DH Has Cellulitis (again!), 3 Weeks Till Trip!

[Disneylvr]

DH has cellulitis in his leg (doctor said it is a staph infection). He gets this every year in one leg or the other. Usually it happens in the summer but this time it is winter and less than 3 weeks from our trip. He is on an oral antibiotic but there have been times when he has had to be hospitalized for IV antibiotics. I guess I am just venting but also wondering if anyone has had personal experiences with cellulitis.

 

[rodeo65]

DH has cellulitis in his leg (doctor said it is a staph infection). He gets this every year in one leg or the other. Usually it happens in the summer but this time it is winter and less than 3 weeks from our trip. He is on an oral antibiotic but there have been times when he has had to be hospitalized for IV antibiotics. I guess I am just venting but also wondering if anyone has had personal experiences with cellulitis.

My father has rheumatoid arthritis and is prone to cellulitis whenever he gets a scrape that he is unaware of so therefore doesn't clean and disinfect thoroughly. It has happened four times. The first time was three days before a family trip to Muskoka - our kids first trip up and we were all really looking forward to it. He missed that trip entirely. In three out of four times he had to have IV antibiotics but was able to have a nurse practitioner to the house to administer them every four or six hours.

The last time it happened he was feeling tired and unwell and thought he was fighting a virus. He was sitting at the kitchen table and lifted up his arm for something and I could see the red streaking of the infection on his lower forearm and heading up to the back of his upper arm. Mom and I both said get to the doctor immediately. He was "aware" of discomfort in the arm but dismissed it. Dismissed it when it was the FOURTH time? That time, I believe oral antibiotics did the trick. I'm sure your DH will be fine in time for your trip! Sending pixie dust your way. Have a great trip!

 

[jmartinez1895]

I don't have any advice, but I did want to send wishes for a fast recovery and I hope that it dosn't bother him to bad on your trip. Maybe a little Disney magic will do the trick.

 

[Disneylvr]

Thank you everyone! He is going back to the doctor today and might get some stronger oral meds or maybe even an IV at the hospital.... His leg looks awful but so far it hasn't spread above his shin. This is a special trip as our DD (with autism) is going to have her cousin and aunt with her for their very first trip.

 

[gamomof2]

DD has had cellulitis 4 times already this year. She has a toe infection right now that she is taking Zyvox for by mouth. Depending on how bad he wants to go he could have a central line or PICC line placed and do pressure filled antibiotic balls. You hook them up and the rate is determined by how much pressure the company put in the plastic ball along with the medicine. Also we have a home IV pump that is the size of a small book that is way easy to hook up with prefilled antibiotic cartridges. It would probably take about 2 or 3 home teaching sessions but there's hardly any learning curve.

Hope he can make the trip.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sending lots of antibiotic pixie dust.
Hopefully by the time you go, he will be all recovered.

 

[dyna]

DH fights with the cellulits too nothing tomess with that for sure his mother lost a leg over it which sge also had diabetis too but still celulits nothing to mess with. Very easy for celluitis to turn into gangrene apparently too....

NO magical cure here either

 

[Disneylvr]

Thanks you everyone! DH is doing well and is currently on two antibiotics, soon to be one. Right now the trip is a go!

 

[rodeo65]

Great to hear! I'm glad your DH is feeling better and your trip is on.

 

[KathyRN137]

Hello! Your thread caught my eye because I'm a dermatology nurse.

Staph is a bacteria that normally is found on just about everyone's skin but some folks just seem to be more susceptible to infections for a variety of reasons. And the infections always seem to flare just before a vacation or a big family wedding or some other equally inconvenient time!

For chronic staph infections a good preventative treatment that has been around for ages is soaking in a bleach bath once a month.

Take 1/4 cup of plain bleach and add it to a tub of water. Soak for 20-30 minutes. Keep the bathroom door open or turn on the vent while you are soaking. Do this once a month and it will help cut down on the overgrowth of staph bacteria.

(I would recommend consulting your physician first before begining a program such as this to make sure there are no contra-indications.)

Good luck and have a magical trip!


Kathy

 

[Disneylvr]

Hello! Your thread caught my eye because I'm a dermatology nurse.

Staph is a bacteria that normally is found on just about everyone's skin but some folks just seem to be more susceptible to infections for a variety of reasons. And the infections always seem to flare just before a vacation or a big family wedding or some other equally inconvenient time!

For chronic staph infections a good preventative treatment that has been around for ages is soaking in a bleach bath once a month.

Take 1/4 cup of plain bleach and add it to a tub of water. Soak for 20-30 minutes. Keep the bathroom door open or turn on the vent while you are soaking. Do this once a month and it will help cut down on the overgrowth of staph bacteria.

(I would recommend consulting your physician first before begining a program such as this to make sure there are no contra-indications.)

Good luck and have a magical trip!


Kathy

Thanks Kathy! I am still nervous about this trip but DH insists he is fine. He was on antibiotics for 2 weeks. The leg is still a little pink and itchy but not hot like it was. I will have him ask his physician about the bleach bath. I hope your pixie dust helps us get through our trip! With his cellulitis, DD & I both having a stomach virus this week and yesterday our kitty injured his eye so I am beginning to wonder if this trip just wasn't meant to be. Regardless, I printed out our boarding passes this morning so I am keeping my fingers crossed! We are even more excited because it is a first trip for my sis in law and niece. Madelyn will have a friend with her which is so exciting.