Aug
26
Skin infection continues…week 8 post-op tomorrow
August 26, 2009 | |
A week ago I saw a GP for my cellulitis around the incision and was prescribed cephalexin. I wasn’t too impressed by the consult for a couple of reasons; firstly while it’s a broad-spectrum antibiotic, it’s not particularly effective against staph, which is the most likely beastie to be causing the infection. Secondly, the course he recommended I take was like a recipe for drug resistance, starting off with 3 x day for 3-4 days then dropping to 2 per day, plus he gave me a repeat script which would have lasted nearly 3 weeks. Now I’m not a doctor or pharmacist, but my wife is a doc (doesn’t have non-hospital prescribing rights) and I do have an honours degree in pharmacology, so I took my script but we nixed the dose regime, going 4 x daily until both scripts finished.
When after 5 days it was still getting worse rather than better I made an appointment with the surgeon, which I am just back from a couple of hours ago.
The surgeon has confirmed the infection, and believes it is likely coming from a small stitch abscess. He has put me on a more aggressive course of flucloxacillin (500mg 4 x day for 12 days) and given me a follow-up appointment for 3 weeks time with instructions to call earlier if it doesn’t start resolving before I finish the script. Fingers crossed.
On the positive side, he also told me to resume all rehab activities, including walking, PT and swimming, so long as the wound remains closed. This is GREAT news as the GP had told me to rest and elevate, so my increases in strength and ROM had come to a grinding halt.
If only the weather improves I’ll get out on my bike after work this week after all! It has been snowing down to 700m on Mt Wellington today (only a few km from here and within view out my office window) - in town apparent temperature has been below 2 degrees C with sleet and hail! More likely I’ll be on the indoor trainer and at the pool.
Some pictures showing my progress (or regress!) over the last week. There is less general swelling around the ankle, but more redness along and around the scar related to the infection. Yes, it’s nothing compared to some of the nightmares some of our fellows have suffered, but I’m very keen to keep it that way!
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- dsut4392 has completed the grueling 26.2 ATR miles to full recovery!
Goal: 152 days from the surgery date.
Click here for the Group Marathon Tracker
- dsut4392 has completed the grueling 26.2 ATR miles to full recovery!
Hey there! I went immediately to an Infectious Disease dr for my infection bec. they r experts. I didn’t want to mess around with my other doc’s “practicing medicine on me”. That’s what they do right, the practice medicine.
They had me on Rifampin and one other antiobiotic…so, with those 2 really strong antiobiotics, the MRSA was gone in a couple of weeks. U r doing a good job staying on top of things. Happy healing!