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Staph infection/wound packing

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Contributor: Cherry21 Cherry21
Okay, so I have a gross question. I currently have a Staph infection on my inner thigh. Really, it sits right on that tendon, kinda between inner thigh and my VAGINA!! So its pretty painful! It swelled up to almost golf ball size in 3 days time. I woke up on day 3, could barely walk, and when I did get up, the boil like think busted, yes busted! Not popped out of a head, like a pimple, but literally busted from the skin being stretched, and moved. Of course I gathered my things up, and husband and I were off to E.R. Got there, they said I have a Staph Infection. Told me that everyone has Staph on their skin, but that it takes a cut or sore to get in. (I shaved on day before Day 1, so that's how it got in me!) WELL, they numbed me with some local local anaesthesia on it, lanced it, and then packed it full of gauze strips. I have to repack these gauze strips (about 4 inches worth!) everyday. Since I can barely see it at all, I went to hospital to have them do it today, and have my mom watch them do it, so hopefully she could do it for me. OMG!! THIS IS THE MOST EXCRUCIATING PAIN I HAVE EVER FELT!! Then did not give me any numbing stuff, and they had tweezers about 1/2 to full inch buried inside my Staph wound hole (thats already sore!)!! It was so bad, I gripped the bar on the hospital bed behind me, and within 30 seconds I was covered in sweat from head to toe, I was shaking like I was having a seizure, and felt light headed, and like I was about to puke. It hurt so bad, I couldn't cry. No lie, I was crying, but my body wasn't producing tears! It was the absolute worst thing I have ever experienced in my entire life! (I have had multiple surgeries, been hospitalized for UTI/bladder/kidney/int estine infection for 1 week and a half, had my jaw broken in 2 spots, I've experienced pain!!) This was worse than anything I have ever felt!! And I have to do it for at least 2 weeks, possibly up to a month, once a day! And SOMEHOW I'm supposed to be able to do it by myself at home. Theres no flippin way! I can barely see it, and if my mom or husband did it, there would be no room for error, and I can guarantee that they'd take longer than the 3 minutes it took the nurse to do it!

So, any advice on how to take away some pain? Ever had a wound repacked daily? Did it hurt like this for you? Did they numb it before every time? Did you have to do it yourself?

I know, theres a lot here. But it was SOO bad!! And I need help!! I can't imagine going back and doing it again tomorrow, much less for 2 weeks to a month! Now that I know what I'm in for, its gonna be even harder to walk in there and let them do it again!
12/29/2011
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Contributor: Yossarian Yossarian
Did you ask them for some good pain meds? Like maybe some strong NSAIDS or something?
12/29/2011
Contributor: Cherry21 Cherry21
Quote:
Originally posted by Yossarian
Did you ask them for some good pain meds? Like maybe some strong NSAIDS or something?
They gave me 10 percocet. But I puke after about an hour after taking them. And they only gave me 10....
12/29/2011
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
Yo, if you're in that kind of a pain, your medical professionals are legally bound to help you to manage your pain (such as with painkillers). When I say legally bound, I mean they are actually violating laws if you say that you are in unbearable pain and they do not offer you a method of managing it; this is considered inhumane treatment. They have a little chart in most ER rooms with a 1-10 scale to help you express how bad your pain is. I'm not surprised (unfortunately) that your nurses or doctor didn't ask you if you wanted something to take the edge off. A topical anesthetic would have seriously done a lot for you, or even just some Tylenol with a little Codeine. However, if you tell them you can't deal with the pain, they are legally obligated to treat your pain.
12/29/2011
Contributor: Misfit Momma Misfit Momma
That sounds awful!

I don't have any advice on the pain relief, but I hope someone comes along who does! Good luck!
12/29/2011
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
Edit: Just saw that you have a sensitivity to pain meds? Do you know what you're sensitive to specifically? If not, and you want to be cautious, maybe they can offer you something topical?
12/29/2011
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by Owl Identified
Edit: Just saw that you have a sensitivity to pain meds? Do you know what you're sensitive to specifically? If not, and you want to be cautious, maybe they can offer you something topical?
When I mention to doctors that vicodin makes me sick to my stomach, they have always offered another option. (Well, this actually only came up once, for my wisdom tooth extraction, but still they were incredibly helpful in finding a pain med that didn't make me sick.)
12/29/2011
Contributor: Cherry21 Cherry21
Quote:
Originally posted by Owl Identified
Yo, if you're in that kind of a pain, your medical professionals are legally bound to help you to manage your pain (such as with painkillers). When I say legally bound, I mean they are actually violating laws if you say that you are in unbearable ... more
Well thats a good thing. I'll demand it tomorrow! there's no way I can do it again, and for a month!! I'll be certifiably crazy from pain by then! not even joking here. When I went in, they asked me what my pain level was. I gauged off of my other pain I've experienced, and said a 3. It didn't hurt that bad then, but them digging around in it, and pulling the old gauze out, was something I know other people would have passed out form (much longer, and I would have too!) Thanks for that info!
12/29/2011
Contributor: Cherry21 Cherry21
Quote:
Originally posted by Owl Identified
Edit: Just saw that you have a sensitivity to pain meds? Do you know what you're sensitive to specifically? If not, and you want to be cautious, maybe they can offer you something topical?
I have been heaving and puking for about 3 hours now, they gave me Percocet. I've taken it before, and did fine. this time is not the same apparently I do this same thing with LoraTabs too (found that out the hard way as well, in the middle of waking up from a surgery!) I'm going to demand something topical tomorrow, or go to a different hospital.
12/29/2011
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
Quote:
Originally posted by Cherry21
Well thats a good thing. I'll demand it tomorrow! there's no way I can do it again, and for a month!! I'll be certifiably crazy from pain by then! not even joking here. When I went in, they asked me what my pain level was. I gauged off of ... more
AH! Yeah, if you tell them it's at a 3 then they won't do anything for you. That's considered a manageable level of pain. I believe it's 9 or above that they have to offer you something. I'm not fully sure, but every ER room should have a Patient's Bill of Rights hanging up in place where it is easy to see, along with the number scale. That's how it is in New York, anyway, but I think that's federal. Tell them it's at a 9 (I think that's what you're describing, but pain is obviously subjective.) Be sure to tell them that your pain has become unbearable. That's key. If you feel like fainting, say "I'm going to faint; you need to stop and give me something for the pain." If you feel like you're going to vomit, say "I feel like I'm going to vomit. We have to discontinue this until my pain can be managed." If they don't know what you're feeling, they can't help you. Let them know that you can't manage it by yourself anymore. Trust me; the last thing they need is a lawsuit because you fainted and hit your head. Sadly, a lot of medical professionals are pretty jaded, so the only thing that gets them moving is the threat of some kind of trouble for them. I've spent a LOT of time in hospitals, and I've learned that if you don't advocate for yourself, you get really screwed.

If you're sensitive to certain medicines, let them know and they can help find you an alternative. I'm not a nurse or doctor, so I can't recommend anything, but they can. If they're unhelpful, be insistent. If they do not give you satisfactory answers or service, politely ask to see someone else (or their superior, if need be, but again, try to remain as cordial as possible so that you get results) until you get what you need. If you need to, absolutely go to another hospital or specialist.
12/29/2011
Contributor: Cherry21 Cherry21
Quote:
Originally posted by Owl Identified
AH! Yeah, if you tell them it's at a 3 then they won't do anything for you. That's considered a manageable level of pain. I believe it's 9 or above that they have to offer you something. I'm not fully sure, but every ER room ... more
Yeah, I'm not sure which I'm going to do yet. When they're doing the repacking, I could honestly rate it at a 20!! Its intense. I'll jsut really lay it on them tomorrow about how it hurts. Thanks for the help, definitely feeling better now. Now if I could just stop puking from the percocet (that they gave me!) that I took about 5 hours ago. Really, thanks again!
12/30/2011
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
Quote:
Originally posted by Cherry21
Yeah, I'm not sure which I'm going to do yet. When they're doing the repacking, I could honestly rate it at a 20!! Its intense. I'll jsut really lay it on them tomorrow about how it hurts. Thanks for the help, definitely feeling ... more
If the meds are making you sick, I would discontinue them and call the hospital once you're able to settle your stomach enough to talk. Ask for the doctor you saw. You don't have to be specific about your condition; if you say that you're sick to your stomach, they might not take it very seriously. These are people that see the worst of the worst day in and out, so they lose touch with how awful it truly is to be lying on your bathroom floor dehydrating and vomiting non-stop. Simply let them know that you're experiencing severe adverse effects from your medication and that you need to speak with a doctor immediately. If they ask for specifics, tell them politely that you would feel more comfortable speaking about this with a doctor. As always, honey catches more flies than vinegar, so do so as politely as possible. Again, advocate for yourself. You need a different way to manage your pain. If you can't reach a doctor at that hospital, you might need to visit the ER of another hospital. Good luck! I'm praying for you, I'm so sorry you're going through this!
12/30/2011
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
Omfg that's terrifying! No good ideas here but I hope it heals up really fast so you don't have yo go through that.
12/30/2011
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
Oh my! Well, you've gotten great advice here, and it's everything I would have said so I can't add anything to that. But I did want to say how sorry I am that you're going through this. It sounds absolutely dreadful. I hope you'll get some pain relief next time that doesn't add insult to injury and make you feel even worse.
12/30/2011
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Quote:
Originally posted by Owl Identified
If the meds are making you sick, I would discontinue them and call the hospital once you're able to settle your stomach enough to talk. Ask for the doctor you saw. You don't have to be specific about your condition; if you say that you're ... more
I can't imagine this level of pain! I've been in a similar boat, but it never got that bad. I hope this passes soon!

I agree with all the advice Owl's given.

Maybe Delauded? I have sensitivities and pain killer complications, and that worked wonders for me when I had a high hiatal hernia.

Good luck!
12/30/2011