MRSA Support Group
Staph infections are infections caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus. They include skin infections, pneumonia, blood poisoning, toxic shock syndrome, and food poisoning. Infection can happen through contact, especially if you have open wounds. Most infections are treatable with antibiotics. If you have been infected with staph, join the group for support and advice.
I've dealt with CA-MRSA primarily between 2008-2009, candida due to months upon months of broad spectrum antibiotic utilization, and most currently, a boil on my groin that came out of no where. I understand the physical pain involved, but my question to you, is how do you deal with this modern day black plague psychologically? I live in daily fear, chronic anxiety every time I change and/or shower, which is twice a day since 2008. I am perpetually in fear of contaminating others with MRSA, particularly my five year old and wife. Fear of becoming deathly ill, even dying from the bacteria. Not to negate the fear of the costs involved treating this illness. I often believe that havign acquired MRSA, will significantly reduce my life span, and has obviously reduced my quality of life. I am interested in other victims of this menace's anecdotal opinions and feelings on the question I posed. Psychologically, CA-MRSA simply leaves me in chronic anxiety. How do you deal with having MRSA psychologically? Do you see shrinks, watch films, read, et al...? Thank you.
Like you I also feel it has shortened my lifespan just not the MRSA but from all the drugs they use to treat it that has affected other parts of me. I try to just take it one day at a time and not think so far in advance. And pray real hard someday someone will figure out how to treat this bacteria. It might not be in my lifetime but it will come I do believe. I try to keep my mind occupied with reading on the internet and I do alot of journaling. Also talking to others who have the same fears help. I haven't been on the boards for awhile but I am still around. Hang in there and just do what you know to keep your child and wife as safe as possible. Now days it is as likely to pick it up at the super market than from us who have it and use pre-cautions.
Anxiety: Well, who wouldn't feel anxious? This isn't a minor thing, but I find it helps to read about CA-MRSA (you have, like me, right?) and knowing it is NOT the death-sentence that HA-MRSA often is.
We can do things, like the bleaching, essential oils, etc to protect others in our household (I'm married, BTW, to a non-infected male), and these actions strengthen us.
Because I live in Florida, I'm lucky that I can spend 10 minutes daily in direct sunlight, all year round, and that helps a great deal. I also really l like Lemongrass Oil; I put it on my sores and just as an uplifting-mood thing. Tea Tree Oil also helps. Have you tried these things? If you're at home, you can bleach yourself silly, and know that every swipe will help your family. Right?
Sending more hugs. I'm 49, so I feel lucky that I did not obtain this infection earlier, say in my teens. Don't you agree? I try to remind myself of that every day.
Yes, I have read several books on MRSA and online. It really does not comfort me at all, in fact, it adds to the paranoia. If MRSA is effecting you tot he degree that you cannot function properly, how do you psychologically function? I really do not think exactly as Els does. I do try and take it day by day of course, but I have a whole life ahead of me, and being self limited to day by day is not in the stars for me. There are so many contradicting reports on how to teat MRSA active infections, the tea tree oils never did a bit of good, in fact, my Dermatologist is adamantly opposed to it. Hibbiclens and alcohol based skin cleansers actually assist MRSA, by stripping the bad and good bacteria from our natural flora. It is a complex illness,t hat is still relatively rare and obscure amongst Joe public's knowledge.
Oddly enough, I caught MRSA in Florida, and I have known several people from Florida who have had CA MRSA! I believe warm and humid weather breeds MRSA, and other bacteria. Florida is an incubation state for this nightmare, no doubt. And yes, MRSA is everywhere, indeed. I have tried many forms of treatments, I take supplements, wash daily, avoid processed foods, and sugars, wheat, et al... MRSA is a vicious cycle that repeats itself over and over again for the average patient. I realize others have this at a much more serious level than I, MRSA in your lungs is surreal to me. But I am practical and realize there is a broad spectrum of MRSA strains and relating infections.
I have always viewed that proverbial glass half empty, and today, it is nearly dried out! I believe we are all walking time bombs, spreading the disease, and living in hell. I feel having acquired MRSA is my purgatory on Earth, as insane as that sounds. My atonement in a way. Perhaps I am way off base with my opinion, but it is how I rationalize this dreaded illness. I also know people who have had CA MRSA and it is gone, 100% gone. I would assume due to those individuals strong immune systems, they beat this bacteria.
I do not like alone and fear for my family, but they seem good, my wife occasionally as pimple type out breaks but not infections. I like to believe my CA MRSA is gone and what remains are candida problems, which are a whole other medical concern. I really do not know, I live in fear of this illness, a prisoner in my own flesh. I just do not view this garbage with rosy color glasses this is deadly serious, and HIGHLY contagious. We are walking Typhoid Marys, each and everyone of us. I deal with it through surviving another day without it, or lying to myself to believe that. MRSA waits like a silent enemy ready to attack with a massive army of germs at any given moment, as we sleep or wake, it is there, waiting, infecting, and spreading.
My white blood cell count was wiped out, my immune system was totally compromised, my emotional, physical and ability to just "move on" after has been impossible. Two years later now, and I still cannot say i am back to where I was (physically or emotionally). First, I was a very busy excutive and constantly on the go and dealing face to face with people. Now, I still cannot stand the thought of even making a phone call unless I have to. My energy is gone and I struggle every single day to just get up and go to work. My busy job I had...it is gone. I work 15 hours a week in an office and I know I could not do more than that. I have not been able to find a doctor or therapist who can understand that as someone else stated on here, "My life before and my life after, MRSA". I have been told it is depression and even ptsd from the events I was dealing with at the time. Maybe...but I consider myself a very srong person and those events have passed and it all worked out in the end. I have not been the same since my illness, my near death and the realization I may not ever get out of that hospital. I still find myself very paranoid when I get a cough...I first think, "oh no, did I get MRSA in my lungs again?!". It has been a total life changing experience and not for the good. Why is this not recognized more? Like I said, I am just glad to know I am not alone..
I read a true account of a biologist, a female who discovered she acquired MRSA some years ago. She committed suicide soon there after. She, better than anyone else at that time, new what this illness is capable of, and she took her life. Extreme yes, very eye opening. I will try to hang tough, please do the same, take care, all of you.