My wife recorded your program yesterday (4/1/08) and I was able to watch it last night. (BTW - was this a re-run? I see dates back to March 1st on this subject.) I contracted MRSA back in 2006 when I took my wife to one of the local hospitals for an esophageal procedure. A week or so later I had some sinus/nasal congestion, and what appeared to be small flea or insect bites appeared on my lower legs - little red spots that itched. I didn't tie the two together at the time (nasal congestion and "bites") at the time. A few days after that a boil formed on the inside of my right thigh around the groin area. I've had cysts and ingrown hairs in the past so was not immediately concerned.
The boil grew to almost golfball size within a few days and was painful so I went to my family doctor. Thankfully, a good PA getting ready for his Med Eval's for internship was on duty and immediately recognized it as MRSA - he worked at one of the local hospital ER's and had already treated many (and I stress MANY) cases. He explained to me what MRSA was and it's history. I said ok, let's take care of it. I laid back while he and the nurse prepped the area. I'm used to getting shots (20+ years in the Air Force) but I wasn't expecting the pain from the needle for a local anesthetic. I almost jumped off the gurney! However, it took several shots around the offending boil and even then the anasthetic didn't take effect until after the boil was lanced and partially drained. The staph fluid basically blocks the anasthesia. I had to take a couple of days off and keep warm compresses and changed dressings on it. I was given antibiotics (keflex, bactrim, erythromycin, levaquin, etc) but I had another boil develop under my left armpit. That, too, was lanced and drained but two more developed - one on the inside of my forearm about the size of a ping-pong ball. I went to the emergency room since it was the weekend. The doctor injected the local anasthetic in 17 different places surrounding the boil - but of course, I still felt the scalpel when he began the procedure.
After that, my doctor arranged for me to get an IV drip of Vancomycin (one of the strongest antibiotics at the time) for 10 days. A nurse came in each day to set it up and start the drip which took about an hour. After that regimen another boil started to develop and I went to an Infectious Disease doctor who put me on a double strength of bactrim for about two weeks.
So far, I've had no recurrance of the boils but I understand that I probably still have it colonized in my nasal passage. I've not had another culture done since then but I should for my family's sake. We take extra precautions now, for sure. One thing that wasn't mentioned in your show, Dr. Phil, is that not only can the bug enter through cuts but also through other "openings" like the eyes (which is probably how mine started). We don't wash our hands often enough and almost everyone has a tendency to rub their eyes many times on a daily basis. We unthinkingly wipe a little drainage from our nose and .... Or, as in my case, we open a door after someone else who has the bug has unsuspectingly transferred it too the door handle. And we, unsuspectingly, open a door, yawn because we're tired, and put our fists to our eyes to stay awake. Pretty simple thing we do.
Sorry this is so long. I was extremely fortunate, I know. But I am always on the lookout for anything wierd. This bug, as you explained, can attack the organs and we'd never know it until it's too late. Folks, stay in good health, wash your hands often - you may even carry a little bottle of Purell or something like that with you. Granted, once you use it you're only protected for a few minutes because you can pick up bacteria anywhere and anytime. We can't get away from it. But it's still one line of defense. God bless to all.
Could a grave danger be lurking in your home? If you believe the headlines, you know that catching the Superbug can have deadly consequences, but should you be concerned? How can you spot the danger, and what can you do to stay safe? Dr. Phil gets to the bottom of these questions and others. Melissa's son, Mark, was just 13 when he went to the hospital and wound up with MRSA, also known as the Superbug. Learn about Melissa’s tragic loss and why she thinks her son’s death could have been prevented. Then, 19-year-old Stephanie has been battling the Superbug for almost a year. Get a firsthand account of her experience with the disease, and find out what advice her doctor gave her that has Dr. Phil shocked and concerned. Even doctors aren’t immune to the Superbug. Dr. Drew O’Neal had an accident while on vacation, and what happened next changed his life forever. He shares his valuable insights as both doctor and patient. Plus, two years ago, Glen was your average sophomore playing on his high school football team -- until he contracted the Superbug right from the team’s locker room. Find out what important lessons he learned that could help protect you and your children from the disease. And renowned pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears weighs in with the latest information and shows off products to keep on hand that could save your life. Join the discussion.
