Cellulitus

[PaulaSB12]

Has anyone on the board had this? My mother has it, her right leg has swolen up and she is on antibiotics but they are making her sleepy. Can anyone tell me how long this usually lasts and does it leave any long term side effects. I am getting very worried about her and would appreciate some reasurrence about it. I hate it when she is ill and would much prefer it if it was me instead.

 

[Yankeemouse]

Never had it but just wanted to send get well wishes. Hope it blows over soon and she's feeling like her old self!

 

[dhcoffey]

I had it once; and once I got on the antibiotics, by the time they were done, I was fine, no problems since. It was in my big toe of all places. Hope she feels better soon .

Heather

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

My Dsis had this a few years ago. She ended up spending 2 weeks in the hospital. It is definitely not something to mess with. Hmm now that I think about it, it was probably closer to 5 or 6 years ago. She had it in her calf area from an infection on her foot. Went all the way up her knee. There have been numerous occasions where it has become inflamed, red, swollen, etc. since the main course of antibiotics. And she was on some serious cocktail of drugs to stop it.

My Dsis needs to keep an eye on her leg pretty constantly. If she is on her feet too long it will start acting up. Usually if she can sit down with her leg up for a day, she can stop any sort of problem. However, as a single mom she sometimes can't and she ends up back on antibiotics. The Dr. has threatened to hospitalize her more than once since she had it.

So please have your mother keep a close eye on it. It can be something simple or it can have long term effects. Good luck with everything.

 

[emma'smom]

I've had it. First episode was actually on a DCL cruise. That first time freaked me out because I was on a ship and didn't know what it was. However, I've had a few flare ups since then and now I know better what to look for and how to handle it.

Anyway, antibiotics will usually take care of it and it takes about a 7-10 days or so for it to completely clear up---although after the first few days it isn't as painful and the swelling goes down enough that you can walk without noticing it much.

I haven't had any long term effects (knock wood) so far...except additional flare ups. To this end, I call my doctor at the first sign of redness or warmth in my calf and get on an antibiotic immediately.

The first repeat flare-up, I waited a day or so from the time it became tender until I noticed the redness (thinking maybe I just bumped it or something) and it took a few days from starting antibiotics until it turned around significantly (although fewer days than the first time). The second time, I called at the first sign of tenderness and we nipped it in the bud before any swelling/redness. So lesson learned---stay on top of it!

As for prevention, my doctor suggests wearing surgical stockings (especially when you are going to be on your feet or walking a lot) and to protect your feet/legs from cuts that might cause infection. She suggested a thick cream to eliminate dry skin (which can be an entry point for germs) and to use antibiotic ointment liberally on any cuts/abrasions you do get.

I don't like the stockings----but wear them on planes and whenever I am walking a lot. I found some skin colored ones that aren't quite as obvious. Yes...one can see it isn't my own skin, but they don't stand out like the white ones do. I make a point of wearing them if I think I am about to get a flare-up to at least keep the swelling down.

So....your mom will always need to be diligent---but, so far (knock wood), my experience is that once the episode clears up--I don't have much of a long-term issue except good preventative care (which isn't very difficult). I think my first episode was the worse as much because of my panic about the unknown of what it was as anything else.

Good luck!

P.S. I should note that my own dm is prone to cellulitis so you might be one day too. Also, she had a much bigger issue with it when she was younger (about 20 years ago) because she waited MULTIPLE DAYS before getting treatment as she thought it would just clear up on its own. She did have permanent scarring/cell damage and that leg is always a little swollen. However, that was 20 years ago...and without getting immediate treatment. Now we all know better and it hasn't really affected her quality of life except she has a little trouble buying shoes that fit well on feet that are two different sizes. Again, 20 years ago......

 

[pumba]

my mom had it repeatedly....when one episode would heal up the next one would erupt. Did she go to the wound center. This type of place would maybe be at the hospital. They were the ones that kept my mom going for the last six years of her life. She was in her 80s when she developed this and died in her 90s..
There is help. A high dosage of antibiotics is important though.
Hope she gets healed up fast. Staying off her feet and having her feet elevated is also important

 

[Disney Doll]

It can be a one time thing or a chronic condition. Usually course of treatment is elevation, antibiotics and warm compresses. Some docs do not do the warm compresses for fear of them being too hot and damaging already vulnerable tissue. Do the entire course of antibiotics and if the MD says to do a second course, do that too. You really want it knocked out of her. If she's diabetic, that will only slow the healing process.

Make sure she has been checked for Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and phlebitis. Their symptoms often mimic cellulitis or the two things (cellulitis and DVT/phlebitis) can happen concurrently.

Once it's healed, I would recommend you follow emma'smom's advice.

It is also highly unusual for antibiotics to make someone sleepy. Could be that she's feeling more fatigued because her body is using a lot of energy to fight off the infection.

 

[DisneyMissy318]

I was diagnosed with this about a month ago. Mine actually formed on my FACE!! I thought it was a cold sore, so didn't immediately go to the Dr. - it took just a day or two to go from what looked like an under-the-skin pimple to a sore bigger than a silver dollar. My face was swollen, the area had it's own temperature. I went to the Dr. twice - was given a 10 day course of antibiotics, as well as antibiotic cream. The Dr. said they were treating it as if it were MRSA. The sore has healed up, the new growth skin is really pink and tender - I'm thinking the area will always be discolored due to the severity of the sore (sorry if TMI - but it was NASTY!!!)

OP - just read how serious this is for your Mom - prayers and pixie dust that the Dr. finds the right combo of antibiotics to get her well soon. My bout was just a minor inconvenience compared.

** The handout from the ER doc had a picture of a lower leg - with a "red area" - and went on to describe the ailment - I showed it to my DH and asked why I couldn't have it on a lower extremity.

 

[PaulaSB12]

She has it in her entire leg from anckle to the thigh. She is being dealt with by our gp and may have to go to the local hospital. She can walk about a bit but is worried that this is her second dose of the antibiotic and its not come down yet. This is now going into week 4 she has to go back to the doctor tomorrow.

 

[lvanleer]

I had it in my lower left leg when I was about 35.....the doctor gave a prescription for steroids which reduced the swelling and then I also had to make several trips to his office for a shot in my butt(I guess that was the antibiotics).....I was out of work for 3 days and then went back the following Monday and haven't really had any more problems though I'm always fearful that I'm going to get it again.

 

[CruiserMom]

I had cellulitis on my face a few years ago. I was on 3 different antibiotics, and was told if the last one didn't work, I would go into the hospital. Thank goodness the last antibiotic worked! It was on my forehead, and then the swelling moved down my face. My eyes were swollen, then my cheeks, then my jaw, etc. I was really ugly for about a week!

And now, even today, I cannot stand for my hair to touch my forehead where the infection started!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

DH dealt with cellulitis in his knee last year. It flared up three times (he is a mechanic and on his knees a lot). Twice is was treated with antibiotics and on the third occasion he went for surgery. I think they cleaned away scar tissue. He hasn't had a problem since.

 

[Disney Doll]

She has it in her entire leg from anckle to the thigh. She is being dealt with by our gp and may have to go to the local hospital. She can walk about a bit but is worried that this is her second dose of the antibiotic and its not come down yet. This is now going into week 4 she has to go back to the doctor tomorrow.

Sounds like she might need to be seen by an infectious disease doctor and maybe a hospital admission for som IV antibiotics. The oral stuff doesn't sound like it is cutting it. 4 weeks is going on too long to be having cellulitis that isn't healing.

 

[SaraJayne]

I had cellulitis on my face a few years ago. I was on 3 different antibiotics, and was told if the last one didn't work, I would go into the hospital. Thank goodness the last antibiotic worked! It was on my forehead, and then the swelling moved down my face. My eyes were swollen, then my cheeks, then my jaw, etc. I was really ugly for about a week!

And now, even today, I cannot stand for my hair to touch my forehead where the infection started!

DH had it in his face, also. His face was so swollen, it was horribly misshapen. It was a bit grotesque, actually.

Luckily, once it was diagnosed and he started taking antibiotics, it went away fairly quickly and has never come back.

OP, I hope your Mum gets well soon.

 

[bgirldeb]

I've been hospitalized for it twice. The second time I went into renal failure 24 hours from the first symptom. It is nothing to mess with.