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!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
That’s an excellent reason, thanks for sharing. It’s very telling that my motivation is also avoidance of pain with vanity being merely a side effect. A number 2 reason for me is to be active without constantly injuring some joint and having to curtail exercising because of it.
ReplyDeleteDo you realize how close you are to crossing off goal number 52 on your list? Get your pencil ready as it will happen verrrrrrrry soon now!
You go girl! :-)