Cellulitis Help Needed ASAP!! OT/Long

July 23, 2003

Ok soapers and lotion makers out there!!

I need help with a seriously and could be a fatal cellulitis problem

that I contracted two days ago. I had some people in from Colorado

and we took them fishing down to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. We

were in a little cove just before the mouth of the Bay. We had to

walk back into some marsh reed that was not quite knee high. I could

feel the reed cut my skin but there was no blood. We then went

further down to the water where the sandy beach was and fished. The

kids swam and the water was really warm...it was gorgeous!! I put a

beach chair in about 2 feet of water and just sat there and

relaxed...it was perfect! The tide slowly came in and the water was

up to my knees. I had gone back to the car twice for some things

coming back through the reed. We watched the sunset and the kids

finished swimming and went home. The next morning we got up and

caught the Metro into Washington, DC and Arlington National

Cemetery. We climbed hills and walked all over Washington

sightseeing and it was very hot and humid. My feet hurt and I took

off my sneakers while we watched the guards change at the Grave of

the Unknown Soldier. My ankles were swollen but my legs were not red

at this point, it was about 5pm! Well after we got back toward the

white house, I was tired and didn't feel good and my legs really hurt

by then. We finally got off the metro around 10PM and got back home

and when I took off my shoes my ankles were almost three times the

size and I had red streaks and a reddish rash up to my knees on both

legs. My girlfriend had taken nursing classes at some point in her

life and the first thing she said was that it was cellulitis.....I

was thinking cellulite. So it didn't alarm me. She looked it up on

the internet and it specifically says: This is a from of Cellulitis..

Vibrio vulnificus infections are either transmitted to humans through

open wounds

in contact with seawater or through consumption of certain improperly

cooked or

raw shellfish. Studies have shown that Vibrio vulnificus is most

likely to be

present during warm months (April-October).

1. Avoid exposure of recent or healing wounds, cuts, punctures,

burns, etc. to

warm seawater. When swimming or wading, temporarily cover the wound

with a water

tight wrap. The Vibrio vulnificus lives naturally in warm seawater,

can enter a

person's wound and, in some cases, extend to the bloodstream and

cause a

potentially fatal illness. The highly invasive nature of this

bacterium is cause

for special concern.

What are the chances for an infection?

Rare! Most healthy individuals are not troubled by Vibrio vulnificus

infections

from water or food. Also, extensive federal and state regulatory

programs monitor

the production and marketing of raw shellfish to assure product

safety. Thus,

the Vibrio vulnificus problem is primarily restricted to individuals

in the risk

categories. These individuals should restrict consumption of raw

shellfish.

Sooo... I woke up in the morning and it was red and itchy at my

thighs but not swollen like my calves. I called the DR and when he

saw me and I explained the events from the last three days and he

said I had to go immedately to the hospital for a 7 day out-patient

intravenous antibiotic. He said that in 24HRs this baterial

cellultis had become very aggressive and if left untreated, could

become a bacterial staph infection in my blood. The streaking was bad

and all the way up my legs. I have had my first dose but would like

to apply something topical that would moistuize the stretching skin

and relieve the itching. Also a good antibacterial to fight it from

the point of entry. Does anyone have a good blend for a cream or

lotion that would help something of this nature?? I can really use

the help ASAP!! I have alot of pain around my knees and ankles and

itching right now. Thanks for any and all help you can pass on.....

Mad in Maryland

Michele Seretis

http://www.thesoapgardenboutique.com

July 23, 2003

Hey Michele,

That cellulitis is nasty stuff! My MIL got bit by a mosquito last year and

suffered long and miserably with cellulitis. She was off her feet for 30

days or so. I just saw her a couple days ago and you can still see where

the cellulitis originated. Lots of antibiotics and it was hard to get rid

of. Not trying to scare you or anything, but take it easy and seriously.

As for the itching and the stretching skin, I'd use pure unrefined shea

butter. I am not sure I would ad any eo's or anything at this point.

Others who are in that field can recommend something, but the least amount

of ingredients (cream etc) the better.

Good luck to you!

Margaret

<snipped>and all the way up my legs. I have had my first dose but would like

>to apply something topical that would moistuize the stretching skin

>and relieve the itching. Also a good antibacterial to fight it from

>the point of entry. Does anyone have a good blend for a cream or

>lotion that would help something of this nature?? I can really use

>the help ASAP!! I have alot of pain around my knees and ankles and

>itching right now. Thanks for any and all help you can pass on.....

>

> Mad in Maryland

> Michele Seretis

>http://www.thesoapgardenboutique.com

>

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July 23, 2003

Amen to that. DH had it 4 times in the same foot over a 5 year period (the

first 5 years we were married, ironically enough, imagine running your new

husband to the ER 4 times a day for antibiotics after only a month of marriage).

You probably know all this. Cellulitis is really what they called blood

poisoning only it really isn't in the blood it is in the lymph system. And

those darned little bugs can lay dormant and then, through some shock to the

system flare up again.It really does make a difference to keep your feet up and

rest! I don't know what oils to use as I'm pretty new to this stuff. But you

have my sympathies.

Karen J