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Eyrie Productions, Unlimited
Terminus Est
Member since Nov-5-04
392 posts |
Jun-28-15, 05:01 AM (EDT) |
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"Pseudomonas (warning, gross description)"
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I was diagnosed this week with a pseudomonas infection of the lower legs (yes, both of them, and no, I'm not sure which strain). I've been put on ciprofloxacin oral and gentamicin sulfate ointment, alongside tramadol for pain. During the initial visit I was given a shot and a prescription for sulfamethoxazole-tmp (bactrim), which I was told to stop taking two days later via phone because it was ineffective against the culture they took. The infected area (primarily the left calf) is covered with small bumps that resemble blisters, and one large ulcer that has been described as a shallow split in the skin approximately an inch and a half to two inches in length, and I wasn't told how wide. The right leg is much less visibly affected, and much less painful as well - I suspect that it was infected via contact with the original area during sleep. Since I started taking the antibiotic (two days ago), the pain has not reduced by any appreciable amount - it still feels like someone's driving a red-hot poker through the back of my leg, and it's still draining pretty heavily. I can't very well look at it to see if it's improving or not, meaning I have to rely on someone else's opinion... but to be perfectly honest I'm not sure they're being entirely candid with me. Parents are like that. I'm also having trouble with leg cramps, which you can imagine just makes the whole thing feel GREAT, but that's somewhat beside the point. My questions are: Is hospitalization likely? What kind of prognosis can I expect, given that I am on medication that cultures suggest should be effective? And how the hell can I reduce the pain without aggravating the infection, because holy fuggin' OW. |
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Subject |
Author |
Message Date |
ID |
RE: Pseudomonas (warning, gross description) |
Gryphon |
Jun-28-15 |
1 |
RE: Pseudomonas (warning, gross description) |
Terminus Est |
Jun-28-15 |
2 |
RE: Pseudomonas (warning, gross description) |
Tabasco |
Jun-29-15 |
3 |
RE: Pseudomonas (warning, gross description) |
Terminus Est |
Jun-29-15 |
4 |
RE: Pseudomonas (warning, gross description) |
Tabasco |
Jun-29-15 |
5 |
RE: Pseudomonas (warning, gross description) |
Terminus Est |
Jun-30-15 |
6 |
RE: Pseudomonas (warning, gross description) |
Tabasco |
Jun-30-15 |
7 |
RE: Pseudomonas (warning, gross description) |
Proginoskes |
Jul-03-15 |
8 |
RE: Pseudomonas (warning, gross description) |
Terminus Est |
Jul-04-15 |
9 |
RE: Pseudomonas (warning, gross description) |
Proginoskes |
Jul-04-15 |
10 |
RE: Pseudomonas (warning, gross description) |
Gryphon |
Jul-04-15 |
11 |
Things I've Learned |
Terminus Est |
Jul-21-15 |
12 |
RE: Things I've Learned |
Sofaspud |
Jul-28-15 |
13 |
Gryphon
Charter Member
16896 posts |
Jun-28-15, 01:43 PM (EDT) |
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1. "RE: Pseudomonas (warning, gross description)"
In response to message #0
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I am in no way qualified to answer any of your questions, but, yikes, best of luck with that. About the only thing I can suggest in good conscience is that increased hydration may help you with the leg cramps part - and maybe potassium, but check with a pharmacist or something to make sure that won't interact with your meds in some way. Yikes. --G. -><- Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/ zgryphon at that email service Google has Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam. |
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Gryphon
Charter Member
16896 posts |
Jul-04-15, 02:09 PM (EDT) |
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11. "RE: Pseudomonas (warning, gross description)"
In response to message #9
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>Newly discovered phobia: Needles. No, no. Phobias are unreasonable fears. For instance, being afraid to be in the MRI machine even though you've done before and you know that, since you're not a robot, it won't hurt you. Fear of needles, particularly unskillfully/unluckily employed ones, is perfectly reasonable. (And I sympathize with it considerably. Boy howdy, have I had some fishing expeditions. One weird side benefit of losing a kidney: they're not allowed to give me MRI contrast any more, so I no longer have to combine my two least favorite medical activities, getting an MRI and having an IV line put in.) --G. -><- Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/ zgryphon at that email service Google has Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam. |
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Sofaspud
Member since Apr-7-06
197 posts |
Jul-28-15, 02:50 PM (EDT) |
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13. "RE: Things I've Learned"
In response to message #12
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I realize I'm a bit behind the times here and hope by now it's cleared up, but speaking from experience (I've had two flareups, one severe enough that I *should* have been hospitalized, and one just a couple weeks ago that we caught early enough to stave off Bad Stuff), the course of antibiotics generally does nothing to stop the pain -- and the pain will continue for a while even after the infection itself has been cleared up, because the infection is destroying tissue. The first time I encountered it I had *no* form of medical insurance whatsoever and couldn't afford to pay out of pocket. I ended up going to a community clinic and making arrangements to pay off the bill in small chunks, and they gave me 10 days of antibiotics and no pain meds. I needed a second round of antibiotics to finish clearing it up, and the leg still hurt (though not as bad) probably a full month afterwards, slowly easing up on the throbbing and the ow. The second time around one batch of 10-day antibiotics (same ones you mention) cleared it up. I have insurance now, so they discussed pain meds, but my doc preferred I stay off them and use OTC ones if I absolutely could not stand the pain because (his words) I needed to know if it flared up, and the only way to tell is if it starts hurting more or in new areas. I don't know that the demographic argument is a valid one, but I had to admit mine had a point with his :) --sofaspud --
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Eyrie Productions,
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Benjamin
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