General Discussion

cab67

(3,741 posts)

17. I always travel with antibiotics.

Tue Oct 2, 2018, 01:55 PM

Oct 2018

One of the worst MSSA infections I've ever gotten was this past summer while I was in Europe. It was the first time in a long while that I forgot to pack my doxycycline. I (very stupidly) decided not to go to a hospital; it showed up only a couple of days before my flight home, and I thought dealing with the paperwork stateside would be as painful as the abscess.

I don't know if my life was in immediate danger, but by the time I got to an urgent care center, the abscess was as big as a golf ball. It left a big permanent scar.

(I would have acted differently had I not been [a] in a developed country and [ b] so close to my return time. I brought a single course of antibiotics with me on an 8-week research trip, and an abscess appeared literally on the flight over. So I ended up using the whole course in Paris during the first week, hoping I wouldn't get another abscess. Which I did - in Uganda, half a month before I headed home. Fortunately, I was able to find some doxycycline.)

Staph infections should be taken very, very seriously. I'm sorry this young woman has died, and even sorrier that the kind of misinformation environment we have led her to believe she could take care of her problem without modern medical science.

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Please go to the damned doctor!!! [View all] Drahthaardogs Oct 2018 OP

Wow, that was an aggressive infection Zing Zing Zingbah Oct 2018 #1

This happened to me 6X last year !! CountAllVotes Oct 2018 #2

I always have a round or two of anti-biotics on hand. My Doc trusts my judgement OhNo-Really Oct 2018 #7

I'd never go to the ER for that. Crunchy Frog Oct 2018 #12

In searching all the UTI and cystitis forums, many women said d-mannose is a great preventative womanofthehills Oct 2018 #61

Yes, that's what I've got. Crunchy Frog Oct 2018 #73

thanks for reminding me barbtries Oct 2018 #16

I have macrobid on hand CountAllVotes Oct 2018 #21

my first UTI barbtries Oct 2018 #22

I always travel with antibiotics. cab67 Oct 2018 #17

How do you know which antibiotic marybourg Oct 2018 #32

Broad spectrum. And finish the prescription! Ninsianna Oct 2018 #46

I would get a culture before I would take a broad spectrum womanofthehills Oct 2018 #60

There are plenty of broad spectrum antibiotics other than quinolones. Ninsianna Oct 2018 #70

Cipro, I thought was going to kill me about 6 months ago. Precribed for a UTI, I have taken them dewsgirl Oct 2018 #84

I've been cultured many times CountAllVotes Oct 2018 #55

I used to get UTIs 3 to 5 times a year. Haggis for Breakfast Oct 2018 #59

I already do that CountAllVotes Oct 2018 #78

Knudson's TuxedoKat Oct 2018 #83

Too late CountAllVotes Oct 2018 #88

Kick, kick, kick... mountain grammy Oct 2018 #3

I heard a report about that on the news the other day eleny Oct 2018 #10

Although last year's vaccine was less effective than usual, it did lessen the severity of the flu Nitram Oct 2018 #18

I've had the flu a couple of times and it's a tough experience eleny Oct 2018 #23

I've had it too. Since I turned 60 I've been getting the shot every year. Nitram Oct 2018 #24

Good for you! eleny Oct 2018 #27

Did you know shanti Oct 2018 #30

I didn't know! eleny Oct 2018 #36

That emoji is funny irisblue Oct 2018 #62

I just had the two part Shingrix shots. First was just fine - a slightly sore arm for a day. Second, erronis Oct 2018 #38

At what age should you get the shingle vaccine? Separation Oct 2018 #44

I think they're recommending around 50+. Past exposure to chicken pox makes it more important. erronis Oct 2018 #45

No, I'll definitely be getting it. Separation Oct 2018 #47

Ask your doctor shanti Oct 2018 #49

I cannot have the shingles vaccine CountAllVotes Oct 2018 #90

I had chicken pox as a baby and will talk to my doctor eleny Oct 2018 #64

That's the one I just got. I had the previous one a few years ago. Nitram Oct 2018 #42

oh, sorry! shanti Oct 2018 #50

K&R. Yes! KY_EnviroGuy Oct 2018 #31

! eleny Oct 2018 #37

Get the shingles shot!!!! catchnrelease Oct 2018 #43

It's effectiveness last year was pretty much normal. Ms. Toad Oct 2018 #63

Damn Right Leith Oct 2018 #4

I have a sister like that dem in texas Oct 2018 #5

We need a healthcare system that prioritizes health over profits and power ck4829 Oct 2018 #6

I'm afraid even well-to-do people can fall for the herbal treatment, homeopathic medicine cult. Nitram Oct 2018 #20

I hope you're not promoting alternative meds over evidence-based science... erronis Oct 2018 #39

I am so sorry for your loss. ✨✨hugs✨✨ OhNo-Really Oct 2018 #8

I'm so sorry about your friend, and especially for her husband and kids renate Oct 2018 #9

+1 sandensea Oct 2018 #15

Wife Made Me Go PaulX2 Oct 2018 #11

Jesus.. shanti Oct 2018 #33

Orothexia Nervosa Puppyjive Oct 2018 #13

Is social services helping her child? Ilsa Oct 2018 #34

Damn. That's frigging sad. :( C Moon Oct 2018 #14

Friend of mine got it from a cut on his hand. Dave Starsky Oct 2018 #19

hubbys a pharmacist..that herbal stuff isnt even allowed in our house. samnsara Oct 2018 #25

So tragic Meowmee Oct 2018 #26

My cousin's wife died in her 20's from sticking herself accidently with a sewing pin womanofthehills Oct 2018 #65

So sorry for that and for your loss Meowmee Oct 2018 #69

Thank you for this. Sorry for your friend, especially if it was avoidable. hostalover Oct 2018 #28

Natural. elocs Oct 2018 #29

Arsenic, chlorine, lead, and uranium... Dave Starsky Oct 2018 #57

So sorry you have lost a friend. AllyCat Oct 2018 #35

Or see another physician. Duppers Oct 2018 #41

And we men are the WORST about admitting we need to see a doctor. 7962 Oct 2018 #40

Did she have insurance? Honeycombe8 Oct 2018 #48

So sorry about your friend. kag Oct 2018 #51

Hopefully they won't play football... Joe941 Oct 2018 #52

Herbal treatments are good for making your immune system Doreen Oct 2018 #53

Agreed, marshmallow root and slippery elm can soothe your bladder while you are on antibiotics womanofthehills Oct 2018 #67

Exactly... nt Raine Oct 2018 #71

I hope money was not a factor. Lots of needless death due to people can not afford to get McCamy Taylor Oct 2018 #54

That's what I thought about jcsg Oct 2018 #56

She had TriCare....yes, almost FREE healthcare Drahthaardogs Oct 2018 #58

Mariana Bridi died from the same thing. joshcryer Oct 2018 #66

I Have Taken Herbs for Urinary Tract Infections in the Past, With Excellent Results. panfluteman Oct 2018 #68

I TOTALLY agree Raine Oct 2018 #72

Exactly. I Didn't Say That You Should Never Go to the Doctor. panfluteman Oct 2018 #75

Please delete this crap Drahthaardogs Oct 2018 #74

It's not BS. It's worked for centuries, and keeps on working panfluteman Oct 2018 #77

The other side of the story is a dead woman Drahthaardogs Oct 2018 #80

No it doesn't Drahthaardogs Oct 2018 #81

Just wow hueymahl Oct 2018 #82

This is one of the most ignorant posts I have seen on here in a long time hueymahl Oct 2018 #76

The herb supplements market is also a racket, without any of the safeguards of pharmaceuticals. SunSeeker Oct 2018 #86

Having had C. diff, I try to avoid unnecessary abx Freethinker65 Oct 2018 #79

My friend in hospital, exact same situation flibbitygiblets Oct 2018 #85

I'm headed back in a few CountAllVotes Oct 2018 #89

Well, what do you know CountAllVotes Oct 2018 #91

It's been posted that..... getagrip_already Oct 2018 #87

On the cancer discussion boards there are some who are Glimmer of Hope Oct 2018 #92