From Health magazine
When I heard that high schools were closing and teenagers were dying because of the MRSA superbug, I felt lucky. Since the middle of 2006, I’ve had methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus six times and somehow managed to avoid the worst: I’ve never been hospitalized and don’t fear for my life. But, please, take my advice and do everything you can to avoid this dangerous infection.
My first episode was in July 2006. I live in Boston and was going to visit a friend on Nantucket. I leaned back in my seat on the plane and felt a dull pain, like someone was pressing really hard on my buttock. When I arrived I asked my friend to take a look. That sounds embarrassing, but I couldn’t see the problem myself. She said it was just a pimple but really red. By the third day the irritated area was more than three inches wide and burning sharply. I was nervous, so I left the island early and went to my doctor.
He gave me an antibiotic called Keflex for a skin infection, but the pimple just got bigger, hotter, harder, and redder. Sitting was almost impossible. And soon it wasn’t just my buttock that ached. I had developed a second spot—on my labia!
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Comments (25)
so is there a way to cure it?prevent it ? and what may cause this? are there studies going on about it???
My husband has had a couple of outbreaks that took forever to clear up and they kept coming back! The one thing we found that has kept them from returning is the simplest. Our doctor recommended we switch to using lever2000 soap. Seems some soaps leave residues and have too much moisturezer in them, we used Dove previously and she said it was one of the worst. It was a small change to make and worth a try I am convinced it is true, I threw out all my washcloths and replaced them with plain white ones, that can be bleached when washed. I instructed my husband to use a clean one everytime (He confessed to using it more than once, yuck) and so far them have not returned. It’s a small thing to do and it really made a differnce for us, give it a shot. It also worked for my son in law.
I’ve also had an unfortunate encounter with MRSA and went to all measures to make sure it never came back. I found this new soap called GymSoap, its great because its antibacterial and anti fungal, which enables it to prevent all kinds of infections and viruses like, staph, ringworm, and athletes foot. Originally it was designed for athletes or people who go to the gym, because its there that you can most often pick up those viruses, but it can be used by anyone. My athletic and non- athletic friends all have bottles in their homes. It has a clean scent and doesn’t dry your skin out. I would HIGHLY recommend getting a few bottles of GymSoap and keeping around, it became my best friend! Heres their website….www.gymsoap.com
my daughter who is 3 has MRSA and i have 3 other kids i m worried about them catching it. And will it go away……my doc said 4 to 6 weeks does it really take that long to get rid of MRSA?
Unfortunately I think it does take a few weeks for it to go away. My 3 yr old has had it FOUR times, and we have tried eveything to make sure it doesn’t come back! Including the whole family getting tested (turns out 2 of us were carriers with no symptoms) and followed the treatment with Bactrim. I am still open for any ideas on how to treat it in a little one. We’ll see….
This infection is terrible and has invaded my family.
We will never know when the end will be of this, hopefully somday scientist will come up with a cure to rid us all of this disgusting superbug, instead of just preventing it for a few months.
I also had CA-MRSA which is Community Aquired MRSA. It took me 5 months to get over it. I had boils on both my labia and had to have them lanced and packed. Listen ladies. If you ever have to have that done MAKE SURE THEY PUT YOU OUT!!!! That is what my G.P. told me after the E.R. Doctor lanced me without putting me to sleep. The pain is unbelievable!!! Also I now have problems with my body making blood and my Feriten levels are sky high. This started while I had C.A.-M.R.S.A. so I can only suppose the MRSA caused my problems.
When I am at a store I just shudder when I see a parent allowing their babies to chew on the cart handles. DON’T DO IT!!! PLEASE !!! This stuff kills children.
I’ve had MRSA several times. They always put me in the hosp. and give me antibiotics via I.V.
Mine was just like the woman in the article —-on my labia, coccyx, buttocks. Sometimes, I’ll pop out with 7 or 8 boil– like sores in that area.
This is the new V.D. and the new genital herpes.
Yes, Virginia, you can get it from having sex, or give it to someone.
I recently got a boil on my knee and went to the doctors about it and they said it “might” be staph. I’m not a doctor but all of the things I’ve read about it sounds the same as of having staph. I’ve had it for about a week now and pus and blood ooze out of it. Ive had to take off work and its hard to stand I hope it will get better soon.
I was diagnosed with a staph infection wayyy back in 1994. I still have it. I was given so much cephalexin (keflex) that I developed IBS, which I also still have. Like you, mine shows up when I get too hot and sweat, and shows up in places like my underarms, breasts, and the creases of my buttocks and labia. I’ve never had one get as bad as yours. Usually they get red and bumpy and hurt. About half the time they get pussy, drain, and heal. I have one on my breast right now that got infected (ewww) and the skin around it is swollen, leaving what looks like an empty crater in the middle. I would love to get rid of it, but am honestly afraid to take more strong antibiotics. If six months of keflex just gave me IBS (ouch), what are my chances of ever getting rid of this stuff???
Hi,
I have recently heard of a new product called Stay Clean made by a UK company called Byotrol. My brother has a number of friends who have used it to get rid of their MRSA infections on their body. It is CHEAP to buy!!!. About 10 dollars a bottle at Germcure.com. Look up Byotrol and Nanosphere on the web to see more information, but I’m telling you that my brother has seen this stuff work on MRSA.
Someone mentioned further outbreaks. From what I’ve been told, the only way to prevent further outbreaks, is to get rid of MRSA bacteria on your normal skin and on anyone else living in your house, plus all the surfaces in your house (the couch, the countertops, the floors, etcetera). When I searched the Web for more information on the product, some of the articles said that their Microcleanse Plus product will kill the MRSA around the house.
I don’t personally have any friends with MRSA (my brother lives in South and I live in North) but I do have one with terrible acne (for 18 years now), so I ordered some for him. In the past he has only been able to get rid of his acne using Acutane but you need a prescription and he lost his insurance when he changed jobs. Anyway, he has been putting it on his face before he goes to sleep for about 3 1/2 weeks now and his face looks normal! He is thrilled because he has received lots of comments from women about how good he looks.
Good luck with your MRSA,
Matt
I would like to share that I completely understand what the parents of the students who passed away from the MRSA. My sister and I lost our mom January 18th, 2007 from MRSA. It is a very, very, very scary infection. She ended up having a large mass in her spine which caused her to have multiple strokes which (if she would have survived) she would have been a complete quaddraplegic. It cut off oxygen to her brain. We miss her so very much. We didn’t know that this disease even existed until then. After she passed away, I immediately had my self tested and came back negative. It is a very simple test. Two cotton swabs to the nose and that is it. I recommend any one who works, has been, or has relatives that live in nursing homes to be tested.
I’ve only had one outbreak and hope it’s the last. I was told I was lucky/blessed that they discovered it before my scheduled surgery took place or it could have been disastrous. I was treated with Bactroban ointment up the nostrils and Bactrim and Doxycycline. The “big guns” antibiotics are usually ineffective against MRSA but many of the old “weenie drugs,” as my doctor calls them, are successful against it. Also, vancomycin often works but I had a reaction to it. I am praying I stay healthy and no more outbreaks because I am scheduled for surgery the end of November. I am, to say the least, rather nervous!
ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww take showers!!!!
wow
nice essay
I follow your posts for quite a long time and must tell that your articles are always valuable to readers.
This is very up-to-date info. I’ll share it on Facebook.
For over 6 years and many counties and to many doctors to list…….mrsa…..has been a nightmare.
Then one doctor that did a swab/culture/and then stayed on the case of this mrsa bug,changing medicine 5 times…….finaly killed it. Do not think you are immune….you are not. The CDC may/may not tell you…..this mrsa bug is getting realy difficult to do in.2009 has seen more bugs/more resistant to all types of medicine…..it will take you and a doctor and staff that are realy concerned about your health…..to keep all of us healthy.
Next…..the swine flu again in the fall……for the U.S., it has not gone away at all,since it arrived.I and my husband had the swine flu in May….I keep on hand, Pau d’ Arco…this is an herb..it is made from the bark of the Tahebo Tree….it acts like a pac-man and surrounds the virus…it only works on viruses…after it surrounds the virus, your immune system then has the time it needs to fight off the virus. I highly reccomend this herb. I am not a doctor/nurse.I was raised by an R.N.and around doctors back when they wrote prescip. in Latin.
Everyone take care.
My son’s entire family have been suffering with MRSA outbreaks for two years. My grandson is in the hospital now having a drain put in his buttocks area.He is 3 and his 1 years old sister had two drains put in her thigh last month for treatment. We can’t figure out how to control it. We have been doing everything from ointments in the nose to scrubbing down everything 100 times. One doctor says one thing another says something different! Help!!!
To the very ignorant person who wrote “Ewwww, take showers”, study up before you comment!!! This is not caused by uncleanliness. It can be contracted from nursing homes, daycares, hospitals, toilet seats at the restaurant you had dinner at… I could go on and on. No laughing matter, this is becoming more and more common. You should only hope and pray that you never have to deal with it. You very well could though… no matter how much you shower.
Oh My Dear God!
I have been suffering with these symptoms, rash, fever, and all the other signs. I have been to 4 Doctors, they have all seen the rash outbreaks, I told them my symptoms. One said I was just getting old, another said “I don’t know”. Not one took me serious, and made me feel hopeless and helpless. If a Doctor would’nt help, where could I turn?
I have conditions which make me susceptable…PAOD, stent and repairs 4 times in my leg, a stent going to my heart, steriods… You all know how horrible the sickness is. No one would listen to me!
I happened onto this site trying to figure it out for myself, and found all of you. Thank you for saving my life.
I’m sorry, BUT I AM SO MAD!! I have suffered for a long time.
Xavier
I had MRSA on my forehead. I went to the ER. They lanced and drained it using lidocaine. The Doctor then gave me Vancomycin through my IV. I was finally discharged and now that I am at home. My face is swollen and red. What can I do at home to treat this facial swelling?
Try Amerigel wound dressing with natural healing compound – ‘Oakin’
It was tested for vancomycin resistant MRSA wounds and reduced healing time by 20 %
My doctor told me 90/% podiatrists in America use it for various procedures becouse it # 1 rated for deep wound care
http://www.amerigel.com/Professional/casestudies.asp
http://www.amerigel.com/testimonials.asp
I have checked out a few of your posts and found some great information, just wanted to say thanks there is so much garbage out there, it’s nice to know some people still put time into managing there sites.