Surviving Sinus Surgery: Dealing with MRSA and Adhesions

[Jean DeVries]

So, about a month ago I had sinus surgery....had my turbinates taken out, my sinuses sucked, and my septum undeviated.

A week later, I went back to the Dr. and had the packing and splints taken out.

A week later I went back and a different doctor saw me and debrided a bunch o' exceptionally gross stuff out of my nose.

Today I went back, and the doctor looked up there, got real serious, and said, "This isn't good." He thinks I have a staph infection, specifically MRSA. And I have weird adhesions. He says it's 50/50 he'll have to go back in.

So, I'm FREAKING OUT about the MRSA thing. Of course, there are a million horror stories on the internet. And I've read every one of them. I called my friend who is a doctor, and she talked me off the ledge, but I'm still freaked out about it.

Has anyone else had this? Know anyone who had it? Bad stories and good...

I'm supposed to go on a cruise the week after next, and I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to. That would make me waayyyyyyy pissed off.

 

[pamperedlinda]

contact John - pampered1224 - he's been there, I'm sure he can give you some advice.

 

[Jean DeVries]

Oh wait.

I think I remember reading part of his story.

Maybe I don't want to know the bad....

 

[janetupnorth]

Aww Jean...I hope it works out for the best!

 

[Chef Kearns]

No (you don't want to learn the bad), just relax. See if the doc can give you antibiotics for now till after your cruise and then you'll get the surgery. I hope you'll be okay. I had the first part of your process done last year (07) and it was not fun!! Thank the Lord I didn't get a staph infection. I will pray for you honey!

 

[Chef Kearns]

That above advice coming from someone who knows nothing of MRSA!

 

[PamperedCaniac]

My sister in law and brother both had MRSA and both are 100% ok now. My SIL was in the hospital about a week becuase hers went with out being caught for a long time but my brother's was caught early since he caught it from her. They are both great and have zero problems now. They had LOTS of antibiotics, had to be careful around sick, elderly and children at first but they are perfect now!!! I will keep you in my prayers and just know that of all the horror stories there are good ones out there too where everything ends up fine!

 

[Jean DeVries]

Aww Jean...I hope it works out for the best!

Uh oh. No reassuring words from the medic.

To quote my 2 year old niece: "That's not so good."

 

[janetupnorth]

Uh oh. No reassuring words from the medic.

To quote my 2 year old niece: "That's not so good."

Sorry, didn't mean to be short! Kids should be in bed but are up.

I also know better that to promise things that may or may not come true!

MRSA can be a nasty infection, but they caught it, will treat it and you will fight whatever level it brings for you. STOP WORRYING!

 

[Kitchen Diva]

Sorry, didn't mean to be short! Kids should be in bed but are up.

I also know better that to promise things that may or may not come true!

MRSA can be a nasty infection, but they caught it, will treat it and you will fight whatever level it brings for you. STOP WORRYING!

Jean, I will say some prayers for you my cyber buddy. But take Janet's advice and stop worrying! I'm sure that will just add to the stress that your body is under and will certainly make it harder to fight the infection. Stress wears down your body and lower's your immune system... hang in there sweetie, and dream about your cruise! It will bring some peace to your mind...

 

[Jean DeVries]

Me? Not worry?

Obviously you've never met me

I'm still freaked out. Mostly that I won't be able to go on my cruise. Well, that and the potentially fatal disease that I might or might not have.....

 

[janetupnorth]

Me? Not worry?

Obviously you've never met me

I'm still freaked out. Mostly that I won't be able to go on my cruise. Well, that and the potentially fatal disease that I might or might not have.....

Nope, but we figured this part out.

Like I said, if the doctor thought it was that severe of a case and life or death, you'd be in the hospital not chatting online with us. Relax and help your body heal. We'll keep praying that you fight it quick.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

More nose problems? Well, that blows.

 

[tlag1986]

Jean,
Like the others have previously stated you need to relax so your body can help itself. With MRSA it is difficult to get rid of, but not impossible. You have to help the doctor by remaining calm and stress free as much as possible.

With MRSA know that it can take up to 2-3 years before you see the end of the road. Now having said that know that the previous statement is for the most severe cases. Like Janet posted earlier if you were that bad you would never have left the doctors office without being placed into the hospital.

One of the Antibiotics to use is intravenous only. It is Vancomyacin and is to be given slowly IV. This would mean you would have to go to a clinic or outpatient hospital program to get the medication.

MRSA is called methicillin - resistant Staphylococcus aureus, it has come around mostly because when we are given antibiotics by our doctors we do not finish them. So please remember it is imperative to always finish all your antibiotics your prescribed.

What is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are a type of staphylococcus or "staph" bacteria that are resistant to many antibiotics. Staph bacteria, like other kinds of bacteria, normally live on your skin and in your nose, usually without causing problems. MRSA is different from other types of staph because it cannot be treated with certain antibiotics such as methicillin.

Staph bacteria only become a problem when they cause infection. For some people, especially those who are weak or ill, these infections can become serious.

MRSA infections are more difficult to treat than ordinary staph infections. This is because the strains of staph that are known as MRSA do not respond well to many types of antibiotics-the types of medicines that are normally used to kill bacteria. When methicillin and other common antibiotic medicines do not kill the bacteria that is causing an infection, it becomes harder to get rid of the infection.

MRSA bacteria are more likely to develop when antibiotics are used too often or are not used correctly. Given enough time, bacteria can outsmart antibiotics so that these medicines no longer work well. This is why MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria are sometimes called "super bugs."

What causes an infection?

MRSA, like all staph bacteria, can be spread from one person to another through casual contact or through contaminated objects. It is commonly spread from the hands of someone who has MRSA. This could be anyone in a health care setting or in the community. MRSA is usually not spread through the air like the common cold or flu virus, unless a person has MRSA pneumonia and is coughing.

MRSA that is acquired in a hospital or health care setting is called hospital-based methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA). In most cases, a person who is already sick or who has a weakened immune system becomes infected with HA-MRSA. These infections can occur in wounds or skin, burns, and IV or other sites where tubes enter the body, as well as in the eyes, bones, heart, or blood.

MRSA used to infect people who had chronic illnesses, but now MRSA is becoming more common in healthy people. These infections can occur among people who are likely to have cuts or wounds and who have close contact with one another, such as members of sports teams. This type of MRSA is called community-based methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA).

What are the symptoms of MRSA?

Symptoms of a MRSA infection depend on where the infection is. If MRSA is causing an infection in a wound, that area of your skin may be red or tender. If you have pneumonia, you may develop a cough.

Community-based MRSA commonly causes skin infections, such as boils, abscesses, or cellulitis. Often, people think they have been bitten by a spider or insect. Because MRSA infections can become serious in a short amount of time, it is important to see your doctor right away if you notice a boil or other skin problem.

How is an infection diagnosed?

If your doctor thinks that you are infected with MRSA, he or she will send a sample of your infected wound, blood, or urine to a lab. The lab will grow the bacteria and then test to see which kinds of antibiotics kill the bacteria. This test may take several days.

You may also be tested if your doctor suspects that you are a MRSA carrier-a person who has the bacteria on his or her skin but who is not sick. This is done by taking a swab from the inside of the nose.

How is an infection treated?

Depending on how serious your infection is, the doctor may drain your wound, prescribe antibiotic medicine, give you an IV (intravenous) antibiotic, or hospitalize you. You might also be given an ointment to put on your skin or inside your nose and be asked to wash your skin daily with an antibiotic soap called chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) to reduce MRSA bacteria on your skin.

If you have a MRSA infection and need to be in a hospital, you may be isolated in a private room to reduce the chances of spreading the bacteria to others. When your doctors and nurses are caring for you, they may use extra precautions such as wearing gloves and gowns. If you have a MRSA pneumonia, they may also wear masks.

Most cases of community-based methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) begin as mild skin infections such as pimples or boils. Your doctor may be able to treat these infections without antibiotics by using a minor surgical procedure that opens and drains the sores.

If your doctor prescribes antibiotic medicine, be sure to take all the medicine even if you begin to feel better right away. If you do not take all the medicine, you may not kill all the bacteria. No matter what your treatment, it is important to call your doctor if your infection does not get better as expected.

How can I prevent getting or spreading MRSA?

As more antibiotic-resistant bacteria develop, hospitals are taking extra care to practice "infection control," which includes frequent hand-washing and isolation of patients who are infected with MRSA.

You can also take steps to protect yourself from MRSA.

* Practice good hygiene.
o Keep your hands clean by washing them frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Hand-washing is the best way to avoid spreading germs.
o Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage and avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
o Do not share personal items such as towels or razors.
* Be smart about using antibiotics. Know that antibiotics can help treat bacterial infections but they cannot cure viral infections. Always ask your doctor if antibiotics are the best treatment and avoid pressuring your doctor into prescribing antibiotics when they won't help you get better.
* Always take all your antibiotic medicine as prescribed by your doctor. Using only part of the medicine can cause antibiotic-resistant bacteria to develop.
* Do not save any antibiotics and do not use antibiotics that were prescribed for someone else.
* If you are in the hospital, remind doctors and nurses to wash their hands before they touch you.

If you have an infection with MRSA, you can keep from spreading the bacteria.

* Cover your wound with clean, dry bandages and follow your doctor’s instructions on caring for your wound.
* Keep your hands clean. You, your family, and other people with whom you are in close contact should wash their hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after changing the bandage or touching the wound.
* Do not share towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or other items that may have had contact with your wound or a bandage. Wash your sheets, towels, and clothes with warm water and detergent and dry them in a hot dryer, if possible.
* Keep your environment clean by wiping frequently touched surfaces (such as counter tops, doorknobs, and light switches) with a disinfectant.

Jean this is a great deal of information, but take your time if you have question email me at [email protected], and I will try to get back to you as quickly as possible.

 

[Jean DeVries]

Thanks Lisa.

I'm hoping it comes out OK, but I never have that kind of luck

How contagious is it? There's lots of info about contagion if it's on your body, but not much if it's up your nose.

 

[heather223]

Jean, like everyone else said stop worrying and rest so you can get better. Keep us updated.

I will keep you in my thought and prayers.

 

[tlag1986]

Staph is contagious, but in contact only. That means even though it is up your nose you should do the same as if it were on your skin. Follow these suggestions and you should do fine.If you have an infection with MRSA, you can keep from spreading the bacteria.* Cover your wound with clean, dry bandages and follow your doctor’s instructions on caring for your wound.
* Keep your hands clean. You, your family, and other people with whom you are in close contact should wash their hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after changing the bandage or touching the wound.
* Do not share towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or other items that may have had contact with your wound or a bandage. Wash your sheets, towels, and clothes with warm water and detergent and dry them in a hot dryer, if possible.
* Keep your environment clean by wiping frequently touched surfaces (such as counter tops, doorknobs, and light switches) with a disinfectant.

 

[Jean DeVries]

Thanks.

I think I"m the new Purell queen of West Michigan.

I really want this to be not MRSA. I want to go on my cruise....

 

[Jean DeVries]

OK, you medically smart people out there.....

How can one tell the difference between regular staph and MRSA just by looking at it? Do they look different? I mean, how can my doctor say he thinks it's MRSA if it's really just a staph infection, and the fact that it's MRSA dictates treatment?

Not as freaked out, but still think every time I cough that it's pneumonia. And I have a sore in my mouth....(which, at any other time in my life would be cankar, but is now, I am convinced, MRSA.)

Jean

 

[Nanisu]

I had MRSA in my breast after cancer. It's treatable--the best advice I can give you is REST REST REST and take the meds. I almost died from mine becaue I didn't do that.

 

[tlag1986]

Jean it will be determined whether it is staph or MRSA by the cultures they take.Like we have said please rest. Take naps if you are tired, and be as healthy as you can with your lifestyle.

 

[Jean DeVries]

Hey y'all!

The MRSA test came back negative....she didn't have the staph results, so I don't know how those came out, but there's no MRSA!

Yeah!!!! Cozumel, here I come!!! (right???)

Jean

 

[tlag1986]

Jean I'm so happy for you. Enjoy your cruise!!!!!

 

[janetupnorth]

Awesome! Are you going to listen next time we tell you to relax?!?!

Spoiler

Yeah right, I know there's a snowball's chance in you know where for that one!

 

[Jean DeVries]

Um. Probably not

I'm genetically predisposed to be a fatalist.....