Spider Bite - Staph Infection = Bad News

[Guest guest]

I realize this thread is almost over....but I had to comment as well.

 

I have a cousin that's been battling a staph infection in her leg, after a

" quack " operated on her. If I could send attachments to the list, I would

send a picture of her leg. A BIG WAKE UP CALL! Let me tell ya!

 

I had asked Martin what I could perhaps give to her to help....as she's been

battling this infection for over a year, and the last thing the doctor told

her was that if they couldn't clear up the infection, she is facing

amputation. Well....that was over 6 months ago....and he's still giving her

prescription after prescription....even some hard hitting antibiotics via a

central IV line that goes straight to her heart....

 

She's still got the infection. <Sigh> They thought it was clearing up,

so he took her off the IV meds and she's taking medication via mouth now,

and her leg has broken out with staph blisters once again. She's on

morphine patches, hydrocodone, Soma and Neurontin for the nerve pain that

accompanies the other pain in her leg. I've never in my life seen anything

so distressing.

 

Kelly, if you want to see what staph can do to someone, contact me offlist,

and I will send you a copy of the picture of my cousin's leg. It's a very

eye opening thing. Not for the faint, or queasy.

 

Yes, please do tell your friend to get more opinions. It's possible that

they can treat the infection with medication.....if they'd treated my cousin

sooner, and with a longer course of treatment, I believe they could have

cleared it up. But as it is now, she is facing certain amputation...and

she's actually looking forward to it! She's been so sick for so long, and

she knows that if this infection travels past her leg, it means death!

Staph infection is not to be taken lightly.

 

HTH,

Candy in AL

cdlucas

 

 

 

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Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.3.1 - Release 11/15/2004

[Guest guest]

Candy, I am so sorry to hear about your cousin's situation. Let her know that

we're all pulling for her, okay?

 

As for hospital-acquired infection...my father's wife passed away exactly a year

ago. She was being treated for cancer and the chemo/radiation had shrunk her

tumors significantly enough that they could be surgically removed, to be

followed by more chemo to prevent new tumor formation. Unfortunately, during her

post-op recovery in the hospital, she contracted a pseudomonas infection at the

incision site. The infection steadily worsened over several months, weakening

her to a great degree and causing the postponement of her follow-up

chemotherapy. Finally, the oncologists decided they couldn't possibly wait any

longer (cancer cells had returned) but it was too late. Her poor body was so

compromised by that point that she simply couldn't tolerate the toxic chemicals

they bombarded her with. Together, the cancer, the chemo, and the bacterial

infection withered her away, and she died the Sunday before Thanksgiving. It's a

sad holiday for us this year.

 

If you're willing, I'd be interested in showing your cousin's infection photos

to a friend of mine who is contemplating an elective surgery. I would like her

to be apprised of some of the very real risks she may face, and for what?

Hospitalization for what is ultimately an unnecessary vanity procedure. I

realize it's not up to me to judge her actions, but I would feel like a terrible

excuse for a friend if I had information and didn't share it.

 

My father-in-law became seriously ill after what should have been a routine

cholecystectomy. He nearly died because the surgeon botched the procedure, and

he was eventually transferred to UCLA Medical Center where he remained for two

months. My mother-in-law had died a decade earlier after her lung was nicked

during abdominal surgery. In each case, we were initially told that the

resulting illnesses and poor/nonexistent recovery were because of the original

ailments, and not as a direct result of accidents during the operations.

Eventually, the truth was admitted but that's cold comfort.

 

So you can see why I'm concerned about my friend contemplating a major surgery

that has nothing to do with repairing an illness or injury. Why run the risk of

iatrogenic infection or misadventure on the operating table if you don't have

to?

 

jaime

 

 

[Guest guest]

Answered Privately.

 

Candy

 

-

" Brian Jacobs " <jacobs.fam

" "

Sunday, November 21, 2004 1:02 AM

re: Spider Bite - Staph Infection = Bad News

 

 

>

> Candy, I am so sorry to hear about your cousin's situation. Let her know

> that we're all pulling for her, okay?

 

> If you're willing, I'd be interested in showing your cousin's infection

> photos to a friend of mine who is contemplating an elective surgery. I

> would like her to be apprised of some of the very real risks she may face,

> and for what? Hospitalization for what is ultimately an unnecessary vanity

> procedure. I realize it's not up to me to judge her actions, but I would

> feel like a terrible excuse for a friend if I had information and didn't

> share it.

> So you can see why I'm concerned about my friend contemplating a major

> surgery that has nothing to do with repairing an illness or injury. Why

> run the risk of iatrogenic infection or misadventure on the operating

> table if you don't have to?

>

> jaime

 

 

 

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Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.1 - Release 11/19/2004