View Full Version : Flesh Eating Disease
Zoe_en_Australie
04-29-2006, 12:16 AM
6 inches??? lol no way dude your bandaid wasn't -that- big!
more like 2 cms :D
Lysondra
04-29-2006, 04:26 AM
No I meant the bruise was six inches and the bandaid was doing a piss job of covering it. XD Butyeah, I worded it funny.
VenusGoddess
04-29-2006, 05:55 AM
What, exactly, did the doctors do for your FEB wound, Lillith? When do you go back for your check-up?
miss_woot
04-29-2006, 06:59 AM
Goodness. At first I only read the title of the thread and hastily moved along. For a strange reason it did not cross my mind it could be something so scary. And by scary I mean realing that this might actually kill you. Take care of yourself! Do not take risks! Some positive energy is flowing to Australia from Paris right now.
Alexis81
04-29-2006, 07:53 AM
Sweetie I'm so glad things are getting better for you. I don't want to scare any one on here but I had a similar thing happen to me awhile ago. I went to two different ERs and was finally diagnosed with a staph infection. The doctor at the second ER told me I probably caught it at work. Please make sure you always always always clean any wound, no matter how tiny. My daughter ended up with the same thing and her pediatrician told me to go buy hisbiscus (sic?) soap and use that on each and every cut she gets.
pheno
04-29-2006, 07:55 AM
I'm glad you're doing better. I was worried for you. It's amazing how fast that stuff can cause so many problems. Please take care of yourself. Because of you, I'm much more aware of cuts and bug bites!!
fancygirl
04-30-2006, 10:50 AM
also, if you get a staph infection you might just feel like shit for a few days and take to bed while the infection site swells. Obviously go to the doctor, but hot water (not hot packs!!! Makes it 10x WORSE) applied directly to the infection site brings the pus to the surface. Only do this a couple times. I did it over and over while I was on the antibiotics and I ended up with a scar because I was intent on squeezing out as much of that crap as possible.
But the first couple of times? I was amazed at how much gross shit came out. Not sure if Morrigan's infection would work like this but be aware: No HOT PACKS! Go to doctor ASAP! No playing with needles (I did that thinking it was a boil, made it worse)! And try taking a hot shower or applying hot wet towels to the site.
Stay safe, and yes--as long as the infection site is open and there is liquid that is able to come out of it, it is still able to spread to other people if they've got an open cut.
Clara_M
05-01-2006, 04:57 PM
Clara - this was in Australia, not the US.
I know... what I was trying to say is that among us Canadians, the U.S. has a bad reputation for this sort of thing, which seems to be somewhat undeserved, but nobody (least of all me) would have imagined that you'd get such a cold reception in (assumed to have more friendly hospitals) Australia.
In any case, glad to see you're doing better!
/c
thechaosfairy
05-01-2006, 07:03 PM
In the US, I think the law says an emergency room has to treat anyone.
(Some of them don't, just as some cops beat up innocent people, and it usually makes for a great big court case and hullaballoo.)
Then AFTER they treat you, they bill you into homeless destitution.
Sigh.
aussiepunkshocker
05-02-2006, 01:59 AM
^^^ As far as I'm aware Australian hospitals are suposed to do the same with treating people. I'm not sure what the situation was in this case but certainly no-one else I know from overseas has ever been turned away when they have needed medical attention.
Not saying our system is perfect but I am saying I am surprised to hear that anyone has been refused treatment. I hope it's not the norm (with this fucking government who knows!)
Cally
05-02-2006, 02:08 AM
I always thought if it was life threatening, by law they HAVE to treat you.
Lysondra
05-02-2006, 02:15 AM
Just so everyone knows I was turned down treatment at Mater near Coorparoo.
And Princess Alexandra hospital took me in.
aussiepunkshocker
05-02-2006, 07:00 AM
^^^^^^^^^ Thats so fucked up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad The PA were helpful though! How is it now?
Lysondra
05-02-2006, 07:06 AM
Fantabulous. It's only a small black blistered bruise now with damaged tissue around it about 4" out. It was about a 10" wound, so, much progress! Thank you for asking.
aussiepunkshocker
05-02-2006, 07:13 AM
Good - I was worried for a while, but figured you were doing ok since you were still posting!
We shall have to meet up one of these days (-:
boxingdoc
05-02-2006, 07:17 AM
By law, in the US, the ED has to assess everyone and treat all life threatening conditions without regard to insurance or ability to pay. This includes the rude jerks and junkies that no doctor in a clinic will touch. If you get a huge ED bill, it's because you are also picking up the tab for the individuals who come to the ED with the 6 month smoker's cough instead of their regular doctor because the ED is "free".
boxingdoc
05-02-2006, 07:17 AM
BTW, glad you are doing better.
Lysondra
05-02-2006, 07:19 AM
Good - I was worried for a while, but figured you were doing ok since you were still posting!
We shall have to meet up one of these days (-:
Read my thread on my party! :)
VenusGoddess
05-05-2006, 11:06 AM
^ So, what happened? What did the docs do? Did you have to have surgery? How long were you hospitalized for?
Have you been back for a check-up? Is everything ok?
Gynger
05-06-2006, 12:25 PM
I am late in replying to this, I just read this entire thread and am just aghast at the whole way you were treated by the hospitals, apparently I am naieve to the way things work in other countries, but I would think they'd treat you if you were in a life or death situation.
Anywho... I'm glad you are feeling better and getting better.. that's the most important thing. Take care of yourself.
Lysondra
05-06-2006, 10:41 PM
I was hospitalized for two days. I was given roughly 30 square INCHES of pure antibiotic in my wound repeatedly over this time. They couldn't do the surgery because my wound was too advanced - so far they were actually thinking of either amputation or death. :( I almost lost my leg.
I went to the hospital once and they sent me home. I went back 12 hours later crying saying it wasn't better and it had turned BLACK. They took me in within 20 seconds when I said that. Made other people waiting angry. >_>
My skin started to heal and they said they wanted me longer but the antibiotics were making me vomit - a lot. So I asked to go home and they put me on oral antibiotics. I've been on them since. My wound has healed for the most part save for a bump and a large discouloration of half my leg. The skin and tissue where the disease was is..well... dead. So I might have that discolouration forever. Hopefully the tissue and skin regrows... but there is a large patch of it. Very large.
But I'm healing. :)
VenusGoddess
05-06-2006, 11:40 PM
^ Absolutely impossible.
Sorry, but that's just not possible. FEB kills flesh/tissue. There is no way in hell that antibiotics would cure it and make it "come back to life". Once you have dead tissue, they do surgery. No questions.
BTW...you would have been hospitalized for longer than 2 days with FEB.
Lysondra
05-06-2006, 11:43 PM
^^ I don't remember saying I had FEB... I said I had cellulitis with staph.
Do you want me to scan the hospital records?
VenusGoddess
05-06-2006, 11:46 PM
So....they left you with dead tissue on your leg? Just said, "here's some antibiotics...hope the dead tissue doesn't give you gangrene."
Flesh Eating Disease and Flesh Eating Bacteria are the same thing.
I've never heard of any place sending anyone home with dead tissue. If you didn't have necrosis, then you wouldn't have dead tissue.
I'm sorry, but this is just too unbelieveable for me.
I'm off to do some research.
Lysondra
05-06-2006, 11:51 PM
No, it wasn't dead tissue yet. It was still swollen and red when they let me go home. It was still a boil with infectious pus coming out of it. yeah they sent me home too soon, but it's free healthcare and I'm not insured or a citizen of this country. They gave me IV antibiotics for as long as they could, as much as they could and when it broke the first time - at the hospital - and started going down, they let me go home.
The skin where it was is now discoloured and the main bit where the hole was is blackened and, well, I can't feel anything there - including a jab to it with a needle or a punch to it.
I haven't gone back to the hospital since they let me go, so they don't even know about the discoloured skin or blackened head. u_u They said not to come back until my oral antibiotics were done because 'it'd heal hopefully' unless it got worse. So I haven't gone back for the other bits.
Lysondra
05-06-2006, 11:53 PM
^^^ And yes, I got disease and bacteria confused when I first posted. It's a bacteria. But it's still flesh eating. u__u
VenusGoddess
05-06-2006, 11:53 PM
Black skin = dead tissue.
Lysondra
05-06-2006, 11:55 PM
AGH I just realized where we got confused!!!
When I went in the second time 'cause it blackened was because of the pus inside had come to the head and the PUS was black! It oozed out and they let me go home two days later when it wasn't black anymore. The SKIN ITSELF currently didn't turn black until about four days ago where the wound originally began.
Maybe that's where I messed up in my explanation.
VenusGoddess
05-07-2006, 12:00 AM
Ok...well, I hope you're feeling better.
You do need to go back to the doc if your skin is turning black and you have no feeling. That necrotized (dead) tissue and it has to be removed.
Lysondra
05-07-2006, 12:04 AM
u___u I didn't realize it had to be removed. I thought I was overreacting about it... but I'll get it checked ASAP.
Yeah, the pus had come to the head and the skin had only turned black because there was a thin layer between it and the blackened pus. Once the pus escaped, the wound actually turned a pinkish-white colour and stayed pretty much white for the rest of the time except for the red boil part. The white was the hole and surrounding area... which is now where it's black. The rest of the wound that was red and boiled is discoloured significantly and has little feeling so I'm thinking it might heal.
u_____U;;; I still feel like my explanations aren't enough. :( I really do mean it though.
Maybe I should take another picture of how it is now. >_<
VenusGoddess
05-07-2006, 12:14 AM
You cannot leave dead tissue on the body. When the tissue Necrotizes, it can damage the surrounding healthy tissue. That is why Gangrene is removed by amputation (not saying that you have to get amputations). But, if you have any dead tissue, it's not going to heal. You cannot take something that's dead and bring it back to life.
If it's just slightly discolored, that's one thing...but if the tissue is black...or emitting a foul odor (you'd know) then you need to go back, NOW.
Lysondra
05-07-2006, 12:22 AM
O_O
Lately I keep getting whiffs of something that smells wrong. I keep thinking it's my boyfriend or maybe something I'm wearing so I keep washing but I keep smelling something off. It doesn't smell terribly foul, but it's like... smells like eggs and sugar or something going bad. I've only smelled it around for the last two days or so, I thought it was something else. :/
The whole red bit is discoloured but the original wound-hole is black (about 1/2" square)....
... I guess I'm back off to the hospital. :/
Dollboots
05-07-2006, 12:58 AM
Ack! I just read this whole thing and it sounds horrible! I really hope everything works out for you... I'm glad that the worst is over at least. Best wishes!
thechaosfairy
05-07-2006, 03:33 AM
Yikes. At least that doesn't sound like too much tissue for them to be able to remove. I hope you caught the problem before worse things happened. Good luck.
mermaidnz
05-07-2006, 05:21 AM
lillith- hope it gets better- doctors here SUCK! your lucky they even looked at you!! maybe you should lay off the the working bit for a while to let it heal? get some rest and be pamperd by your man...you sound like your under a tonne of stress lately, and im sure this isnt helping.
xox
Jessica Lords
05-07-2006, 10:00 AM
First off,I hope you are feeling better.
I worked on the Renal floor at a hospital here in Edmonton,I have not had any experience with Flesh Eating Disease/Bacteria BUT plenty with Diabetic Ulcers/Sores which in most cases leads to amputations..not all....but most.
If the skin or sore is black you do need to get it treated,I am going through this right now with my FIL who had an sore on his leg that is black. It is getting scraped and pulse treatment to see if they can get circulation back to the tissues.
If you are experiencing a foul scent coming from the wound,please get checked out. Septic poisoning can happen fast.
Good Luck.
Zoe_en_Australie
05-07-2006, 11:12 PM
Hey...I just feel like I should say this *ducks so as to avoid the flames*
I know sounds far fetched, but it was me who sent Morri to the hospital because it got so bad. I've seen the wound, and I saw it before when it was even angrier. I thought she was exaggerating initially, but it really was that bad.
I looked up cellulitis on the net (ah, int4rw3b, what would i do without you?), and yeah, it did look like what she had. I called my mum (she and my dad are both nurses) and she said "GET HER TO HOSPITAL RIGHT AWAY".
SO umm...yeah I just feel compelled to say that she's not BSing you guys, I was actually quite worried she was going to die...she almost did.
Anyways, thats the end of my little story :D
<3 Zoe
BrunetteGoddess
05-07-2006, 11:22 PM
Thank you for caring for our girl Zoe!
Voltaire
05-08-2006, 12:19 AM
how are you now? i'm wishing you nothing but WELL........ please be well and give us an update........