Cellulitis again?
On Thursday (12/15), I had a busy day. First, I had company coming, so I had to take a shower (my hardest thing these days). Then my home health nurse came, about noon. Then I took a short nap for an hour or so, and my doctor came. After that, about 5:00 pm, I fixed a bowl of soup and sat down to watch a tv show. When that was over with, I went to get up, and noticed my lower left leg felt stiff and sore, as if I had banged it on something. But I hadn't. Weird, right? This was about 7:00 pm. By 9:00 pm I had to go lay down, as it was really hurting. At 9:30, I called 911. The pain had become unbearable, and I could not catch my breath. My magical magnifying mind said it might be a blood clot, since they had suspected one in the same spot in August when I was in the hospital. The EMTs took one look and noted my breathing, BP, and heart rate, which was about 160, and put a rush on it. By this time, I was scared. I felt every tiny bump in the road. They got me to the ED and hung around a bit to make sure I got some attention quickly, as they are friends, since I've seen them several times this year. The folks in the ED took good care of me, as they always do. The doctor came in almost immediately, and they took an x-ray and did an ultrasound. Meanwhile, my heart rate was very high, so they hit me with a nice big bump of morphine, and another one of Toradol. After about twenty more minutes I felt relief. The pain was less, the heart rate and bp were down. i was dehydrated again and they had hung a bag for that. They also put me on five liters of 02 to try and help me breathe. I don't remember all of it, as I was sort of drifting. Then the doctor came back and said there was not a clot (Yea!), and that I had a rare sudden onset severe Cellulitis attack! I had Cellulitis about a year and a half ago, and it looked far worse than this one, but there was never any pain at all, and antibiotics cleared it up in a month or so. This is completely different! No swelling, no edema, some redness, but the pain was horrific. Anyway, they pumped me quite full of antibiotics, and I was much better by 6:00 am, so they brought me home. Got three prescriptions later, two antibiotics and more Toradol in pill form. The pain is still there now, a day later, though less intense, so I am definitely using the Toradol, and sleeping almost non- stop. I have to stay off it, so very little walking around, just to the bathroom and kitchen for water and food.
This is the weirdest thing ever! I've had some strange and very bad problems with that leg, injuries, but this is really spooky. It felt like I had been kicked by a horse or shot, and I have had both of those experiences in my youth. It was enough that I literally could not breathe - my lungs could not keep up. I am to keep a very close eye on it and if there are any changes, I am to call the ED doctor immediately. Anyways, I think it will be okay, I just have to stay off it and take the meds. Any of y'all ever heard of this, or had it?
I just did my meds, so I am back to bed. Hopefully I will feel better after some more sleep. Later.
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Wow Kloker, what else can happen to you? Seems like every time you get feeling better and under control, something else crops up. I have never had cellulitis, nor have I known anyone who has. I admire your tenacity for fighting through all this crap and keeping on living. Keep us up to date and hang in there. God Bless you my friend!Thanks! I never ask that question. It automatically invokes Murphy's Law! Well, I am forced to stay quiet and mostly still. Of course, the pain meds (which depress lung function) are also a limiting thing to deal with, but I cannot be walking much anyway, so I have certainly been doing some heavy duty sleeping. The pain is still there, though reduced to a manageable level, but I don't want to chance making it worse. The antibiotics are messing up my, uh, digestion, too. Just what I needed more of. Such fun. There's no end to it! Also, no appetite, but last night I forced myself to make a sandwich and it was good! May do it again. I can only stay up about an hour or two and then I have to lay down again. Luckily, I was caught up on my housework! Good thing, too, since the maid (like always) never showed up! I thought about seeing if Neil Young would contribute, but nah. He is saddled up now with a volatile bipolar blonde. She's gorgeous but I wouldn't want to have to live with her. Ha! Oh, well. I can't stay up long enough to watch any tv, but the good thing is that about ten minutes of reading puts me right to sleep, something I haven't experienced in a long time. I hate downers, but for once they are helping. The leg is red all the way around now, with just a little swelling, but no apparent edema. I had to use the walker when I first got home, but I think I'm off it now as long as I take it slow and easy. Maybe I'll dream of doing housework and wake up happy! Twilight Zone, man!
Hi kloker - good to hear from you here again, but sorry for the reason! As our fellow community member, , has said - you've certainly had your share!
I thought you might gain some additional insight from this article which speaks to cellulitis - it is from the Cleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15071-cellulitis.
Stay compliant with your medications, kloker - I am hopeful you will get past this new complication quickly and be back on track again soon.
Please know we are here in your corner and are available to assist you in any way that we can.
Always wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)Dang! I'm not familiar with that med. I've been on Keflex and Bactrim both at the same time. Not easy on the stomach but not too bad. Worse after two full rounds of it though, as it still wasn't cleared up after one. It is still not completely gone, though the drugs are, but I am applying Neosporin Pain ointment several times a day and it is slowly going away. I keep tubes of the Neosporin Pain everywhere, even next to my shaving stuff, since apparently I haven't had enough practice shaving yet (only 60 years!). I don't need more gut issues, as I already have the Gerd, gallstones and hiatal hernia to deal with. The constant nausea and lack of appetite means I have severe malnutrition and several vitamin deficiencies too. Fun! But I am forcing myself to eat. I have to fight to win. Sure am tired, though. Take care of those little scratches. They can turn into a 911 call fast! My leg did. Keep us posted how it's going, and stay on it! good luck!
Wow so sorry this is happening to you! Personally I have not had a bout of cellulitis but my husband did just over a year ago, "family jewels" came on as quick as you described and no reason. On day 3 in the hospital the doctors were discussing of removing said jewels for they had not seen any improvement, even transferred him to another hospital. Guess the "boys" were not having anything to do with surgery for they started looking better the morning of day 4, surgery was schedule for that afternoon and thankfully was cancelled. Day 5 came with hubby being released to come home. It was about another week before the "boys" started feeling back to normal. You and @Intruder286 crank me up about the blonde, brunette and red head. I know the hubby wouldn't mind that now maybe, but then it was just funny to me to watch the male nurses and doctors face while they were trying to examine him, the face and noises they made, constant apologies to him. The jewels are intact currently but I have a feeling if something starts tingling the wrong way again, he will NOT mess around for very long before seeking help. Hope you recover soon! ,
You just can't seem to get a break with medical care. Who sends bloodwork from Texas to Michigan for analysis? That is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Guess all the labs here in Texas were too busy to handle it (eye roll......whatever). At least you are eating well and in good spirits as usual. Not sure how you stay so upbeat, but I am using you as an example to keep myself upbeat. If you can do it, so can I! Hang in there brother, keep on keeping on! Take care Kloker!
Happy new year! I can't believe that mess with your bloodwork. Just bonkers. Did you finish your meds? How was the ham? I too am a big fan of carrot cake -- haven't had it since my grandmother died, but I have her recipe. Maybe I will make some for Easter. Thinking of you and hoping all is well as can be. -Melissa, copd.net team
Oh my goodness,
! I'm so glad that you went to the ED. Sounds like a rough go for you. I hope you get feeling better soon. Thank you for the update! Best, Jackie (Moderator)
