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128 responses so far ↓
Sherri // Jan 29, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Just diagnosed with MRSA after removing a large area of my inner thigh that was infected. I was lucky. Serious stuff!
Rhoda // Feb 7, 2007 at 11:35 pm
My daughter and almost all of her associates in Council Bluffs, Ia. have CA MRSA and are getting little care or information from ER’s, just prescriptions none of them can afford. I am fighting for all of them, two almost dead now.
Sherri // Feb 8, 2007 at 6:32 am
I am leaving my contact info for you, even on myspace, to try and connect with you. PLEASE get in touch. I will be gone this morning to see my surgeon for a re-check on my leg. I will be home at dinner time and all afternoon. I do day care for my 7 month old granddaughter and I am usually home. I will keep checking mail! I am a very compassionate and caring person and I will help you in any way I can. Sherri
Diane // Feb 22, 2007 at 10:56 am
My 13-year old son has been diagnosed with MRSA in both inner ears.
If anyone has dealt with MRSA otitis, will you please share information with me?
I would be especially interested in hearing from anyone with MRSA related to ear tubes, perforated ear drums, and/or infected mastoids.
I also am interested in hearing about any use of Zyvox in children, particularly for long-term (4-6 weeks) use.
Thank you in advance
Suzanne // Mar 6, 2007 at 10:05 am
My 21 year old “like a” son (lives with me) has this and keeps getting boils/sores. What are others doing for prevention, for other family members and for person with this? How contagious is this for others in the family? Thanks.
Rhoda // Mar 6, 2007 at 10:41 pm
My daughter who has had CA MRSA six months is now 1 month pregnant. Any info on pregnancy and CA MRSA apreciated.
Rhoda // Mar 6, 2007 at 10:50 pm
I’ve never tried so hard to speak
and found myself yet unheard
Look out or you’ll die!!
You’d think they’d stop at that word
Die. Dead. Deceased. Kaput.
With man’s fear of mortality,
he should think something afoot.
Surely someone alive besides me
Feels fear at these words of fatality.
CA MRSA
pronounced like
See a pursa,
is a deadly disease with several names
And I’d say it’s winning
If we’re playing games.
.
MRSA gets inside of you
from the person next to you
in a drop of sweat
or any spot wet
can carry it through
to You.
You don’t even need a cut
or to have sex or share needles,
The Super Bug is uglier
Than butt reaming beetles.
Awareness, containment,
and death to the BUG,
is the only way to vent
and beat this Thug.
But catch it and fearlessly scream
No segregation for you,
Cause no one yet cares,
and there’s nothing you can do.
Try to warn your neighbors,
And hear
that they’d rather hear
Thirty hours of ”news”
about a woman abused
in whose windows we peek,
We have to suck it up thus
Week after week,
While the Flesh Eating Bug,
Dines on those around us.
Bugs don’t scare you?
some are kinda cute,
but this one is ugly,
and painful to boot.
I know a woman
who has been cleanly scalped,
MRSA ate where hair once grew ~
It was brown the last I knew ~
Terrifying until it started on an ear,
I think that’s when
she really felt fear.
Most have it in their skin still
Covering their torsos,
With boils, bumps and scars,
covering every inch until
It starts on the organs inside,
then it’s really downhill
from dying to has died.
My daughter has this,
She is a junkie and poor,
And now she is pregnant,
And we really need more
People to know,
This is HERE,
NOW,
in our town,
I don’t feel safe,
Knowing it’s just floating around.
No one is quarantined,
Few are educated at all,
Some still blame spiders,
A germ just seems so very small.
Fact is, the AMA made this
And now turns their backs,
On those most desperately needing aid
from whichever side of the tracks,
Not nearly enough is done
neither offense or defense exists,
Who’s targeted? Why! Everyone!
I could tell you stories
from sun to sun..
I thought one lady had it made
Because she was lucky enough,
To have Medicaid
for meds and stuff
to get admitted for IV antibiotics,
and although a junkie,
they saw her pain
even giving my friend narcotics.
My friend
Noticed the following
As a regular thing;
The doctors and nurses
Masked up and changed gowns
Yet posted nothing about MRSA’s
Presence in our town.
Visitors came and went
With no warning of the risk they took,
home with them, maybe to you!
Perhaps he’s even your cook.
Her luck went south,
’twas her without the hair now
To you from my mouth,
I think it might be unfair how
Victims like her are treated so
Without even thinking she is going to go
to the store, the bathroom,
Restaurants and parks,
But certainly not to cause your doom!
You rush to the ER
And say, hey doc! look here!
He looks and backs up
then leans in to peer,
Backs up again quickly
and says, “Spider bite!
you’ll soon be out of here!”
He explains how it will drain,
and writes you a script
For Bactrum or something
That leaves you unequipped,
To fight the New Big Bertha,
Plague, Super Bug, Leprosy
CA MRSA
and maybe then you’ll see,
Part of what it’s like to be me,
To picture how it feels
To be eaten alive
by a flesh eating germ
Who’ll eat the Bactrum and thrive.
There are one or two
correct drugs out there,
But they have to be found quick!
you have to take great care,
not to die, not to let it win,
Before you’re too sick
And the disease moves within.
I fear for those who turn their backs,
Unless you find Karma queer
For they could fall fast and hard,
Maybe yet this year!
Until your family is like me
Praying for you
with all their might
and you all join in
and take up my fight!
because now you have to
with all your might.
Other countries have won
Locked MRSA out tight!
While our was has not begun
or even admitted
We have a war to be won.
Learn what you can
and share what you know
what we understand we command
so help our understanding grow.
And pray for help
sweating, writhing in contortions,
Aren’t we reminded
of plagues of Biblical proportions?
Are you afraid?
I hope you are,
’cause with you
and the friends I’ve made so far
We can get “their” attention
before we’re gone too far.
Other countries have won
The battle with this Beast
Let’s not find
We only did the very least
that we could have
forgive us, everyone!
For all the things we should have
already done.
MRSA Notes » MRSA Poetry // Mar 7, 2007 at 8:14 am
[...] A reader at MRSA Resources left this poem in the comments: [...]
Debra // Apr 19, 2007 at 10:56 am
I lived with a partner who had MRSA. He would get the boils every time he had a tragedy, and couldn’t handle or express the emotions that naturally came up. I had to help him, UP CLOSE. We were intimate, of course. I never had an outbreak.
We broke up, I moved into town. Shared a house with a friend. Hygiene issues (his). He came down with boils. I TOLD him to go to dr, AND to tell dr about MRSA. After too long, he finally went… he actually did try to tell dr that he might have MRSA, and the dr didn’t listen, just gave him penicillen. He got pretty sick.
I moved out; six months later, in a nice, clean place, but in a very stressful time (grad school), I had my first out break. MY ELBOW!!! The elbow was just sore at first, then boom. I tried cutting it off and packing it with cayenne, no good. I tried dousing it with lavender oil and tea tree oil, no good, I got a fever. Made it to the dr in time, and was prescribed sulfa.
Now, almost six months later, I think I’m breaking out again, this time (ARGGH) on my vulva. This time, no money for doctor. I’m pretty upset and scared.
Rhoda // Apr 19, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Some might disagree with me but I think you likely became a carrier from boyfriend number one. The MRSA virus colonizes in the nose and you can carry it there without breaking out for a long time or forever. You must have had a good immune system to have gone so long without breaking out yourself. I would call the health department and/or the disease control center in your area and look for sliding fee or free help. Try everyone. In my area the Salvation Army will fill prescriptions for you at least once. I am sorry to say but you will likely run into a lot of ignorance of your condition out there as you experienced with your boyfriend prescribed penicillin. Good luck and best wishes to you. There is a lot of support and help at this site. Rhoda
Kristi // Apr 25, 2007 at 8:29 am
I wanted to repsond to Diane. I have a 15 month old who has been battling MRSA in his inner ears since Nov 2006. I don’t know anything about the drug Zyvox, but am considering asking the ENT about it tomorrow.
Diane // Apr 25, 2007 at 10:08 am
Zyvox is a powerful drug with some nasty side effects, but it keeps from having to do vancomycin.
My son took it for 2.5 weeks. I was told that most side effects start showing up after the first two weeks or so.
My son had no obvious side effects while on the Zyvox, but about two weeks after he discontinued it, he has a horrible yeast infection in his genital area.
We’re still watching the ears to see whether the MRSA returns. We don’t know whether we’ve eradicated it or just temporarily beaten it back.
I wish you well.
Kristi // Apr 26, 2007 at 7:11 am
Diane…when was your son diagnosed?? Was Zyvox the only drug he has been on? I’m asking because my son was on Bactrim for 17 weeks. Then on Clindamycin for 3 weeks. He was hospitalized last week and they put him on vancomycin; however, he had some bad side effects, so they switched him back to the IV form of Clindamycin. We have to give him an IV 3 times a day. Yesterday, his ears started oozing again, so thought I would mention this other drug to the ENT. Also, has anyone been able to explain to you how MRSA gets in the ears?
Thanks!!
Pam // May 7, 2007 at 9:43 pm
I have MRSA in both of my ears. The symptoms I have are severe itching, peeling, scales and oozing. I have been on bactrim and minicyline with no luck at keeping it away. I get better but within one month it returns, I would like to know what symptoms others have seen with MRSA in the ears.
Kristi // May 18, 2007 at 8:26 am
Pam,
The only signs I have seen with my son are the oozing. I assume there is some pain involved as he tends to cry out holding his ears. Has anyone been able to explain to you how the MRSA got in your ears. I just don’t understand it.
Kate // Jun 24, 2007 at 10:05 pm
I was diagnosed with CA-MRSA in April. Don’t know how I got it. Had four infections before they cultured the calf infection and figured it out. Swelling, fever, etc. I was hospitalized and they used Vancomyacin by IV, and then Zyvox (VERY expensive!!) when I went home. I have a terrific ID Doctor, and good follow up.
Dana // Jul 27, 2007 at 9:05 am
I was diagnosed with MRSA almost 3 years ago. I have been outbreak free, as has my boyfriend who also is a carrier, for almost a year and a half. I take acidopholus(sp?) every day and wash my hands quite a bit(not compulsively). I also try and fast every six months. I have found that by keeping my health at its best, for what I can do ( I am a full time grad student) has helped me. Prior to these small lifestyle changes I have breaking out in boils at least once every other month. I would be happy to go into greater detail about what preventative measures I take. Also, I went to the CDC and was told I would have MRSA forever, seeing that it had colonized in my nose and also the pereneum(sp?) layer of my skin. Great news right, but I am not going to let it get me down. Good luck all.
Emily // Aug 20, 2007 at 12:06 am
This is just crazy!!!
Does anyone know if it’s possible to contract MRSA and to not have physical symptoms for 13 years???
Montel Williams did a quick bit on his show one day about MRSA, and besides that, I’ve not read or heard anything else about it in terms of public awareness.
It’s a sad world when we live in a country with the best medical treatments available…ONLY IF you’ve got the money or good insurance to pay for it.
If you’re like me, (and way too many of us are) living from check to check, barely making ends meet, living w/o health insurance (and can’t get medi-cal because, I guess I’m too ‘responsible’ to qualify for it- I earn too much money and I’ve chosen to NOT bring a child into my already financially burdened life) then you’re just S.O.L.
The doctor wanted to give me an antibiotic shot, antibiotic pills (Cleocin), a topical antibiontic ointment, bloodwork tests, and an HIV test…
With the cost off the clinic visit, I was able to afford only the oral antibiotics and the ointment. I still don’t know if there’s something really wrong with me, or not… Something could be compromising my immune system causing me to have contracted MRSA, but, I was born here-I can’t afford to find out! What a country!
My heart and prayers go out to all who’ve been affected, inflicted, and infected by this unbelievable illness.
Rhoda // Aug 20, 2007 at 10:12 am
You can carry MRSA in your nose for your whole life without becoming infected. No one yet knows why some people break out with the disease and some don’t BUT, with the MRSA microbes everywhere, you could have picked this up at any time from any where. Researchers recently tested and found out that the MRSA microbes can survive at least two weeks on a coin kept at room temperature.
myspace.com/amyedits // Sep 16, 2007 at 1:17 pm
MRSA: Dallas County Jail Medical Requests Denied
Sunday July, 15 2007
Deanna’s mother visited her. She witnessed Deanna’s skin infections on her cheeks, chin, left under corner of mouth, and on lip/chin. Deanna said they removed Ambien from her medications, because they only give it to her for 30 days.
July 18 2007
Amy spoke with her public defender in District 363. She said she had not seen Deanna in a month. She put in a request “the following day” for health care. Deanna’s report was returned to the lawyer with a healthy approval. Atty is hoping for SAFP.org? or Cornell Dallas County Judicial Treatment for her addiction problems.
July 18, 2007
Amy visited Deanna. Saw sores over neck chest, breast ears, chin mouth upper lip. Deanna said she hasn’t seen her attorney in almost 2months. The Inmate psychologist/ doctor recommends Nexus treatment for her addiction problems, which resulted in her incarceration. Doctor gave her bactrum, topical antibiotic.
September 16, 2007
The life of this 20something year old mother of two over the last year is the grossest example an inmate, who was a drug addict. Without her shortcomings, the public would never be aware of the true horror of the disease spreading through not only Dallas County Jail, but also Texas State Prison, and Collin County systems while she awaited trial.
gary federigi // Sep 26, 2007 at 1:01 pm
i am a plumber for santa clara county in CA. i often work in the jails and i want to know how long the bacteria stays alive on my tools? i have looked at a lot of websites and i can’t find out how long it persists out in the open. if anyone knows or has an idea how i can find out it would appreciate the help.
Rhoda // Sep 28, 2007 at 10:49 am
Gary ~ I read online that in a test done in England MRSA stayed alive on a penny for two weeks at room temperature. Hope this helps you. In another test it has also been found that over 90% of hundred dollar bills tested positive for MRSA so it is everywhere. Rhoda
f8cleopatra // Sep 29, 2007 at 4:51 pm
People might have an auto immune disorder, or something similar to my cousin’s previous weak immune system. She had taken many antibiotics for many health infections, sinus and otherwise. So, if you give a person a chance to fight infection ask these questions: were you a smoker, drinker or a victim to another immune disease in your lifetime?
As far as you tools, I’d be more concerned about your disposable rubber gloves, antibacterial alcohol, and shoes which NEVER enter your home. The best quarantine I have seen so far is, scrub all appliances and clothes in hot water plus a detergent. Keep the shoes which trace infection and worms, yes WORMS (people have dogs they don’t treat). The best one I have heard to clean the water pipes is: AMMONIA! Yes, this helpful info came from the water safety control unit in Wylie, Texas. As long as you have a simple water purifier with a carbon filter, your water is safe to drink too.
My personal bet on your case is check about any rashes or respiratory infections you have had in the last 6 months to a year. A simple spore test under a microscope will tell you if you have either. If you have any rashes, do a swab test. Remember, if you have a family or share a shower, the spores can live in your nose/air vents and travel to other weaker immune systems to develop into M.R.S.A. So, go pay 90 bucks at the local carenow/primacare/or emergency out-care center and see what you do…or do not have.
Hope this advice works,
http://www.myspace.com/amyedits
Deanna’s M.R.S.A. story
http://amyedits.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html
Sarah // Oct 1, 2007 at 9:53 pm
I had MRSA off and on for 3 yrs before I found a doctor who actually told me what it was. By then, my Boyfriend had it. I took Sulfamethoxazole with Trimethoprim (which is Bactrim and Septra). It got rid of it, but he couldnt go on it because he is allergic to sulfas, so the dr put him on oral Clindamycin (which, if you know anything, Clindamycin Orally is very ineffective and still expensive).
He got it again, and a different Doctor put him on Zyvox, which was a $2,087 medicine. Suddenly, he has another boil on his knee…. Anyone know what else may be effective? Also, what precautions should I take to make sure I don’t get it again?
Rhoda // Oct 2, 2007 at 8:58 am
Doxycycline and Keflex are sometimes effective when used together. Rhoda
F8cleopatra // Oct 2, 2007 at 9:49 am
I’ve been reading the pharmaceuticals don’t help much at stage 2 or 3. You are past stage 3, so they advise I’ve found is: draining the lesion often and keeping it very dry.
Alternative methods if you can’t afford pills are: try any roots or leaf coverings which are known for draining open wounds. (Chinese medication or whole foods stores should have the basics in their homeopathy…or vegetable section). Theses methods dry out an infected area.
News-Medical.Net
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=6975
Essential oils have been found to kill the deadly MRSA bacteria
Medical Research News
Published: Tuesday, 21-Dec-2004
Print - Essential oils have been found to kill the deadly MRSA bacteria
Essential oils have been found to kill the deadly MRSA bacteria. Essential oils usually used in aromatherapy have been found to kill the deadly MRSA bacteria according to research carried out at The University of Manchester.
Another strange alternative, which seems to work: real leeches, since they suck infection from a local area! I know, sounds wierd, but it proves people are studying alternative approaches to heal! Hope this gets you started in a non-pharmaceutical approach.
Kate // Oct 2, 2007 at 12:25 pm
I was given Vancomycin in the hospital, as was another person I know. It is given by IV. I also had Zyvox after my release, and luckily my insurance company covered most of that. If they hadn’t I was told I would have to go to the hospital 2x a day for the IV instead, as it was covered. I hear it is the strongest antibiotic to use for MRSA.
As for precautions WASH everything - sheets, towels & clothes etc with bleach. The doctor also told me to change my sheets every other day. She also had me use Hibiclens in the shower, which is what surgeons use. It’s available at Walgreens, no presription. And of course wash hands very often.
Sarah // Oct 5, 2007 at 10:59 am
Thanks for the help. His Doctor is a moron… She said “These things sometimes come back. Just put this ointment on any boils you get.” I was like…O my goodness…no pills, no treatment at all….I told him if he gets even one more sore, go to a different Doctor. The doctor I went to was great. Gave me my meds, and I got better.
Anyhow, I’ll look up more on the natural treatments then. Thanks for the help guys!!!
LISA // Oct 9, 2007 at 10:34 am
My husband contracted MRSA in the bone during knee lazer surgery in 2000. (At that time only 1 in 3 million got it) After 4 surgeries to remove infection & 3 mos of IV vancomycin, he was left with nerve damage to his leg. He can’t straighten it out and has constant pain, now walks with a cane. Also has the face redness, peeling and ear peeling, scaling, sores on his scalp — these do not go away, they come and go with the ups & downs of his immune system. He also has yeast build up in his mouth, that can be as big as golf balls. After fighting this for 7 yrs he has it back again. This time in an artifical hip. Due to walking with the cane for so long, he developed arthritis in his hip. He went in to have it replaced, exactly 10 days later, he is septic again, this time with “regular” staph. After IV antibiotics don’t work, they take out the hip and discover a pocket of MRSA hiding behind the joint, and put in a “spacer”. October 1, put in a new hip and 10 days later, has it again. This time he is told he has HA-MRSA & CA-MRSA. They act different so don’t let anyone tell you they are the same. HA-MRSA is hosp acquired and lays dormant in the bloodstream and can reattack over & over, attacking weakest areas, especially artificial joints (wish someone told us that). It can colonize in the lungs & heart. CA-MRSA is community driven, can be passed like a cold, landing on sores etc. I hate it when people think he has “just MRSA”. Nurses & doctors can be so non-chalant about it because they see it all the time. I would like any of them to be in our shoes. He has had blood clots & even a subdural hemotoma in the brain. (which he was lucky to survived) The constant drugs take a toll on the body. Not only the physical problems, but the mental. This happened when my husband was 45 yrs old. He was never sick before, never took any meds. He lost his business, suffers from depression. I have a job with insurance or we couldn’t have survived this. HA-MRSA at that time only grew in a hosp, nursing home environment, but we could not sue. In our state, you have to prove where he got it: dirty instruments, surgeon or nurses hands, etc. Plus lawyers are greedy, don’t want cases when the plantive doesn’t make a huge living, for a loss of wages case. This has changed all of our lives and ruined my husbands.
Matthew // Oct 16, 2007 at 5:51 pm
I was diagnosed with mrsa 4 years ago and it has destroyed my life. I havent been able to function and go out, shop, cook . This infection is a terrible thing . I have it controlled to my nfoot right now but my foot hasent stopped bleeding for 3.5 years. I would love to do something to help our cause like bike across canada or marathon or something that will bring awarness if any one has any ideas to help please e-mail cookmore2003@yahoo.com lets make a difference so other people are not put in this situatiion like so many of us.
kelly frick // Oct 16, 2007 at 7:16 pm
my husband was diagnosefd with MRSA 2 weeks ago. on thursday they are going to try remove one graft from a prior by-pass that is infected and place a new one . They tell me the bacteria is no longer in his bloodstream , but if there is any and it exists during the surgery and jumps to the new graft we are going to have problems. I at this point am so scared that it just is there , I am going to lose him. He has so many health problems . I pray every day and night I don’t lose the love of my life!
Liz // Oct 16, 2007 at 7:18 pm
I have had MRSA 4 times in 5 months all different areas, This is the 2nd time on Zyvox. I thought I was getting it at the gym by the last time I got a boil I wasn’t there in a month and contracted it. I have scars from removing the boils, and this time it looks like I was shot. Only one person in my family contracted it and that was before I knew what it was, Since then (thank God) no one has gotten it. I seem to contract it around the same time as menstration. The ID Doctors seems to think I have overactive sweat glands at that time of the month since all areas were different and no open sores were present. Any one have an opinion….I really want this to stop I can’t go on Bactrum and the scars are visible.
shelli // Oct 17, 2007 at 7:20 pm
I work in a hospital. I would encourage patients and families to wash your hands when entering and leaving the hosptial. And please leave your children at home. I feel so bad for the children that are dragged to the hospital and enter rooms. I see them play on the floors it really concerns me. I tell people time and time again. But, again family members do not want to here it. They threaten the nurses if we say anything about washing their hands.
Michele // Oct 19, 2007 at 1:56 pm
A few weeks ago I was in the ER and was told my the attending doctors that he strongly believed I have MRSA….please continue to read.
I have been having staph/MRSA like system for over 5 years. I lived in Va. Beach when it started and moved up to the Richmond area 3 years ago. I have got to many doctors at the Beach and here and they give me antibiotics. The a few weeks or months later, I have an out break. The doctors have never told me why I am getting these infections, like giant boils. I just had an outbreak not to long ago; I went to the ER last week. The doctor then told me that he believes I had MRSA but never did a culture or even a test to determine if this is what I did indeed have. He gave me some meds in an IV then sent me home with a prescription as well. So I am now left with wondering if I really do have MRSA. Two weeks I had a boil like bump big in size on my chest then a week later I had about 4 small ones on my upper right leg. All of a sudden, my knee started hurting and sure enough, with in two days, my knee was red, hot and swollen about 2 1/2 times the normal size. For years I have been trying to get an answer to my question; Do I have a staph infection or MRSA?” These skin infections have been coming and going for years. They are very painful. My children have even had a boil once or twice. They are ages 14, 5 & 3. If I do have this, I need to know so I can ensure they are properly taking care of.
Liz // Oct 19, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Michele sounds to me like it…Why it keeps coming back I’d like to know also. I just went off my antibotics hoping to go more that 2 weeks without another boil.
matt // Oct 20, 2007 at 9:05 am
Well I have been told I am having surgery after 3.5 years of living with the mrsa bug .This bug has ruined my life and my family’s lives. I am terrified to go back to to a hospital. I am scared of having surgery and the bug getting into my bloodstream and terrified of this infection causing my death , I am not ready to go , I have 2 small daughters and a beautiful wife that needs me. I think we all need to revolt till the important people hear our crys . this is a bug that can be stopped with the right education , and preventitive measures. We need to march in every city stand up for if not ourselves other people that will one day get this bug if nothing is done .kinda like right now. In all 3.5 years I have never even been told much about this infection, I had to find all information for myself. this is not right.
kate // Oct 20, 2007 at 9:32 am
Michele, I would INSIST on a culture being done. A nurse in the ER suggested it to the doctor after I spoke with her about the several other smaller infections I had. It was MRSA.
Also after the anitbiotics do the doctors continue to follow up with you and have you use special soap, ointment for the nose to kill the bacteria where it often sits? My ID doctor was great, and I was seeing her 2x a week at the beginning. She also said to not shave my legs for a few weeks, call her if I had any type of cut and she would see me - anything to try and keep it from coming back again. It is very serious, and as we’ve seen more in the news lately can cause death. You have to keep going to other doctors and get someone to listen to you. Especially if you risk that other family members will become colonized too.
Charlie // Oct 20, 2007 at 4:29 pm
My girlfriend was diagnosed with MRSA two days ago, and I just found out about it last night. She’s only 15, and is obviously very scared. What’s more, the doc said she’s resistant to Vancomycin. Does anyone have any info about what we can do to get her treated? Unsurprisingly, her Doctor wouldnt give her much info, and even said there is no other med’s she can be on, despite the fact that I’ve done countless hours of research on it over the last 24 hours and I’ve seen suggestions as to other antibiotics that she can take. If anyone has any info, please help!
matt // Oct 21, 2007 at 1:15 am
Charlie get your girlfriend into an emergency and have them take a culture swab and the lab will be able to determine which antibiotics her infection are resistant to. I have been dealing with this infection for almost 4 years and want to help as many people as I can, this infection is a terrible bug kills more people than aids. I wish you and her all the best just stick with her she will need you. Times get really rough and dealing with something like this is impossible. If I can be of more assistance or you guys want to talk please feel free to e-mail me at cookmore2003@yahoo.com.
Heather // Oct 21, 2007 at 7:46 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.
lindsay // Oct 21, 2007 at 10:16 pm
My husband, Matt, received the MRSA infection after undergoing surgery following a car accident. It has been almost 5 years, and I have seen how it has affected him both mentally and physically. The past few months he has gotten really depressed, just tired of living with this horrible curse. The doctors are never very helpful- I go to almost all of his appointment with him, including numerous visits to the emergency room. Doctors and nurses are incredibly careless, and it is usually up to him to point out the precautions that must be taken in order to prevent spreading the bug. Matt has been amazingly strong throughout all of this, but I just wish that there was something that could be done. I think knowledge and education are the key. Everyone who has posted messages here needs to be strong and fight to receive the proper care; you are all in my thoughts.
matt // Oct 21, 2007 at 10:19 pm
My husband, Matt, received the MRSA infection after undergoing surgery following a car accident. It has been almost 5 years, and I have seen how it has affected him both mentally and physically. The past few months he has gotten really depressed, just tired of living with this horrible curse. The doctors are never very helpful- I go to almost all of his appointment with him, including numerous visits to the emergency room. Doctors and nurses are incredibly careless, and it is usually up to him to point out the precautions that must be taken in order to prevent spreading the bug. Matt has been amazingly strong throughout all of this, but I just wish that there was something that could be done. I think knowledge and education are the key. Everyone who has posted messages here needs to be strong and fight to receive the proper care; you are all in my thoughts. I love Matt more than anything, and I just believe that he deserves to be treated better by the medical community than how he has been for most of his time with MRSA. They just don’t seem to understand what the people who suffer with this superbug truly go through everyday
carla // Oct 29, 2007 at 6:55 am
I just need someone to talk too?
Debra // Oct 29, 2007 at 10:35 am
The stories I read here are both horrific and heart breaking. I posted a while back, because I had an outbreak of MRSA last year on my elbow. Because my partner (ex) had had it, I knew about it, and demanded that my doctor test for it - so it was properly diagnosed, and I was prescribed a sulfa compound, which worked GREAT. Thought I was breaking out again at one point, but didn’t.
One person said I must have a strong immune system to not have broken out with this before; it may be true. I eat a lot of raw food; I avoid much processed food; I don’t over eat wheat or pasta, which my system lets me know doesn’t agree with me. I rely on salads a lot, and as a cook, have discovered many types of salads. And I definitely don’t mean iceberg lettuce (down with iceberg!!!) But one of the most powerful but simple food/medicines I have found to boost the immune system, fight infection and virus is CINNAMON AND HONEY. Either one alone is powerful, but the combination is a powerful healer; and it seems to be the most INEXPENSIVE way to boost ones immune system.
We understand that this bug is everywhere now (on money, etc); the people who don’t get it must be doing something right. Try this simple remedy and see if your energy gets a boost. One tsp of honey to one tsp of cinnamon powder. Eat the paste, make a tea from it, put it on bread if you must (my last choice). Augment your tea with raw lemon and fresh ginger. This remedy helped me tremendously, and I do it on a daily basis now. Stress wears a body down, makes the immune system weaker. We can’t escape stress in this society, but we CAN improve our diet. We have to stop, when possible, eating vitamin-deficient foodstuffs that surround us in this society. The store is full of them, fast food restaurants build their businesses on our weaknesses and then doctors don’t want to deal with the fallout. It’s up to us.
william jester // Oct 29, 2007 at 9:03 pm
pa. . department of corrections. my wife is in a inmate state institutions. DOC said not to belive my wife that she is lieing. that there is no outbrake in the state institutions. so who do itrust my wife or the doctor at doc. i belive my wife. the do not wint you to no.
connie // Nov 1, 2007 at 3:33 am
my mother lost her life to mrsa on september 7,2007. she had aortic valve replacement surgery on may 31,2007 and landed back in the icu three times after and her last time started on august 27,2007. she was admitted for an infection which i found out by going on the internet was sepsis. she had a very difficult time breathing and i repeatedly told them that i wanted her put on the respirator but they did not do this until august 31,2007. i consulted with my niece who is a doctor because i wanted to get her opinion. i told the hospital to disclose all medical information to her. she then consulted with a cardioligist. when i talked to her she told me mom had mrsa and they had to pinpoint the source and amputate it and she said they should send a scope down to look at the aortic valve. i asked repeatedly for this to be done and was told several times that they were going to do it. her surgeon did not even look at her until two days after she was admitted and two more days went by and i caught him leaving the icu and asked him if he thought mom would make it and his answer to me was that she was a very sick lady and he was going away for the weekend but he would look in on her when he got back and then he added that he did not know where the infection was coming from but it was not her aortic valve. they did not even give her the antibiotic for the mrsa until five days after she was admitted and it was not working. i told the head cardioligist of the icu that time was running out and i wanted the mrsa pinpointed and amputated. her answer to me was that all the cardioligists said that it was coming from her aortic valve. i told her that i talked to her surgeon and he said it was not coming from her aortic valve. her answer to me was do you really think that the surgeon would admit that there was something wrong with the valve? i almost fell over when she made that comment. i told her i wanted something done or i would make arrangements to move her to another hospital that would help her. she then went and talked to a surgeon that had over looked my mother the last two times she was in the icu. she came to me and said he was willing to help me. he called me the very next morning and said he was willing to do the surgery because it was the only way she was going to live and he admitted that the infection came from the hospital. he said he was going to talk to the surgeon that did the surgery on my mother and find out what he thought went wrong. well unfortunately her surgeon returned and denied her the surgery. i told him that i wanted the surgery done because it was her only chance and his answer to me was that he did not think she had the quality of life. my mother ended up having a allergic reaction to the antibiotics and lost almost all of her blood in her body so i had to pull life support. i will never forgive these people because there was nothing but lies and promises that they never followed thru with. who does this surgeon think he is god ? my mother had alot of quality of life!!!
Debra // Nov 1, 2007 at 11:22 am
My heart goes out to Connie, who lost her mother due to MRSA and the doctor(s) who didn’t think it was important enough to listen to her. We need a new generation of doctors, who have open hearts/minds/ears, and we need to insist on these things until they become manifest. Do not let the ignorance (or deliberate withholding) of the medical profession dictate whether your loved ones live or not.
margaret // Nov 2, 2007 at 10:40 am
I’ve been diagnosed with “possible MRSA” after 3wks of Keflex and boils still coming back. My household is undergoing “decontamination” and I’m afraid my 2yo son might get it. My PCP seems to think that this round of Bactrim, bleach baths & Bactroban will get rid of the MRSA, but it sounds like it never goes away. That scares me. Has anyone been “cured”?
Debbie // Nov 2, 2007 at 8:07 pm
This information from real people is extremely helpful. I agree with everyone, 90% of the doctors are uneducated, misdiagnosing, and treating “real people” with negligence and unfortunately making things worse. There is no excuse that 100% of the medical community is not testing for staph which will show MRSA-NONE. This had been reported as the major concern for a few years now. If they would treat it properly and bring the attention due - then maybe it would not be growing and more people suffering and dying. This is ridiculous. However, also, it seems like the doctors don’t truly understand how to treat it properly. You can go to 10 different doctors and get 6 different ways of treating it. I have CVID (immune defficiance and uclerative colitis). My weakened immune system combined with remicade treatments for the colitis leave me even more suseptible. I have a current case of confirmed MRSA and am on my second dose of antibiotics - the first time was bactrim which did nothing until they added Rifampin (sp?). After dose was complete, it came back a few days later meaning it did not clear as it was resistant. Now I had to fight to get a stronger antibiotic…I have a good doctor (specialist ENT) however, I recommend everyone push for a referral to an infectious disease doctor if you have reocurring infections or if you have a suppressed immune system! Don’t wait…I experienced the similar situations of doctors not caring and being arrogant - how dare we be concerned and question our treatment. Well, it is our lives not theirs. I do not believe in fragrant law suits - but what will it take to get doctors to treat the disease as if “they” had it. I noticed both times my infection surfaced it happened after antibiotic treatment and/or when my immune system was struggling. I believe in what someone said above…compliment any treatment by resting, eating healthy foods (fruits, vegatables, cutting out sugar, eating healing foods like garlic, onion, ginger, etc.) I used garlic topically as well on the first infection with the antibiotics and it was amazing how it helped heal the abcess (sp?) Two great books I have found are The makers diet and What would Jesus eat which spells out naturally healing foods and remedies that have worked long before antibiotics were handed out like candy. There were natural cures for centuries…get as educated as possible - and check out the search libraries of well know clinical hospitals (like UAB in Birmingham Alabama, Mayo clinics, Harvard, etc.) UAB site even researches natural as well as other clinical testing - there was an article about garlic helping MRSA. I will continue to read what other people experience and keep researching and take a whole approach to healing which includes finding the right doctor, using the meds that are proven, gettin educated, staying off antiobiotics unless absolutely needed, eating fresh fruits and veggies, using herbs, etc. Good luck to you all. Please continue to share - your information is so helpful.
Josefine // Nov 4, 2007 at 2:06 pm
I am a student and a former collegiate athlete. I had MRSA three times in my two years on the sports team and decided that my body could not handle another infection. I quit the team. Many of my friends who are still on the team continue to get MRSA with little concern from the coaches or athletic staff. I am currently in an environment and public health journalism class and am working on a story about MRSA. I found this site online and was wondering if anyone had any specific stories of their experiences to tell me. Again, this is just for a class and real names do not have to be used. I am writing this article purely, because of my strong interest in the infectious disease due to personal experience. I find it incredibly unfortunate that MRSA is just now gaining media attention. If anyone has any really interesting stories to share, they would be very appreciated. Also, if anyone can refer me to someone who would be willing to speak with me on the subject (patients, parents, doctors, school officials…,) I would be grateful. Thank you and take care.
shaffer // Nov 7, 2007 at 3:27 pm
my husband, me and my kids all have mrsa we have been hospilized my 2 year old daughter just was in october my doctor swabed our nose to see who the carrier was and me and my five year old son is we were treated with a nasal swab we had to apply inside for 14 days . then we are going to get tested again to see if it is gone . my son has had7 breakouts my husband 14 my daughter 2 and i 1breakout whick all had to be cut open and packed
Winnie // Nov 7, 2007 at 8:59 pm
My boyfriend and I have MRSA. I have my first appointment with an infectious disease specialist tomorrow. I am very concerned and need support. I have been unable to work and very depressed and am too afraid of getting the wrong antibiotics that I left several wounds untreated. Ugh. I hate this stuff.
joseph boucher // Nov 9, 2007 at 10:42 am
maine my girlfriend just found out she has mersain the last three day it sgot close to the siz of a pennie it weard and im worryed and i don t want it i think she got it at work she is a cna and i used to hope fright trains all over the usa iv had stalf before on the road but never mersa but any way waht should i do should i go on meds just in case should travaling kidds be really worred about this iv been with this girl for fivre years i don t want to lose her we have roomatesa what about them and if this mersa spread so quik why don t thay coreneenpepole who have it well i now thay do but im saying in the beging ya now please help joeyb
Winnie // Nov 9, 2007 at 10:48 am
Joey,
I don’t know that a doctor will medicate you unless you have MRSA also.
The best thing I know to do is:
Don’t share razors, towels or other personal items.
Keep her wounds clean and covered.
Wash your hands.
Avoid picking your nose.
Do not try and drain her wounds. See a doctor.
I wish there were better answers for us. I’m scared too!
Peace,
Winnie
James Frick // Nov 12, 2007 at 8:36 pm
My wife Kelly made a comment on this site while i was in the hospital about 3 weeks ago. She thought i was surely going to die. I Have MRSA in my bloodstream and am still recieving treatment. I feel for everyone and anyone effected by this scary bactiria. I almost died and believe i have a good understanding of what to lok for and watch out for, and help anyone conserned…i’m not out of danger myself yet. need to talk… have q?? my name is jim email frickinclearwater@yahoo.com
amber hatfield // Nov 13, 2007 at 1:19 pm
my daugter is 3 yrs old i dont know much about this staph but i do know she has it and im really scared that she will die the doctors tell me there is nothing to worry about but i know they are liars she first had an outbreak may 17 2007 i need someone to talk to about this no one will help me because they think they will get this bug im scared because not only do i have a daughter with it but i also have two sons who are 2 and 6 one is in school so please will you guys help me i really do need to know im only 23 , 3 kids and i live in a very small town only 97 people and no one has the bug except for my precious little girl and everyone here treats her like a disease i hate it so please someone help!!!!!!!! thanks for reading my story. amber hatfield chemult or
Debra // Nov 13, 2007 at 1:30 pm
This comment is mainly for Amber Hatfield, but for anyone that has ‘ears to hear’, so to speak… Amber, it is natural to be afraid in this situation, with one child sick w/MRSA, and having two more that may contract it. It is hard to imagine that you and your children will be able to avoid the bug, due to living together. I’m not a proponent of bleach, but I hear of people really nuking their homes (clothes, surfaces, etc) with bleach to ‘kill’the bacteria. You need to boost the immune systems of both yourself and your children, however. Because this bacteria is everywhere, basically… did you know that tea tree oil and lavender are both antibacterial in effect? There are more (thyme oil, for gosh sake), but these two are cheap and easily available. Dr. Bronner’s soap is usually available, and if you can’t get it, post again w/your address and I SEND YOU SOME, ok! Wash surfaces with tea tree oil soap and/or lavender, mix them… ingest at will cinnamon/honey paste (one tsp of each, mixed) - teas with fresh lemon and raw ginger are powerful, and the paste can be a tea, too, or put on toast. Another lady in this forum mentioned some kind of seaweed. All seaweed is GREAT for strengthening the system and supplying iodine. We have to start on the inside, I think; if we are strong constitutionally, then these bugs can not make us sick. Get rid of the white flour, white sugar, airy cereals with mostly sugar, and be strong nutritionally. It’s one of the best gifts you can give your children. I wish you, and everyone dealing with this bug, the best.
James Frick // Nov 13, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Amber,
Please don’t let anyone tell you theres nothing to worry about or give you some goofy idea that if you eat the right things and drink the right things all is good …it’s not …I have MRSA. Just spent 3weeks in intensive care.. I want you to be very conserned …not scared there are good treatments. Last week I thought i would die. This week i want to talk with anyone with this illness. Push your Dr. for blood cultures now! If you want to talk you can email me @ frickinckearwater@yahoo.com
jasmine // Nov 14, 2007 at 9:55 pm
my dr. thinks i may have mrsa. i have a boil inside my left ear canal, and it is killing me! i have pain all around my ear and even down my neck. it’s not draining yet. she said if it does to come in right away so they could do a culture to see. until then she gave me a prescription for bactrim ds. does this sound familiar to anyone else? i don’t know how this serious this could be or if i must have a mild case… for what it’s worth someone told me this evening that olive leaf extract will keep the boils away…. any info would be much appreciated. thanks!
James Frick // Nov 15, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Jasmine, don’t take this lightly. push your Dr. to do both blood tests and blood cultures. the sore need not be draining to get these results. The sooner the better! Maybe its nothing but it could be life threatining. I know …I’ve been there. If you have questions contact me at frickinclearwater@yahoo.com I’m not a Dr. but I have spent to much time in intensive care. anyone who thinks they may have MRSA please it serious. Jimmy
Josefine Strong // Nov 26, 2007 at 7:43 pm
My name is Josefine Strong. I have had MRSA three times, one of which was quite serious. These were all due to athletic-related infections. Having had MRSA and having followed the media attention on the topic, I have gained quite an interest in the topic. I am a college student and I am currently working on a paper for an environmental and public health journalism class. I am trying to write a paper that tells a really personal story - something different from the typical report. If anyone would be willing to share their story with me for my paper, I would really appreciate it. I have been speaking with some top doctors at the University of Michigan Medical School on the topic and would love to share the information with everyone (and will do so when I have finished my interviews.) This paper will most likely not be published, but there is a slight possibility. If anyone would be willing to send me their story, I will put it in the paper and send you the finished product. My email address is josefinestrong@gmail.com. I am most interested in the story and emotions behind the infection. Whatever you would want others to know about MRSA that isn’t being told. I am not trying to use the support network to get a better grade. I am sorry if it may seem this way. I am really trying, as a MRSA survivor, to tell a different side of the story. Thank you all, good luck, and take care.
Brian // Nov 27, 2007 at 12:47 pm
I went into the hospital for a routine hernia surgery. After the surgery, while I was still there, they admitted a man who had MRSA and put him in the bed next to mine. They were draining fluid from his leg. I found out two weeks ago after I had to be readmitted with fever, chills, etc. that I now have HA-MRSA. I was put on Bactrim and my symptoms now seem to be gone, but I’m stilll draining yellow fluid from the drain tube that they put in me.
I am so extremely angry that I (as well as my wife and daughter) will have to worry about this for the rest of our lives. Though my symptoms are gone, I know it could and probably will flare up again any time.
I can’t stand the fact that doctors and hospitals display the attitude that “oh well….it’s too bad you have mrsa. Lots of people are getting it now.” I have it due to their irresponsibility, not simply due to “oh well…that’s the breaks”.
Thanks for letting me vent!
Brian // Nov 27, 2007 at 12:50 pm
I went into the hospital for a routine hernia surgery. After the surgery, while I was still there, they admitted a man who had MRSA and put him in the bed next to mine. They were draining fluid from his leg. I found out two weeks ago after I had to be readmitted with fever, chills, etc. that I now have HA-MRSA. I was put on Bactrim and my symptoms now seem to be gone, but I’m stilll draining yellow fluid from the drain tube that they put in me.
I am so extremely angry that I (as well as my wife and daughter) will have to worry about this for the rest of our lives. Though my symptoms are gone, I know it could and probably will flare up again any time.
I can’t stand the fact that doctors and hospitals display the attitude that “oh well….it’s too bad you have mrsa. Lots of people are getting it now.” I have it due to their irresponsibility, not simply due to “oh well…that’s the breaks”.
Thanks for letting me vent!
Brian
Sherri // Nov 27, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Brian, this is terrible and very irresponsible of the hospital. The other individual should have been isolated. These hospitals better get educated real fast. I have had 4 episodes. My chances of going through this again are very likely. Unless a person has had it, one will know it’s severity. We have to do our own homework, because it seems some do not care. I know the warning signs now. If I can be of more help, e-mail me: willey2@netins.net. I wish you well during your recovery!
Erich // Dec 5, 2007 at 8:00 pm
I had a small bump that itched a little on top of my ring finger. Just like a mosquito bite so I wasn’t suspicious. I woke up 24 hours later to find a dime size boil with a small pusstule in the center. I went to work with excrutiating pain in the entire finger. Burning and a horrible dull pain that radiated to the bone. I’ve been in pain before but not like this. I did some quick research on the internet and went straight to the ER and told the doctor I had been bitten by a brown recluse spider. WRONG!!! He took a long look at it and asked about other symptoms. I also had a fever and my bones and joints throughout my body ached as if I had the flu. He had me remove my shirt where he proceed to show me that red trails had moved up my knuckle and into my hand and partway up my arm. He proceeded to calmly lance the small puss filled boil and said the word……..MRSA. I had heard of it on the news but….seriously…..cmon…..NOT ME!!! He started me on AVELOX and DOXYCYCLINE and asked me to call in 2 days (Dec. 6th) to get results on which strain I hd so they can tailor a more aggressive drug to counter this specific type. I have been terrified after doing tons of research the last day or so. I thought it was a virus that was killed and/or cured very easily. I’m starting to feel very scared as most every site has horrifying stories of death, destruction and constant ongoing battles. I’m scared for my wife and 2 kids and I am truly freaked out. Other than this, I’m a healthy 31 year old male. Can anyone post a positive comment about a story that ends with a happy ending?? For the first time in my life I feel vulnerable. I feel for anyone who has had to endure the stress that goes along with this. Although the dr. didn’t seem to worried, I am.
scared
Liz // Dec 5, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Today after I screamed at the ID doctor yesterday because MRSA has returned twice since my last post. I have been put on retna-A to reduce the bacteria in my skin from when I sweat and now have burned skin, he calls to put me on IV antibotics. I’ve been on Zyvox 4 times in 6 months and have never gone more than 3 week without a flare up that always needs to be lanced. Will this work, or ever go away. No one else is my family has flare ups
Debra // Dec 5, 2007 at 8:07 pm
This comment is for Erich. I want to say something positive, as you requested. I have posted my mrsa experience on this forum, and you can check that out. My experience was brief - and I had lived with someone who had several mrsa flareups! I had to help him ‘up close’ with his boils, and yet I never broke out - until two years after we split up. The site was on my elbow, which surprised me; when I went to the dr, I already knew about mrsa, and was suspiecious, so I directed her to just treat me for that. It WAS mrsa, she gave me a sulfa compound, I started feeling better in two days.
My recommendation is to curb your fear, as it affects you physically and is communicated to your family. Eat cinnamon honey paste (google that!), lots of water, vit C, fresh greens, get off the processed food, ease up on red meat and cheese…. things you can do to boost your immune system is the direction to go, and there are several pathways to do so. Best of luck to you, and all of us…. rest, drink pure water and try not to worry - prayers.
carla // Dec 5, 2007 at 11:21 pm
u know what ive been going through this for 2/yrs now an my health isnt getting any better my mom crys alot she told me that shes scared that if they dont find a med. thats going to work on me im just going to keep getting worse . but told her to keep praying an maybe the man above will help me out of this but im still a little scared myself but dont show to my family ive got to stay strong for them :
MaryMorales // Dec 13, 2007 at 9:04 am
My husband has been breaking out with boils for the past 3 years. He has such bad boils that they leave big scars like he was shot. He was diagnosed last year with MRSA. All the doctors seem to do is prescribe bactrim. It works for a month maybe 3 and he breaks out again. I’m so scared for my children 8 and 5. Does this live dormant in your bloodstream until it pops out in a boil form? Is there a cure? We do practice good hygeine. I wash with tide and I spray all door knobs, light switches and countertops with lysol. I don’t know what else to do. Is there anyone who can give me more info?
Michele MORRIS // Dec 13, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Mary,
I have been having boil break outs for the past 7 years. I too have been diagnosed with MRSA by an ER Doctor who prescribed bactrim for me. I have three kids ages 14, 5 & 3. They have had a boil here and there but nothing like I have. I just had one go away in my nose! Now that was not fun. I have had them on my face, thigh, shin, arm, just about all over. I am just as fustrated as you are but NO ONE seems to give a crap and wants to help out. But when a student in a high school died a few months back, 2 weeks after I was diagnosed and sent home, it was all over the news then just died off. Now you don’t hear anything about it. I am scared that one day, I will not make it through another out break. If there is any doctor or any one who is kind enought to help us effected by this, please respond, ASAP!
Grant Lalli // Dec 13, 2007 at 6:04 pm
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Sincerely,
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Debra // Dec 13, 2007 at 7:38 pm
It’s sad that someone has to use this forum to try and promote their product. There are many, many natural and INEXPENSIVE ways to kill bacteria, such as thyme oil, rosemary oil, lavender oil, tea tree oil… maybe if the company who developed the Ecobox and the ActivePure Technology was offering discounts to those afflicted with mrsa who also are low income, I wouldn’t be so put off. But it reminds of the drug companies making bucks on illnesses created by doctors.
Grant Lalli // Dec 13, 2007 at 8:18 pm
I’ m sorry you feel that way Debra . I can’t see spreading oil over every square inch of your home .I see this as hope to people that don’t want there love ones to get it if someone has it in there family,or they want to prevent themselves from getting it in the first place .There are several different types at a cheaper price .And if anyone is suffering with this in a low income I will personaly get one to you at the lowest price possible just call me, I want to help.This is not a drug and does not cure or treat any illness it does however kill germs ,mold,viruses on surfaces
Sincerely,
Grant Lalli
Debra // Dec 13, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Grant, no personal attack was meant. It’s more of a statement on the state of things - and no one said anything about putting oil directly on surfaces - there are ways of dispersing these substances in a way that does assist in killing bacteria. I wish I could find the studies I heard about where the government ‘discovered’ certain common essential oils killed various bacterias on contact and ‘aromatically’, and were therefore recommended for hospital useage. But no money was to be made on it, and nothing came of it.
Your product sounds interesting, it’s just that I know a lot of folk suffering from mrsa, especially those who contracted it in the hospital and are trying to pay those bills, a lot of folk can’t afford your product. Also, if someone bought this product and it was working in their home, but they were’nt working on boosting their immune system, they are still vulnerable to picking it up outside, where it is apparently spreading rapidly.
I appreciate this discussion. I recommend cinnamon/honey paste, pure water and less processed foods to help. But fresh air is essential to our health, too. Back to the basics: food, water, air, light.
Peace,
Debra Mathis
Lesa // Dec 18, 2007 at 3:01 pm
I contracted MRSA after a hospitalization in late 2006. I have been fighting it ever since. The doctors have been treating it with various antibiotics. The boils would go away and I would think it was over and then a month or two would go by and I would break out again.
I was finally admitted to a hospital and was released yesterday, 12/17/07. I was treated with intravenous antibiotics of Vancomycin.
Before being released yesterday, I met with the infectious disease doctors and we made a plan of care. They also provided me with the culture report for my records. The type of MRSA I have was treated effectively with Vancomycin, Ciprofloxacin, Gatifloxacin. Levofloxacin and Trimeth-Sulfa. They sent me home with oral Ciprofloxcin and Rifampin. My lesions are going down, but my face is still very swollen. If anyone would like to chat, please contact me. We all need support to deal with such a horrible plague.
Sherri // Dec 18, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Lesa, please e-mail me as I would love to help you. I have had 4 episodes of MRSA, since 2002. All have been on my skin, and the last infection being surgically removed last January. It left a hole in my leg about a half inch deep by 2 inches long. It took about 4 months to heal from the inside out. Amazing that after the last time, it has become widespread at an alarming rate. It wasn’t until this last time, that the Doctors did a culture and diagnosed the MRSA. Before, it was treated as Cellulitis. Feel free to e-mail like I said. Please take care of yourself! Sherri
Sherri // Dec 18, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Forgot my e-mail for you: willey2@netins.net
Regina // Jan 22, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Hello everybody. I was introduced to MRSA when what i thought was a blemish gone terribly wrong got me admitted to the hospital for 3 days. Half my face was swelling, the pain excruciating. When I asked the doctor how.why i got it, he tosssed it up to a case of bad luck. I am lucky though, they caught it quick and treated it aggressivly with oral and IV antibiotics. Is it possible to have more outbreaks of MRSA after all the antibiotics?
Jill // Feb 12, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I had a small what I thought was a pimple on my chin on wednesday, then woke up with a swollen jaw that was PAINFUL on thursday morning, went to the Dr. who drained it and prescribed bactrim and sent me home. He instantly said he thought it was MRSA. when I woke from a nap thursday afternoon, it was HUGE! I returned to the doctor who sent me to the ER. I was put on 4 different antibiotics, none of which were working. Friday morning they hung Zyvox, which was a GODSEND! by saturday night I was able to go home. Cant afford the oral Zyvox, though!!! $2200 for 14 tablets??? Are they kidding??? Im on doxycycline now and just keeping my fingers crossed! I’m also on muciprin in my nares twice daily and twice daily chlorhexiderm baths. Does anyone know how long I need to be isolated? One doctor told me contact isolation for 14 days. Has anyone else been ordered to be isolated like this? How easy is it spread in anyone’s experience? Any info will be greatly appreciated. I’m scared to death after reading some of your horror stories!
Michele Morris // Feb 13, 2008 at 7:48 am
Jill,
I hate to say this but it is easy contacted by skin contact. You must wash your hands a lot and try not to touch the infected area. I had my first out break about 7 1/2 years ago. I went to a “Doc in the Box” where they drained it and called it a boil and sent me home with Bactrim. Over the course of the past 7 years, I have had so many extremly painful out breaks, I can’t even count. I have scares on my face, legs, breast, side, butt, etc, from these infections. The last one I had was in my right knee. The doctor at the ER told me that he was 99% sure it was MRSA, I knew that, and sent me home, with out even doing a test and with the same old Bactrim after I told him that it didn’t work.
Just try to keep your hands clean and wipe down surfaces. This infection is nothing to play with. Two people in the area I live in have died from MRSA. I am not trying to scare you but trying to let you know how serious this is.
Jill // Feb 13, 2008 at 9:57 am
Michele, thank you so much for your response! I am already a clean freak, now I walk around with Chlorox wipes and have washed my hands so much that they are cracking!
One thing I forgot to mention, my boyfriend had mrsa just after thanksgiving and was in a small hospital. This hospital basically gave him antibiotics iv, did not quarantine him, didn’t tell him to clean anything, didn’t give him chlorhexidine to wash with or muciprin to put in his nares. Therefore I was around him the ENTIRE TIME, totally unaware of how serious his infection was. I suppose, therefore, I could have gotten the infection from him and he could be carrying it in his sinuses. How irresponsible of the doctors!!!
One good bit of news, I was approved on the Zyvox help line to get a months supply for $5! I’m picking it up asap! I’m also going to the surgeon this afternoon for a checkup.
I also have to have a cbc done later this week because my white cell count bottomed out in the hospital. How horrible can this infection be!!! Is there ANY way to get rid of it permanently???
And Michele, if you can get a prescription for Zyvox, you can call the Pfizer Zyvox help line and get 30 days at a time for $5 if you qualify, and the voucher is good for an entire year. Their phone number is 888-327-7787. Hope this helps.
Michele Morris // Feb 13, 2008 at 10:36 am
Jill,
Thanks for the information you gave. I will keep that in mind if/when my next out break is. I am so fed up with the doctors around here. Every time I go in with one of these infections, they send me home with crap meds that don’t do a thing. I have three children, ages 14, 5 & 3 and they have each had a “boil” or two. My 14 year old has gotten the worse of the kids but thank god not as bad as the ones I have had. The next time this happeneds to me, I will DEMAND that someone give me some answers and do more tests. I am sick of living with this.
I got my first out break after my husband and I were dating just a few months. I didn’t know why the heck I got this boil but after a few years and many out breaks later, I learned that my husband had a bad “boil” on his knee a few months before we met. I assume I got this from him but for some reason, I get it a lot and he doesn’t at all.
I think the doctors do not address it they was they should and they react to it when it is too late.
I will keep the information on the meds you gave me. I know I couldn’t afford to pay for it either.
Debra // Feb 13, 2008 at 11:30 am
This is for Jill and Michele - my heart goes out to you and everyone struggling with this situation. I believe my ex was having outbreaks of this way before I moved in with him. When he broke out after I moved in, and we went to Salem to dr, the dr DID finally diagnose it as mrsa, but NEVER told me to worry. Also, since we lived on a farm, and my friend’s boils were on his posterior, scarily close to his anus, I was the one who had to ‘treat’ him - help them drain and then clean - because we couldn’t drive into Salem every day. But all the time I lived out there I NEVER broke out.
I DID break out two years after moving out. I told the dr that I wanted her to check for mrsa, so she just treated it AS mrsa even before checking (and it was mrsa). The antibiotics she gave me kicked it in the butt- it was some kind of sulpher compound. I have not broken out since, BUT I DO believe in supporting my immune system. It’s my understanding that we do NOT get sick unless the immune system is compromised. So I really wish I could see here, on this forum, and in the public news, WAYS to CHEAPLY boost one’’s strength, health and immune powers. I have been telling people about cinnamon and honey. Please google this! I feel it has helped keep me healthy, and it is so available and inexpensive.
In addition, there are so many antibacterial subtances besides bleach WHICH IS A CARCINOGEN - lavender oil, tea tree oil, thyme oil are just a few. My prayers are that people will begin to return to these inoffensive, cheap ways of fighting infection and boosting their health. It IS working for me.
Blessings.
Michele Morris // Feb 13, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Debra,
Thank you ever so much for the information you included in your message. I will most definitely Google this.
Christina Williams // Feb 14, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Hello, Does anyone out there have a serious outbreak of Psoriasis they feel has been misdiagnosed? I have had Psoriasis outbreak for over 20 years and about a year ago after being hospitalized my skin became incredibly worse.
Have been to 2 different dermatologists and neither has tested or even mentioned MRSA.
Thanks,
Christina
Meredith // Feb 14, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Hello all! I am back, haven’t been on in a while. Funny story. I had been outbreak free for three months and finally felt like I had it under control-than I got a tattoo…Well my brother is a professional tattoo artist I watch him clean and clean, use hospital green soap, ALWAYS clean needles. I am a testiment to this, however, dumb me was supposed to barely cover the tattoo with A&D ointment. I on the other hand COVERED it.Then like a silly la la I wrapped my self in saranwrap and kept it on entirely too long. Little pimples began to form so I quit using the saran wrap but the pimples grew and grew and became the ugly disgusting things we have all grown to call family. Now these pimples are infected but not huge-there are just a lot of them.Some are small and some are large. I have covered them the Miuprocin cream and bandaids hoping to draw the infection out. NEVER had I had an outbreak like this…does anyone have any ideas on how I can get rid of such an outbreak? I dont want to go to the doc and have them cut on my back, totally not needed, and then have them prescribe me the same creams. Any herbal treatments? This is just annoying and hard to move around really fast! I do as well believe that these things can infect you when your immune system is down-howver the human body is not fool-proof. Sometimes you cant fight everything and this is a nasty, nasty, bug that I hope everyone one here has success in ridding themselves from. Any suggestions would be great!
M
Aaron // Mar 14, 2008 at 10:13 am
My boyfriend is in the hospital currently having been diagnosed with MRSA. He is on Vancomycin and Clendomycin(sp) IV’s currently. We went to the ER on Sunday, had his wound lanced and oral antibiotics prescribed. He went back on Tuesday for a recheck where they noted the original would was getting worse. They told him just to continue with the Bactrim and come back again for a recheck in another 48 hours. Needless to say, I sent him to my doctor who contacted an Infectious Disease Doctor who had him admitted to a different hospital immediately. (In the meantime, it spread from the left arm to the right arm and the left thigh). We are still waiting on more labs to come back, but it does not appear to be spreading, but he is still in the hospital and no telling when he will be released. The original site has not changes in days, which is good that it is not worse I guess. We live together and I have three young children that are home. From your experience, what if anything else can be done to first of all help him (I really do not know much about this, nor what they are planning on doing from this point) and second to ensure that my children are not infected.
Leann Czyzewski // Mar 18, 2008 at 7:38 am
My name is Leann Czyzewski, My daughter and I both were diagnosed with MRSA. Unfortunately it was too late for my daughter. Katie passed away February 2,2008 with the “Superbug”. She had been sick and diagnosed with influenza at the emergency room in Metairie Louisiana on January 29, 2008. She felt worse the next day and went back. She kept complaining that her chest hurt really bad so they took x-rays and said they could find nothing and if she felt worse to come back. They gave her Lodine for pain. The night of the 31st she couldn’t breath and was spitting up blood. I called the ambulance but it was too late. She died on the way to the hospital. Katie was 20 yrs. old. They said she didn’t have a clear spot on her lungs. How could this have happened so quick? They took x-rays not even 12 hrs. before. In July of 2007 she had gone to the same emergency room for a boil that they lanced and gave her antibiotics so it wasn’t like they didn’t have any medical records showing a previous staph infection. Since my daughter and I shared a room at home together I had it too. The doctors put me in the hospital right away and started me on Vancomycin. One month and half later I haven’t been back yet for my follow up. I”m just looking for some answers.
Aaron // Mar 19, 2008 at 8:24 am
I am so sorry to hear about your daughter! I am not real familiar with any of this either as my boyfriend just got out of the hospital on Sunday and is still being treated with the Zovex and on bed rest. I do know that it is something that he will always have and could also kill him at anytime if it gets into his lungs. I was really shocked at the lack of concern he recieved initially at the ER when we took him in the first time on Sunday. They just said to wash it and keep it covered and come back for them to repack it if necessary. But, by Tuesday when it had spread to his other arm and leg and grown markedly worse on the original arm, we went to a different doctor who admitted him immedietly and started the Vancomycin IV and Clemndomycin IV. I really believe that there is ont enough information out there on this disease nor are people as concernd as they need to be. Again, I am not real familiar with this, but I have started researching everything I can to try and help Aaron deal with this. If you were asked to go in for a follow up, you NEED to go! You really need to take care of yourself and make sure that your immune system is healthy. From what we have been told, it is when your immune system goes down that this “bug” has a chance to attack again. Take care of yourself and I will continue to pray for you and your family!
Cricket // Mar 19, 2008 at 10:48 am
I have been dealing with ca-mrsa since September, 07. I have had 5 boils (one needed to be surgically drained) and 5 outbreaks of impetigo. The question I have is, is there anyone that is just wiped out of energy since going through their bouts? I am exhausted all the time. I have wiped out my sick days but I still have to take days off. They did bloodwork Monday but I will not know anything for a couple of days. I hate this. I have found that Dr.’s, PA’s, nurses and yes family can be very insensitive about this. they pass it off like it is nothing and that hurts. Does anyone have any advise and does anybody else feel totally wiped out? I value any input!
Aaron // Mar 19, 2008 at 11:26 am
Right now Aaron is tired all of the time, he can’t seem to get his energy back. Granted he still is dealing with this and on some pretty strong meds, but he is really struggling to get up and out of bed to do anything. He has no energy at all and just feels “bad”. We are hoping it is just the medication that he is on and not a permanent symptom as he is an electrican and needs his energy and he has to be thinking straight to avoid any accidents on a job site. His memory is also not what it was, he can’t seem to focus and has even caught himself starting to do something and then forgetting what it was he was doing because he is so tired and drained. I agree, a lot of people did not seem to be concerned, especially at the first hospital. Aaron has never been someone who can sit still for any period of time and this has had him down for a week and a half so far.
Debra // Mar 19, 2008 at 11:44 am
Being wiped out after a bout with mrsa is understandable. The immune system has been fighting for life energy, and needs to be boosted. See my other posts - check out cinnamon-honey paste, the simplest, cheapest way to fight infection, virus, fatigue and more - one tsp of each, mix it — eat, put on toast, make tea w/it- just get it IN the body. You CANNOT overdose on this remedy. Silver, great - useful but expensive… use what is at hand! Lemon juice (fresh), raw ginger, and greens, greens, greens…. drop the cheap carbs (white bread, white rice) and give your body brain food and wholesome food that is is hungry for…
blessings.
Cricket // Mar 20, 2008 at 7:59 am
Thank you for your comments… it helps to know that we’re not alone in this!!!
Grant Lalli // Mar 20, 2008 at 10:36 am
I want share with people suffering with MRSA who want to boost there immune system and are looking for organic supplements that many sports teams are using like the NY Yankees, NY Jets, Browns, Phi Eagles and many more that are patented with a guaranteed delivery of the supplement to the cell’s of your body , its proven . And there are energy drinks available .
And if you have MRSA and are worried about spreading it to your loved ones there is a air purifier that kills MRSA on surfaces with no equal in the World, its proven
you can see this and how it works at http://www.tryfreshair.com/clean
Grant Lalli // Mar 20, 2008 at 10:53 am
This is the web site for the supplements . http://www.infinity2.com/clean
If you have MRSA or know someone that has it and want a Technology product contact me and I will
get it to you at a much lower price. You can see all of the products that might be a help to you and a video clip of how the infinity2 products will actually transform your blood cells to there healthy state with before and after results of real people http://www.ecoquestintl.com/clean I hope this can help you.
Dana // Mar 25, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I had left a comment some months ago and wanted to update. I have been without any boils/sores for almost two years now. I want to recommend garlic supplements to everyone. I am not someone who usually goes for supplements, partially because unless I really know what something is I feel weird ingesting it. I know garlic, everyone knows garlic, often times it is evident in my breath I have taken a garlic supplement recently… Anyway, I truly and honestly believe that outbreaks are connected to immune health and stress. I may not be able to do very much for my stress, but my immune health I keep strong by taking garlic twice a day, and drinking between 80 - 120 ounces of water a day. That is between 5 - 8 glasses of water roughly. Not too bad. I eat sensibly and indulge my sweet tooth, and have been healthier then I have ever been since starting the supplements. I used to tell myself that I would never get another boil after I would get one, I don’t know what telling myself would do but I would do it. My lifestyle changes have been minimal, washing my hands more often, addressing skin irritations immediately, I shower more often and for alittle longer, mainly to open my pores up and keep my skin cleaner, and I exercise a bit more often, again washing after to keep my skin happy. I DO NOT pick at any skin issue, which I believe was the cause of alot of my problems, and finally garlic and plenty of water.
I had over 30 boils over a 2 year period, was MRSA positive after a visit to the CDC, and after the last boil, summer 2006 I have been free from them. I don’t count it out of my life, anything is possible, but I will keep posting hopefully positive stories of keeping myself healthy and how.
Debra // Mar 25, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Dana, good job boosting your immune system. I have to agree with you regarding the garlic, also; personally, I have such a desire for garlic, I always eat it raw - on top of salads, rice, in a baked potato - YUM! I feel sad for anyone who thinks garlic is too ’smelly’ to eat - for them, supplements are great… but as always, the WHOLE FOOD, the RAW FOOD, is the most healthy way to consume nutrition…
Cinnamon/honey paste also boosts the immune system, and in Europe, the power of essential oils (such as tea tree, lavender, thyme and more) have long been known to kill infectious bacteria… here’s to us all becoming more and more knowledgeable about ways to become strong, becoming empowered not only to protect our health, but speak out against practices and foods that destroy our health. For MRSA would not be a problem, if immune systems were not so compromised.
Peace.
Debra // Mar 25, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Grant, it is VERY interesting that the technology is available, as you suggested, to kill the MRSA bacteria - specifically, the air purifier from http://www.tryfreshair.com/clean
One must wonder why this technology is not being used in the very hospitals dispensing the mrsa bacteria at no cost to the person becoming infected. It’s comparable to people in the world being hungry while there is plenty of food.
How can we get this technology IN the places where it is needed, like hospitals, and make it easily available and affordable to regular folks who are sick with mrsa?
Grant // Mar 25, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Debra , Your right it is a real shame that hospitals don’t have this technology . I have sent data and all of the information to hospitals , schools , doctors,dentist, nursing homes in my area and have not gotten 1 response , and also I have not gotten 1 response from anyone that has MRSA not 1, and I have allot of blogs out on this subject , and also I have the most potent Herbal supplements including Garlic on the Planet, Yes on the Planet and again I have not had 1 sale to date from someone that has MRSA
And I am truly putting this information out to help people.
I want to invite you and anyone else to become a partner in this fight to get this technology in our hospitals and to people. Join me and become a independent dealer. You will have access to everything, this would be your own business , maybe you could make a difference
go to http://www.ecoquestintl.com/clean and become a dealer its that easy.
Trevor Mannerow // Mar 27, 2008 at 5:59 pm
To everyone here who has posted a comment, PLEASE READ this! I keep reading about everyone’s struggle with MSRA and I am frustrated at not being able to get my message through! There is a product that is ALL NATURAL and SAFE that would help all of you struggling with MRSA. Go to the website http://www.gsh4prevention.com The product is called Immunocal Platinum…and it produces results! Read the information on the website about the importance of feeding your body the BUILDING BLOCKS to keep a strong Immune System. If you have any questions please feel free to call me at 705 657 1519 or contact Susan through the website. Remember…the body heals and protects itself, if it has the right nutrition. I hope this product can help many of you.
Trevor
Margaret // Mar 27, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Please, people, this is a place for support, not a place to advertise your snakeoils! Stop trying to take advantage of us while we’re down!
Leann Czyzewski // Mar 28, 2008 at 1:22 am
Margaret I can’t agree with you more. I just lost my child to this horrible disease and all this advertising is the last thing I want to hear. I would like to hear from others who have lost someone to this horrible disease and maybe find out some answers why doctors are so hesitant or incompetent to test for it. Stop trying to make a dollar off of others misery. We can all read hopefully and if any others are like myself wanting to learn more have already read multiple ravings about the right kind of diet. ALRIGHT ALREADY!
Margaret // Mar 28, 2008 at 7:01 am
Leann - I am so sorry to hear about your daughter. I had a very superficial case of MRSA that only caused boils and was treated relatively easily (1 month of Bactrim, Bactroban, bleach baths, etc)… but your story truly makes my heart break. I hope you are able to find the support you need and look past the advertising that happens on this forum.
Aaron // Mar 28, 2008 at 7:52 am
As of now, I do not have MRSA, but my fiance does. he is only 30 years old and is now we are working on changing our lifestyles to help him be able to function normally and not end up back in the hospital again. We go in next week to get another set of labs done and hopefully these will come back to show that this disease has gone dormant again. the last three weeks have been very stressful, not knowing if he was going to live or die, and then the meds he is on are very hard on his system. We will fight this disease together and pray for all others who are afflicted. What shocks me the most is the attitude of the hospitals and doctors that we first experienced when he first developed the abcess on his arm that seemed to be feeding on the original medications. They didn’t even bother to swab the wound or run any tests on him initially. The KNEW it was a staph infection, but they never told us how serious it could be. There was no concern for myself or the kids being exposed to this, and I was the one that was helping him to wrap and clean his arm as it got worse and spread. It wasn’t until we pushed the issue and contacted an ID doctor (thanks to what I learned from reading this web site) that we realized the seriousness of his condition. He spent over a week in acute care and we were prepared that this was possibly a fatal situation. Had the ID Doctor not gotten involved, and had we continued with the regular antibiotics, he probably would not be here now. I am very concerned that there is not more public information in regards to MRSA. We jsut had a report in our daily paper about a 15 year old child who was being treated for the “flu” and died. it wasn’t until a month after his death that they even realized that he had MRSA. I don’t understand how this was not tested for because of his symptoms. He may ahve survived if someone had taken the time to run some extra labs rather than just giving amoxicillan and sending him home. What will it take for people to be made aware of the danger of not getting treatment?
Amy // Mar 28, 2008 at 8:29 am
If you know someone who is a jail/prison inmate with MRSA, please allow yourself to read this article and take action.
http://www.angelfire.com/crazy4/texas/deannastone.html
Contact your loacal Health and Human Resources website (by state) and get to know your local officials on this matter. We, as a community, can inform and prevent. The U.S. government does not provide medical attention to most prison inmates, unless it becomes an “inhumane” condition.
http://www.angelfire.com/crazy4/texas/deannastone.html
Trevor Mannerow // Mar 29, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I hope the information I provided was helpful to those who contacted me concerning Immunocal Platinum. I am aware, as are you about all the products bombarded at everyone that may or may not work concerning helping to heal or provide a better quality of life. It is up to the individual to do there homework when looking for alternatives to costly drugs or treatments. And it is very unfortunate that there are individuals and companies promoting products with false claims, but this is reality! So in addition to my previous posting, I am going to add some more information on the product for those of you who are hesitant to contact me or unable to do there own research to verify Immunocal’s purpose. It should be mentioned here that there has been 23 clinical trials completed and 80 Method of Use patents for this. Immunocal is listed in the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR) and is Medicare and Medicaid covered in some States. As well it is recognized by the Pharmaceutical Industry.
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What does it take to live a long healthy life?
According to Dr. James Balch, to live a long healthy life you must have a strong Immune system. Plus, your body needs an ample source of anti-oxidants to fight the onslaught of disease causing free radicals.
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There are three major roles of glutathione in the body: Antioxidant, Immune booster, and Detoxifier. Even cells in the healthiest of individuals constantly need to replenish their glutathione supply.
The Master Antioxidant (AID)
Antioxidants participate directly in the destruction of reactive oxygen compounds called free radicals. These by-products of a cell’s normal function can’t be avoided, but exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or other sources promotes their emergence. Free radicals have been linked to muscle fatigue during exercise and aging.
For this reason, the body is equipped with a variety of antioxidants. Vitamins C and E are natural antioxidants but do not occur naturally in the body. These and other antioxidants actually depend on glutathione to function properly, which is why glutathione is called “the Master Antioxidant”.
Food for the Immune System (AID)
Glutathione helps build your Immune system’s resistance and improves your chances of staying healthy.
Lymphocytes are cells of your immune system. Glutathione is essential for lymphocytes to increase in number, produce antibodies, and function efficiently.
A Natural Detoxifier (AID)
Our food and water sources are becoming increasingly contaminated with chemicals, as is the air that we breathe. Supplemental detoxifiers such as glutathione help to counter the effects of the toxins we inhale and ingest.
By physically binding to toxic compounds in cells, glutathione helps make them soluble - and harmless. The body can then eliminate these disarmed toxins in the bile and urine.
Raise Glutathione Levels—But How?
The fact is, you can’t ingest glutathione to feed it to your cells. Glutathione must be manufactured within your cells. What you can do is help this natural process by giving your body the glutathione building blocks it needs. The limiting factor in your daily intake of building blocks is the amino acid cysteine.
Cysteine, traveling alone as an amino acid through our digestive system, is poorly absorbed and very little of it will actually make the trip from our mouths to our cells.
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These bonded cysteine amino acids are then called ‘cystine’. Although this sulfur bond is resistant to the digestive process, it is easily broken if submitted to heat or mechanical stress.
Immunocal’s Unique Manufacturing Process
Before Dr. Bounous and his colleagues devised the technique used to produce Immunocal, the scientific community was unsuccessful at producing a supplement rich in active bonded cysteine.
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Raise Glutathione Levels - Safely and Naturally
There are other synthetic ways in which glutathione levels may be raised. However, the high level of side effects limits their long-term use. In contrast, Immunocal is just as effective and has no known side effects when used as directed. It contains natural proteins isolated from milk, but a negligible amount of lactose; therefore, even lactose - intolerant individuals can use it safely.
Immunocal: Feeding Bonded Cysteine to Cells
Numerous clinical studies have been performed, using the highest standard of scientific design, to prove Immunocal’s efficacy and reliability. In one such study, Immunocal was proven to raise glutathione levels by 35.5% in lymphocytes.*
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*The Effect of Supplementation with a Cysteine Donor on Muscular Performance
Published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, 87: 1381-1385, 1999 by LC Lands, MD, PhD*†, VL Grey, PhD†‡, AA Smountas, BSc*
*Division of Respiratory Medicine, †Department of Pediatrics, ‡Department of Biochemistry, McGill University Health Centre - Montreal Children’s Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
This study was conducted in healthy adults for 3 months using the highest standard of scientific design (peer-reviewed, double-blind, randomized, prospective and placebo-controlled study) to ensure validity of the results. Statistical calculations were performed to analyze the results.
Praise and Recognition From the Past and Present
Immunotec Research Inc., is a research organization first and foremost and as such, is dedicated to marketing products that have received the highest approval from the scientific community. Immunocal is no exception.
Scientists have shown their support for Immunocal in many ways through the years, from its inception to its introduction to the North American market in 1996:
* Immunocal is patent-protected worldwide
* Immunocal is also listed in the U.S. Physicians’ Desk Reference and the Pharmacist’s Red Book
* Immunocal joins a select group of nutritional products qualifying for reimbursement coverage under Medicare/Medicaid in the United States.
Glutathione: The Next Household Word
You may or may not have heard of glutathione, even though over tens of thousands of medical articles have highlighted its importance. Optimizing glutathione levels will shortly join the list of factors known by everyone to have an impact on our health and well-being, along with vitamin supplementation and cholesterol regulation.
Glutathione is a small protein produced naturally in every cell of our body. It is made up of three protein building blocks, called amino acids. These are glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine. The cysteine amino acid contains a sulfur group responsible for the chemical properties of the whole glutathione protein.
Laura // Apr 1, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I first learned about MRSA in August of 2006. I just had a baby, and just before my 6 week check up, I noticed a large (golf ball size) lump in my breast. I called my doctor, she took me in the next day and I was told that I had a clogged milk duct, which happens when you are breast feeding. So I was given some antibiotics and told I should be well in 7 days …well …that did not happen!! By the 4th day, it was the size of a softball …NO LIE! I would just sit and cry in pain! I had nothing strong enough to take the pain away! Called up doc and she said there was nothing she could do until I finished the antibiotics!! But she did prescribe me some 800mg Ibuprofin! STILL IN LOTS OF PAIN!! I said …the HECK with her (but not so nice!!) and went to the emergency room. The look on the nurses face when I showed her was PrIcELeSS! They took me back IMMEDIATELY!! I was examined and told that they would have to lance it, and pack it …I didn’t care …whatever was going to take the pain away!! I will not lie, the draining of my abcess, was …very, VERY PAINFUL!! I remember crying so hard that I could barely breathe! And at the same time SO PISSED that MY DOCTOR told me that there was NOTHING SHE COULD DO!! WAIT FOR THE ANTIBIOTICS TO KICK IN!! She did call though!! Yep, she called to see if I was ok …cause she was called by the ER docs to let her know what they were going to do. Needless to say, I was not very nice to her …=)
Since then …my 4 1/2 year old, my 6 year old, and my almost 2 year old have all suffered from this MRSA!!
My 4 1/2 year old …she has had the mildest case so far …hers happened shortly after mine …she was around 2 at the time. Hers was located on her side, close to her chest. There were three of them. I did not recognize them at first. There were three in a row, which to me looked like “spider bites” !! THANK GOD that they did not get very large! They were gone within a week or two …NO PROBLEM!
My 6 year old …she has had 2 so far …and she has not been so lucky =( Her first one happened shortly after her 4th birthday. It was located on her bottom. She told me that it hurt when she wiped. I looked …and I knew what it was right away! My poor ballerina was in so much pain …and having been through it …I KNEW! Hers drained by itself …I was greatful that they did not have to lance it! She was given the RIGHT antibiotics and was ok within a few weeks. The second one she had was within a few months after the first. It was located on her inner thigh. I just cried …cried for my baby …I couldnt handle seeing her that way …This one did not go away so easily …she was in the hospital for 8 days. She was getting IV antibiotics. They did not have to lance it, but kept her in case they had to. My baby was so miserable. It went away with the IV antibiotics. This was a very hard time for me and my family. I stayed in the hospital with her while my husband struggled to find a sitter for my other 3 children so he could go to work. I WASNT LEAVING HER THERE! She *THANK THE LORD* has not gotten any since.
My baby …who will be 2 in a few months is now on her third abcess. The first one she got when she was almost 1. It was located on her hip. I took her to the ER, where they lanced it (in 2 different places), packed it, and sent her home with antibiotics. NO CULTURE WAS TAKEN …they said there was no need. So I dont know if it was MRSA or not, but considering what has happened with the rest of us …I was sure it was. I called her doctor and demanded that he change the antibiotics. He did …and was very upset that they did not take a culture. The second one she had was a few months later (Nov 2007)…located on her inner thigh. Again …I CRIED. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG??!! I use the anti-bacterial body wash, I wash their hands …I keep them clean …WHAT IS WRONG!!?? Because here I am AGAIN, holding down my baby who was screaming and crying in pain while they cut open her leg to drain the abcess. They did take a culture …and it was positive for MRSA.
And now here we are today …and she has yet another abcess …located on her bottom. I took her to the doctor, who gave me antibiotics and told me that if it did not drain on its own within a few days, I would have to take her to the hospital where they would lance it. She did give me the culture kit so that if/when it did drain …I could swab it and give it to the lab. It drained on its own and we sent the culture to the lab. I received a call 2 days later and they told me it was MRSA. Her doctor told me to just make sure she finishes the antibiotics. I have a hard time changing her diaper, cause she screams and cries, which I do NOT blame her! She says …mommy, no touch da booboo ….My heart hurts …why are my babies going through this? Its breaking me to see my babies in such pain.
My sister-in-law did tell us she was reading that dogs and cats can carry MRSA. So that is next for us …we have 2 dogs and are going to get them tested. It is a simple test the vet does and the dogs can be treated.
Does anyone have any other information for me? Besides the obvious … “keep your hands clean” …
I spray my tub/shower daily with Lysol ..clean it with bleach weekly …I use anti-bacterial body wash …I use anti-bacterial hand soap …I have 1 bottle of the anti-bacterial hand sanitizer on the kitchen and 1 in the bathroom …
Any other suggestions or information from anyone would be greatly appreciated.
Help this HuRtInG mOm!
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Love,
Laura
Debra // Apr 1, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Laura, my heart goes out to you - all your children contracting MRSA, what a trial. I understand your emphasis on using antibacterial soap and other products to try and protect your family.
There is concern, however, that over use of both antibiotics and antibacterial products leads to the development of resistant strains of bacteria.
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/06/01/antibiotic.overuse/index.html
http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/NEWS_antibacterial_soap_overuse.htm
Personally, I am not trying to sell any product on this forum. I am, however, trying to get people to think about boosting their immune systems. My favorite, cheap way to fight infection, virus, fatigue and more is cinnamon/honey paste - one tsp of each, just mix into a paste. Eat it straight, drink as a tea, put on toast. If you have access, acquire some raw honey.
Using essential oils in cleaning and as a way to fight bacteria has been a standard practice for a long time. Many plants in essential oil form have an antibacterial effect - this includes lavender, tea tree, thyme and many more.
I’ve mentioned this before in this forum, and one response was, No one wants to dump oils on their surfaces. But where I live, the landlady does use an essential oil mister as a final step in cleaning her kitchen and bathroom. The surfacess are damp for a little while, but dry with a bacteria free surface.
Since MRSA has been found on currency, and as you pointed out, Laura, is now assumed to be carried on pet’s hair, avoiding the bacteria is nearly impossible - the best defense is resistance, which is a healthy immune response. The more we all create this inner strenth and incorporate good nutrition into our lives, the less MRSA or other diseases can bring us down.
Liz // Apr 3, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Laura,
My Heart goes out to you and your family, Luckily only one of my Daughter’s only had it once while I went through 8 months of this. When I went for an annual OB visit it was during an outbreak he even told me had it for 2 years and then just disappeared as quick as it appeared. As for myself I have been clean 3 months afte 2 weeks of IV Daptomycin then 2 weeks of Zyvox, Try Using rubbing alcohol on your skin when it is itchy and try staphaseptic it is a cream like neosporin, I pray this doesn’t affect me again and doesn’t come back, Wash hands alot. The Docs told me it was colonizing on me. Once that stopped I have been clear. I will pray for you and your girls.
Gina // Jun 30, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I contracted MRSA in Sept. 2006. My dad had gone into the hospital that prior May and did not return home until March 2007. I believe I contracted MRSA through visiting him in the hospital & then nursing home. I travel frequently for my job with much of my week spent in airports, on airplanes, and in hotel rooms. So I likely could’ve picked up the SuperBug anywhere. My first spot was on my arm. I initially thought it to be a spider bite due to the black center. Some ladies at work scared me into going to the doctor. He told me it was not MRSA although he didn’t do a culture. I was also having sinus problems at the time so he put me on a Z-pac. The spot was very painful and eventually burst on its own. A month later a spot developed on my face and swelled very large. I also had a fever. I saw the nurse practitioner at work who did a culture and sent me to a surgeon in case they wanted to lance it. The surgeon put me on Zyvox oral (I’m pretty certain that was the drug). My copay covered it. However, the antibiotic made me sicker than anything I’ve ever taken! Weeks later I was better. During this same timeframe I was under extreme stress with my job. I firmly believe that had my immune system been stronger at the time the MRSA may not have manifested into the sores.
So fast forward to June 2008. We put my dad back into the nursing home. I’ve tried to be extremely careful while visiting him. I even feel bad because I don’t want to touch him or anything at the nursing home. I’ve been careful not to touch my face and wash my hands religiously. They have hand sanitizer by the door as you leave. I visited him on Thursday, 6/19 and then left for vacation that following Saturday. I developed what I thought was a blemish on my chin. On Monday, 6/23 I woke up with swelling. The spot did not look like those in the past. I used hot compresses since I was on vacation at the beach. On Tuesday morning the swelling was no better so I found a clinic and made an appointment. I told the doctor about my experience in 2006. She immediately did a culture and said the spot did look like MRSA. She started me on Bactrim and the mupirocin ointment. The spot started draining on Thursday and looks so much better though it still is a hard lump and slightly red. I received a call this afternoon from the doctor’s office confirming the culture is MRSA. During this past month my stress levels have been extremely higher than normal with my dad’s situation and issues at work.
Fortunately, my situation has not been as bad as others I’ve read about. I am personally vowing to change my nutrition habits and to become more diligent about vitamins & supplements. A lady I work with recommended colostrum supplements…it may be worth a try.
La // Jul 1, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I was treated for MRSA a month ago and I have had to outbreaks since then. I have a boil on my vulva now. I am going back to the doctor tommorrow and hopefully they can give me something to get rid of this. I got it from my husband. He used to work in the hospital and is a carrier. He has a appointment to go back to the doctor also. How do you know if it is in your blood stream? How do you know if you have the “deadly” kind of MRSA. My first outbreak was really bad with boils on my vulva and all over my butt…arrrghhh!!!I was given two shots of antibiotics and prescription and antibiotic cream to use and it is back again! Anyone that could help me understand this MRSA? Please feel free to write to me at my email address. Thanks and God bless
Toni // Jul 11, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Does anyone know what Plus numbers mean with MRSA? I cut my finger and was diagnosed with Plus 4 MRSA. ER doc did not have ANY bedside manners and just blew me off with prescriptions.
NDP // Aug 22, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I have MRSA. I am currently in the middle of my third outbreak in three months. About every three weeks another outbreak happens. I am so scared to be around anyone. I am so scared to do anything. For example, it is my friends birthday tomorrow and I wanted to bake her a cake, but my mother tells me that it is a bad idea. I have taken all the precausion bactroban twice a day, 300 mg of clindamycin four times a day, and I wash with phisohex. I wash my hands what seems like a billion times a day and carry hand sanatizer with me. Why will this not go away? When will I be able to feel like a normal person again and be in public without feeling like I am going to spread this nasty infection to the rest of the world. This infection is ruining my life, and I don’t know what to do. I work in a restaurant, and am scared to go back. I am currently looking for a fulltime job, but this infection has pushed that search back. And I have one class left before I get BA, and I am scared to sign up for this semester incase my health goes bad and I have another outbreak. I can’t stand to think about spending any more time in the hospital with that painful vanco. I am going into a depression over it, and am scared to death that it is going to come back again. Any advice is welcome.
Liz // Sep 29, 2008 at 11:47 am
Message for NDP, This will eventually end I went throuh 9 months then clean for 4 then another outbreak for 2. Now clean for 3 months, Get your doc to give you Altabax, (ointment) any time you have the smallest pimple use it and don’t scratch. You cannot infect anyone use you leave your liasons uncovered. Don’t let this ruin your life be strong and you will beat it
sandy // Oct 24, 2008 at 3:50 pm
diagnosed Oct.2008. Have been doing maintence for Auto Owners Ins Co. kept getting pneumonia when sent in to a house with biological waste,but Ins Co. insisted house was safe,all homes insured with them had this waste. Thats a lot of homes with MRSA bacteria.
PHYLLIS // Oct 28, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Hi all from texas. I’m a newbie (brand spanking) to MRSA. I have a question. If one has MRSA wouldn’t skin wounds absolutely become infected? I’m asking because I had surgery 3 weeks ago and MRSA should up 2 weeks ago and I do believe I got it in the hospital. The point is moot, really, as no atty will take the case unless I die (their words).
Sorry about all of your experiences and am just praying I somehow fly right through this.
orlando // Nov 30, 2008 at 11:19 pm
i hate mrsa
Jan // Dec 9, 2008 at 8:34 pm
My daughter who is almost four got her second set of ear tubes in March. After that her left ear kept getting infected. We would go back get suctioned and they would give us drops and a perscription. Well this went on for 5 Months. Finally, they took a culture. Came back at MRSA. After the 9th drug we got Linazilid(Vyox)sp. The expensive drug. We did that for 10 days. We were told she was clear; however 3 days later her ear is leaking again. What now?? Any ideas
John N. Gavin // Dec 30, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Heres my MRSA story:
I was admitted into Methodist Hospital for a laminectomy on Oct 28th. My Surgeon has a sole contract with Methodist, that’s how I ended up there. The surgery was for a herniated disk at the C5-C6 vertebrae in my neck. The herniation was compressing the nerve that goes to my left shoulder and arm. A couple of days after my surgery, I started having discharges from the incision site. I contacted the Doctor and he called in a script for Keflex. After a week on Keflex, the oozing of the pinkish fluid continued. He asked me to come in to have a look. He made note that the site was oozing, and as I had seen, there was a reddiish area that was very sore at the base of the incision. He then switched me over to Cipro. After a week or so he took out the remaining staples. There was still some visual oozing out of a couple of the staple holes.
After another couple of days the oozing seemed to subside, but the site was still tender.
The week of Thanksgiving I had gone out of town to visit with a friend. On Thanksgiving Day I noticed that the left arm pain was returning. By Friday the pain was getting very intense. By Saturday morning It was unbearable, and I went was transported to the local ER in the town I was in Kerrville. They were nice enough to give me a script for Hydrocodone so that I could make the 350 mile trip back home.
I returned back to the Houston area late that Saturday afternoon. I immediately took some pain med’s and went to bed to try and get some relief. For some reason when I was lying down, the pain wasn’t nearly as bad. As soon as I sat up or stood up, all bets were off. I would barely have enough time to go take my med’s and get back in bed before screaming out in pain. Needless to say, about 2 am Sunday morning I was calling my Doctors office. I spoke to the on call Doctor and he instructed me to come up to the ER about 8 AM after the nightly crowds had dispersed from the ER. I went and was checked in pretty quickly. Shortly afterwards they admitted me and placed me in a private room. When I again spoke to my Surgeon he was of the thinking that it was more than likely an infection in there. He said I probably picked up a bug while in surgery and they sewed it up in there when they stitched me up. He scheduled another mylegram for the following day. I was put on morphine shortly after my arrival. The mylegram showed no other disk problems. This reinforced the infection theory.
After reviewing the results, He then scheduled exploratory surgery for the next day (Tuesday). He said he would go back into the same incision site and widen it up and look around to see what was going on. After the surgery, the Doctor told my wife that as soon as they opened up the incision site, pus and infection flowed out of wound. He said that if I hadn’t had the arm pain, I probably would’ve died, or at a minimum been paralyzed in a couple of days time. The infection was almost to my spinal cord. They sent of cultures to be tested at the infectious disease center of Houston. Four days after this surgery it was confirmed that the infection was positive for MRSA. I was very surprised, to say the least, an so was my Surgeon when I told him. I was immediately put on vancomycin. After 9 days in Methodist Hospital, 7 of which I was on morphine, I was released to go home. .
As soon as I returned home I started my at home vanco treatments via my picc line. I will be doing twice a day treatments for the next 6 weeks. After the second day of vanco I started the red-man syndrome.
They ended up slowing down the infusion to reduce the redness. Now I just suffer from terrible itching all over. They have since increased my dosage to almost double what I had started with. My Vanco levels are still only at 5.7 on my last visit yesterday.
Christmas day I went to Methodist ER with a 100.2 fever. I was admitted and blood was drawn for additional cultures. It was determined yesterday that I now have an additional infection called Pseudomonas. This infection was found on the culture from my picc line. They removed the picc line from my right arm and put a new one in my left arm. Hopefully it wont get infected again. They put me on Levaquin at $10 bucks a pill, my cost. I spend about 6 hours of my day infusing vancomycin hoping one day that I will be clean of the MRSA.
One thing that I believe resulted in me being effected was that the operating rooms that day were way overbooked. I waited in PRE-OP for 7 1/2 hours. The Doctor was even out in the hall complaining about this becoming more of a common practice around there. I was also surprised to see a male nurse hopping from room to room taking over for others in the OR so they could take their break. What the heck is that about. Talk about opening the door for more problems..
I just received a call from the Infectious Disease folks. Now they’re taking off of Vancomycin and switching over to Cubicin. My white blood count is still too low. Happy New Year …Geez
Jeanette W // Jan 2, 2009 at 4:03 am
Aug. 25, 2007, four days after my big brother’s 56th birthday he died from MRSA infection in his blood.
About three weeks earlier he had a pacemaker/debrib put in a hospital in Mesquite, TX. The entry site in his arm kept bleeding. Then he was in unbearable pain. His family called the doctor and for at least a week the doctor kept saying it was “just” a reaction to the medications and to cut back on the dosage…next call would be to stop a med.
On his 56th birthday he went into a coma. By then he kidneys had already shut down. The next day he was put on life support. The next day he was yellow, his liver was shutting down. Then his other siblings got there from all over the U. S. in time to be with him when he died.
I want answers! I want people to listen and learn about this MRSA. I want all those cute little children to stop picking their noses…it isn’t cute anymore…it is more deadly than AIDS. I want to do something to make sure no one else goes through the loss that my siblings and I have been going through for the last 15 months.
We lost a good man with a kind heart. His 5 children lost him. His 6 grandchildren lost him.
I want more than postings on a website. I want organization to go to hospitals with posters, go to schools, etc.
I noticed in many of these postings that many have lived from this. You are fortunate, even though it may not seem like it when you are suffering the pain from this.
The doctors said, “perhaps if my brother wasn’t a diabetic he could beat this.” So DIABETICS out there don’t get MRSA. It gives the doctors a reason to give up.
We need to do more than just write postings. We need equal care for this whether a person has other medical conditions ( MS, diabetes, etc.) or whether the person has BC/BS, medicaid, medicare or no insurance. The costs are expensive but everyone should be cared for equally. We need better education about MRSA. We need hospitals to take better care to make sure they don’t spread. We need doctors to stop assuming that a little pain is a drug reaction and not even seeing a patient until he/she is comatose. We need doctors to realize that MRSA is even carried on the sleeves of their white jackets and they should take them off before touching us.
We need to educate! This is as serious as AIDS and in the case of death causes more deaths in a year than HIV/AIDS….why isn’t it getting as much news coverage!!!
I want to know WHY my brother died.
Debra // Jan 3, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Jeanette, my heart goes out to you. The essential reason your brother died, and the reason ANYONE gets MRSA (as well as any and other autoimmune disorders) is because the immune system is compromised.
I’ve been asking the same questions you pose here since 2001, when I first started to have to help my current partner, then, with his mrsa outbreaks. The dr, since we lived on a farm, far from Salem, instructed ME in how to clean his sores - they were very bad - and never told me I was in any danger of contracting it.
Oddly I did NOT contract it till much later, living in Eugene (where there are a LOT of cases of mrsa, but still not enough awareness)… I was hip enough to TELL the dr to test for mrsa BEFORE putting me on the wrong antibiotic. I felt better in three days; but I tell you, before I “succumbed” and went to the dr, I tried MANY natural antibiotic compounds, including cayenne, lavender oil and honey. Peroxide, too, of course. But I had to have antibiotics.
MRSA IS rampant, but if people have a strong immune system, they will NOT succumb to it; and if they do, based on their physical stamina/immune strength, their bout with this infection will be shorter. That’s what I’ve lived through. And I have posted many comments here, about using cinnamon/honey paste on a daily basis, one of the cheapest ways to fight infection, build strength and more…. I grow my own sprouts, all the time; I try to do fresh juice as much as possible, which is a lot lately - my brother, too, is dying, but from stage 4 lung cancer … he hasn’t even smoked for over 12 years, but his diet and lifestyle were very destructive…
and on a final note, I’d focus less on kids picking their noses, which is a totally mammalian reality, and is usually phased out soon enough…. and focus more on raising awareness about mrsa, ways to boost immune systems, better health choices ( you canNOTfight mrsa or any other disease by living on fast foods, etc)…. education IS KEY to making changes here, and I support you in that direction… peace..
Debra
Sarah // Jan 5, 2009 at 10:34 am
Jeanette, I am so sorry for the loss of your brother. My husband had a colonostomy done at Lakeview Hospital in Rowlett and then about nine months later he developed MRSA from a sore on his arm. We went to Mckinney Medical Center where it was diagnosed as a staff infection and they lanced it, packed it and sent him home to come back in three days for a follow up. He did and the sore had gotten significantly worse. He was in a great amount of pain and it had spread up his arm (he was 30 years old at the time and in good physical health). When they saw it, they put in his chart that it had advanced, and that it looked bad, but all they did was repack it and told him just to comtinue with treatment as initially prescribed. I was concerned (and angry) and sent him to my primary care physician who contacted an infectious disease doctor in Plano who immeditely admitted him to Presbyterian Hospital in Plano for Vanco treatments. He spent over a week in the hospital in the critical care ward on massive treatments. Thankfully, he did recover, although, he developed chemical meningitis from the massive amount of medications he was administered and was back in the hospital again until that too was resolved. He now has a constant supply of bactrium and any small pimple like spot on his arm gets at least a week of bactrium. We were very lucky. I had never heard of MRSA and with three small children I did a lot of research. It turns out that the Allen Fire Fighter that passed away a few years ago died from MRSA at McKinney Medical Center. Knowing that, and the fact that they just kept sending him home to me and the kids with no warnings or facts at all infuriated us. Unfortunetly, there was nothing that could be done. Although, it is in all of my kids files that they are not to be sent there for any reason. If you have followed the news in this area, there have been several cases of children dying from MRSA in the Dallas/Ft Worth area, yet there are not any warnings or information distributed at the schools. Also, recently, there was a female inmate that was transferred from the Dallas Jail to the Tarrant County jail with a confirmed case of MRSA and she too passed away from improper treatment. This is a treatable disease if caught early enough, but no one wants to talk about it, or warn people of the potential risks. Something more needs to be done to address this problem. I know when he was in the hospital, the nurses and lab techs came in and out without protective gear and then went next door to patients rooms that were completing chemo treatments. Something needs to be done so people are aware of this disease! Too mamny people have already died, young and old, otherwise healthy people that were exposed and not properly diagnosed or treated, not just those with a weakened immune system.
Liz // Jan 9, 2009 at 3:16 pm
To John N. Gavin
Try Minocin as a antibiotic I was on for 3 months and haven been clear since going off 4 months ago. God bless
Jeanette W // Jan 9, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Sarah and Debra,
Thanks for your posts. I agree, we need to eductate, educate, eductate. Let’s start doing that. I work for a hospital (largest hospital north of Grand Rapids, MI) and have asked management to put up posters (they can get them at CDC website). I don’t want people to be alarmed like they were when HIV/AIDS first came out, but most likely people will be alarmed at first and then, like HIV/AIDS, people just became aware of how to do everything they could to prevent and the initial threat/alarm went away. I plan on going to the high school where sports are played frequently and ask them to put up posters and to educate the children on not sharing towels in the locker room, of washing hands, etc., etc. If we all did things like this in our communities perhaps the word will start getting out and less people will have to live (or die) with MRSA. We can do it. I know we are determined and can do it. Thanks.
another mrsa // Jan 17, 2009 at 11:10 pm
I am so confused… i got mrsa in november small spot on my thumb they give me meds it went away did not tell me it was contagious and all this info I have found on the web…now my gf got it bad on her stomach….im bleaching everything using a ton of lotion on my body and taking meds for vitamin c and multi vitamins… i was told this well help keep my immune system up i dont have a bad immune system but i have psorisis so i was told i will keep getting it…..wtf this is worse than aids
Debra // Jan 21, 2009 at 10:55 pm
to “another mrsa”…. listen, it would help to learn about bleach and it’s negative impact on your immune system. Bleach is implicated as a carcinogenic; any carcinogenic stresses your immune system!
Plus, it’s a FACT that many essential oils (tea tree oil, lavender, thyme, rosemary, eucalyptus) Kill Bacteria! including MRSA!
Also, what’s with the lotion?~! Prob. because of the psoriasis? Thing is, psoriasis is potentially an action OF your immune system to current stress. And bleach can make it worse!
Good luck!
Ask Me // Jan 23, 2009 at 11:39 am
I found this site: http://www.selectivemicro.com/ I’ve noticed facilities are treating sites with chlorine dioxide, a pH roughly 4 to 9. “Selectrocide” produces chlorine dioxide simply by submersing the product in water.
Salt baths are good, but keep others away from using the tub until you wash thoroughly!!!
To the psoriasis victim, try zinc tablets. Stay away from any perfumes, colognes, and ESPECIALLY deodorants/antiperspirants which contain metals. Your body is detoxing, so keep your sweat glands clean and product free on lymph node areas (under arms, around neckline and lower chin, between breasts, center of stomach, and groin areas contain many nodes important for a healthy immune system.)
Ask Me // Jan 23, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Thanks Sarah, for the county jail info. My cousin is 2 years untreated in Henley unit. She originally came from Dallas County with the same infection.
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