normal skin flora

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Andy Le Blanc
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normal skin flora

Post by Andy Le Blanc »

Some years back I worked at an aquaculture grow out facility that was in the business
of producing a up scale table fish for restaurant and trendy food makets.
The species was tropical and so were the working conditions.
Hard work in a tropical marine environment. I used to get minor belt line irritations and rashes
despite all efforts at keeping clean, part of the job etc...
One of the these turned in to a little cyst on my right hip, I didn't worry,
I knew what it was and for years it was never a bother.

I've lost some weight this year, getting some exercise, doing pretty well...
Last week Thursday I noticed the cyst was suddenly getting larger.

By Monday I was in the ER and its been a very tuff week.

The cyst had suddenly grown into a very serious deep tissue abscess,
and after nearly a week of intravenous and oral antibiotics things are turning around.

It's been cut, drained and packed for a few days now,
This morning they repacked the wound removing the old after two days.

If you've never had one of these, the pain of these procedures sends you through the roof
even after the local, on par with a deep 2nd degree burn.

Today was the turn around although I might still have a surgeon get after it properly.
And I'm discovering just how long the week has been and just how ill I was.
My veins are starting to get fragile from the IV, and I'm getting familiar with weekly rotation of nurses.

The lab results tonight were "normal skin flora".

The real moral of the story, as find myself catching up,as I'm discovering,
is that one should not post while in pain or on pain meds. Your not as rational as you think you are.... :shock:
lazymaryamps
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dartanion
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Re: normal skin flora

Post by dartanion »

It's all good Andy. It's better than melting your brain watching Fox News :wink:
Eardrums!!! We don't need no stinkin' eardrums!
mlp-mx6
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Re: normal skin flora

Post by mlp-mx6 »

dartanion wrote:It's all good Andy. It's better than melting your brain watching Fox News :wink:
Or any other news broadcast, for that matter.
Wife: How many amps do you need?
Me: Just one more...
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dartanion
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Re: normal skin flora

Post by dartanion »

mlp-mx6 wrote:
dartanion wrote:It's all good Andy. It's better than melting your brain watching Fox News :wink:
Or any other news broadcast, for that matter.
Great point! I don't trust the media at all. Some are better than others, but they all would rather divert your attention to unimportant stories rather than real news. Fox is just so blatant about it that they are an easy target.
Eardrums!!! We don't need no stinkin' eardrums!
Andy Le Blanc
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Location: central Maine

Re: normal skin flora

Post by Andy Le Blanc »

kind words... thanks.... I started a manure pitching contest... :roll:
lazymaryamps
mlp-mx6
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Re: normal skin flora

Post by mlp-mx6 »

No worries. We're all brothers.
Wife: How many amps do you need?
Me: Just one more...
Chad
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Re: normal skin flora

Post by Chad »

Here's wishing you a speedy recovery Andy. Hope you feel great soon and for years to come. Chad
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Deric
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Re: normal skin flora

Post by Deric »

Chad wrote:Here's wishing you a speedy recovery Andy. Hope you feel great soon and for years to come. Chad
Ditto!!!!!!!!!!! 8)
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dartanion
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Re: normal skin flora

Post by dartanion »

Bummer to be illin! Get well soon.
Eardrums!!! We don't need no stinkin' eardrums!
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Sonny ReVerb
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Re: normal skin flora

Post by Sonny ReVerb »

I wish you the best, Andy. Keep on mendin'...
"The blues is the roots, the rest is the fruits." - Willie Dixon
Andy Le Blanc
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Location: central Maine

Re: normal skin flora

Post by Andy Le Blanc »

I really appreciate the support.... First bad health crisis I've had.

The speed and severity of the thing was scary, and its not a "bad strain" of
staph, strep, or mursa.

The warranty period is up I guess, started to fall apart right on schedule.
lazymaryamps
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M Fowler
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Re: normal skin flora

Post by M Fowler »

Andy get well soon, old fart. :)

I know what your going through (a fistula) first surgery took 22 inches of vasolene gauze packed three times per day until it saucerizes and then watchful eye ony it. All fun huh!
Bear
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Re: normal skin flora

Post by Bear »

Drag. Worse drags can be had, but still a drag. Get better.
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drhulsey
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Re: normal skin flora

Post by drhulsey »

Andy Le Blanc wrote: I used to get minor belt line irritations and rashes...
It's not uncommon that the irritation you had causes some swelling at the opening of oil glands in the skin, obstructing normal drainage. The gland then fills itself up creating a cyst. These can be present for years causing no problems. If the cyst gets infected, it becomes an abscess. The treatment is drainage. No antibiotics get into the abscess. They are for the prevention of spread to normal tissues. The wall of the cyst is the living part. If the infection destroys the wall of the cyst, there won't be anything to do but let it heal. If there is some of the cyst wall left, it can regrow another cyst., which should be removed. Most of the time, you have to let it heal for several months before you can tell whether there will be any regrowth of the cyst.
Skin is covered with bacteria. Staph is a normal resident on skin and a common bacteria found in skin infections. Methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus (MRSA) can be an aggressive infection and lethal in some cases. It's not just a hospital acquired infection anymore. It can look very benign initially, but deaths have been known to occur from hair follicle infections in healthy teenagers!
The moral of the story is– watch for any minor skin infections. If you see a small whitehead in the skin, scrub off the thin sheet of skin over it to make it drain, Use warm soaks 2-3 times a day to keep it draining. Once drained it will usually heal quickly. HOWEVER, watch the area closely to make sure! If it persists, see your physician sooner rather than later.
Cysts are common, and many never become infected. It's very easy to watch them for any signs of infection. If an infection develops, believe me you will notice redness, swelling, and tenderness that wasn't there before. Just remember the worst pimple you had right before prom! Cysts in pressure areas like the belt line, neckline, and bra line (guys, get those bras off :? ) are more likely to cause trouble.
I'm glad you're recuperating well, Andy 8)
End of lecture. Quiz next week :shock:
Tim

In case the NSA is listening, KMA!
Andy Le Blanc
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Location: central Maine

Re: normal skin flora

Post by Andy Le Blanc »

Sounds just like the PA on the med/surg floor a few hours back.
I get the last of the packing out tomorrow and after the wound heals I've
got to keep a close eye for anything new.

M Fowler...
repacked 3 x per day? ..... words can't begin.... morphine ?
lazymaryamps
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