MRSA Resources

43 responses so far ↓

• maria pipkins // Jan 4, 2007 at 7:13 pm

  i have recentky been diagnosed with mrsa. but haven’t been in a hospital for over 9yrs. i was wondering could i have contracted this disese when i had my hysterectomy 9 yrs ago or could i contracted it through my work environment. i work for a company that uses alot of chemicals and every times o goto work after it rains i breakout.i’ve worked for this company for 8 yrs. my doctor said it could be a major part of my illness. i would like a second opinion.
  

• Rhoda // Mar 10, 2007 at 3:26 pm

  I do love hearing the words “Survivor of MRSA!”
  

• christal // Mar 27, 2007 at 8:20 pm

  i was diagnoised with mrsa and a staph infection after my hernia repair about a month ago. i had to go back in to surgery 6 days after my first one to be cleaned out becuase of the staph infection and i was later told that i also had mrsa. i have been wondering is there any long term effects that i should be consider about because im working on my nursing career and im wondering if that is going to effect that.
  

• Tonya // May 31, 2007 at 1:06 pm

  I have had 7 or 8 MRSA outbreaks since my daughter was born and she is 7 months old. My 23 month old has had it twice and my husband has had it 3 or 4 times. My sons and mine are in the groin area and my husband is under his arm. We all got on antibiotics (they were on Bactrim and I was on Cephlex, I’m allergic to Sulfa). We also did the bactroban ointment in the nose. We also have been disinfecting the whole entire house by spraying Lysol on door handles and light switches and changing our sheets regularly. So far my son and my husband have not had an outbreak for 2 months, but I am still continuing to get them. I am at wits end on trying to clean out my system to get rid of this nasty unforgiving bug. HELP!!!

  Tonya
  

• Reese // Jun 4, 2007 at 4:34 pm

  My boyfriend has been going to the doc for about a year. First his infection was strep, then staph, but now doc claiming its not MRSA. Well wow, whaddayaknow, I started having boils under armits after shaving with his razor and LOW and BEHOLD, I been diagnosed with MRSA. What is going on??? Can anyone help us??? Were scared to death. I personally think his doctor is an idiot. We been following his directions for almost a year. NOW WHAT?
  

• Keys Cat // Jul 31, 2007 at 8:21 am

  I had Necrotizing fasciitis (the flesh eating variety) I have been clear of MRSA now about 2 years, I would have been DEAD if not for this group, and their insistence that I see an infectious disease specialist. I had to educate myself, and my doctors. The first hurdle is to get them to test for MRSA the next is to get the correct meds, realize they may not be up on the latest info.
  My second Dr. put on the correct regimen of drugs, told me to wash with Hibiclens, but only under the arm pits, and the groin. Well folks this is what I did and it worked for me: I washed my entire body in Hibiclens, (being very careful as it can blind you and ruin your liver if ingested) including my hair! that’s right my hair! (I live in Florida and I had been wearing a pony tail every day to work that stayed a bit damp) I washed everything I came in contact with, in hot water with bleach whenever possible and I did not let ANYTHING touch my body more than once with being laundered, ( like sheets in bed my robe, etc.) I laundered every fabric in my home. I scrubbed down my leather sectional, and refurbished the leather, then placed throws on top. (so that they could be laundered) I mentioned to my Dr. when he was amazed that I was clear of this infect (after only ONE round of the correct antibiotics) He thought I had gone a bit over board, said MRSA doesn’t stay viable on surfaces, only on the body! Well I said to him “it can mutate, why take a chance?” I also informed him that as women we will ALWAYS wear a fresh pair of panties but that it is common to wear a bra more than once, and that could be a source of reintroducing the colony onto the body. I suggested that he advise his patience to follow my regime, as it had worked for me. Now I see in this months Readers Digest an article and low and behold! the advice is given to launder EVERYTHING.
  I may have going over board but at the time I was having these issues my elder parents were coming to stay with me and my daughter was pregnant, I did not want to co-infect any one! I didn’t. They are all healthy, and I am a proud Grandma. So keep the faith! Educate yourself, don’t take for granted that your physician knows everything (they can’t) and some are just BAD. I still do wash with Hibiclens once a month or so.
  

• Lee Rhodes // Aug 23, 2007 at 9:08 pm

  I came upon this site by accident..I searched for long-term effects of MRSA infection. A year ago my daughter contracted MRSA at a nursing home where she worked as a student nurse. A month later I developed an infection on my face. Two months later my husband developed it in his nostril. In the local Baylor hospital we were virtually ignored by the nursing staff too afraid to even come in and read the vitals. My daughter took it upon herself to drain the our infections. I will never forget the risk she took herself, in her health as well as professionally, but she had researched more on the treatment than the hospital staff. We have not had re-occuring infections, but seem to have “aged” quickly, and have very little tolerance for any type of infections. My husband is diabetic, I worry about his future health with MRSA.
  

• Dia // Sep 9, 2007 at 11:11 am

  I was diagnosed with MRSA in the end of May after I had these mysterious bumps that were very paianful since January. I was put on Doxycycline, Rifvampin, Ointment for my nose, and a Anti-Microbial wash. Those who have taken the two oral medications know, as I know, that they rip your stomache apart REALLY BAD. Anywayz, I took it after I was diagnosed and the bumps went away…for about 4 weeks, then I had to take the medicine again, then the bumps went away…for 4 weeks and came back. Notice the pattern? I was diagnosed at the end of May, it is now early Sept and I have had my 4th outbreak in roughly 4 months. The bumps get very painful and the medicine make me so sick. My doctor didn’t give me too much information on the disease and has now decided to stop filling my prescription because I haven’t been able to see her (I live 400 miles away and I have no health insurance). I am not sure how I contracted MRSA…the only thing I can think of is that I shared an apartment at school with 3 not-so-clean people. Even though I washed my hands before doing anything, who knows what they could have spread around. Mostly, I am looking for some guidance, maybe someone to talk to who can give me a little more information. I feel so left-out as far as information goes. I read up online and asked my doctor a lot of questions (she was not much help), but I feel I need to know more. I have been able to live with 4 people and keep them all MRSA free because I am very careful. What else should I know?
  

• James Pate // Oct 6, 2007 at 8:51 am

  Dia

  Go to WWW.StaphWash.com Send home address by e-Mail. I Wll Mail you a tube of StaphWash to You FREE
  Read Carolyn’s Story, shes my sister.
  James
  

• tizzy // Oct 6, 2007 at 6:50 pm

  I was just diagnosed with mrsa in my sinuses. I have a long standing history of asthma and severe sinusitis and have had 4 sinus surgeries. My dr. is having me start on an irrigation schedule involving an antibiotic ointment mixed with a saline soltion. I’m having alot of anxiet about this…I’ve been fighting pseudomonas for 3 1/2 years and now I feel like I’ve “graduated” to this.
  

• Tammy // Oct 12, 2007 at 1:57 pm

  Hi. Just wantted to say How great this site is. I was dx with MRSA last week and I have learned more about it on line then with my own Doc And would like to learn more. So if anyone would like to share info with me that would be great. I need as much info as I can get (well I think we all need as much as we can get). Plus I all so have Crohns disease and a blood clot disease call factor 5( Think I am falling apart Like I said i am new to this disease so any and all info would be great so please if you would like to talk e-mail me Or I.m me . And again I think sites like this are great. With out them many well at least me would be lost. Doctors look at me like I have 10 head give me med witch are CLINDAMYCIN,CIPROFLOXACIN and a ointment called MUPIROCIN. does this sound rigth to anyone? Please if it does not let me know And tells me the boilel i have looks like someone stabed me (Thanks doc ). so that tells you how much help he is . So THANK YOU all for the help you have given me PLEASE e-mail me Have a good Day
  

• Kristin // Oct 17, 2007 at 12:07 pm

  I was diagnosed with MRSA Staph in August in my left breast. My general practioner gave me Cephelex (spelling?) and told me to go to the ER if the infection didn’t clear in a few days. Well it didn’t, and I ended up in the hospital five days later. The infection hurt so badly, but the hospital would not admit me even though I told them I needed IV antibiotics per my doctor’s direction. Anyway, they finally admitted me and a surgeon drained the abcess. The surgeon then gave me Lavequin, followed by Amoxicillin, then Bactrim. None of these worked. I got another infection a week after the first surgery, but waited almost two weeks thinking the meds were going to take care of the infection. I was readmitted to the hospital on 9/20/07 and was on several different kinds of antibiotics that really made me dizzy and sick to the stomach. I was on Vancomycin and something called Roxyfloxicin (the nurse called is Roxy Floxy as a nick name), and a third antibiotic. The infection finally got better, but I personally believe it was God who healed me and not the antiobiotics. I was released from the hospital on 10/2/07, and have been on Zyvox, which has horrible, horrible side effects. It makes me dizzy, nauseaous, forgetful, incoherent, and just “sick”. I’m can’t wait to be finished with this dose.

  I was wondering though, is it possible to give spread MRSA to my family members? From what I’ve read so far, it’s seems like I can. I’m concerned for my children, especially my 17 month old. Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
  

• april // Oct 19, 2007 at 2:27 pm

  I had been caring for my 77 year old grandma for 4 years full time. She had been complaining that she had the flu all of the time and she started to break out in sores in her mouth, vagina, and face. She had had staph infection as a kid and she said her symptoms seemed to be the same. I was taking her to specialist 3-4 times a week, but they didn’t know what was wrong, then lo and behold I started to get symptoms , so I was going to the doctor. He told me it was depression and had me take antidepressents. I only got worse, and I had extremely painful joints and muscles, boils on my face, and a very difficult time breathing, lethargy, and depression from my symptoms and also watching my grandma’s health go down the tube. I wrote the symptoms down, and gave them to my doctor, which of course he said all my symptoms were caused by depression. About two weeks later granny called 911 for “the flu like symptoms”, went to the hospital and died. I was admitted the next day and sent home with xanex. I ended up having to go to a doctor 50 miles away, ands thats when I was diagnosed with staph and prescribed two sets of antibiotics which made me very ill. It’s been 4 months since this happened and I am concerned about the long term effects. I am interested in anyone else’s story and feelings about the doctors possible down playing or covering up this superbug. I can be reached at aprilavon7@aol.com
  

• Mike From Lodi CA // Oct 19, 2007 at 6:43 pm

  I’mjust like the rest of you…I was diagnosed MRSA+ two years ago, but I really think I’ve had it much, much, longer.Ican remember having these giant pimple like things for a long time, and although they healed on there own (after a good amount of time) they’ve never quite gone away… I’ve been in and out of the Hospital numerous times, the worst is when I had gotten it on my right knee cap and after thinking i had just hurt my knee 2 weeks later I was in HELL!!! My Knee down tothe top of my foot had swollen 3-4 times there normal size and getting up to use the restroom one nite I found not only could I not put my weight on it I could’nt put any pressure on it at all… I remember my wife taking me to the ER at 2:00am and her stopping at all the red lights and just the pressurefrom her applying the breaks was unbelievable I thought I was going to die from the pain… alas, I’m still here!

  I feel for all and any of you, that have had to suffer with this disease. I thank GOD to be alive, but I still don’t feel like the person I used to be…
  

• matt // Oct 21, 2007 at 2:08 pm

  You know, I sit here daily and think of what this infection has taken out of me . I cry on a daily basis and hope to god that this infection isn’t the death of me. I also sit and think of what can be done.The answer I think is educate we (the people with this bug) need to put pressure on local government and make sure the people that we interact with on a daily basis know just how serious this epedemic really is . Yes this is an epedemic, people are dying everyday. People are sick everyday. This nonsense has to stop. we need to do something to help other people from contracting this infection.we need to educate. If anyone has questions, ideas or just need support from someone that has had this infection for 4 years now , than please feel free to e-mail me at cookmore2003@yahoo.com
  

• James Pate // Oct 21, 2007 at 5:57 pm

  Matt, you are so right. We have got to let the people know how wide spread this bacteria really is. And, @ WWW.STAPHWASH.COM “saveing limbs & lifes”
  

• Heather // Oct 21, 2007 at 7:48 pm

  I am a 24 year old woman. I was traveling last week for my career (Marketing Representative) and many times when I stay in hotels I get pimples from the sheets. I woke up Thursday morning with a zit close to my spine in between my shoulder blades. When I noticed the wound becoming infected I started to think that it was a spider bite (due to the pain).

  Friday my infection was a little bigger with a white and yellow head, the tissue hard underneath, and very red skin all the way around it. I went to a Convenient Care center (since my doctor was unable to see me) and the doctor tried to pop the infection, but was unsuccessful. So she decided to just prescribe me antibiotics. I told her that if she wanted to cut into it to get a culture she could. She said that I should be just fine with the antibiotics.

  I have now been on the antibiotics for three days and I’m in a lot of pain; the wound doesn’t seem to be healing at all. I drained it today and a lot of bright yellow discharge came out. I plan on going to the doctor asap tomorrow because from all of my research I do believe it is MRSA.

  I’m very scared about the treatment, especially since it is so close to my spine. Can anyone tell me what is the usual treatment in this matter? Also, is this something I will have to live with the rest of my life? Since I get breakouts so often this scares me. It especially scares me with all of the news stories of people around my age dying from it.
  

• Krista // Oct 22, 2007 at 8:02 pm

  I live in southern WV and my 15 year old daughter came home from school today telling me that there have been a few cases of MRSA in our county. My grandfather has also been fighting it for almost a year.

  I am 36, insulin-dependent diabetic and also have lupus. My immune system is VERY compromised. To make things worse I am also a “skin picker.” The past month I have felt so weak and tired and have no appetite. I have a sore on my lower back, one I can’t see to pick. I don’t even know where it came from.

  Is it possible I have MRSA? Is there a blood test for it? What can be done since I have so many other problems?
  

• sick with the bug // Oct 23, 2007 at 10:18 am

  I have started a facebook page and group to help all of us with this terrible infection . I want everyone to feel free to join this group and e-mail me with stories thoughts and issues.
  all the best to everyone and I hope everyone gets the help they need and deserve.

  sickwithmrsa@hotmail.com
  iamsick withthebug on facebook
  and the group is people with mrsa
  

• mike // Oct 23, 2007 at 8:45 pm

  I have been living with the virus for 1 year now. I got it from getting a tattoo, I’ve had 3 out breaks so far and i hope no more. But I came up with a pretty good solution for getting rid of the boil, (now dont forget I’ve had3 out breaks) but I ended my 3RD out break fast, I bought 91% alcohol, new band-aids and a new tube of neosporine . And got to work, 2 times a day I would remove old band-aid and wash my hands, cleaned it with the alcohol,and then opened a new band-aid , put neosporine on the band- aid(also with the help of bactrim witch I got 4 days after the fact) the boil is gone as well as the other pimple looking ones. Now ive done this for 6 days before I saw a doctor, because I wanted to see if I could get rid of the boils with out bactrim and it was working, I just got the bactirm to be on the safe side,and my doctor said that he didn’t think I needed it what I was doing was good and to keep it up. So I hope this can help people resolve a problem.(but then everyones different) There is still one thing I want to know, what can I do to prevent future out breaks from returning.OK now im going to tell you about my 2nd out break I did nothing about it for 3 weeks, and damn I was in pain. I had to go to the hospital to get it lanced and once that was done my arm felt great. It healed nicely accept for the scar it left but whatever. I am now going through my 3rd out break and thats when I used what I wrote about previously, AND IT IS WORKING GOOD TOO. So please feel free to try my idea it just mite help you like it helped me

  please comment on this feedback is welcome
  

• Leticia Martinez // Oct 30, 2007 at 11:24 pm

  Need more info my 7 year old daughter is infected she was diagnosed after a culture during nasal surgery
  

• Mike // Oct 31, 2007 at 5:39 pm

  Hi Leticia how are you and your daughter, hopefully fine. what type of info do you need ive learned quite a bit about mrsa, so in order to try to help you out i need to know, what questions you are trying to ask, for example how to prevent, treat, or take care of the current sore. I’ll try to help you as much as I can
  

• erica // Nov 29, 2007 at 11:11 pm

  my son is a carrier of mersa i just found out.! his had it sence he was 4 months on and off he is 1 yr. now i;ve had them two, how do uyou become a carrier.?
  

• Marcee' // Dec 13, 2007 at 1:39 pm

  I just found out I have MRSA last week and am scared for my 16 year old daughter and myself. It started from a bug bite that I scratched over a year ago. When the one soar turned into other ones on my leg I asked my general doctor what they were and he said I had some infection of the hair folicles on my leg. He told me to use an antibiotic cream and that was that. But the cream didn’t work and after a few more visits he referred me to a dermetologist. I saw the dermetologist in June of this year. He took a culture and sent me home with doxycycline because he mentioned it might be a staph infection, but never went into any detail about how serious this could be. I took several rounds of the antibiotic and it would clear it up, but then the soars would start to return again after a few weeks. Due to reasons out of my control I was not able to return to the doctor until last week. He informs me that I have MRSA and know I am to use Phisonhex and Benzaclin gel on my legs to try to clear it up. My concerns are that I have had this a long time. How concerned should I be about passing it onto others (my daughter) and how would I know if it has gone internally to other places in my body? The dermotologist did test my nasal passages for MRSA and I am to bring my daughter in next week to be tested. My daughter has been feeling ill for a long time. Nothing drastic, just like achy, tired and low grade fever. I’m really worried!!! Both my parents just died recently within 9 months of each other one from COPD the other from renal failure and I don’t think we can handle another terrible thing happening right now. I also am handicapped and the home health aids won’t come in and help me as long as I have this. I have alot of allergies to antibiotics and I just need some direction on which way to go. Please e-mail me at Marbreejehlewis@aol.com Thank you.
  

• JENNA // Dec 20, 2007 at 9:11 am

  I think this website is the best thing that has happened to me in two years. I have lived in silence about my disease for two years. I am a healthy 21 year old female with MRSA. My partner aquired MRSA from the juvenile detention center in 2004. Her first boil was the size of a softball and you could stick two fingers in it. The detention center did nothing. She was let out a day later and went to the hospital. The hospital did nothing to test it. At this point her outbreaks were few and far between. My outbreaks started in 2005. There was absolutly no information about it. I tried hospitals, infectious disease specialists, and walk in clinics. It was first herpes, then at my parents request tested for MRSA. At this point we have both quit taking meds and drain and bandage the abrasion. The boil are coming more and more frequent. Everytime I menstrate I get an outbreak, then it causes my partner to outbreak, although we are generally healthy people. I was never tested for it until about a week ago. I had to beg for the test and a screening of my liver. I have taken so many doses of batrium and Cepro that I could scream. I am a server and in college and I cannot get rid of this. I am in contant pain for about 15 days out of every month. I am so scared and angry over this they put me on an antidepressent. Im lucky although that I have not infected anybody else. It seemed like for two years that we had some rare disorder. My partner got fired form her job in 2005, when someone found out about the disease. Now she has no health insurance, and we live in silence. I give the maker of this website props, because this is the first time in years I can be heard. I just wonder what I should do, because doctors in my area of south florida are too scared to prescribe any sort of hard core antibiotics. Should me and my partner get put on the antibiotics at the same time? Should I wait until there is a better form of the antibiotic so my form does not become resistant. Where can my uninsured parner go, beacause the health department is filled with a bunch of wacks. I’ve been there too many times. My outbreaks are generally on my inner thighs, but I have outbroke on my stomach, face, anus, and armpit area. The size of my infections under the skin are the size of quarter, about a half an inch deep. The infections coming more often even thought I use the nose stuff to prevent spread, but what else should I do. I know that if I continue to do nothing I could die from this but I don’t know what to do. If there is anybody in my situation, please contact me. I do not know what to do anymore.
  

• Robin // Dec 20, 2007 at 5:12 pm

  I just found out today I had MRSA. Yes thank God for this web site. I had two boils one on my forhead and one in my ear. Went to the hospital two weeks ago and they just told me today after many calls that I had it. No information was given to me but I did demand after two request that my primary Dr. refer me to an infectious disease Dr. Yes they are painful. The one on fore head ended up closing my eye. Very scary as I am in ill health and waiting for pain management surgery.
  

• Delite // Dec 21, 2007 at 4:32 am

  Jenna,
  It sounds like you have both been through a lot, as have most with this disease. I myself lived with an open would in my abdomen for 10 months due to an infection contracted while having hernia repair surgery. I was on both of those drugs for the first 3 months before they did a culture and diagnosed it as MRSA. I then went to a infectious disease DR. who put me on rifampin and septra ds. While those did not work for me, they are very effective for those patients with MRSA skin infections. If you have insurance you need to go to an ID Dr. and have them do a culture. At best you could at least get on the right treatment, then focus on helping your partner. I personally had to have 4 inches of my abdomen removed, and stay on and IV antibiotic called Cubicin for 4 weeks, I have now been MRSA free since Nov. 4th for the first time in a year . One thing you can both do when you have an outbreak is wash the areas with Hibiclens soap, that is what my ID Dr. had me start immediatly when I had the open wound. It comes in a blue bottle and it is less expensive if you get it at Costco. Best of luck to you both.
  

• Cody Owen // Jan 6, 2008 at 7:25 pm

  I have just been told I have MRSA. I lost my leg about three years ago. First below the knee the I got an infection and lost it to another infection in the bone. It has been three years and while loading my wheelchair in my van I got cut. I thought it was just a simple cut and did not worry much about it. Then it got more infectd and I was incouraged to go and see the doctor. He took a culture and seaid I have mersa. He was unable to get the infection out and sent me to a sergon that opperated on my amputation. He cleaned the infection and put some kind of a wrp around my foot to the top of my kee. It is come kind of a soft cast with medication. Has anyone heard of this. To say the lest. I am worried. What could or are the symptoms from here. I was also put on an antibiodic calledClindamycin. Will this antibiodic help?
  

• Beth // Jan 8, 2008 at 10:41 pm

  I was diagnosed with MRSA a couple months ago. I had been getting very painful bumps which resembled over-grown pimples. I was lead to believe that they were spider bites until one of them had to be opened and drained in the emergency room. I was tested for staph and the results came back positive. I have 3 tattoos which may or may not be the cause. My question is, will it make my condition any worse to get another tattoo now?
  

• Jenna // Jan 9, 2008 at 12:26 pm

  So I just got back from my IDD. This is my first time in about a year. I have a fairly mild MRSA skin infection. I get small boils monthly. My doctor did not perscribe anything! Finally! Just so everybody knows, the antibiotics are worse than the boils. He put me on a strict no sugar diet. Because bacteria live in sweat and sweets cause us to sweat, this seems like a very positive idea. He suggested that if I do get a boil put a mixture of an antibiotic ointment and wash, for me its Altabax and phisonex. My partner has a more serious infections and her did the same for her. NO ANTIBIOTICS! One day there will be a cure for this disease and if we keep using the prescriptions we we become resistant to them. I’m sure most of you heard of VRSA coming up in the population. Just hold on a deal with the skin infections. One day there will be a cure. If you are like me a healthy young adult, email mail me with what works for you. We can all help each other.
  

• Superbugkiller // Jan 9, 2008 at 9:15 pm

  $39.95 S&H free kills 100% of Staph/MRSA bacteria on contact. Cheaper than antibiotics.
  Laboratory test data is being reviewed for inclusion in a university research papar for future publication. Not a drug, a skin cleanser.
  

• Melanie // Jan 10, 2008 at 10:51 am

  I’m a writer doing a story on resistant infections, including MRSA, for Baby Talk magazine. I’d like to interview someone whose baby or young toddler (two or under) contracted the infection. The aim is to inform new parents about this infection, how to spot it, treat it and prevent it, as well as other resistant bugs. Please contact me by Tuesday Jan. 14 at MHoward57@aol.com
  The plus side for you is that I have lots of good info to share AND you’ll be helping other parents.

  Thanks!

  Melanie
  

• karina // Jan 16, 2008 at 8:59 pm

  i first got community mrsa in 11/06 on my left hip bone but i did not know what it was i just poped the little boil my self and it was painful. then on 12/06 i went four days in a row to the e.r. because of high fevers, chills, and a huge boil the size of an orange on my right butt cheek the dr.s kept telling me to finish taking my bactrim and to go back if it got worse. when i jsut could not bare the pain anymore i went in and on christmas day at was addmitted rushed to surgery and spent five days in the hospital. in 4/07 it came back but not as big and i was given antibiotics right away. during the months of november and december i had little boils pop-out on my face, stomach, legs, butt, and hips i believe they were a total of 10, took bactrim again they cleared up. it is today 1/15/08 that i found three new boils on my righ hip. does this thing ever go away? can it get any worse? do i always have to take antibiotics? can some one pls answer me, because out of three infectious desease specialist no tone has been able to help, other than giving me a prescription with no date issued so im prepared when the mrsa comes back. pls i want this to go away!!
  feel free to e-mail me
  karina_delatorre@hotmail.com
  

• shannon // Jan 17, 2008 at 4:06 pm

  I am 30 years old, extremely healthy -eat organic-exercise regularly…I had a breast enlargment dec 18 2007. By dec 23 I was diagnosed with mrsa in my left breast. I have had my breast injected with vancomyacin and another antiboiotic 4x. I had an iv of 500mg of vanco 2x per day with an in home nurse for two weeks. I had two surgeries to scrape and clean out the infection, and also have been on drain tubes for two weeks. The drains seemed pretty clean, and not very much drainage. Two days ago my iv and tubes were taken out. I have three wounds that are healing from the surgeries. One spot from the drain site leaks a little still. My doctor seems to think we got it. I am curently on doxycillin(sp?)which makes me nautious. I also have vicodin for pain which also makes me sick. I have been on bed rest for a month, and I just want to know if this ever goes away? My breast is tender, not swollen or irritated, but I am terrified of it flaring up again. I am also afraid to touch my fiance at all in fear of tranfering this mrsa. We havent had sex or even slept in the same room since I have contracted this. I cant work or go to school and I am getting very depressed. Does anyone know if this thing can be beat? I am so healthy and i dont feel i deserve this.
  

• Karen // Jan 17, 2008 at 4:13 pm

  I contracted MRSA in the Spring of 2007. I had the infection on my left shin. It was an excruciating experience. What was more painful though was discovering that my son (then 6 year old) had been having recurring MRSA infections prior to my episode but I had no clue. Luckily his have never gotten like mine did. His have only gone so far as to turn into boils under his skin. His pediatrician and my husband and I wrote them off as bug bites (since he’s had a history of allergy to various bug bites). So it wasn’t until I got my MRSA infection that I realized my son’s “bug bites” were actually MRSA infections. He has gotten them so many times and in so many different places on his legs that I’m just about running out of fingers and toes to count them on. I’m also almost positive that my other son had gotten a MRSA infection on his rear-end when he was just one-year old (he’s now 2). His was also written off as a “bug bite.” As I’m typing this blog, I’m fighting another MRSA infection on my rear-end. My husband and other son (I have three sons) have fortunately not had an infection yet; though it would not be surprising if they were carriers for it. My 7-year-old had been getting infections for almost a year before we discovered that they were MRSA. In that time the bacteria could have been spread all over our place. We’ve done some heavy cleaning and we continue to keep things clean on a regular basis, as much as possible, but my son and I keep getting infected. Like so many of you I am frustrated with dealing with MRSA recurrence. I’m ready to throw everything away and move to another place and then have my whole family go through testing to make sure we’re no longer carriers for this thing. That’s not practical though and in no way possible for us at this time. I am hopeful and I do believe that one day we’ll be able to live without any further infections and without the fear that anyone of those infections could get out of hand. Let’s all remember to have trust that we can create our own realities. Know that our bodies are capable of staying healthy and combatting any disease that ails us. Let’s remember to maintain healthy diets (lots of fruits and vegetables), exercise, and minimize stress. Don’t give the bacteria a good environment to live in. Good luck to you all.
  

• Shannon S // Jan 26, 2008 at 7:13 pm

  I got diagnosed with MRSA in the beginning of december of 07. it began with a little blister like pimple that hurt on my left knee. i popped it thinking it was just a pimple but then i woke up in the WORST pain i have ever felt and my knee was as big as a grapefruit. i proceeded to think it was just a spider bite so i went to urgent care, they told me is was a spider bite and gave me antibiotics. over night i could not even take it i was up crying in pain and it began to spread. that morning i went and saw my family doctor through the cleveland clinic and she called the hospital and had me sent over there right away!! they then admitted me and i was put on VANCO IV ( considering im allergic to sulfa) . theye then surgically drained my painful infection and after 4 days on the meds they discharged me. it is now only one month later (jan. 08) and i have the infection again on my chest, my stomach, and my left leg! i have been in and out of the ER the past 3 days and i am in hell!!! i am absolutley miserable with this..i feel like i cant even live my normal life right now, i am 19 years old and im missing so much school and work. I feel like this is taking over my life and i want it to go away and never ever return!!!!!!! please any suggestions please email me @ stultzs@yahoo.com
  

• mike // Jan 27, 2008 at 11:03 pm

  I got mrsa I think… Ive been doing my own surgery. I have a 10 mo baby that im a single father to. I cant afford insurance. and Ingham county wont give me assisteance cuz im a male.

  my babys mother is far better off financially and has insurance so I do my own surgery and soak the soars in staight bleech
  

• melanie crase springfield,mo // Feb 23, 2008 at 9:59 pm

  i am a 34 year old mother of two i work in a nursing home and contracted multiresistant mrsa and which of course they would take no responsibility for and i was of work two weeks, they had to cut my right side open 3 sores twice it was horrible but, if no one answers for how its being spread how do we stop it!! it is very scary!!!
  

• Roddy // Feb 24, 2008 at 2:49 pm

  I developed a boil on my backside in Early december 07, I went to a general practitioner to get it lanced and drained , approx 15 hours after I was in the ER with high fever, high blood pressure dizzy and chills. I got the site lanced again which had refill with pus. about three days later I was hospitalized with due to the same symptoms. I finally got diagnosed with MRSA and they gave me the right antibiotics and I was home after a 4 day stay in the hospital.

  In mid january I got the same boil in the same place and was had to be cut alot deeper than the last time. It was MRSA again. After about 3 weeks I was healed and back at work.

  three days ago another boil sprouted. I have not gone back to the Doctor yet. But I am on my way probably tomorrow.

  Its not so much the MRSA is affecting my life cause I was only sick that one time. Its the pain from the boil that is killing me. I do not know how to stop the boils.
  

• Kristin // Feb 27, 2008 at 2:18 pm

  Just some encouragement for everyone on this website. I’ve been MRSA free for about two months now. But it’s been a real ordeal. I’ve posted my story, but wanted to give some advice on treating and maintaining an outbreak free life.

  There are two parts to the treatment: Killing the bacteria and getting rid of the infection.

  Getting rid of the infection:
  If you currently have an open infection, get some gauge bandages, tape, Q-tips, Hibiclens, and get a prescription for Mupirocin ointment from your doctor. Try to squeeze out as much of the pus as possible on your infection. If you can’t b/c the infection is too deep and painful, you will have to get it surgically drained. After squeezing as much pus out as possible, wash daily with the Hibiclens. (Don’t forget to wash your hands thoroughly with soap after touching the area) Then apply a small amount of the Mupirocin to the infection, cover it with a bandage. Keep doing this until the infection clears up.

  Be sure to wash your towels and personal items (clothes, underwear, towels, etc) in hot water, and at least after one use. Towels, I washed about 2-3 times per week.

  Killing the bacteria:

  Along with the above, if the bacteria is still living in the infectious site, you will need to take antiobiotics such as Bactrim, Levaquin, Vancomycin or others to kill the bacteria. Remember to ask your doctor to get a culture of the site for testing to see which antibiotics will kill the bacteria. Based on the test, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic that will work for you.

  Hope this helps someone get better. It took me almost six months of trial and error, but this is what’s worked for me. Oh, and if you’re diabetic, you MUST maintain a good sugar level - 130 or below. High sugar levels will increase the infections and outbreaks.

  If you have any questions or just want vent, feel free to email me.

  -Kristin
  

• luisa // Feb 29, 2008 at 11:53 am

  Hi. My name is Luisa, and I’m a journalism student at UC Berkeley’s graduate school of journalism. I’m working on a project that is going to be an educational piece on MRSA, in an attempt to combat a lot of fear and misinformation that has been spread through media coverage of the disease. So far I have a medical doctor and an epidemiologist whom I am interviewing, but I would really like a patient’s voice in my story, to give a realistic picture of what it is like to have an MRSA infection. This volunteer would need to speak on camera, and therefore be local to the bay area as well. If anyone is interested, or knows someone who would be interested, please contact me. Thank you!
  luisamorenilla@yahoo.com
  

• Pam // Mar 7, 2008 at 7:44 pm

  I had gotten my first boil in 07/07. I kept getting them and in October I had one so bad I had to see doc who dx with msra. I went on the meds and was fine but again I got several more. In December I saw the doc again who advised me to use the Soap Hibiclens. I saw others in this mentioned it and it works. Its 10.00 and the bottle is the size of hydrogen proxide. In fact that is were you find it. The same section. I washed with that at the same time I took my antibiotics. Gone its been three months and nothing. I did wash everything with bleach and color safe bleech scowering my bathroom top to bottom. You know getting reoccuring boils was the worst experience of my life but I am free now. Use the Hibiclens while on your meds and I pray it works as good for you. I admit my doc told me to use it the first time but I did not listen. It was well worth it and I as well wash once a month with it .
  

• DAVID // Mar 26, 2008 at 1:24 am

  TRY OIL OF OREGANO, OR FRESH OREGANO, LOTS OF IT- IT WAS CALLED HYSSOP IN THE BIBLE. I’M STILL FIGHTING THIS, BUT I THINK IT HELPS, SO DO THE DOCTORS DOING THE STUDIES. PRAY FOR ALL OF US. THE DOC SAID “GOOD LUCK”. CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO HOLINESS
  

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