MRSA

[greatauntoftriplets]

I've been diagnosed with active MRSA and am currently hospitalized. Has anyone else here had it? If you did, can you please share your experiences?

In my case, it was diagnosed after getting cellulitis on a leg and ankle. It's scary to know that I will always have this, even if the doctors can treat me so it goes dormant again. At least, I guess that's the correct term.

Thanks!

[Turbineguy]

1. I had a friend who was taking pain killers which masked it.

I'm wondering if oil of oregano would work against it.

Caveat: I'm not a life sciences guy!

[greatauntoftriplets]

10. Science was never my strong suit either.

Thanks, I'd better do what the doctor says.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear greatauntoftriplets...

I am so sorry to read this! I have zero direct experience with MRSA and I hope that you will shortly be free of it, as much as possible!

Please take care of yourself!

[greatauntoftriplets]

11. Thanks for the good wishes.

I appreciate them.

[blm]

3. Sorry to hear this.

A close friend was recently hospitalized with it. He wouldn’t talk much about it, but, it left a hole in his thigh flesh that is slowly healing.

[greatauntoftriplets]

12. Sounds like your friend has been through quite a lot.

But at least he recovering. Thanks.

[voteearlyvoteoften]

4. Check out Vitamin C therapy

Some good results reported. IDK if this is woo but doesn’t seem like it would hurt in conjunction w established treatment plan.

[greatauntoftriplets]

13. I'm already dealing with an autoimmune disease.

Because of that, I can only take meds that my doctor gives me. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

[Atticus]

5. Had to have a thumb repaired several years ago and contracted MRSA in a "pin tract

infection". Had to wear a sort of "mobile IV" for 6 weeks. It was attached to an extra-large egg sized and shaped pressurized container which I wore on my arm and it fed a constant dosage of some super antibiotic into my vein. A nurse replaced the "egg" about once a week.

That did the trick: full recovery; no lasting effects and no recurrences.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

[greatauntoftriplets]

14. Wow, that sounds like a great way to infuse the antibiotics.

I'm sorry to hear that you've had it, but think it's great that you recovered so well.

[blm]

23. That sounds hopeful.

[in2herbs]

6. Colloidal silver is the only thing that's been proven to be effective against MRSA, but you'll

never be treated with it in the hospital because the medical community considers it to be alternative medicine. It can be taken internally and externally.

[yonder]

8. Is that the stuff that turns one's skin blue or blue-gray?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Yes, and the NIH considers it to be neither safe nor effective.

https://nccih.nih.gov/health/colloidalsilver

[greatauntoftriplets]

17. Thanks for the info.

The doctor would not recommend that.

[in2herbs]

27. Name one alternative medicine the NIH promotes. nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

35. Maybe there's a reason they don't promote it.

Some so-called alternative medicine is useful; the Mayo Clinic accepts acupuncture, for example. I have also used acupuncture on an injured knee and it worked for me. A lot of other stuff is just woo.

[in2herbs]

39. Determining the reason(s) why the NIH does not promote alt med is necessary to understanding

why they don't promote it. Hint: alt med can't be patented and so pharmaceutical companies are against its use. Follow the money trail.

"A lot of other stuff is just woo." So, do you mean that you have tried other forms of alt med and their curative property has been unsuccessful or do you mean that other alt med is woo woo because you say so?

If you had a terminal disease for which conventional doctors have said there is no cure, would you lay down and die based on their say so or would you engage your personal power in research and use alt meds? The answer depends on how much life you want to live and how you want to live that life.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

40. You do you. I'm not messing with something that isn't based on careful scientific research

with clinical trials. We give the right-wing a lot of crap about not accepting science; I'm not about to reject science.

[still_one]

69. +++

[greatauntoftriplets]

16. Yikes, that doesn't sound good!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

19. Yeah, it's dangerous and doesn't cure anything.

[in2herbs]

28. And your claim is based on personal experience? nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

34. No, it's based on medical research from the NIH.

I'm not going to experiment on myself with that shit.

[in2herbs]

26. When taken in massive overdoses and over a life time yes, you do get the Blue Man. But

you don't have to take pharmaceuticals in massive doses or over a life time to get complications, even organ failure and even death so you have to pick your poisons.

[yonder]

47. Thanks, and for your comments in #39 too.

I tend to agree there about following the money. So many things are ignored because a profit can't be had by the PTB. The inverse of that is true also. And as you say, just because something has gone through rigid clinical study does not make it safe.

There's a man in our community who has had that bluish cast as long as I've known of him. My wife (who does know him) says it's because he used/uses a silver based treatment.

[greatauntoftriplets]

15. I have an autoimmune disease that no one's ever heard of.

Since I've been in the hospital, I've had to explain it to several nurses. Anyway, I'm not allowed to take meds that the doctor doesn't approve. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

[in2herbs]

30. CBD oil is very effective in autoimmune situations and you don't need a marijuana card. nt

[greatauntoftriplets]

31. I have CBD cream to use on my knee.

It's been pretty effective. I'm in Illinois and it'll all be legal here on January 1, so I'll have to look into it. Thanks.

[MuseRider]

36. I so agree!

Helped me with my RA. Easy to get and legal even in my backwards state.

[lunasun]

57. No Manuka Honey with high MGO has been studied also with positive results esp in

combination with antibiotics but it has to be high grade see link
I'm not against silver , I m actually taking it for a bad cold right now, but just adding that other natural sources have been studied and found effective

Also I would say IMO these are options for very healthy people except for the MRSA maybe?
Someone already medically compromised & on a lot of meds better have some medical or pharma input again IMO
https://www.nhs.uk/news/medication/can-honey-fight-superbugs-like-mrsa/

Also plenty research online about silver /MRSA that folks can see the research results
Just a random one
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/new-silver-solution-proves-effective-in-killing-mrsa.html

[in2herbs]

63. Thanks for submitting the additional info. I use Manuka Honey for a lot of issues. Buy it

from New Zealand on-line. The only problem I have with it is when it is used and how it's used cuz during the spring/summer/fall in AZ it is too hot and it's use as a poultice or as a topical application is impossible cuz it melts to become runnier than it already is.

[lunasun]

64. ++The good stuff is expensive but yes other uses. I have never used it externally

although it is most known for is its effect on wound management and healing.
There is Kanuka too many good properties

[mopinko]

7. nasty shit. my sister was in a nursing home for years before she passed.

her hubs picked up mrsa, and couldnt see her very much after that. super cruel.

hope they knock it out good.

[greatauntoftriplets]

18. That's so sad.

I probably picked it up from being in hospitals. I hope that they get rid of it as much as they can, too.

[Mersky]

20. Gosh, that's gotta be scary.

I don’t have any direct experience with MRSA. What comes to mind are the effects of taking a course of strong antibiotics. Might check with your doctors about whether you can keep a stock of probiotic foods in a fridge there in the hospital (sometimes there are ‘nourishments rooms’ on hospital floors with fridges where patients can keep labeled food). Foods like kefir, good yogurt, raw sauerkraut, etc. can help keep your gut flora healthy while on antibiotics. If that’s not possible, maybe make an effort to eat a range of these type foods once you’re home and on the mend. Of course, check with your various doctors first.

I have a common autoimmune disease, but acquired it at an uncommonly young age. I know they can be frustrating and compound anxiety in considering how it’s effecting your wider health. Take extra care to decompress from this as you can. Ask questions, take notes so you can retain and consider the information over time, and then focus on whatcha gotta do right now.

Hang in there, and I’m rooting for you!

[greatauntoftriplets]

24. Thanks for the suggestions and support.

Of course, I won't know what's available until I get to this place, but I'll definitely ask about it.

[WSSlover]

45. Regarding the use of antibiotics:

Unfortunately, sometimes antibiotics really are necessary, for bacterial infections, such as Strep throat or whatever, because Strep throat, when it goes untreated by the standard 10-day course of four 500 mg capsules of Penicillin per day, or is under treated, can and will result in damage to the heart and/or the kidneys.

I'll also add that the majority of antibiotic-resistant infections occur due to the inappropriate use of antibiotics. When one is given a course of antibiotics to take for a certain number of days, it's important to continue the course of antibiotics and finish it, even if your symptoms go away, to make doubly sure that the infection doesn't come back. Many people, when they're prescribed a course of antibiotics for Strep throat or any other bacterial infection, stop taking the antibiotics right when the symptoms of the infection go away, and then resume taking the antibiotics when the symptoms re-emerge. That, in a nutshell, is extremely dangerous, because it causes antibiotic-resistant infections to develop. Moreover, antibiotic-resistant infections are much, much tougher to treat, as well.

[Mersky]

48. Oh, hey, am glad you brought this up

Am with you about antibiotics. That it's crucial and life-saving medicine that should be taken properly for the full course.

I brought up issues of gut health as it's been an area of medical research discovery in recent years. I see adding probiotic foods as a seemingly benign addition to an antibiotic regimen. However, I do not know the protocols for MRSA treatment, and is why I had to mention a couple of times to ask the doctor about it.

I'm into nutrition, but not as replacement for modern medicine. So thank you for posting this - there need not be any confusion about the importance of antibiotics.

[Laffy Kat]

54. It's difficult. Sometimes when they treat the MRSA you end up with C.diff. nt

[Mersky]

62. Yes, thank you for bringing C.diff into the discussion

I've seen older family members either lose vitality or develop chronic gut issues after multiple courses of antibiotics in a year. Since there's some controversy over the efficacy of probiotics in pill form* I just recommended the foods that have helped me maintain a happier gut over the years. I'm prone to problems arising from thyroid disease and recurring abdominal adhesions from a surgery many years ago that tend to snare things up.

C.diff is next level trouble, and I feel protective of peeps here on DU, so am glad you mentioned the term that I failed to recall.

When GreatAunt posted this, I asked myself what I'd ask doctors if it were me or my Aunt Peggy, etc.

*I carry around a figure of needing 20 billion cell count for pills to be effective. The pills a family member used while bed ridden with a back injury seemed to work. I've had mixed results with pill probiotics, so I'm not gonna suggest any brands. Ideally, your doctors will recommend one, and perhaps adding a probiotic food would be acceptable for their treatment plan. While I no longer have links to the coverage of probiotic research I read in the past, the following are pretty close to the intuition I carry around about the topic:

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Probiotics-HealthProfessional/#en29

https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/pick-right-probiotic

[No Vested Interest]

21. I had it about 10 yrs ago and was hospitalized for about one week.

It started with what I thought was a rash in my armpit.
Primary doc sent me to a breast surgeon; I guess she was afraid of lymph nodes or something.

Breast surgeon took my vitals and sent me directly to hospital - it seems my blood pressure or something was extremely low, though I wasn't aware of that problem.
I was treated with an antibiotic intravenously; at one point they wanted in insert a Pic-something directly into my body/chest, and I resisted; said I would check out of hospital before that was done. (My veins in arm are heard to find and I think they just wanted to make it easier on themselves.)
I was released after about one week, and have not had a recurrence that I am aware of, though I have some kind of outbreak on each of my lower legs, which I am treating with tea tree oil and a cream, just to clear it up. - I have no reason to think it's MRSA.

I was in my young 70's when MRSA occurred.

[greatauntoftriplets]

25. Thanks for sharing your experience.

I had a PICC line, and have no objection to getting another. They don't go bad like regular IV lines, so they can leave it in you for an extended time frame. They can also use them to draw blood without repeated sticks.

It's good to know that you haven't hard a recurrence of it. My doctor recognized it immediately, so I was lucky in that I didn't have to go to another doctor for diagnosis -- and have the inevitable wait to get an appointment.

[No Vested Interest]

50. Hope you're well on the way to recovery, greataunt, and can soon put this behind you

and get on with life.
You're correct about the usefulness of Picc lines, of course; it's just me - the less interference with my body the better. I didn't even want pierced ears at the appropriate age - but that's me.

Get well quickly and enjoy the holiday season!

[greatauntoftriplets]

52. The same to you!

[Rincewind]

22. I've had MRSA

four times. Antibiotics will take care of it. I had leg infections, the last one they cut a chunk out of my left calf about the size of my hand. Took a while to heal and left a really gnarly scar. I had a fifth leg infection about a month and a half ago, but tested negative for MRSA. When I had the first infection back in 2013, the doctor said around 20% of people have MRSA on their skin, and all it needs is a small break in the skin at the wrong place and time to infect you.They have antibiotics now that can handle it, just be sure to take the whole course even if you start feeling better. Good luck.

[greatauntoftriplets]

29. You've really been through it!

My doctor thinks that a higher percentage of people carry MRSA than your doctor cited.

They took more blood yesterday for a culture, so I guess that will be a regular thing. The nasal swab was a bit unpleasant because it tickled so much. I'm very good about taking antibiotics.

Since I'm getting them via IV now, but was told that I might have to take them orally for a long time afterwards. I seem to tolerate most of hem very well.

Thanks for your information.

[FarPoint]

32. As an Infusion Nurse...

This is a common occurrence.... Typical treatment options...IV or oral antibiotics...Oral antibiotics like Bactrim are excellent... Right now...a series of an IV antibiotics like for example Zosyn works well...

[greatauntoftriplets]

41. Right now, I'm getting vancomycin and cefemime by IV.

The cellulitis on the leg looks better, but I haven't heard any results yet on the latest blood cultures.

Thanks for your information. It's very similar to what my doctor, an infectious disease specialist, has said.

[FarPoint]

43. Two excellent drugs...

The vancomycin can be hard on kidneys plus infusion needs to be slow!. .for example 1 GM/ 250 saline...I'd go minimum one hour... there is not race. Longer is fine with me...larger dose... longer infusion....Labs also need drawn as a trough before the next dose...not meaning with every dose but saying every 2-3 days if you have home infusion... monitoring kidneys...

You will probably go home on oral meds...if not...home IVs...send me a message

[greatauntoftriplets]

49. The vanco is taking about two hours so they're doing it even slower than you recommend.

They're taking labs every day, and yesterday they drew blood a second time for new cultures.

I don't know when I'll be home, but will keep you in mind if I need home infusion. It's likely to be a while, from what I've been told.

Thanks for your information.

[FarPoint]

55. I have a MRSA client on vancomyacin now...

PICC Line, post-op spinal fusion/ MRSA....labs every Monday and Thursday....minimum 6 weeks....dose, every 12 hours, 1.75 GM 500 saline....over 2 1/2 hours, or about 175 ml hr dial-a-flow or pump....If you go home with IV vancomyacin or something....ask for an eclipse ball....super easy to infuse...

[greatauntoftriplets]

56. I will. Thanks for suggesting it.

That'd be a lot easier than having to go to the hospital for it every day.

[Gothmog]

33. Please get well

You will be in our prayers

[greatauntoftriplets]

37. Thanks! I'm working on it.

[lark]

38. I had MRSA under my armpits, both sides, it hurt really bad.

I took antibiotics and the infection formed a boil and burst - 3 times. After the 3rd time it never came back and that was over 10 years ago.

This all started when I bought an all natural deodorant in France. Turned out it had an ingredient which my body hated and within 3 days my pits were a burgundy mess and hurt worse than I can describe. Don't know how that could turn into MRSA but doc tested and said that's what it was??

[greatauntoftriplets]

42. I'm fortunate that mine doesn't hurt at all.

It sounds like you had a terrible time with it, but I'm happy to hear that it hasn't happened to you again.

Thanks for the information.

[Shrike47]

44. I had cellulitis in my lower right leg followed by MRSA developed during a week in the hospital.

I also ended up with a PIC line for awhile. Anyway: this was 11 years ago, no recurrences. The skin on my shin looks beat up, lost some elasticity and there’s one sensitive place where there seems to be a depression and tissue loss under the skin. Otherwise, leg is fine.

I was on vancomycin. I suffered a hearing loss my doctor (not the one who prescribed it) attributed to the vanco.

They thought I might need skin grafts on the leg but with a lot of debriding and re-bandaging daily, it all ended up fine. I have been checked for MRSA since then and do not carry it.

It was very painful; I wish you the best and think of you.

[greatauntoftriplets]

51. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Sounds like you had a terrible time, but at least no recurrences. I'm not having any pain from it, for which I am grateful. The affected leg is already healing well, which is a great relief for me.

As I said above, this doesn't hurt at all. I'm happy that you had no recurrences.

[WSSlover]

46. One woman who lived in our building, but passed away fairly recently had MRSA

due to having received a kidney transplant a few years before. She was never able to get rid of it, and when she tried to get a hip replacement, it got infected due to the MRSA and it had to be removed. She was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life, due to her not being able to walk, because of it. She had all sorts of other health problems, was sent to a nursing home that had lost its license 15 years before, and had been operating without one, and where they sent patients to die. She passed away earlier this year, in her mid-70's.

[greatauntoftriplets]

53. That poor lady!

I'm sorry that her life ended so badly,

[sheshe2]

58. Love and Hugs to you, gaot.

Healing thoughts on the way.

[greatauntoftriplets]

59. Thanks very much, sheshe.

[lunasun]

60. Take care get well and I am glad you are not in pain .

[greatauntoftriplets]

61. Thanks very much.

I'm also very happy about no pain.

[yardwork]

65. I'm so sorry to hear this. You are an important part of DU.

Sending good wishes for a quick recovery.

[greatauntoftriplets]

66. Thanks, yardwork.

The doctor stopped by last night and was pleased with my progress, and said I need two more weeks of IV antibiotics.

[yardwork]

67. Lots of people here care about you very much.

I wish that I could visit you in person. I've known you on DU for so long, I think of you as a friend. Hang in there.

[greatauntoftriplets]

68. That's so nice of you.

I wish that you were closer as well. Maybe one day.

[still_one]

70. Wishing you the best for a speedy recovery greataunt

[greatauntoftriplets]

71. Thanks very much.

When the doctor came in last night (at 11 p.m,!), she said I needed two more weeks of IV antibiotics. So I may be home for Christmas, which would be wonderful!

[still_one]

72. .........