Reason #6 Skin Infections

As in, I don't want anymore of them. About seven years ago, I had a skin infection. There were two sebaceous gland cysts under my left belly that got seriously infected. I ended up in the hospital and had to have surgery. They made an incision six inches long and three inches deep between the two cysts. They did not sew it up. Instead, for the next several months my husband had to pack it with gauze. I was in the hospital a week.

Last September, I woke in the middle of the night with severe chills. In the morning I had a 103 degree fever. I thought I had a urinary tract infection, but no, I had cellulitis again. This time there was no cysts, but after a couple days the skin began to weep and ooze. For a month, my skin peeled and my husband had to care for the skin. This time it was with honey-infused gauze. I was in the hospital for a week and went home with a picc line for IV antibiotics. I was on them for a month and it took me near three months to recover my strength and endurance.

I thought I was "safe" for another seven years, but no. Just last month I woke up with chills . Not as bad as the previous time, but still I had a 101.5 degree fever and went to Urgent Care. Sure enough, they sent me to the hospital again. This time the infection wasn't as bad. There was no skin breakdown, I was in the hospital for less than a week and on IV antibiotics for less than two weeks. The picc line was in a bad place that time though - right above my right elbow - which made many activities difficult as well as being more painful.

I don't want to go through another skin infection. I really don't. There isn't anyway to prevent them other than losing weight. I was told many times that I have really good skin, no breakdown and I'm very clean. I guess this surprises the nurses with someone of my weight. So, it's not like I'm not doing something to take care of myself that I'm supposed to. I wish I knew something that would keep infections at bay. But meanwhile, I'm working as hard as I can to lose weight this time.

No more skin infections!

Weigh In: Down 4 pounds

Ahhhh. That's better. I will never understand the scale. Yesterday, still had no weight loss, today, down four. I'll take it! Also, hubby told me that from now on, I get on the scale ONCE during the week even if I don't show a loss. I guess I was getting too emotional there and he only wants to deal with it once a week. Not that I can blame him.

Today I start chair dancing again. I think I'll splurge for Bad Romance by Lady Gaga from iTunes. We are broke, but I think I deserve a little reward, yes?

June 13 Update

I've been stuck at 608 for the last two weeks and I'm feeling hopeless. If I'm plateauing this early, it doesn't bode well for the rest of my weight loss. I'm already reducing my caloric intake by 1,000 to 1,500 calories a day which should provide a solid two to three pound weight loss per week. It's not working out that way though and if I'm hungry all the time NOW what will happen when I need to drop my calories even more?

I'll be increasing my activity. My endurance is about 80% back after yet another hospital visit and IV antibiotics due to a skin infection across my belly. I'll start my chair dancing again this week and then will add my walking in place back the following week.

It is depressing that I feel little enthusiasm and hope for this weight loss journey. Yet I know that I have to keep plugging along no matter how I feel.