Myasthenia Gravis Support Group
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability. The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and...
Hey all. I had an abscess in my leg that I got drained today. I may also have cellulitis, but this is hard to tell because I get red patches on my leg due to edema from (you guessed it) prednisone!
I was on a course of cephalexin for ten days, and it improved. It didn't resolve completely though. I had asked my primary doctor - what should I do if I still have a red patch, as it could be cellultis, or these patches I see on other parts of my leg from edema. He seemed blase about it ("I think you should think positive" - I think he thought I was awfulizing and not coming up with a plan for when to see a doctor again). There was also a purple spot in the middle for the abscess originally, but it turned pink during the course of cephalexin so I think it did some good. Problem is, it came back in two days! My dermatologist looked at it, said it wasn't warm like cellulitis, didn't know what to think of the purple spot, but put me back on cephalexin, with instructions to go to the immediate care facility to get it swabbed for a culture if it pops. Well, it popped today, and it turned out it was an abscess after all.
But...she said part of the reason she wanted it swabbed was to check if it's MRSA. I told her that there's a lot of antibiotics I can't take due to MG. She looked online and saw the big list and was like "what *can* you take?" and left it to me to call my neurologist about that.
Of course my neurologist doesn't specialize in treating infections, so she might not know what's best for MRSA. And my dermatologist...this is the best I think I can get for now because they pack the appointments really tight (10 minutes). I put in a call with my neuro but probably won't hear back until tuesday if at all about this.
So I'm wondering - has anyone had something prescribed for MRSA, and if so, what was it? I, of course, know you're not a doctor, and will run it by my doctors and all that, it's just that the lists are so huge, I want to be able to tell them where to look.
I was on a course of cephalexin for ten days, and it improved. It didn't resolve completely though. I had asked my primary doctor - what should I do if I still have a red patch, as it could be cellultis, or these patches I see on other parts of my leg from edema. He seemed blase about it ("I think you should think positive" - I think he thought I was awfulizing and not coming up with a plan for when to see a doctor again). There was also a purple spot in the middle for the abscess originally, but it turned pink during the course of cephalexin so I think it did some good. Problem is, it came back in two days! My dermatologist looked at it, said it wasn't warm like cellulitis, didn't know what to think of the purple spot, but put me back on cephalexin, with instructions to go to the immediate care facility to get it swabbed for a culture if it pops. Well, it popped today, and it turned out it was an abscess after all.
But...she said part of the reason she wanted it swabbed was to check if it's MRSA. I told her that there's a lot of antibiotics I can't take due to MG. She looked online and saw the big list and was like "what *can* you take?" and left it to me to call my neurologist about that.
Of course my neurologist doesn't specialize in treating infections, so she might not know what's best for MRSA. And my dermatologist...this is the best I think I can get for now because they pack the appointments really tight (10 minutes). I put in a call with my neuro but probably won't hear back until tuesday if at all about this.
So I'm wondering - has anyone had something prescribed for MRSA, and if so, what was it? I, of course, know you're not a doctor, and will run it by my doctors and all that, it's just that the lists are so huge, I want to be able to tell them where to look.
Did you get the culture done? If so, they will likely put you on one antibiotic and wait for the results to come back in 3-5 days. They will test the culture to see what antibiotic will treat the infection. Hopefully it isn't one of the meds that are on the MG list. Broad spectrum antibiotics are typically the ones given by IV or by injection.
I have never had MRSA but I have worked with many kinds of doctors and we use to drain cysts all the time. Depending on how large the cavity is (where the infection was) they will probably pack the wound with gauze which is impregnated with antibiotics and attempt to heal it from the inside out. If they go that route you will have to return a couple of times to have the packing changed. They also need to make sure that they remove the wall of the infection area or the infection may return. By taking the wall out it prevents the walls from reforming and the sack from filling back up.
Sorry for the yucky details. I thought it might help to know what you may be in for. I think most of the broad spectrum antibiotics are safe for us but sometimes the MG meds are the only thing you can take to rid yourself of the infection. If you must take them just keep a close eye on yourself and document all of your symptoms.
Good luck and please keep us posted on the outcome.
Angie
The reason I ask is that my dermatologist was overwhelmed with the list of contraindicated antibiotics and wanted to see which ones I could take, just in case it turns out to be MRSA. I also may have cellulitis (can't tell as I have other red patches on my legs) (and I actually doubt it because it doesn't seem acutely warm).
I doubt that a positive infection would be finalized that quickly but I will cross my fingers that I'm wrong. MRSA is a really nasty kind of infection and once you acquire it, it's hard to treat and you are more susceptible to recurrence in the future. Please keep us posted on the results. Big hugs.
Angie