|
6348. wonkers2 - 10/25/2004 8:35:18 PM Anybody had experience with cellulitis? I've apparently got it in my left ankle. My prescription: Levaquin (antibiotic), Bactroban cream and twice daily baths in boric acid solution. So far, after 3 days, no noticeable improvement. I wonder how long the cure will take. 6349. thoughtful - 10/25/2004 8:40:20 PM wonks, from a web site, "Over 90% of all cellulitis cases are cured after 7-10 days of antibiotic treatment. " 6350. judithathome - 10/25/2004 8:41:03 PM Looks like you are doing waht you should:
Treatment
Cellulitis treatment may require hospitalization if it is severe enough to warrant intravenous antibiotics and close observation. At other times, oral antibiotics and close outpatient follow-up suffice. Treatment is focused on control of the infection and prevention of complications.
Antibiotics are given to control infection, and analgesics may be needed to control pain.
Elevate the infected area, usually higher than the heart, to minimize swelling. Apply warm, moist compresses to the site to aid the body in fighting infection by increasing blood supply to the tissues. Rest until symptoms improve.
Expectations (prognosis)
Cure is possible with 7 to 10 days of treatment. Cellulitis may be more severe in people with chronic diseases and people who are susceptible to infection (immunosuppressed). 6351. judithathome - 10/25/2004 8:41:44 PM x post, as usual. 6352. wonkers2 - 10/25/2004 9:11:24 PM Thanks, judith. I had a fairly severe case of shingles last year which I recall may be a sign of being immuno-suppressed. And I had bursitis of my right elbow which finally subsided while I was waiting two weeks for a doctor's appointment. My current cellulitis is more painful and, I gather, potentially more serious than bursitis. I lucked out and got a quick appointment with what I hope is a competent dermatologist. 6353. wonkers2 - 10/25/2004 9:12:21 PM I think I caught it from the water in San Francisco Bay! Jexter didn't warn me about that. 6354. thoughtful - 10/25/2004 9:43:45 PM absolutely...don't screw around with it. Do as you're told.
zinc helps enhance the immune system, so if you don't already take it, you might want to add it to your daily regimen, at least while you're battling the infection. 6355. wonkers2 - 10/25/2004 10:22:56 PM Thanks! I was advised some time ago (several years) to take multi-vitamins but never followed through. I'm off to the drugstore! 6356. concerned - 10/28/2004 1:31:30 AM I really learned somthing about coronary bypass operations, as a result of following a thread in another forum discussing Xlowntoon joining the Kerry Kampaign. The idea that half or more of bypass patients suffer some possibly permanent mental impairment due to foreign object damage to blood vessels in the brain from the artificial heart machine used during surgery certainly makes me look at all those Heartcheck radio commercials I keep hearing in a different light. I'll go with an angioplasty or just do without if I possibly can, assuming the possibility ever comes up for me. 6357. wonkers2 - 10/28/2004 2:12:39 AM If Clinton lost 90 percent of his brain cells, he'd still be smarter than Bush. 6358. judithathome - 10/28/2004 3:00:56 AM AMEN!! 6359. judithathome - 10/28/2004 3:02:12 AM He certainly hasn't seemed to miss a step, mentally, since the bypass. 6360. SnowOwl - 11/8/2004 11:52:57 AM I'm not sure where I should put this but I guess this is as good a thread as any.
A Cancer drug's journey from Cuba
Cuba has developed a promising new treatment for lung cancer, which a biotech company in the US is keen on importing. They had something of a struggle to get permission to import the drug though, because of the embargo.
Cuban scientists were willing to help Americans gain access to the drug.
"There is no reason why scientists here and there cannot cooperate," said Dr. Augustin Lage, director of the Center of Molecular Immunology in Havana, which developed the drug.
But in order for the drug to come to the United States, the State Department had to recommend that an exception be made to the 44-year-old U.S.-Cuban trade embargo. The Treasury Department later approved that request. The deal came together just as the Bush administration was getting tougher on Cuban trade.
"The Bush administration doesn't want to do anything to validate the [Cuban] revolution, whether it be public relations terms or financial terms, and that was the quandary with CancerVax," said John Kavulich, president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council.
...
The U.S. government did not want the Cuban government to benefit from the sale of the drug. So instead of paying $6 million in cash for the drug, CancerVax was told to pay in food and medical supplies.
It's pleasing to see that in the end sense prevailed and the drug was allowed in. It's hoped that it may also prove effective in combatting breast cancer and other cancers. 6361. RickNelson - 11/8/2004 4:22:36 PM Amen SnowOwl!!
Upthread, Jen,
Well, there's a lot to discuss here about any one of us. I'll keep reading.
Concerned,
You and I both took an interest in Clinton's surgery. However, both my g'father and father have had bypass surgery. My g'father lived well into his 80's. My dad isn't doing his best, weight being a big problem, but he's survived for 6+ yrs so far, into his 60's. I'm sure I have the genetic track to follow suit. It bothers me, but there's not much I can do know. I've made a mess of my 30's and it's still affecting me.
But, I will never----- surrender!
(add appropriate accents to make Chruchill proud) 6362. RickNelson - 11/8/2004 4:24:32 PM typing know instead of now makes me think,
drain bamage is a terrible thing to taste. 6363. robertjayb - 11/8/2004 5:14:22 PM My double bypass nine years ago came about as a consequence of a botched (the doc's will never admit it) third angioplasty attempt. Despite cheery assurances I would be fine and fit in a brief time it took several weeks even with rehab therapy. We live on a slight hill and there is a park with jogging track about a block away at the bottom of the street. I could walk down and walk a few laps easily enough but I needed a ride back up the incline. I recognized the condition while watching Clinton and wanted to yell at the TV to get the guy out of some of the crowd scenes he attracted. Of course, Clinton being Clinton, the mobs were probably useful therapy.
I have attributed any possible diminution of my once-awesome mental powers to the effects of aging and booze. I had not heard of concerned's concerns about the heart/lung machine.
A concern that is concerning me presently is the rumored/alleged muscle impairing effects of my lipitor medication. Jar lids and such are getting to be a real challenge. 6364. arkymalarky - 11/9/2004 1:05:32 AM My great-uncle was one of the very first to get the surgery and he lived to be in his late 80s (I think he died--I'm losing track). 6365. thoughtful - 11/10/2004 8:26:06 PM Uh oh....looks like even too many vitamins can be a bad thing...now it's vit e!!!
Vitamin E
High doses of vitamin E, which millions of people take to protect themselves against heart attacks, Alzheimer's disease and other ailments, appear to actually increase the overall risk of dying, researchers reported today.
6366. Magoseph - 11/10/2004 8:36:42 PM thoughtful, rather scary article--I have to check what my husband takes now. I don't take any vitamins at all. Do you? 6367. thoughtful - 11/10/2004 8:46:11 PM I take tons of vitamins and I take herbs and flax seed oil, all in an attempt to get healthier. apparently though, even attempting to get healthy can kill you. go figure.
of course, I always crack up at articles like this one on vit e that note a 5% increase in death from all causes. So does this mean that people who take vit e become worse drivers? more accident prone? more likely to drown in a pool?
Perhaps all it means is that people take vit e because they already have health problems. perhaps just confounding cause and effect and simple correlation....
|
