UPDATE on my cooties....

[LeftyFingerPop]

For everyone who expressed concern yesterday concerning my post about me potentially having MRSA, I want to really thank you. I was scared yesterday and all of your well wishes made me feel better.

I went to the doc today and just got home. They are staph infections as per the lab reports, but the two areas that were cultured did not show it to be resistant staph. My doc told me that this is not to say that I do not have MRSA, but the specific cultures did not show it (and as I am typing this, I'm wondering why she didn't culture the inside of my nose).

That being said, she looked at the abscesses that I have now, and thought they were worrisome because they were so infected. I asked her about the possibility of IV therapy in an inpatient setting, and she told me that my insurance would never approve this expensive therapy for staph infections that are localized to the skin. She said that even for confirmed MRSA, they make you try oral antibiotics as a first line of defense. Fucking insurance companies. I guess it has to spread to a major organ first and cause a near death experience before they consider paying for it.

I can't afford to self-pay for intensive IV therapy, and to top it off, my kidney function has been wonky lately, probably as a result of the diabetes. Therefore, she was hesitant to continue me any longer than the remaining few days on the oral bactrim.

So her plan of attack is as follows: White vinegar soaks twice daily, an antibiotic cleanser, and an antibiotic ointment that hones in more on my particular cootie type.

I see her again in about 10 days. If improvement is not substantial, she will refer me to a surgeon who can do more than a simple lancing procedure...he can do a larger area and use drains, etc.

Sorry for the novel here, but since many of you expressed concern, I wanted to let you know what was happening.

Well, I am very tired and will go lay down now. To top it off, I also had to visit my urologist, "Dr. Jellyfinger" today. I'm always fatigued after seeing Doc Jellyfinger. :rofl: You know....the stress of it all.....

Thanks again everyone. :hug:

[TZ]

1. Well Ithats pretty good news I think

I hope that treatment works for you. I know vinegar has some good antiseptic properties but yikes! The idea of soaking an abcess in it....:scared:
Good luck and keep us posted..
:hi:

[LeftyFingerPop]

11. Thank you....

Shouldn't be too bad, because most people tell me I am full of piss and vinegar anyway. :P :hug:

Good luck to you with your current situation as well.

[siligut]

2. Doc Jellyfinger! LOL.

I didn’t know about the diabetes. OK, this is making more sense now. I like what your doc decided on, standard practice, except for the vinegar, but that is good medicine as well.

You know infection can raise your blood sugar, and that an elevated BG is an invitation to infection. Take care, and I know I would like progress updates.

[LeftyFingerPop]

12. One thing I could not understand is...

why he had two hands on my shoulders while performing the prostate exam? :shrug: :rofl:

You are correct about the infection/BG cycle...and that is what compounds the difficulty.

You take care too, and I'll keep you posted! :hi:

[Parche]

3. Put A Little Rum In The Vinegar

:woohoo:


:hug: :hug: :hug:


Get better

you need to be healthy here on DU!!!

[LeftyFingerPop]

13. Thanks Parche...

:hug: :hug: :hug:

I'm pretty strong physically...but this shit is slowly sucking the life out of me. But I'll be back to my old self soon.

Oh.....pubes. :)

[Pierre.Suave]

4. I hope it all goes well for you.

Being sick, especially these kinds of infections, can be a real bummer.

[LeftyFingerPop]

14. Hey thanks a lot jason...

There are worse things, but yeah, it ain't nice.

[applegrove]

5. Hope you are feeling much better soon.

[LeftyFingerPop]

15. Thanks a lot applegrove...

Actually I'm in better spirits tonight. The encouragement received here helped. :hug:

[ThomCat]

6. Damn! I hope this improves quickly.

No surgeon and drains. No MRSA. Be well soon! :hug:

[LeftyFingerPop]

16. Thanks Thom!

I think I'll be just fine soon....I hope. :hug:

[SPKrazy]

7. If she'd cultured the inside of your nose

she'd have found MRSA in all likelihood

probably most people would have it there.

It isn't colonized in most of us though, and that is where it becomes an issue.

I don't like Dr. Jellyfinger, well not a urologist, but my PCP and well, never mind :P

:rofl:

hope you get your infections healing quickly and thoroughly.

:hug:

[LeftyFingerPop]

17. Thanks SPK....

:hug:

When I went shopping for a new Urologist, I went and interviewed a few.

Regardless of their credentials, I just picked the one with the smallest fingers. :rofl: :rofl:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. Hope you continue to have good news! If not...

[LeftyFingerPop]

18. Thanks so much GoG....

:hug:

[TK421]

9. My roommate had an MRSA infection that ran across one of his boobs

from what I understand, they cut out part of it and isolated the rest....and what happened after wards I'm not sure. I know that he doesn't have it anymore

[LeftyFingerPop]

19. Yikes....

That's my only real fear....that they would have to cut something off.

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. Awww. I hope you get better really fast! *hugs*

[LeftyFingerPop]

20. Thank you GPV....

:hug: back at ya!

[Lil Missy]

21. You have my best wishes for a speedy recovery!

:hug:

[LeftyFingerPop]

22. Thanks very much Lil Missy!

:hug:

[FlyingSquirrel]

23. Dude.

I had the same thing as you, three friggin times this past fall (it kept coming back). The second time I tried vinegar. Not only did it NOT work, but that one I put off getting antibiotics for and instead soaked in vinegar, well, I still have a big reddish-pink spot there MONTHS later and it hurts if I push on it. The one that happened after that one, I finally got smart and got the antibiotics right away. It's completely gone.

What I'm saying is, this crap does not go away without antibiotics and it will get worse and worse. I don't know why they're telling you to put vinegar on it but believe me you need to get back in there and get the antibiotics and get it drained also.