Another personal story from our forum - so many of these are just the same. If any of this rings a bell, and you haven’t been properly diagnosed, please find another doctor. And please feel free to join us in the MRSA Forum. Image from UC-SF.
It all started about 3 years ago, I started getting horrible boils on my skin. Mostly on my legs, thus the screen name, because I have lots of scars left from the infections. Most of them are about dime sized scars. I got them in other places, my arm, my chin, and twice in a place where you dont want a boil..
When I got an infection I would go to the Dr. or ER but was told it was just a boil, over, and over, normally they would give antibiotics and the boil would eventually drain on its own. In the mean time I was in agony, because the sizes of these boils were massive. Some as big around as an orange.
I have been told things from it was a spider bite to it is because I have sensitive skin and eczema so I am more prone to skin infections than the average person. This is true, I am more prone to skin infections but I had never had anything like this in my life.
One doctor even hinted it might be hygiene, which sent me home in tears. I know it was not hygiene, I am an extremely clean person, almost what you would call a germ/clean freak. I have to be because me and my oldest son have eczema, he also has allergies to dust mites and mold, so my home has to be kept clean and dust free.
Anyway I had these boils for a very long time. One would heal and another one would come. I have even had them come in the exact same spot more than once. They were huge and so painful, I would have a fever and chills, and went to the doctor over and over. I just figured it was my fate. They just kept comming back. None of the doctors ever took a culture, I had never heard of an MRSA, and had no idea what was going on with me. The funny thing is my hospital just got some high award for their service… I guess they are pretty good compared to witch doctors…. Rolling Eyes
Finally about a year ago, I got this “pimple” on my chin. It turned into a massive boil which swelled the whole bottom half of my face. My face was so swollen that my teeth were cutting into my lips. I could barely speak because my face was so swollen and tight. I went to a differnt doctor who took a culture and sent me home with some antibiotics. A day or two later they called and told me it was a MRSA and to go back to the pharmasist to get these other antibiotics. I took all of the antibiotics and so far I have been boil free for close to a year now.
Awareness, CA MRSA, Infection Prevention, MRSA, MRSA in the U.S., Staph images .gif)
52 responses so far ↓
Jimmy // Mar 4, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Spider bites can also be deadly, there are only a few i believe that cause such symptoms as described above,
are there any good books on this topic?
Jimmy
Lisa // May 27, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Your picture and story mimic my experience to a “t” except that when I went to the ER, they recognized the boil as apossible spider bite and the infection as more than likely mrsa. Even before the culture came back, I was put on Bactrim DS and Hibiclens. Problem is that while the largest boil is healing slowly, I still have and keep getting the little red, pimple-like, mosquito-like bites on other areas of my body. When will all of ths stop?
Charles // Jul 3, 2007 at 10:53 am
I’m from Orlando, Florida and have been going through the same thing for about 2 years. I finally had to go in the hospital for a week so they could cut out a big chunk of my left forarm due to “two spiderbites” next to each other. I never saw the spider. I am glad to see that I am not alone in the world with this problem, but I do think that it is hitting epidemic proportions and I am really surprised that the media has not covered this at all.
Lisa // Jul 3, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Charles, I’m happy to report that because my bite was diagnosed correctly and because the resulting infection was treated as MRSA before the culture came back (it was positive when it came back) my symptoms were under control within 2- weeks. I developed several other smaller spots because of the MRSA, but they all healed and only left purple-ish scars/spots in their place. I would always assume the worst in the future and get treated with Bactrim DS immediately.
peter boile // Jul 14, 2007 at 9:58 pm
I thought my painful “pimple” on my butt cheek was a spider bite as well, so I popped it. The next day it was twice the size and even more painful. I squeezed the “pimple” again, the next day my pimple was huge and swollen like a an abcess.
I went to the ER and was told it was an ingrown hair. I was told to use hot compresses and squeeze the pus out, so I did. Within a few days the abcess was gone,but I had a huge scar to remind me of that “pimple.
A few months later another “pimple” and another popping fest. Finally I went to my doctor who took a culture of the pus and with a week I was told it was MRSA. The antibiotics I was prescribed, did not work. So a year later and several pimple and scars later I have gone to an Infection Disease doctor, who took and nasal and pus culture and prescribed Bactrim DS so I have my fingers crossed.
While I was at the I.D. doctors office ,the nurse stated to me that here in the L.A. county MRSA is a major problem, she said” it’s an epidemic, we see about 2 or more new cases a day.”
That is some scary stuff
Pinky // Sep 10, 2007 at 11:36 am
I developed welts/hives on face/neck last yr so bad eyes swelled shut. Dr. said was “stress”. I’ve had these welts/hives on/off for over yr, also, bumps/lumps under my armpits, sometimes 30 at a time. Went to emergency rm for face, was told “highly contagious staph infection” in 1 sec & no culture. Husband never sick. Soaked face in epsom salt/sea salt w/in hrs of hospital, cleared up temp. Last wk, got what thought was mosquito bite, itchy, then got red, painful, bigger, thought spider bite. Couldn’t walk this morn from pain, put “bug bite turns into boil” in keyword, found “tumeric” recipe, put on bite, 1/2 hr later feels immensely better. Also drank 1 tsp Tumeric in 1/2 glass warm water. I’m getting so used to these lumps/bumps/welts/hives, and so tired, so frustrated, all my time is spent putting neosporin, witch hazel, iodine, calamine, sea salt, epsom salt, diaper rash oint, medicated soap, medicated powder etc. I feel like a freak sometimes. People don’t look at me weird, they just look at me like they feel sorry for me. I stay inside for weeks at a time. I’m going to try the Tumeric regimen and see what happens. I am a clean person, cleaner then most people I know. My husband is not the most hygienic and he never gets sick. People have called me germophobic. I just don’t understand. Our old, rented house had mold/mildew infestation & no ventilation. Things were real bad then, moved recently, but unpacking old items from old house seems to start flare-ups. Washed everything could, including push pins, rubberbands etc. What couldn’t wash, threw away. What is going on? Thanks for listening. Take care.
Jillian // Sep 21, 2007 at 12:47 pm
My son came home with what looked like a big pimple on his shoulder. It was so big I started searching online to see what it could be. Come to find out a student at school had staph infection almost from head to toe. I immediately began putting hot compresses on it and antiseptic ointment. Then some bactrin. It seems to have went down and has a small hole in the middle with no pus. Does this mean it is healing? How do I know if what I’m doing to heal it is working?
rusty // Oct 19, 2007 at 10:05 am
i can’t find anywhere that people talk about the DIFFERENCES in the symptoms of a spider bite and mrsa. my red welts are extremely itchy. are mrsa welts itchy?
catlady // Oct 20, 2007 at 5:59 pm
I just came across the recent surge of news reports regarding MRSA from a Good Morning America on-line video. It was the symptoms that caught my eye since I have been fighting flu-like symptoms for about a week, including feeling feverish, and had at the same time found 3 mysterious mosquito-type bites located close to each other on my lower back. I feel OK today but am wondering if I might have or had MSRA. The bites were itchy, not painful, and are healing and feel as though they are drying up. Since they are on lower-back, I never could really see them and just assumed something had bitten me. I will keep watch for news updates and will monitor the 3 strange bites…
catlady // Oct 20, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Also, I do not fall into any of the high risk catagories for contracting this bacteria.
chera // Oct 22, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Are there any type of specializing doctors that seem to be more knowledgable regarding these infections? For the past 2 years I’ve dealt with these same large recurring infections. Luckily, (if this can be said) I’ve only had 2-3 a year. Unfortunatley though, I do notice the time between becoming more & more frequent and each of these have left large indented quarter sized scars.
CARY G DEAN // Oct 23, 2007 at 5:59 am
Hi
I’m an Investigatve Alternative health researcher from England, would you please go to these important link’s for the true cure for MRSA, please watch the BBC Horizon film “The- virus- that -cures”, this virus is extracted from the sewerage pipe that flow’s from an infected hospital and is the cure, note the statement at the end of the film, this is why the west is ignorant of this important research, also note how grotty the hospital is, hospital’s that are too sterile are making the problem worse.
http://www.phageinternational.com/phagetherapy/whitepapers.htm
http://www.georgiapromo.info/virus.html
http://www.videosift.com/video/Phage-The-Virus-that-Cures
Thankyou
Yours
Cary G Dean
Isaac // Oct 23, 2007 at 8:22 am
Use the Original Mobile Phone Cleaning System to professionally kill and remove harmful bacteria including MRSA from your cellphones. For more information go to http://www.TheBacteriaKiller.com/
Sky // Oct 24, 2007 at 6:30 pm
i just noticed a fairly large (not tall, but wide) bump on the top of my head. im not sure if it’s a mosquito bite( i stand out in the morning for the bus in the dark) or some kind of staph/mrsa infection. im worried since this recent uproar of mrsa has been reported in a county close to mine. this bump isn’t itchy, just fairly painful if i touch it. it could also just be a welt of some sort since my friend has been playing rough and hit me in my head. i saw a comment above about cleaning your phones, can mrsa/staph infection be spread through just contact or does it have to be through an open wound? please someone comment back
CARY G DEAN // Oct 25, 2007 at 7:23 am
My research link’s are for the attention of what Hospital’s need to do about MRSA, but on a personal level I use 6% Food grade Hydrogen Peroxide on any lump’s bump’s scratch’s etc untill healed, I only wash my hand’s with HP because it kills the bad bug’s but leave’s the good one’s, you should be able to get it from a drug store, we all carry Staphylococcus in one form or another but too much cleaning with anti bacterial soaps can make thing’s worse in the long run, as you are constantly washing the good bacteria away that keep’s the bad bug in check,what I’v discoverd is you can be too clean, but you can also be too dirty, we all need to drop in the middle somwhere, as for contact yes this can happen but as long as you have a strong immune system this keeps it in check,it’s only people who have had their immune system compromised by an illness or over use of antibiotic’s, I suggest in your case to soak a piece of lint with 6% food grade HP and leave it on the infected area as long as you can stand it, this will sting but that is good, keep treating the spot even after it seems to be healed, if it scab’s DON’T pick it or you could reinfect, you might consider wearing a hat when your out so you don’t damage it again, I hope you’v found this info usefull.
Rebecca // Oct 28, 2007 at 4:59 pm
I went to the doctor about a month ago complaining that my ingrown hair was infected. (This was before MRSA was all over the news.) He told he that it was MRSA and gave me antibiotics. Within 2 days I was back at the doctor- the boil was getting worse. His partner agreed it was MRSA and told me it was actually “coming to a head”. (By the way they never tested it.) I could barely walk at this point. I was in so much pain. The next day the boil started pussing. By the next week I started to get a rash all over my body. I went to the doctor and was told I was highly allergic to sulpher–I was on a sulpher based antibiotic. Since then the boil has been drying up and has now been a scab for a few weeks. (It took quite a while to scab, because I had what looked like a hole in my leg. Now the scab is just on the surface.) Does anyone know how long it takes for MRSA scab to go away?
mallory // Oct 29, 2007 at 2:59 pm
i believe i got mrsa while in beauty school. i am out now and am conserned about protecting my family. the majority of people who do not know what it is think its from being dirty. it is contracted from skin, laundry,and open wonds… it is everywhere not just dirty ppl or places.ex. hospitals, we want them to be clean but so many ppl go to the doc. and Hospitals you can’t help it. so how can i keep myself from other absesses..and the ppl i live with
CARY G DEAN // Oct 29, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Hi all, yes mallory most people do think that, as you can see from my last comment I use Hydrogen Peroxide for hand washing, I buy it in large drum’s of 35% food grade and I have a long soak in the stuff once a week, lovely, after one of those I feel I could run a marathon, also I dilute it down to 6% for all of my bump’s and scrape’s that I pick up now and again, a product that will help you gain protection in the long run is “Super Colliodal Silver” it’s the best natural Antibiotic in the world without the nasty side effect’s, I make my own silver and take one dose a day, two dose’s in winter when the cold and flu virus’s are about, and it’s a must if you need to go into Hospital, you can take large dose’s of it without getting an overdose, they used to give bottle’s of silver to the front line troop’s in the first world war so they could keep any small injury’s clean, it was standard practice, do some research on colloidal silver, if you are goin to make your own you will need to use Distilled water, I have my own Distilled water machine and silver maker, it all depend’s on how far you want to go, buying colloidal silver can be very expensive, also you need to be carefull that if you do make it yourself that you do it correctly, if done wrong it can be toxic, and lastly, this one might be a bit too Howard Hughes for most of you, but I wear glove’s whenever I’m out and about, like shopping etc, most cold’s are picked up from touching place’s in public, do you ever see anyone cleaning shopping trolly and basket handles, I hope you found this info usefull.
mallory // Oct 29, 2007 at 7:25 pm
yes cary g dean thank you for the info. i hav only know about my condition for a few days but have had 5 sores in the last 5or6 months. this one is by far the worst. i cant work because i can hardly walk. and without income or health insurance for the time being is no good! i will let you all know after i see a follow up doc. wednesday if i leard anything new. thanks again.
Brittany // Dec 17, 2007 at 2:25 am
Okay… first off i am embarrassed to even talk about it… but i need some answers… i have been getting boils on my tush since i was in the 8th grade and i now am a senior. Mine do not POP!! They leave these HUGE SCARS !! And i keep getting them and i don’t know why, but I’m scared to go to the doctor because well like i said it is embarrassing. i also get more than 1 in an area(2 at the most)… Can i die from this??? Pretty please can you give me an answer?? and please tell me that you don’t think it is mrsa?! thanks…
Brook Chapman // Dec 19, 2007 at 10:22 am
Rebacca will my sister had it and it toke like 2 or 3 weeks and it does leave with an ugly scar.
MEREDITH // Dec 26, 2007 at 3:52 pm
I just wanted to say that you are obviously not alone. MRSA is awful! I had never heard of such a thing until exactly 6 weeks after having my daughter. Between being in a hospital and working out all of the time in a gym (naive me) I came down with what looked like a spider bite. Oh, the pain was excruciating and only when I noticed my daughter getting one did I wise up and go to the doctor. She was diagnosed with MRSA and thus, so was I. Now we have been battling with this and my son, brother, nephew, sister in law, and husband all seem to be spreading the love. My body fights it sometimes and eats the boil before it gets ugly - but it tends to sometimes seem like an unending battle. I hope you remain free of it and you son as well.
Gary Dallas Fort Worth Area // Jan 14, 2008 at 8:42 am
I would say from my own experience which mimics just about every single persons description here that yes most if not all of the people listing these problems have MRSA. Just like so many of you I too have been battling this bacteria now for almost a year and a half. It took that long for me to finally demand the doctor culture the last “boil” (that looks like a spider bite) and sure enough it was MRSA. There are two drugs that doctors prescribe to treat this. Either of the two antibiotics MUST be taken without stopping and I personally would recommend that you get enough of a supply for 20 days. Twice a day/20 days. SULFAMETHOXAZOLE/TMP DS. This antibiotic combination is strong but I can tell you the side effects lessen as you take the drug over time. I made the mistake of not finishing the medication the first time it was given to me; this increases the chance of the STAPH becoming resistant. Now, regarding other alternatives. I am considering taking COLODIAL SILVER along with the antibiotic. I have friends that have been taking it for years without any problem. However, fair warning, if you obtain a skin cream of the mixture it WILL turn your skin blue(possibly permanently). My understanding is that 25-50 ppm(parts per million) of this per day is sufficient. And yes, there is a man in the news that turned blue from using it, but again it was due to the fact he rubbed the cream all over his face. He though in fact still drinks the liquid and claims he is healthy because of it. Before you take COLODIAL SILVER, READ ABOUT IT. READ ALOT ABOUT IT FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. And do NOT listen to anyone who tells you that it is “snake oil” that simply is not true. It is PROVEN that COLODIAL SILVER destroys all kinds of viruses and bacteria on contact. Well, I appreciate your time and hope everyone gets well soon, including myself.
Gary Dallas Fort Worth Area // Jan 14, 2008 at 8:56 am
One other thing, if you are a person who drinks alcohol quite a bit, and you have this problem with MRSA, your not going to like this but you most definitley must stop drinking while taking the medicine or I can just about guaruntee you in 8 out of 10 cases where a person who is abusing or over-using alcohol will have recurrent symptoms of the infection. Also, on another note, yes it can become fatal. That really is not an over-exaggeration. Additionally, the medical community in the UNTIED STATES seems to be on SLEEPER mode concerning this. It reall is popping up everywhere. MY healthy daughter, who does not live with me, even got it.(I had not been around her for weeks before she had it) So again take this seriously. Get the boil cultured. If you cannot afford it go to the emergency room at the county hospital and tell them what you have read. Print pictures of other peoples boils and show them. Sometimes doctors and nurses can be hard pressed to believe that you may actually know what it is wrong with you. Also, could anyone who has had this please tell me if they have used any alternative medicines. I strongly believe a regimen of Colodial Silver and garlic along with regular vitamins and the antibiotics are the best defense against this bacteria. I also believe, though I have no supporting facts that many of the people who are getting this either have an immune deficiency, or are using quite a bit of alcohol or possible tranquilizers such as XANAX. I am not saying that is what is causing the bug. I think that depressants seem to lower our immune system. Furthermore, if you are a person experiencing severe depression or anxiety, it is a well known fact that those things by themself can lower the body’s immunity.
So I say the cure is:
1. Pray
2. Exercise
3. Eat better foods and add high amounts
of Vitamin C or garlic.
4. NO ALCOHOL
5. ANTIBIOTIC- BACTRIM
6. Constantly make sure wounds are covered; I use the antibiotic bandaids
7. Wash your towels after each use, and do not rub the affected part of the body then another. Dry yourself all around the boil first; then if you have to gently dab the boil taking care to wrap the portion of the towel you used and wrapping it up inside itslef and promptly placing it to be cleaned.
8. Wash your hands with an antibacterial soap after cleansing the wound, after using the bathroom and anytime you believe you may have come in contact with contaminated material.
9. DIRTY People are not the ones who get this. I am exceptionally clean. Once this bug enters the body through a break in the skin it begins to colonize in some people. Meaning it may “disappear” for a time and then reoccur.
Gary Dallas Fort Worth Area // Jan 14, 2008 at 8:59 am
One last thing. My doctor prescribed me Phisodex. Earlier in the post there was a young lady I think who said she gets them on her buttocks. That is where mine started before it spread. Phisodex is a soap and it is expensive. But, I have been using it in the shower and my rear side(lol) is now like a babys behind again. So have some hope.
Gary Dallas Fort Worth Area // Jan 14, 2008 at 9:03 am
Okay one more thing: The reason I do not believe a 10 day regimen of the antibiotic is enough is because some peoples boils whether they are lanced or not do not completely drain all of the bacteris before the skin grows back over the open wound covering it. This leaves the bacteria in the body to float around. That is why I say twenty days. And that is also why I say combining an antibiotic with a safe “alternative” such as HIGH GARLIC (FRESH-minced) or perhaps COLODIAL SILVER may help.
Dyaln // Feb 28, 2008 at 11:04 am
I Hate This Web Site
Dylan // Feb 28, 2008 at 11:06 am
I Really want to kill myself cuz bills right next to me
Dylan // Mar 3, 2008 at 10:07 am
ok i want to punch myself on the head cuz i hate this web site so much its so dumb and i cant belive all these people who look at it you must all be stupid..bye retias
lizard // Mar 23, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Dylan, apparently you are a healthy young man and have never had a problem such as this. I’ve been suffering since having cancer three years ago, and had thought this might be some side affect until I came across this website. If you hate it so much, it doesn’t take THAT much of a brain to figure out, STAY OFF this site
Enrique // Apr 8, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I thought that I was the only one going thru this. I have lots of scars on my legs because of this MRSA. I also went to the doctor many times because this boils got so big and painfull that 4 of them had to be cut open and drained, now I have all this cars and Im trying to find out if there is anything I can do to remove this scars or sothing that can help to make them look less ufull?
Alma R. Sarmiento // Apr 9, 2008 at 1:05 am
I’m just appalled about America’s capitalistic stance on the Georgia Research Institute regarding Phage
Medicine. I’m an RN here in USA since 1985 and have not heard about the life saving treatment at Georgia till now. Patients are dying from MRSA and other infectious diseases and now is a global concern, when will America wake up and stop monopolizing? The knowledge and expertise should be collaborated with other countries, to save this crisis.
Anon // Apr 19, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, and this is not for the weak hearted, or intended to scare anyoune, but i’ve had no good news since dealing with it. I hope to add simply some big of clarity to some, and reference for others who question whether or not they should see a specialis. Let me just say that if you’ve had a spot for awhile that your worried about, and its gotten even slightly better without treatment, then it’s probably just a boil, or something else. If it’s mrsa, then after a day or two of the You’ll know it! It will hurt so bad you wont have a choice but to go to the doctor. Even the pain pills didn’t do much. But don’t wait, or it’ll abcess, then they’ll stick couple of needles in it no matter where it is. The Dr.’s all say that the media is making it a bigger deal than it really is. I know they just wanna make you feel better. but com’on. The doctors aren’t even on the same page. I continually have these spots reoccur. And after one visit to an emergency room, the er doc their gave me keflex. After a very long awaited appointment with an Infectious disease specialist, she told me Keflex isn’t even one of the anit-biotics that effects mrsa. That was a waste. And heres the truth. Most people have it and are not afftected by it. But if your here reading this then your proably not one of them. They’ll tell you its a weakened immune system, from diabetes or such that causes the reoccurences. But I had a million different types of blood tests, tests that revealed no reason as to such. So is the story of my life. At least most of you have them on parts of your body that are incuspicious. Try having them all over your face. That’s right! Thats where mine all started. My face swolle so big even my friends didn’t even recognize it. You Can’t cover it up. And the “Specialist” says that I’ll probably have it for ever, and the effects could keep showing up for years. Although she does state that it the severity of each case will diminish with time. Every time it starts popping up I have to run to the doc’s office and get more meds. You have to stay on top of it! As for the scars. Sorry, even though the shrink a tad, they tend to leave a small purple spot that will more than likely never go away. Iv’e been dealing with it for a couple of years. Only the people that are admitted into the hospital that have recieved the vancomycin treatment that goes in a needle through your arm directly into your heart, for more than 24hrs. Most serious cases, obviously, have not had any reoccurences. If you get it properly diagnosed and treated the first time you might be ok. But I had every thing sanitized, cleaned. Even threw all my clothes away and bought new ones. Pillow cases, sheets bed spreads everything. Some research iv’e found says that even if you get rid of it, you can continually be re-exposed to it by your spouse or children. Even if it doesnt’ bother them, you’ll continue to get it. And believe it or not they’re not even sure if animals can get it or not, but they think so. So can they trasnmitt it back to you. They don’t know. My point is don’t listen to anyone, including me untill you talk to a specialist. Don’t worry about every little bump, because within a day or two you’ll know, but then don’t hesitate and have it checked out.
WV Mt Mama // Apr 24, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I am a 33-year old female, hospitalized two weeks ago tomorrow–an overnight stay for chest pain. Last Saturday (almost a week ago) I got what I thought was a spider bite even thoug I don’t remember seeing a spider or being bitten. It felt like I was stabbed. It is on my the upper left backside. It started out being small and red and painful. I thought for sure it was either a boil or a bite. My nurse mother ruled out a boil. I dutifully went to the doctor on Monday morning who did not swab it but rather gave me Amoxicillin and Bacitrin cream. With the spot came intense leg pains, aches, only in that left leg. Two days ago, I asked the doctor for something for pain and he gave me Darviset. After 3 doses, I started getting little red clusters of bumps or blisters, again, only on my left leg. The doctor tells me the leg pain is from discs in my back which are being pinched. No tests confirm this and my back doesn’t hurt, just my left leg where the bite is located. Grrr! The spot now is now between dime-and-quarter sized, with dark red blood spots just below the skin. It is still very painful and has pink/red around it. I am wondering if this could be MRSA. I am heading to the doctor tomorrow and insisting that they swab it. I kind of hope it is MRSA so they can give me the medicine I need and get this stupid leg to stop hurting. I can’t sleep it’s that bad.
Wendy Wilson // May 6, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Whoa! I can see that my difficulties the last 2 years have not been all that unique. I’ve JUST finally had a boil cultured, at a medical school, yet!
Family Practice department wouldn’t even culture two or three bad ones I’ve had; they just gave me ten days of antibiotics, and said they didn’t need to be drained.
Even though one dr. there said “That looks serious.” Uh, yeah! But culture it? He wanted to leave that up to dermatology, again. And they wouldn’t. Again. I’ve been to dermatology three times, and one of them even so much as said I didn’t even have staph! No tests, except a skin biopsy that said some sort of allergy.
To those of you who have asked if they itch, yes! Viciously! And some look like little pimples, and go away, or they fester into these awful boils. that look like spider bites. I even saw a light brown spider not long before my first bad one, so I thought it was a spider bite!
My daughter is healthy, and she picked it up at a
gym, as did her coworker. My daughter called me up and told me about it. I got into the dr. as soon as I could. THAT’s when I finally got the culture I needed, at Internal Med, by the nurse practioner!
What really gripes me is the doctors, and some nurses, think that we aren’t supposed to know anything about what to ask for, or what a problem might be. They can’t get out of their little “diagnostic boxes”. I just wish I had seen this sight earlier, so I could have had my medicine earlier. Thanks for this great service!
Christine // May 20, 2008 at 11:11 pm
I know I have a staph infection. I don’t know if it’s MRSA or not, but I’ve had 3 boils pop up in the past 2 months on my inner thigh. The first one happened and I showed it to my mother. She worked in a hospital for years and she said “It doesn’t look like staph to me.” But boils are caused by staph anyway. The first boil went away on it’s own after about a week, and thankfully it didn’t get very large. It was just very tender. But the pus never drained out. After it subsided tiny purple bumps popped up in it’s place. I had a second one come up about a month later, less than half an inch from the first boil. It healed quickly, but again, no pus drained and purple bumps followed it. Now I have another that it dangerously close to an area where no one wants staph. And I DEFINITELY don’t want purple bumps there. I’m going to the doctor tomorrow, but I pretty much know what he’ll say. I just hope he can put me on something that will make it go away.
GARY // May 20, 2008 at 11:37 pm
I would say from my own experience which mimics just about every single persons description here that yes most if not all of the people listing these problems have MRSA. Just like so many of you I too have been battling this bacteria now for almost a year and a half. It took that long for me to finally demand the doctor culture the last “boil†(that looks like a spider bite) and sure enough it was MRSA. There are two drugs that doctors prescribe to treat this. Either of the two antibiotics MUST be taken without stopping and I personally would recommend that you get enough of a supply for 20 days. Twice a day/20 days. SULFAMETHOXAZOLE/TMP DS. This antibiotic combination is strong but I can tell you the side effects lessen as you take the drug over time. I made the mistake of not finishing the medication the first time it was given to me; this increases the chance of the STAPH becoming resistant. Now, regarding other alternatives. I am considering taking COLODIAL SILVER along with the antibiotic. I have friends that have been taking it for years without any problem. However, fair warning, if you obtain a skin cream of the mixture it WILL turn your skin blue(possibly permanently). My understanding is that 25-50 ppm(parts per million) of this per day is sufficient. And yes, there is a man in the news that turned blue from using it, but again it was due to the fact he rubbed the cream all over his face. He though in fact still drinks the liquid and claims he is healthy because of it. Before you take COLODIAL SILVER, READ ABOUT IT. READ ALOT ABOUT IT FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. And do NOT listen to anyone who tells you that it is “snake oil†that simply is not true. It is PROVEN that COLODIAL SILVER destroys all kinds of viruses and bacteria on contact. Well, I appreciate your time and hope everyone gets well soon, including myself.
One other thing, if you are a person who drinks alcohol quite a bit, and you have this problem with MRSA, your not going to like this but you most definitley must stop drinking while taking the medicine or I can just about guaruntee you in 8 out of 10 cases where a person who is abusing or over-using alcohol will have recurrent symptoms of the infection. Also, on another note, yes it can become fatal. That really is not an over-exaggeration. Additionally, the medical community in the UNTIED STATES seems to be on SLEEPER mode concerning this. It reall is popping up everywhere. MY healthy daughter, who does not live with me, even got it.(I had not been around her for weeks before she had it) So again take this seriously. Get the boil cultured. If you cannot afford it go to the emergency room at the county hospital and tell them what you have read. Print pictures of other peoples boils and show them. Sometimes doctors and nurses can be hard pressed to believe that you may actually know what it is wrong with you. Also, could anyone who has had this please tell me if they have used any alternative medicines. I strongly believe a regimen of Colodial Silver and garlic along with regular vitamins and the antibiotics are the best defense against this bacteria. I also believe, though I have no supporting facts that many of the people who are getting this either have an immune deficiency, or are using quite a bit of alcohol or possible tranquilizers such as XANAX. I am not saying that is what is causing the bug. I think that depressants seem to lower our immune system. Furthermore, if you are a person experiencing severe depression or anxiety, it is a well known fact that those things by themself can lower the body’s immunity.
So I say the cure is:
1. Pray
2. Exercise
3. Eat better foods and add high amounts
of Vitamin C or garlic.
4. NO ALCOHOL
5. ANTIBIOTIC- BACTRIM
6. Constantly make Gsure wounds are covered; I use the antibiotic bandaids
7. Wash your towels after each use, and do not rub the affected part of the body then another. Dry yourself all around the boil first; then if you have to gently dab the boil taking care to wrap the portion of the towel you used and wrapping it up inside itslef and promptly placing it to be cleaned.
8. Wash your hands with an antibacterial soap after cleansing the wound, after using the bathroom and anytime you believe you may have come in contact with contaminated material.
9. DIRTY People are not the ones who get this. I am exceptionally clean. Once this bug enters the body through a break in the skin it begins to colonize in some people. Meaning it may “disappear†for a time and then reoccur.
My doctor prescribed me Phisodex. Earlier in the post there was a young lady I think who said she gets them on her buttocks. That is where mine started before it spread. Phisodex is a soap and it is expensive. But, I have been using it in the shower and my rear side(lol) is now like a babys behind again. So have some hope.
The reason I do not believe a 10 day regimen of the antibiotic is enough is because some peoples boils whether they are lanced or not do not completely drain all of the bacteris before the skin grows back over the open wound covering it. This leaves the bacteria in the body to float around. That is why I say twenty days. And that is also why I say combining an antibiotic with a safe “alternative†such as HIGH GARLIC (FRESH-minced) or perhaps COLODIAL SILVER may help.
gary
GladImnotAlone // May 27, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Im glad to know im not alone,i feel like a freak because im always getting this. i dont know how many times i have to take off work to go see a doctor or just becuase i cant take the pain. this is my 5th time to get this huge boil and this time i had 2 within one week appart. i really cant afford this anymore its insane…how come they keeps giving me antibiotics and this is not working? and it makes me wonder if the bumps on my head are the same thing. sometimes those take months to heal. but then more come out. good site to bitch about the problem..=) great web site..thanks
Jenn // Jun 3, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I’ve been getting these around my bikini line and my inner thighs since I hit puberty…about 15 years. I’ve been to many different doctors, and they’ve all told me different things. I’ve heard the typical boil, allergic reaction, bad hygiene, sensitive skin, spider bite, etc stories over and over again, yet not once has a single doctor taken a culture.
I had a huge spot pop up on my leg today that didn’t look like the small ones I get in other areas. I happened to remember having a rather large spot pop up like this in the same spot a few years ago, and it ended up just turning into a huge pimple. It started out looking like a mosquito bite, and it was very itchy. Within hours it’s the size of a golf ball if not bigger. That got me wanting to do some research, and I found this post.
I’m definitely making another appointment and requesting a culture this time.
Also, my husband has never had any skin conditions, and in the past few months he has had these same “boils” pop up under his arms. He went to a doctor and was told they were just boils and given the usual run of antibiotics, use a hot compress, then let it drain story.
That gives me even more reason to believe it’s staph/MSRA if he’s now getting them, too.
Chante // Jun 6, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Question…..how long after starting the antibiotic Bactrim will you begin to see a result? I have been taking Bactrim for three days and although it has been draining and the pain subsided..the red circle around it has spread…it has gone from the size of a softball to about the size of my hand
Chante // Jun 6, 2008 at 6:56 pm
The entire process of healing is probably about a month with your sore. And mine left ugly scars. I would suggest continuing wit the Bactrim, make sure your eating well and take it for as long as your doctor prescribed. Talk with your doctor about ordering PHISODEX soap. It’s a soap that surgeons use to wash up before surgery with. If you take a bath, finish with a shower as well and use the PHISODEX soap. Stand outside the running water, after getting wet and apply a thin layer head to toe. Stand outside the running water for at least 2 minutes then get back under the water. Caution: Having this on or near the genital area will cause burning after you have left the shower, to me it was moderate more like, “hmmm, what’s that” but it could be severe. Hope this helps.
Gary
Gary // Jun 6, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Chante,
One more thing. I would strongly suggest covering the wound with an antibacterial band-aid. Johnson and Johnson makes one in a large size. It helps the healing process, confines the disease from spreading, and I noticed made the scars left far less severe.
gary
luis pernia // Jun 7, 2008 at 12:21 am
hi,
i have the same problem. ive had mrsa off and on for 4 yrs. i last had a “pimple” a yr and a half ago. i thought it was gone for good until i had a pimple show up on my neck. i assumed that it was just razor burn. i popped it and the next morning(today), it was the size of a golf ball. luckily both of my parents are m.d.’s and they immediately called in a prescription of bactrim. now you can use an antibiotic called vancomycin. i hear that there is a new strain that is now resistant to even this antibiotic. mrsa is really becoming an epidemic. it is threatening the future of modern medicine. it is a big big deal. in the future, invasive surgeries like transplants and the like will be impossible if this epidemic spreads. people will not longer be able to simply take a round of antibiotics after surgery and be fine. please send me an email if you want to talk about this. mynameismud26@YAHOO.COM
LUIS PERNIA
Chante // Jun 8, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Thank you for your responses.
After I posted my response (about three hours) I began crashing. Fever and chills sent me to the ER around 1am.
I was admitted and the Dr lanced my abscess around 4am. They said it was caused by a MRSA germ much stronger than regular MRSA- probably because I work in hospitals (I am a registered vascular sonographer). After cutting open the wound, they gave me intravenous antibiotics and released me Sunday at 5pm.
I now have to take clindamycin for ten days with a follow up this tuesday.
And to think this all started with a tiny pimple on the front side of my thigh about 4 inches up from my knee.
It seems like some of you have had “this” for years now. It you ever experience any fever or chills-go to the hospital. Staph is a germ and if it spreads to your bloodstream or lymph nodes……it will not be pretty.
Wish me luck……please
Chante
Stella Blue // Jun 19, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I am relieved. Just knowing that I am not alone. I have had this for 7 years now with flare ups at least 4 times a year and usually on my ass. I have had them as big as a softball but typically the size of a baseball. I am a clean person, as well. Perhaps too clean as one lady pointed out can be the case. I am suffering with my first in quite a while and am hoping it is time to drain tonight. I have been in bed for 4 days basically. I refuse to go to the hospital unless I have no choice because of the poor medical response I have had in every ER I have been to in the last several years. I am going to do as many of you suggested and see if I can get the silver colloidal. I will also be checking into the phisodex, hoping to get it off a website like the one I go to for scripts like bactrim and now vancomycin….good new info. Thanks to all…Great website.
Stella Blue
Gary // Jun 20, 2008 at 8:11 am
Stella,
Please, go to the doctor; I know that you cannot afford it, but I have not yet used the colodial silver although a friend of mine has regularly. The soap helps keep the infection from spreading when the boil “bursts”, but internally will not cure the bug. I STRONGLY suggest prayer, definitley suggest an antibiotic, and the soap. I pray you are healed quickly and can move forward past this.
Yours truly,
Gary
Gary // Jun 20, 2008 at 9:58 am
Mark 11:23
For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
MOUNTAIN OF SICKNESS, MOUNTAIN OF DISEASE, BE CAST INTO THE SEA!
In Jesus name. AMEN.
Pcmacmom // Jul 1, 2008 at 12:10 pm
My daughter was just diagnosed with MRSA this morning by our pediatrician. He immediately saw what I thought was a very infected bite or ingrown hair and said “MRSA.” He did culture it, so we won’t have official results for a couple of days.
Here was his suggestion for our whole family: wash with a special soap like Hibiclens (like Phisodex I think). Then he told me that MRSA is usually found on the skin and in the nose, so we should use a triple antibiotic ointment and put some on the inside of our nose every morning for 6 months. Both the Hibiclens and the ointment for 6 months. He was serious about this as this is a serious infection! Sounds gross, but we will give it a try. Of course, he also put my daughter on an antibiotic (Tetracycline), so we will see how the healing process goes.
Sara // Jul 30, 2008 at 12:01 am
I have been suffering with MRSA for 5 years now. I started having “boils” coming up on my stomach when I was pregnant with my second child. The doctors gave me the usual antibiotics and sent me home. Within 2 months, I had eight more show up, all on my stomach, but the doctors kept telling me the same thing. Three years and dozens of these horrible things later, my daughter delevoped one just off of her tailbone. This thing came up overnight. It was a Saturday, and we were at a birthday party when it was discovered. Thankfully, the nurse at her pediatrician’s office was at the party. I showed her and she immediately called the doctor. Twenty minutes later I’m sitting at the ped’s office, holding my 2 1/2 year old dowm as the doctor lances and drains this boil. He sent off a culture and it came back that it was MRSA. Since then, I have had two of my daughter’s hospitalized with MRSA. Finally, after 3 years of no answers, I had one. As soon as I had another flair up, I went to my doctor, told him my daughters’ histories and demanded a culture be done. Sure enough, it was MRSA. Since then, I have been on just about every antibiotic known to man, but nothing helped. I even tried washing with antibacterial soap and the nasal antibiotics to no avail. Finally, I gave up the hope that the doctors can do anything for me. Then, I came across this amazing stuff called Ichthammol. It doesn’t prevent them, but instead of suffering for weeks with the pain and draining, I use this stuff and within DAYS, it draws the infection out. I still have the scars and still go to the doctor for a specifically bad one, but it has made a world of difference knowing that I finally found something that works topically faster than any pill.
Torsten Knoll // Sep 5, 2008 at 9:05 am
New MRSA Book and Information / Help
Woosh // Dec 11, 2009 at 4:20 pm
SALT will kill almost any skin problem, especially any infection!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Himalayan salt is the best with 87 minerals in it, but I’ve even tried table salt on skin infections. I’d suggest making a hole in the boil, pimple (or popping it, although I think this leaves scars), and pour the salt in. You have to be able to take some pain for about 3-5 mnutes. The salt is killing the infection.
Also try to tape slices of garlic on any sort of skin problem. Garlic is a natural antibiotic. It makes me very sad to hear all these stores that could have been solved with salt and/or garlic.
Good luck!
Cynthia Murphy // Mar 3, 2010 at 10:51 pm
I have had atopic dermatitis (eczema) on my palms for about five years. Recently I had a bad flare-up and shortly after that, a “spider bite” appeared on my middle finger, right hand.
Doctor did not culture it, gave me amoxicillan and sent me on my way. It did finally clear up, but very slowly, over a few weeks’ time.
About a month later I noticed a small pimple on the nape of my neck in my hairline. It quickly turned very large , red and painful. I went to the ER and they drained and packed it. The culture came back as MRSA. Was given Bactrim for 10 days and it cleared up quickly. Coincidentally (?), my hand eczema seemed to clear up at the same time.
Since then, I got a very itchy eye infection. The skin reddened around the eye, with swollen and droopy eyelid. After 2 days it started to clear up, that was on a Thursday. On Friday morning, both of my armpits swelled, with painful boils on both swellings.
At the same time, my hand eczema was back and worse than ever. Doctor prescribed another 10 day course of Bactrim. I am on the third day, and swellings are down and boils clearing. Once again, amazingly, my hand eczema is cleared up!
Of course, I worry that I will complete this prescription and the MRSA will reappear. I am also really intrigued about is how the Bactrim seems to clear up my atopic dermatitis.
I’m seeing the dermatologist next week, but I have no intention of telling him that the Bactrim seemed to help my hands. Generally, doctors are very threatened by patients’ input. I have also learned that if you want your doctor to really shut down, tell him you’ve been researching online.
Has anyone else had similar situation regarding Bactrim having an effect on eczema?
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