I've felt really good for about 2 months now. Most of my lyme symptoms are gone. Especially the fatigue...I've been exercising, getting out of bed without dying, not sleeping all afternoon etc!
I posted a few weeks ago about being scratched by my cat and developing some pimple like sores around the area.
I thought it was cat scratch fever.
Went to my GP and he says it looks like staph! OMG OMG...I'm flipping out. He says it is easy to cure and put me on a Zpack. But i've been on minocycline now for 3 months. Could this be what caused me to get staph?
I've heard when you are on long term abx then your body develops resistance to abx and you can get super bugs...or staph. Like patients that are on lots of meds in the hospital. Is this what is happening? I'm scared. I'm supposed to be out of town all next week and don't have time to go see my lyme doc.
Could this be serious? A few of the bumps have turned into boil like lesions. This happend just in the last day (it wasn't this bad when I was at the doc earlier this week)
-------------------- TxLymie IgG-Negative IgM - Postive bands 23 and 41
Other dx: 2000: Endometriosis 2009: Chronic EBV, Mycoplasma infection, HHV6, H.pylori Posts: 297 | From Houston | Registered: Jun 2009
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posted
OH my. The "boil like lesions" worries me. I would not leave town without another dr seeing these! (since you're leaving town)
Can you go to a walk-in clinic ( or ER ) somewhere tonight?
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Since this is getting worse, you should have it evaluated again.
Self care would be hot compresses to the lesions, as often as you can manage. If this works, you'll notice in a day or two that it's improving.
If you have an LED light therapy unit, use it.
Look into Allimax, made from garlic. It comes in several forms, including a cream. Garlic is great for killing bacteria, and this product gets stellar reviews. http://www.iherb.com/search?kw=allimax
Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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kidsgotlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23691
posted
The staph will probably be resistant to the antibiotic you are currently taking, but another antibiotics should clear it up. It will probably have to be one of the stronger ones though.
My daughter was on long term antibiotics one time when she got a really bad kidney infection. She had to be on IV Rochephen(?) for a week.
-------------------- symptoms since 1993 that I can remember. 9/2018 diagnosed with Borellia, Babesia Duncani, and Bartonella Hensalae thru DNA Connections. Posts: 1470 | From Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
Do you think the 5 day zithromax is strong enough to kill it?
I guess I will try to get in to see my lyme doc tomorrow...or maybe a dermatologist. I wouldn't be so worried if it wasn't getting worse!
-------------------- TxLymie IgG-Negative IgM - Postive bands 23 and 41
Other dx: 2000: Endometriosis 2009: Chronic EBV, Mycoplasma infection, HHV6, H.pylori Posts: 297 | From Houston | Registered: Jun 2009
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
TxLymie, Have you had a chance to do hot compresses?
Wring out a thick washcloth in hot water, fold, and apply to the spot. Refresh with hot water as needed. Do this for 15 minutes every hour, or as often as you can manage.
Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
My son had MRSA - 3 small boils on his back that would not clear up with regular antibiotics. It then transferred to the back of his head and woke up one day with a huge swollen head - like a ball sticking out from the back of his head with a boil in the middle. Very gross!
Anyhow, he had to go on 3 different antibiotics at once and 2 days in hospital with IV to cure it.
I would not go out of town until you get the proper treatment!
Posts: 618 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2009
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Why does everyone always think the worst case senario? Not all staph is mrsa. Bartonella causes pimple like leions at the site. certainly get it checked if you think it needs it,
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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posted
Don't fool around with MRSA, which it certainly sounds like--it can be very serious......
If the Zith doesn't work, you'll probably want IV vancomycin and sooner versus later......
Definitely see your LLMD or ANY md prior to leaving town.....not sure, but it might be contagious....
Feel better soon!
(Want to add that as mentioned above, Allicin--garlic derivative/component--is supposed to be highly effective on MRSA.)
Posts: 648 | From northeast | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
Thanks for all the advice. I DID see my GP and he said he believed it was some type of staph but he didn't seem at all concerned about it. He knows I have lyme.
He just acted like it was no big deal and the zith would take care of it.
I'm confused. Can someone tell me the difference in staph vs MRSA. I thought they were the same thing...are there different types? This GP didn't even check me for anything; now I'm thinking he should have at least ran a blood test.
I'm going out of town for training because I am starting a new job. No way can I not go. I have to work. My husbands job won't support us and his company doesn't provide insurance.
I'm going to go try the hot compresses!
Oh one other thing. I also have a cold sore and an cancer sore (inside my mouth) right now. Could these 2 infections be related? I'm taking acyclovir for the cold sores.
-------------------- TxLymie IgG-Negative IgM - Postive bands 23 and 41
Other dx: 2000: Endometriosis 2009: Chronic EBV, Mycoplasma infection, HHV6, H.pylori Posts: 297 | From Houston | Registered: Jun 2009
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karenl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17753
posted
Could the doctor diagnose the MRSA just by looking at it? I am interested as I had these kind of lesions all over my legs for long time and nobody offered my abx.
I think Lugol's iodine can kill staph and strep. Does anyone know? I applied some drops on my legs.
Are there iodine specialist on lymenet? Please help. I also start nebulizing iodine.
Posts: 1834 | From US | Registered: Oct 2008
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quote:Originally posted by TxLymie: [QB] Do you think the 5 day zithromax is strong enough to kill it?
I'm no doctor, but I wouldn't think so!
OH>>> OK... so you don't know if it's MRSA? It may work for staph.. but if you have the Methicillin Resistant Staphylococus Aureas.. (SP) then it's a different story. ( that is MRSA )
You need to have it cultured to be sure. When are you going out of town?
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
There are over 30 strains of staph.
The only way to really know what germ is in your wound is to culture it.
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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posted
leaving sunday. guess I will try to go see another doc tomorrow.
-------------------- TxLymie IgG-Negative IgM - Postive bands 23 and 41
Other dx: 2000: Endometriosis 2009: Chronic EBV, Mycoplasma infection, HHV6, H.pylori Posts: 297 | From Houston | Registered: Jun 2009
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Yes, Staph is contagious - from contact - directly or indirectly. You'll need to be very careful with your treatment bandages and dispose of them in a special manner. Anything that you touch after touch the wound, too, needs to be cleaned in a special way so others don't inadvertently touch it.
Your clothes, if they come into contact, also need to be laundered separately, etc. You can find this out with a search. I knew someone one with this and they had to be very careful with anything that touched it.
Good luck. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Everyone has staph on their skin. Our skin is literally crawling with bacteria!
It only becomes a problem when there is a breach in skin integrity allowing the germs to get inside where they don't belong.
MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a certain type of staph that is resistant to to certain medications, like the name says. It used to be found only in hospitals and long term care facilities. Now it is very commonly found in the community.
Though it (MRSA) is resistant to some medications it is still sensitive to others. That's why doctors take wound cultures to find out what strain you have and what med will work the best.
I've been told that up to 80% of the population are now carriers of MRSA. This means you might have it on your skin and not know it. That's why it is important to wash and watch any cuts or abrasions, see a doctor at first sign of infection.
TxLymie, try not to worry. Take your medicines. Keep your sores clean, dry, and covered. Watch the areas to make sure that they are healing. If you do get worse, head to an urgent care. They can run cultures for you and start you on a different treatment if needed.
Take care.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
#1 REMEDY: TURMERIC Without a doubt, the spice turmeric is the very best remedy to take when you have boils, staph infections, or MRSA. Unfortunately, while turmeric will cure an outbreak of boils, it will NOT cure MRSA. A daily dose of turmeric will only prevent future MRSA outbreaks if you also follow a strict alkaline diet by monitoring your pH.
INSTRUCTIONS: Take internally, 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in half a glass of warm water 3x a day. Continue for several days or more if you have recurring MRSA boils. Turmeric, a traditional Ayurvedic spice of India, is anti-inflammatory and a blood purifier. You will see healing begin within a matter of hours. You do NOT have to touch the boil whatsoever or apply anything topically.
You can buy an enormous bag of turmeric at any Indian grocery store for a few dollars. The spice section of every grocery store will also carry a bottle of turmeric: $4 - $6 a bottle. A good health food store will sell turmeric capsules. The capsules are far more expensive. Is it worth the extra $? Nah, we think the cheap stuff is just fine!
You can also put an antibacterial ointment like Neosporin on the boil to help heal it quickly. If you catch it early enough with turmeric and Neosporin, the boil will not break the skin.
----
Colloidal silver was the first thing that came to mind. It might help...
Good luck!
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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karenl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Sparkle,
thanks for posting this. Yes the bacitracin ointment helped as well. Silver might be good.
Posts: 1834 | From US | Registered: Oct 2008
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posted
I've been putting Bacttoban on the sores and I will try tumeric too. I also did the hot compresses last night.
Funny thing. Last night I did a test. I put the abx cream on some of them and hydrocortisone cream on the others (they were all itching really bd). The hydrocortisone areas seem to have great improvement today. Doesn't HC cream contain steroids? Is that bad for lymies?
-------------------- TxLymie IgG-Negative IgM - Postive bands 23 and 41
Other dx: 2000: Endometriosis 2009: Chronic EBV, Mycoplasma infection, HHV6, H.pylori Posts: 297 | From Houston | Registered: Jun 2009
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posted
You can safely use the cortisone topically. You won't absorb much of it at all.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
You might want to try spraying some colloidal silver on the bandages. You can even let it dry with the silver sprayed on it & use it later (I believe).
I got a bottle with a spray cap at the vitamin store for about $8 or $9. I think it was Source Naturals brand. I researched them - this one seems good. There are more expensive ones that are less potency but they have fancy boxes, more advertising, etc. It gets very confusing with all the brands out there...
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
I don't see where this would HARM you.
This is what I, personally, would do (in addition to taking the abx. the doc prescribed!).
Open - very carefully over a sink - a capsule of activated charcoal and sprinkle it on a clean MOIST - use distilled water - sterile 4x4 gauze.
Put the moist wet dressing on the boils. Cover it with a plastic wrap (need to keep it moist for absorption reasons) like Cling Wrap. Use paper tape to keep it in place.
Leave it in place for several hours.
Your skin will look "black", but in time, this will disappear.
Activated charcoal absorbs toxins...bigtime.
Google these words:
staph infection activated charcoal
Many years ago, activated charcoal was the 3rd component in what was called the "Universal Remedy" which WAS in the Merck manual.
Posts: 9424 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i am very sorry. i don't have anything but good wishes for you.
i would get it tested.
mrsa can be very scary. find out what you are dealing with first.
but please don't mess around. mrsa is very serious stuff.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
Good idea Marnie! How about clay? or a mixture of clay & charcoal?
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
Clay (moist) to pull out and AC to absorb...hummm...I wonder.
MRSA...many forms and some are still able to be knocked out by abx.
"Both community- and health care-associated strains of MRSA still respond to certain antibiotics"
A couple of years ago around the holidays, I thought my husband had a staph infection and I slathered his side in Manuka honey until we could get in to see the doctor. Turned out he had shingles and I'm convinced the honey worked on that too as he healed up fairly quickly and didn't have any lingering nerve pain.
Posts: 984 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2006
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
Good idea. Parisa. I studied manuka honey a while ago. I forgot about it.
I was taking the manuka honey with bee venom. I was mainly taking it for Lyme since bee venom has been found to inhibit Lyme.
Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
If its herpes such as the sores in the mouth,etc. Coconut oil will hit it hard.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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