Cellulitis

[Wicked angel]

Hello all. I was diagnosed with cellulitis in my upper thighs on both sides. My question is has anyone here had it? Er doc gave me bactrim, erythrocin, and cortisone cream. Well the bactrim gave me a serious reaction (neck stiff and headache). Talked to my doctor and he said quit the bactrim and continue the others. The thing is I'm itchy where I'm swollen. I mean it really itchesssssss. I took a shower with my oatmeal soap since that helps usually. Then I put on the cream. It helped a little but it still itches. Yesterday it didn't itch just hurt. It was so swollen it was hard to walk. It made me look like one of those cartoon cowboys. It was really red and warm to the touch. I see my doc tomorrow morning. Also does anyone think I could take something for my headache?

[slccom]

Benadryl? That helps me.

I hope you can get some sleep!
Sharon

[shevonne]

I had it on my leg and it hurts unbelievably so I know exactly what you are talking about.  I can tell you that even after it heals it still itches in that spot more than any other part of my body.  Its drier in that spot more than others.  But you will feel better.  I hear that it can come back, mine has not came back yet.  I had it about 8 months ago.  Yes you should be able to take something for the headache.  Feel better soon!

[Wicked angel]

Thank you for your responses.     I saw one of my docs today (I go to a clinic with multiple specialists). He looked at my legs and said it is looking good. Swelling is down and no more redness. Also informed me I cannot take bactrim at all. My reaction to it was serious. Sooooooo in the future if I feel suspect about any meds from hospital or my therapist I can call my gp and get their opinion. I lucked out with this clinic. It is expanding and adding a rhuemy and pain management. Whoo ho

[Sleepy In Seattle]

Aaaaaaargh - STUPID DOCTORS!!!!

PEOPLE WITH AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES SHOULD NOT TAKE BACTRIM OR OTHER SULFA DRUGS!!!!!

Google "Lupus Sulfa" or "Sjogrens Sulfa" and you will get lots of info on this. We tend to be allergic to the drugs, and even if we're not, they trigger autoimmune reactions. Grrrrrrrrrr......

ANYhoo - I am sorry you are going through all this and were basically poisoned by a doctor on top of it! Do warm or cool compresses help?

[Wicked angel]

Thank you for the bold notice. My pharmacist told me to be extra careful with that med also. For your question warm compresses helped. I didn't try the cold as it's already cold enough. Lol. btw the er doc called yesterday for a follow up. I told him I was doing better and about my reaction to the meds. He apologized and said he will update my info so it will not happen again. This is why I love this site. So much info and others with experience. For others with REALLY DRY skin please DON'T scratch. This is how I got mine.  So please just be very careful.

[Linda196]

I was told more than 30 years ago when I was DX with sarcoidosis, to list Sulfas as an allergy and wear a medic alert to that effect. In that way, no matter what the situation, for example, being in a strange place , injured or ill, and either non-responsive or for some other reason unable to give a full medical history, they would not be considered.

Of course if I'm ever asked what my reaction is to Sulfonamides, I'd have to come clean and say I've never had one, but I'm meant to avoid them because of immune dysfunction.

[Scottietottie]

Hi

I don't want to hi-jack the thread but I had sulphonomide when I weas about eleven and it made me vomit like I never have before or since. I nearly knocked myself out on the toilet the wretching was so violent. maybe autoimmune started earlier than I thought!!

To get bhack to the thread - yes - I did have cellulitis once and very uncomfortable it was too. I was given flucloxicillin and had a bad reaction to it and was then given erythromycin which eventually cleared it.  The reaction to the flucloxicillin has left me with periodic flare ups of eczema which I had never suffered with before in my life.

I hope you feel better soon. The cellulitis could actually be causing your headache and may cause you to run a fever as well.

Take care - Scottie   

[mshistory]

I'm so sorry, that sounds miserable 

I am also allergic to sulfa (no surprise!)

I had a cellulitis infection after my second c-section and since I couldn't use Bactrim (after the initial antibiotic didn't work), I was prescribed doxycycline which worked (thank goodness!)

[Iris]

I'm opposite from most people because I ask for a sulfa drug when I get a UTI.. They always want to give me Cipro and it just doesn't work as well for me as Septra DS and always causes a bad yeast infection.. So if I can get it I always take Septra DS or Azithromycin if I can't get a sulfa drug..

[Wicked angel]

According to the doc my reaction was a type of meningitis.. Not the bad one that everyone knows about but the one caused by the meds. He told me had seen it a few years ago so he knew exactly what it was. Just remember if you feel iffy follow your instincts and ask someone else.

[mindytyson3]

I had it on my leg and it hurts unbelievably so I know exactly what you are talking about.  I can tell you that even after it heals it still itches in that spot more than any other part of my body.  Its drier in that spot more than others.  But you will feel better.  I hear that it can come back, mine has not came back yet.  I had it about 8 months ago.  Yes you should be able to take something for the headache.  Feel better soon!

Yes it can come back. I have had it twice on my calves of my legs and both went away then got it on my right hand on the top part and went to doctor got it to go away but got sent to dermatologist for a biopsy of my hand and they couldn't figure out exactly what caused it. all they said was that it was an allergic reaction but don't know from what but not sure but i don't think that caused my cellulitis ha. 

[Styx]

PEOPLE WITH AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES SHOULD NOT TAKE BACTRIM OR OTHER SULFA DRUGS!!!!!

False. That's way too much of a generalization.

In particular, Bactrim is first line treatment and prophylaxis for PCP infections in immunocomprimised patients. In Wegener's granulomatosis (for reasons that are poorly understood), it can sometimes be used in lieu of far more toxic immunosuppressant drugs.

While there are some cases where it should be prescribed with caution, it's absolutely a candidate for patients with immune-mediated disease.

Styx