Having a bad day and need to vent...

[debster913]

Hi, all--

I just got back from my GP and discovered that I have an antibiotic-resistant infection. I've been fighting this infection for almost two months now and am on my latest round of antibiotics. I'm healthy otherwise, but this infection is just so danged annoying, and if my GP properly diagnosed me the first time, I would not have had this problem!!! She is nothing like my cardio, who's just wonderful.

And, to top it all off, school has been stressful. I have too many kids in my classes, especially my English intervention class. Because we accept permits from out-of-area kids, we have overloaded classes across the board. My double-period class(intervention block) is supposed to be limited to 25 students who have scored low on the state test in English, and yet I have about six kids who have scored at proficient/advanced. Someone here (several of you) commented about administrators and I totally have to agree. Most of them have given me a song-and-dance and said, yeah, they'll try to fix the problem, but still nothing. I've had to call my students' parents to try to get them involved in getting their kids out of my class and put in a more skill-appropriate English class. Oh, yeah, and my state STILL has not passed a budget.

Sigh.

I probably have no right to ask since many of you here have gone through (going through) worse, but could you just wish me luck on this venture, both with this infection from hell and my school situation?

Debi (debster913)

If you saw "How to Look Good Naked," last night did you see Debbie and me?

 

[netmiff]

debster, don't know what to say, but it sure sounds like you have a aright to be frustrated. Keep the chin up, things can only get better . . will be thinking of you .

 

[Mary]

I'm sorry that I missed the show, but I hope that other members did get to see you all.
I'm wishing you the best of luck on all fronts. You deserve it!

 

[Snoviper]

Sorry to hear about your bout with the infection, they can definitely be nasty. Sounds like your stress from work isn't helping either. I hope you can kick the infections butt soon.
Best wishes!

 

[Nancy]

How about going to an Infectious Disease specialist. They are so specific and probably among the most nitpicky doctors of all.

They treat the specific diseases after they get a culture on them, and rarely make mistakes.

 

[hall]

Hope your stress eases and that infection clears. Hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[Ross]

How about going to an Infectious Disease specialist. They are so specific and probably among the most nitpicky doctors of all.

They treat the specific diseases after they get a culture on them, and rarely make mistakes.

And that's the facts!

 

[PairoDocs]

'Afore ya'all skewer the doc, 'member the biggest cause of antibiotic resistance-improper or inadequate antibiotic use. I can't tell you the number of times I have recommended a culture, only to be told by a patient that "it really wasn't necessary" or "was too expensive". I receive phone calls all night-"I have a sore throat and I have some leftover amoxicillin. Can I take it?" No one should have "leftover" antibiotics. To adequately treat the infection, one must take the entire course, unless the doctor changes it; the old prescription should be thrown out. Antibiotics lose potency fairly quickly. I also get pressure from my patients to prescribe antibiotics when I feel it isn't appropriate. "I'm going out of town next week and I don't want to have this cough. Can you can in an antibiotic?". Methicillin-resistant staph is a huge problem, and we see it even in non-athletes and immunocompetent folks.

That said, it's a good idea to see an infectious disease specialist when you have any doubts. In our area, however, we don't even have an ID specialist, so it's not even an option. Your hospital pharmacist may be a good source of info. Each area has it's own specific anagram, and the bugs in one hospital may have different sensitivites than in another hospital. Around here, MRSA can still be treated with high -dose sulfa, but a friend of mine works out of a hospital where the MRSA is also resistant to sulfa.

I mean all this in the friendliest way, and hope no one takes offense. It was meant to be informative, and not inflammatory.

I hope you get better soon, Debi. We'll be praying for you.

Cloudy now in Idaho,
-Laura

 

[Debbie]

Mrsa

Mrsa

Hey Debi, I had MRSA for a full year, did'nt know what it was and then finally figured it out. This was about 3 years ago. You need to make sure if it's MRSA or not. You can get rid of it through aggressive antibiotics. Ask the doc about it.
Debbie

 

[zipper2]

Hey Deb i have to agree with nancy's post
(Infectious disease Specialist)
I saw mine in Calgary and they think i picked my
infections at work i work with the cellmates in detachment.
the big of it is Germs and unavoidable,you in which will likely
have at schools also and right now my Doc and i are having
some confrontation of me working in my job area and due for
my cath coming up and another vs i think im gonna have alot
of dr's after me because of my work,but i will see how it goes.
with me my immune systems already low all the time and even
the time i spend at work and even when i go to my grandaughters
events at school....which was lunch today,i generally pick up
some bug there too.....but with me i refuse to live in a bubble.
Germsin my oppinion are everywhere and unavoidable,they did
cultures on me and i got staph and strep throat and influenza
So not fun and i,m an avid hand washer......and still i get it.
But take Nancy's advise and best goes out to you and take care

zipper2 (DEB)

 

[Bonzo Dog]

'Afore ya'all skewer the doc, 'member the biggest cause of antibiotic resistance-improper or inadequate antibiotic use. I can't tell you the number of times I have recommended a culture, only to be told by a patient that "it really wasn't necessary" or "was too expensive". I receive phone calls all night-"I have a sore throat and I have some leftover amoxicillin. Can I take it?" No one should have "leftover" antibiotics. To adequately treat the infection, one must take the entire course, unless the doctor changes it; the old prescription should be thrown out. Antibiotics lose potency fairly quickly. I also get pressure from my patients to prescribe antibiotics when I feel it isn't appropriate. "I'm going out of town next week and I don't want to have this cough. Can you can in an antibiotic?". Methicillin-resistant staph is a huge problem, and we see it even in non-athletes and immunocompetent folks.

That said, it's a good idea to see an infectious disease specialist when you have any doubts. In our area, however, we don't even have an ID specialist, so it's not even an option. Your hospital pharmacist may be a good source of info. Each area has it's own specific anagram, and the bugs in one hospital may have different sensitivites than in another hospital. Around here, MRSA can still be treated with high -dose sulfa, but a friend of mine works out of a hospital where the MRSA is also resistant to sulfa.

I mean all this in the friendliest way, and hope no one takes offense. It was meant to be informative, and not inflammatory.

I hope you get better soon, Debi. We'll be praying for you.

Cloudy now in Idaho,
-Laura

HIP HIP HURRAY for Laura, well said, I couldn't agree more.

Immodestly he quotes himself from the very recent 'on getting a cold' thread

Please, please, please, people don't be stupid, be informed, be responsible.

Antibiotics are not the cure all magic bullet for a runny nose and other common cold symptoms, all too readily called 'flu.

Decades of slack antibiotic prescribing, much of it done as a placebo to quieten ill informed demanding patients, have directly led to the rise of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Resistant as the bacteria has evolved, become smart and worked ways around the antibiotics once used to kill it.

The race between research chemists developing new more powerful antibiotics and evolving bacteria is a close run nip and tuck affair. Those of us on here who escaped rampant endocarditis by the skin of our teeth know only too well how ineffective many antibiotics have now become.

Continuing laissez faire prescribing of antibiotics gives bacteria more opportunities to evolve. Please don't assist.

Debster, there will be antibiotics to shift your problem, it may take time but I'm sure you will win the battle.

 

[Superbob]

Debi, wishing you the best to get this cleared up. As usual, Nancy (and others) seem to have offered advice that is right on target....

 

[tprice54]

Been there

Been there

Deb, had one of those also. The GP was useless, but months later his PA made sure he got the infection cultured with a response as to what would kill it. 2 weeks later I was all better. Don't just let them prescribe antibiotics, make them culture to see what kills it. Got mine at work......

 

[marie]

I don't have anything to add except I wanted to send you positive thoughts, good luck and keep us posted.

 

[escargome]

Deb,
I also agree with those who suggested an Infection Control Specialist. I got Bacterial Meningites at the beginning of the year and I thank the Lord everyday for my infection doctor. In fact the meningites attacked my already compromised Aortic Valve and had to have that replaced in May 2008.
I also know about no budget in Calif. Teachers sure get the shaft. Hang in there with that. We need all the dedicated educators that we can get.