celleuitis in leg

[texasstyle]

Good day and I hope everyone is feeling well today. I think my husband may have cellulites in his leg. Is this frequent with dialysis patients? His shin area was very red and tender, and warm yesterday. This morning is looks as if it's spread down into his ankle. I told him MAKE SURE he tells the dialysis nurse on Friday. I did some reading and it appears they give you antibiotics to take but any info, or anyone's experience with this would be grateful. It's always something right? Lol.... Thanks everyone

[Riki]

I've had this before.  I have psoriasis on my leg, so my scratching actually caused it.  If I remember right, when I went to the hospital, they actually wrapped my leg in a pressure bandage and gave me oral antibiotics.  It seemed easy enough to treat, but yeah, from what you said, it does sound like cellulitis.  Red, warm, and painful. I'd make an appointment with your GP to have him looked at

[Poppylicious]

My Blokey had that, months before he began dialysis.  He was in so much pain we had to have him carted off in an ambulance (the pain was so bad, he couldn't move at all), and he then spent two weeks in hospital.  I think the hospital stay was a culmination of things though; we never really were told but I suspect that he was much iller than we knew.  What with cellulitis and terrible blisters (his legs actually leaked fluid because his body couldn't store it any more) he now has very attractive legs ... (he refuses to wear shorts, but they're not really that bad!).

All I know is that Blokey was in excruciating pain with his cellulitis; I wouldn't wish that on anyone.  Your hubby ought to have it looked at before Friday.  Hope he's ok.

[texasstyle]

Thanks for your input.I have told him today he needs to get antibiotics and he has done nothing about it except say it's hurts and throbs. I feel like I'm in limbo or somehing because I'm very afraid of it getting worse and not clearing up. Waiting for crisis   around here which is usually how it goes. Urgghh... Blistering? Holy cow. That must have been scary and I can understand why so painful. I'm glad that your Blokey's legs are all pretty again lol. Riki, looks like you did the right thing by going right away.

[Riki]

My mother is my caregiver.  If she says I have to go to a doctor for something that looks weird, I have no choice.  You don't go against your mom. *L*  It took 3 or 4 days to clear up, and it was hard to walk on while it did.  If it's still only red and sore, now is the time to get it looked at, before it progresses into something worse

[RichardMEL]

TS you have the patience and soul of a saint to put up with that from your man. Fair dinkum if he's in pain and complaining yet won't do anything about it until it all gets too much... argh!! What's with that?! If it was me I'd be in to get it checked out and something done if nothing more than to get rid of the pain(if possible) but also because clearly something's going on, and just leaving it is unlikely to make things get better, and the sooner it is looked at, the better in my view.. so I'd be on to the D staff to organise something ASAP. I don't subscribe to this "I'm a man I don't need to tell those doctors anything" crap. Guess that means I'm not a very good sort of man or something! 

good luck!!! 

[texasstyle]

Oh Richard, you are always the voice that get me to to get angry and start things up. I do try, but I always feel some how "wrong" about it". Geez.. Well.. get this, tonight he can't walk on it. His ankle is also swollen with some kind of liquid feeling stuff. Not heavy like edema. When I touch his leg he cringes/winches from pain. I guess tomorrow the fever and all that goes with it will set in. hhmmm.. maybe. I've reasearched this tonight extensivily and this is what I found. Most likely a bactieria either strep or stap, entered his body through a cut on his foot a few days ago. The bacteria can also enter micrsoscpoic openings in dry skin, or people with edema. so I'm not positive. The infection sets in the deep layers of the tissue (leg as his case). Over time, it can eneter the blood stream and you know what happens from there.i'll keep you up to date.

[paris]

I have had it one time and it was just as you described.  It hurts and doesn't look pretty.   I am sitting here shaking my head because it is so hard to understand why someone doesn't want to take care of problems before they can't be taken care of.   You deserve a crown and royal title because you have put up with more than I could have.  I wish he only knew how fortunate he is to have you.  So many are all alone dealing with this disease.      Hang in there TS.  We all think you are incredible.   

[natnnnat]

Hang in there TS.  We all think you are incredible.   

I SECOND THAT.  Using capital letters to denote heartfelt expression.

[natnnnat]

I understand the part where you feel "wrong" about it.  My DH is very keen to stay out of hospitals, and gets grumpy with me because especially at first, I would pipe up all the time at drs appointments and say, "when he says he's been "fine", actually he's had this and this happen".  One day I piped up and said "he had chest pains" and they whizzed him into emergency.  He was a very dark cloud for awhile that day, but I said to him "I don't care because my mum died of a sudden heart attack and I'm not losing two of you the same way".  But later I thought, I guess it is his own body, and he does know his body, and he is a grown up.  I can't keep on all the time.  Pick up the phone and call the hospital on him?  Or leave him to make his own decisions, and have him lose out to bigger complications?  AAAH!  Most likely, today, I'd call the hospital.  But I don't know him, and you do.  And I have been rightly accused of mother-henning and being maybe too intrusive.

[RichardMEL]

TS is incredible and if her hubby doesn't watch out I'll steal her away from him and then he can deny it all for himself as much as he likes... until it's too late!!!! 

I can understand that people do NOT want to be in hospital, or poked and prodded by doctors and nurses and the like - of course nobody likes that... but my Gosh you're in a situation with a such a serious disease. ANY complication that occurs, no matter how apparently inocious, can have severe, even deadly consequences. Why some people refuse to understand this, or don't care to act on it is beyond me.

Trust me, I hardly want to be dealing with stuff like that, and I wouldn't want to be rushed into hospital but I tell you what I'd rather forego pain and being uncomfortable(or whatever) not to mention the potential to be so ill that I have to be put in the ER and potentially much worse things if I waited.

As for mother henning and being intrusive. Yes, I can understand that would be a difficult line there. I mean as partner your motives are absolutely pure - you do it out of love, you care, you want him to be OK ASAP. It's not like you WANT him in hospital and all that, but if that is what can improve his situation then absolutely. I suppose at the end of the day it's up to anyone to know where that boundary is. I suppose if I was you, or TS I would simply say that I think you should get this checked out ASAP becauise I love you and don't like seeing you in pain and dealing with this, and I fear it may get much worse if it isn't addressed. Now if it is their choice to do nothing further.... well it IS their choice. If you're a rational adult then really there is a point when we all need to take responsibility for our own choices and actions, or lack of them... and for the carers and those pulling out their hair... what more can you do? They know what you think... pushing it will just put them more offside I guess.

How difficult...

*sigh*

And TS dear, I am so sorry to get you angry!! 

[texasstyle]

Richard, I mean angry in a good way! You help me to get the ball rollin'. I could NEVER be angry at you. I hope you didn't take the expresso machine back lol. last night he could not walk on it and his ankle was swollen. This morning the redness seems not as bad from what i can but it may just be that he was off it for the night. He's moddy and cranky though. the day is young. Err... i think he thinks when he goes to dialysis tomorrow he'll ask for an oral antibiotic but he might be at the point he needs IV therapy.

[Riki]

If I went to dialysis with something like that, they'd tell me to go to the ER right away, and come back when I was done.  Since my unit isn't in a hospital, they can't give oral medication, more than plain old Tylenol.  They do have IV medications, but they can't give that without a doctor's order, and even then, what they have might not be strong enough.

[texasstyle]

My guess is they will send him to ER tomorrow. (He's thinking they'll just give him a prescription). His leg is so blown up and marron in may spots. Has travled into foot. Can't walk on it last days. The pain has obviously been terrible. To help the pain he's rubbing artrittis cream on it!  I hope he does not go into fever tonight. I know that's only  amatter of time. If you could see how extensive the cellulitis infectionis, you'd know he'll be admitted. IV therapy for this one. Anyways, I'm hanging in there very well. He's a grown man. If he can't figure out that when you can't walk on your feet ecause the pain is unberable, you see a doctor. Duh... Thanks for letting me vent as always. Aahhhh.. that feels so much better. I'm going to go walk my sweet little doggie. She's my BFF lol.

[Riki]

Let us know how things go

[RichardMEL]

*pout* I thought I was your BFF!!!

So sorry to read this update. I would despair if I was you. So difficult and distressing for you.

 

[texasstyle]

Ok, so this is what's going on. The center is giving him IV antibiotics of Ancef & Vancomycin. I believe they are both intravenous drugs to begin with. He will get them Mondays and Fridays when he has his treatment. They also took blood and cultures.  I would think that's to specifically identify the possible bacteria. "The doctor" (hmmm...) prescribed them by phone as one was not in today. It's better than nothing I presume. I hope it works. I have to wonder about their half life because of the big gap between Mon & Fri. I do feel a little bit better but, he should have ( you know what I'm gonna say lol) I guess the weekend should be ample time to determine weather's is starting to work or not. Thanks for all your support during this stressful time. It helps so much to talk it out. Richard ML, you're my HUMAN BFF! lol Have a nice weekend everyone.

[Stoday]

I got bitten by some bug when I was working in Pakistan and it turned into celluitis. I was in hospital for a week with IV antibiotic followed by a week of oral antibiotics.

Actually, it wasn't all bad — with all the tests they were making on me they found I had chronic kidney failure. That meant I had seven years to get used to the idea of dialysis, which I started earlier this week. Far better than finding out at stage 5.