Worried about John

[Skye]

I knew it was too good to last!

John has a UTI again. They've also sent off another swab from his heel, so they're obviously not happy about it.

Fingers crossed it comes back clear!

 

[lesmisralbles]

I am so sorry to hear that there is amother infection.
Our love to you both.
Barb & RonX

 

[heartbroken]

hope it comes back clear for you its nothing but worry for you
big hugs

 

[nickyd]

Hi Hazel,

I haven't posted in a good few weeks, but I have to say you have been in my thoughts! Sorry to hear John has another UTI, but hope he can recover quickly from it..
As usual, wonderful photo's of the two of you, John looks so well!!

Lot's of Love to the both of you..

 

[Grannie G]

Oh dear Hazel, and he looked so well in the latest photo. I hope his heel isn`t infected again too. That`s all he needs.
Love xx

 

[hendy]

Dear Hazel
I'm sorry John has had another set back with the UTI, and the heel is a worry too. I hope he has a quick recovery and feels better soon. Neither of you needed this, especially not after recent events.
take care
hendy

 

[citybythesea]

I'm sorry to ask, but is his heal an open infection (As in bed sore) or inner infection....I'm not trying to be cruel but since mom is at home I have a little more control over opppen infections and we have had some pretty good luck. I don't mind telling you if it's open...maybe your caregivers would be able to work from a different handle.

Mom has a problem with one bed sore in particular and we have been treating it with a mixture of a triple antibiotic, skintegrity hydrogel (used for pressure and stassis ulcers, burns, cuts, and other skin irritations) and cover with a douderm(it's basically like putting a second skin on it) then we leave it alone for 3 days and redo everything. When we would just put the douderm on it when we took it off it would take skin and we were back at square 1. I also use something called tegaderm(like putting layer of clear tape) on areas that look like they could turn into ulcers.....so far I haven't met an skin problem we haven't been able to heal. (The one bed sore is so close it's almost gone) Her therapist tho has me rotating her feet and ankles quite a bit because like the rump they also are prone to the ulcers.

I know this probably isn't the case but thought I would pass it on. Hope everything gets better....HUGS

 

[Skye]

Hi

John's sore started as a friction blister on the back of his heel -- this was at Christmas.

It turned into a very nasty sore, about two inches across and quite deep. They've tried all sorts of different treatments, had all sorts of specialists in, but a couple of months ago it became infected with MRSA. That was clear in the last swab, but I'm afraid it may be back.

He had a similar blister on the other heel, but that cleared up quite quickly. This one is a real problem.

 

[TinaT]

Evening Hazel,

So sorry that you are still battling with the MRSA.

Remeber my post about the MRSA which my mum had a few months ago in her lower legs? She has had 3 clear swabs and was delighted that at long last she can now have her catarract operation which had been postponed several times because of the MRSA infection.

Now she has a date for the operation, I'm afraid that it is starting to break out again, just as you feel John's MRSA is resurfacing. One of her legs in particular has started to get very hot, swollen and turned into an ugly red, extremely thin skinned, large area. At the moment I'm putting E45 cream on, and a neighbour pops in and does her evening creaming. At the moment all I can do is advise her not to wear her tights in the house and to put her feet up as much as she can. Thank goodness I persuaded her to buy a really good tilt and rise armchair so that she can raise her legs easily. I'm just hoping that this will do the trick but it is very worrying indeed.

xxxTinaT.

 

[Skye]

It's awful when you think you've beaten it, and back it comes.

John has appeared to be clear of infection for a month, and I was beginning to hope!

 

[citybythesea]

?mrsa

I guess I have been lucky. When mom was in the hospital after Easter they checked her for MRSA and was clear of it so I gave my go ahead for the shot to booster against it, but my knowledge on it is nil...all I know is that it is better contracted in a hospital atmosphere....is this true?

 

[hendy]

Dear Citybythesea

Sadly, MRSA is usually caught by some unlucky patients in NHS hospitals, and everybody dreads getting it. Its the cause of quite a deal of controversy and debate about standards of hygiene in the NHS. There are other 'bugs' that are lingering in our hospitals too. They are usually drug resistant and can and do cause fatalities.
My dad contracted an MRSA infection a couple of years ago, it eventually cleared up, but its always a worry that it can get a grip of patients who are feeling at a low ebb.
take care
hendy

 

[Skye]

Apparently 1 in 3 of us carries the bacterium, usually in the nose or on the skin.

It's quite harmless until it gets into a cut or wound, which is why so many people get it following operations.

It's resistant to most antibiotics, and even when it appears to have been cleared up, the patient is likely still be colonised, so it can attack again.

As long as it's in a wound, it can be treated, though it takes a very long time. If it gets into the bloodstream, it causes serious illness, and is often fatal in elderly frail patients.

 

[Kate P]

Dear Hazel,

I'm so sorry John has an infection again - I hope he can recover speedily from it - it's such a shame he looked so well in your last photo.

Make sure you look after yourself too!

Prayers and hugs

 

[Mameeskye]

Hi Hazel

Sorry to hear that John has a UTI yet again. It is so wearing when they get them repeatedly. I know that the home staff were considering askign for prophylactic anitbiotics for Mum if they continued but then, for no known reason, they just stopped and from last spring to when she passed away I think that she only had one further infection.

As for the heel, I have my fingers crossed, but once you start to carry bugs they just seem to sit there waiting for a chance to strike. Possibly if he is fighting a bug it is just too much for the heel as well.

Hope it clears soon.

Thinking of you both

Love

Mameeskye

 

[Canadian Joanne]

Hello Hazel,
Sorry to hear of the UTI and heel problems John is experiencing again. You haven't had much time to catch your breath, have you? Here's wishing John a speedy recovery - I know that is all you really need and want.
Love,

 

[Skye]

Still no result from the swab, so it will be Tuesday now.

John's definitely not well, and I think in pain. He was very restless today, and the jerks are back. Usually he's OK when I get up to leave, even if he's awake, he's happy if I tell him I'm going to take Skye for a walk and I'll see him later. Tonight for the first time ever he grabbed my arm and wouldn't let me go.

I waited while they put him to bed tonight, and stayed until he had settled. I've asked them to tell the night staff to ring me if he's agitated, and I'll go back and sit with him.

 

[Grannie G]

Poor John, Hazel.
Didn`t one of his other infections happen over a weekend too? Talk about Sod`s law. I hope the home doesn`t need to phone you and he will be all right.
Love xx

 

[Skye]

They've ALL happened over a weekend, Sylvia!!!!!

To be honest, I don't mind if they ring me, I don't think I'll rest tonight.

Love,

 

[christine_batch]

Dear Hazel,
I do hope that John shows improvement soon.
Sending you both lots of love
Christine xx