Daughter In Hospital

[Randi Free]

I wrote last week about my daughter developing cellulitis on her hip. She was seen last Monday and put on augmentin. Tuesday it was worse and she went to the immediate care clinic where they thought it might be MRSA. They put her on Septra. By Thursday she was in excrutiating pain with 7 abcesses on both hips and thighs. We went to the ER and she was admitted. She now has at least 15 abcesses, 5 of which are drained and packed with gauze every day. She is on a dilaudid pain pump plus her klonipin. She was put on Vancomyacin and 3 other antibiotics until MRSA was ruled out. It's a staph infection but sensitive to antibiotics. An echo was done to make sure it's not in her valves because laying down her bp is 80/50 and her heart rate is never lower than 110. I've explained her POTS to the doctor but I don't think he's familiar with it. I told him these abcesses are where she has been complaining of hip and leg pain for 6 months and that she was in the hospital unable to walk at all in April. His best guess is that because she falls frequently perhaps these abcesses are where she has bruised. I didn't know a bruise could cause abcesses like this. She is also developing them on both arms now where she doesn't typically bruise from falling. She is still after 7 days spiking a fever several times a day. She has several numb spots on both legs and has had for several months but they aren't where the abcesses are. Another doctor suggested they were do to poor circulation in her legs but wouldn't they be more likely to show up in the feet, certainly not the arms. I'm confused but feel it all has to somehow be related. Has anyone had this happen?

Randi

[Maxine]

I'm so sorry this is happening to your daughter. It must be so scary for you both. I hope they can get this under control very quickly. I sounds like you should get more opinions to see what could be causing this.

It does not sound like something that would result from a bruise.

Sending hugs and prayers to you and your daughter.

Maxine :0)

[Guest tearose]

I have no specific understanding to share with you.

I developed unilaterial lymphedema in my left arm and leg after a bug bite and before POTS was even diagnosed. I think it would have helped knowing what was one and what was the other but I did get through those rough times.

I will keep you and your daughter in my meditations and I have a strong sense you are doing all you can to advocate on her behalf!

My support and prayers are with you both.

best regards,

tearose

[delphicdragon]

I too don't have much advice as to what might be causing this. Wondering if she has been diagnosed with Elhers-Danlos or another collagen disorder. Perhaps this could make her skin weak and more able to tear, and the microtears from the skin fragility could invite in bacteria. Just a thought.

Sending prayers and well wishes to both your daughter and your family.

Sara

[lalalisa]

Randi,

Oh, wow, thanks for sharing with us. I can't imagine what you are all going through right now. I will pray for you.

Take care,

Lisa

[momofsara]

Randi, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I truly know what it is to have a daughter with lots of medical problems. My own daughter Sara is in and out of the hospital frequently. Hoping to hear better news from you soon. Hold on and keep the faith. Hugs to you and your daughter---Susan

[masumeh]

That's really horrible. The only thing I can contribute is that my daughter was also ill (not with skin issues, however), and doctors suspected Staph after a positive blood test. BUT then a specialist stepped in and informed us that positive staph results are almost always a lab error. He retested her and found a negative result. He said that the staph gets into the lab from technicians' hands, and its very common to have a false positive, not very common to have a real positive. Maybe you should have her retested, if the it's not meth-resistent yet it is not responding to the meth (not getting any better). Did you test for herpes-related viral infections, such as chicken-pox and stuff like that?

Also, the best thing is to find the best doctor you possible can. Is she in a good hospital? You might consider transferring to a better one if she's not getting the right care where she is.

Good luck! I hope she feels better soon.

[Randi Free]

It's interesting that you mention chicken pox. My mother had surgery on June 2nd for trans tracheal oxygen and developed shingles while in the hospital. She had come home and was recovering really well. On June 15th something happened and she couldn';t breath and was confused. I called an ambulance and we ended up in the ER where they said her white blood count was elevated indicating an infection of some type. She unfortunately died just 3 hours later so I don't know what the cultures showed. Mom lived with us and I've mentioned to my daughter's doctors that mom was recovering from shingles and had an infeftion of unknown origin when she died. Because she had really bad pulmonary fibrosis they assumed a bleb or something on a lung ruptured and killed her but now I'm wondering what the infection was. My daughter does seem to be having less drainage out of the abscesses now after 8 days on antibiotics but I'm still not sure when she will be released from the hospital. I mentioned perhaps a collagen problem being the reason for the abscesses but no one seemed to think it was a possibility but I will keep researching.

Randi

[pat57]

My heart goes out to you both.

Hang in there....

(((Randi)))

[ajw4790]

Oh my! That sounds awful, and so stressful! I wish I had some help etc. for you, but I am not very familiar with this at all. That is awful that she has had these symptoms so long and that the drs. did not catch this. I hope that your daughter feels better soon, and that the drs. can offer some answers and help so to avoid any further issues.

Thinking of you and your family.