Infection in tissue expander |
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QH RDR 
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Joined: Jul 21 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 47 |
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 Posted: Aug 24 2008 at 4:29am |
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Hey Catherine, my doc (the plastic surgeon) removed some fluid from the tissue expander to remove some pressure (after I had developed the infection) and he cultured the fluid that he removed. It came back negative for anything. He also told me MRSA, if I had it, would be visible on the skin. In any case, after a week on Leviquin and Keflex, the "infection" appears to be completely gone. Am back to feeling good and "normal", whatever that is. At least until Friday, when I get to meet the red devil.......
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Dx 6/30/08, IDC, node positive, skin-sparing mastectomy 7/21/08, A/C (4 cycles) started 8/29/08
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runawaybunny
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Joined: Jul 25 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 59 |
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Posted: Aug 29 2008 at 4:38pm |
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Hi Sandy,
Today was your first AC treatment? I just want to send you a huge hug or as my kids used to say, a "squish". Hope you got some sleep and took your anti-nausea meds. My thoughts are with you.
Catherine
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Left breast, DX 4/87 DCIS,18 neg nodes, lumpectomy,radiation, Stage 0
Left breast,DX 6/08 TNBC, 6mm grade 3, Stage 1, bilateral mastectomy w/recon, AC X 4, Taxol X 4,BRCA-neg. |
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trip2
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Joined: Jun 03 2007 Location: Under Palm Tree Status: Offline Points: 8549 |
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Posted: Aug 30 2008 at 5:46am |
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Sandy yes when I had systemic MRSA last year the skin was red around a part of my mastectomy incision so back to the drain, icu, many meds and Zyvox. I also had a place on my skin so had it both ways. I'm lucky to be here today.
I hope your first chemo went well yesterday. Let us know how you are doing, we are thinking of you,
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Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
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Jessie
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Joined: Aug 07 2007 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 515 |
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Posted: Aug 30 2008 at 8:16pm |
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Sandy,
There are two distinct strains of MRSA. One involves the skin, the other is systemic - in the bloodstream. Both are bad, in different ways. The most dangerous type is in the bloodstream and it doesn't necessarily involve the skin. It enters the bloodstream thru some incision, catheter, IV needle, etc.
When I had MRSA, it was in the bloodstream and detected by a blood test. My first symptoms were a low grade fever, back pain and shortness of breath. There was never anything on my skin. It attacked my lungs, heart, pancreas, and bone marrow. So any sign of infection after being hospitalized should be cause for a blood test for systemic MRSA --- don't you agree, Pam?
Pam, it sounds like you had both systemic AND skin types! Bless your heart, sweetie. Have you had any reoccurrance?
Congratulations on starting your chemo, Sandy. I hope the 'red devil' isn't treating you too badly. Please take very good care of yourself.
Hugs,
Jessie
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IDC,Stage I,Grade 3,dx 4/06
dbl mast 5/06, systemic MRSA post surgery septic shock, heart attack triple bypass 1/07 no chemo due to infections and heart issues so far NED! |
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QH RDR
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Joined: Jul 21 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 47 |
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Posted: Aug 31 2008 at 4:37am |
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Yup, I managed to get through the first treatment. I took one Emend one hour before treatment. First they pushed Aloxi, then dripped decadron (sp?), then they pushed two vials of the red devil, then they dripped the cytoxan. I had an excellent nurse, she just yapped my head off the entire time. I had taken a dvd player and movie but never really got the chance to watch it. Took a little over 2 hours. No my head did not spin like Linda Blair's in the Exorcist, I did not spew vomit 360 degrees (which is what I had imagined). I was a little loopy, as I had taken 2 ativan for anxiety. Came home feeling ok, ate a sandwich, then sat on the couch and waited. And waited. Not sure what I was waiting for. Finally got tired of that and did a little housework and a little yardwork. Just felt a little yukky weird, can't really explain it. Nausea was kept at bay. Yesterday was ok, had to keep popping the compazine and ate small amounts frequently, but was able to walk my yorkies for their regular 45 minutes. This morning, so far so good, I am drinking coffee and thinking I am going to take my beloved horses out for a short ride. Slight headache, but thankfully no nausea. So I am sitting here thinking how lucky and blessed I am, so far so good. One question I would like to ask you girls, I had my port put in last Tuesday. It felt ok the day they did the first chemo treatment. Yesterday it got super sore, and a little red. Is that a "normal" reaction to the chemo drugs or should I be worried about an infection starting?
Thanks to all of you for your encouraging support!
Sandy
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Dx 6/30/08, IDC, node positive, skin-sparing mastectomy 7/21/08, A/C (4 cycles) started 8/29/08
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trip2
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Joined: Jun 03 2007 Location: Under Palm Tree Status: Offline Points: 8549 |
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Posted: Aug 31 2008 at 4:59am |
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Sandy it is good to see you are doing good with your chemo so far and hopefully most of your treatments will go smoothly for you with little trouble. I am not familiar with the port turning red as I don't recall that happening to me but it may be because it is new and they were using it so quickly. If it were me I would call the Onc's office and ask them if this is ok just to give you peace of mine. If not they may need to know. That is part of what they are there for to make sure you are doing well thru your treatments so never hesitate to call with a question. Do you have any fever? Be sure and watch for a fever. Go easy with that horse ride today and enjoy,
hugs Edited by trip2 - Aug 31 2008 at 5:02am |
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Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
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trip2
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Joined: Jun 03 2007 Location: Under Palm Tree Status: Offline Points: 8549 |
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Posted: Aug 31 2008 at 5:09am |
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Good morning Jessie, I absolutely agree with you that after being in the hospital or still there for that matter and getting an infection it should be tested for MRSA.
Yes I did have it both ways and my surgeon told me it could come back but so far so good!
The area around my mastectomy scar turned a light red and was puffy, I had noticed it but didn't call the doc. Shame on me!! I also had a place on my body so that Thursday when I went for chemo the nurse commented I had some sores on my legs as she was hooking me up, the next day getting my Neulasta shot I told the nurse I had a really bad sore place, was that cause for concern, nah he says. That night I was in the ICU terribly sick with MRSA.
They had to put a drain in my Mastectomy scar to drain out the poison from my system and I had to have surgery for the worse place on my skin, it was awful as you know Jessie. I don't remember much of it either.
Girls when you see something strange or have a fever please call and don't let them 'Nah" ya down!
Edited by trip2 - Aug 31 2008 at 5:28am |
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Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
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runawaybunny
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Joined: Jul 25 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 59 |
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Posted: Aug 31 2008 at 10:32am |
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Hi Sandy,
My port was in for a couple weeks before chemo began. It was not sore or red after the first chemo, but since you have been dealing with a previous infection, it doesn't hurt to let your doc know about and redness, etc around your port.
I understand that "loopy" feeling, kinda like encountering the world through a fog or not feeling quite right. Your experience is similiar to mine. I did find that my sleep was disrupted at night for a few days. I also took some Atavan, but that increased the foggy feeling. One treatment down...hooray!
Hugs,
Catherine
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Left breast, DX 4/87 DCIS,18 neg nodes, lumpectomy,radiation, Stage 0
Left breast,DX 6/08 TNBC, 6mm grade 3, Stage 1, bilateral mastectomy w/recon, AC X 4, Taxol X 4,BRCA-neg. |
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Nancy
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Joined: Jul 23 2007 Location: Altoona, PA Status: Offline Points: 3814 |
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Posted: Aug 31 2008 at 11:29am |
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Sandy,
Apparently you have a very vivid imagination
 Perhaps some of the gals did have that time in the spotlight as Linda Blair, and I want to tell you when I read that I was laughing. Your sense of humor apparently has not been affected by the chemo!!Tai had a bad time with her port also. She had it inserted on a Monday and had her first tx on Thursday. Perhaps that was a bit soon, and yours also? The gals were saying that they usually wait a week or so before chemo. Lori did not have a port and nor did our grandson. Just keep eating and drinking plenty of water. I am so glad that you are feeling well enough to take the Yorkies for a walk, and you will have to let us know how the ride went. I know dear.....these are horses that you ride....not Harleys
I can just see you sitting on the couch waiting for the bomb to drop.
Oh, and by the way....once you have joined the site...there is no going back...you are not permitted to go away.....ever...or....until you are finished with all tx, and are feeling well............and have an excuse from all your docs, and the permission of all the gals on the site
 Considering there are over 1000 members now, and we would have to contact all of them, that should take a considerable amount of time to aquire.
Guess you are stuck with us sweetie!!
 Hugs,
NAncy
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QH RDR
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Joined: Jul 21 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 47 |
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Posted: Sep 01 2008 at 5:22am |
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Well girls yesterday turned into a disaster. I felt pretty good in the morning, so I headed out for a short trail ride with a good friend. About halfway through the ride the nausea kicked in, big time. Even after taking an Emend. My friend and I got to thinking it must have been the motion of the horse walking, you know, you rock back and forth. Anyway, yesterday was miserable, popped compazine all day and it didn't touch it. Finally took 2 ativan last night, slept pretty good and right now just feel like I was punched out by some big mean person. Nausea is just slight. Needless to say I won't be riding anytime soon, which is going to be difficult. I have a prescription (suppository) for promethegan (for nausea); the plastic surgeon gave it to me when I had the infection in the tissue expander. Does anyone know if I can safely take this with compazine and ativan? I will call the pharmacy when they open and talk to the pharmacist about it, but thought one of you gals might know. Thanks again to all,
xxxooo
Sandy
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Dx 6/30/08, IDC, node positive, skin-sparing mastectomy 7/21/08, A/C (4 cycles) started 8/29/08
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runawaybunny
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Joined: Jul 25 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 59 |
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Posted: Sep 01 2008 at 12:10pm |
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Ahhh, that compulsion to feel normal again and do normal things, like go for a ride...and then your body says, "Nope."
I would feel ok in the AM and then hit a wall in the afternoon. If I napped, it disrupted nighttime sleep. It was 4-5 days after chemo before feeling like myself again. My nausea meds, were Emend for 3 days, Decadron for 3 days in the AM and Compazine as needed. That kept me to slightly queasy. All the meds indicate that they work better when taken before feeling nauseous.
My oldest daughter just found out she has mono. All she could say was, "That's why I felt so tired after running 15 miles." Anyway, she's cutting back her mileage. I couldn't talk her into not running at all.
Maybe you try medicating before the ride and then sticking to easy trails. Or plan the rides for the off-chemo weekends. It's also important to do what gives you joy.
Hugs!
Catherine
Edited by runawaybunny - Sep 01 2008 at 12:12pm |
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Left breast, DX 4/87 DCIS,18 neg nodes, lumpectomy,radiation, Stage 0
Left breast,DX 6/08 TNBC, 6mm grade 3, Stage 1, bilateral mastectomy w/recon, AC X 4, Taxol X 4,BRCA-neg. |
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