his immune system was already compromised because of the drugs he took for RA and he died about 6 months after contracting MRSA.

two years later my mother had nasal surgery and the docs confirmed that she had colonized MRSA (ie was carrying it all this time). she was placed in isolation and treated with vanco. she didn't die.

in 2005, I suffered a post-surgical infection in one of my salivary glands. my doc confirmed it was also MRSA (apparently I had colonized it 8 years prior). I was not hospitalized (this surprised me) but was treated with vanco. I didn't die either.

I remember a statistic from 1997 when my father contracted MRSA that approximately 80% of all hospital personnel were colonized with MRSA. my father contracted MRSA during surgery (spinal fusion). if my mother and I really weren't colonized in 1997 (as assumed by our docs), one could then assume that we also contracted MRSA during surgery.

hospitals can be scary places. I truly believe you shouldn't stay there any longer than necessary -- it's just too dangerous with lots of germies (like MRSA) just waiting to get you!

[roadie gal]

There are different types of MRSA: hospital and community acquired. The hospital acquired is MUCH worse. It's resistant to many more antibiotics. In fact, they have found some that are resistant to vancomycin, which is scary beyond belief.

The community acquired can be treated with more antibiotics, including some of the older, cheaper ones... so far.

Staph is the big news this week, but many, many bugs are becoming resistant to our antibiotics. Unfortunately, there's a lot more money in erectile dysfunction drugs than there is in antibiotics. So there just aren't that many new antibiotics coming down the pipe.

[Brandi]

My dh just found out yesterday that some mrsa infection are being mistaken for bug bites. When we looked at the pitures it looked just like what he had. So maybe he didn't get a black widow bite?

[RoadRaven]

Wow, this is kinda scarey
I hadn't even heard of it before...
Is MSRA limited to the States? Or is it world-wide?

As for antibiotics, I can't remember the last time me, or my kids had them... my partner had them earlier this year for an infected tooth/root canal... but before that I don't know when he last had them either.
We avoid them when possible which is most of the time. They are sooooo over-prescribed!

But this MSRA thing is bothering me...

[emily_in_nc]

I've had MRSA 5 times now over 4 years. You ladies will appreciate this, my second infection started as a saddle sore. OWIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! I had to wear a drain in the "area" for a week to help get rid of the infection.

limewave, how did you know your saddle sore was bad enough that it was infected? I have a pretty bad one that's hung around for a long time now, and of course now I'm worried it might be MRSA! I showed it to my doc when I went for my yearly appt. a couple of months ago, and she wasn't that concerned, but it's gotten worse rather than better since then.

Thanks,
Emily

[Brandi]

Oh my gosh! It has come back. My poor dh is in pain! A cyst formed on he's neck. it starting showing signs on monday. He was at the doc's that afternoon. They put him oh meds. Nose swabs and showers. And today when he's lab's came in posative they put him on another antibiotic on top of the other one he is on.
He is so miserable right now. All i can do is feed him. The German in me can't help that.
The infection is right where he's bike helmit strap sits. it is to painful to wear. So he is depressed on top of that cause he can't go for a bike ride!. Send healing vibes our way please. This infection is nasty big time!

[Mr. Bloom]

Oh my gosh! It has come back. My poor dh is in pain!

Yikes!

Hope he's better soon!

[Brandi]

He Seems to be doing better today. He started on another antibiotic last night and I think it has really kicked in. They gave him pain meds and I was able to talk him into taking one last night before he went to bed. I think that helped him. At least he slept through the night this time. He seemed to be really having a hard time sleeping. I am trying to be posative about this situation and keep he's spirits up that it will go away!