HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!...HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TOO!

It's been three months since any MRSA requiring antibiotics in our home, and about 10 months since I've needed any! May 23rd I ended up spending my 34th birthday in the ER. I knew I had to go...I really wish I would have taken pictures, but it was so disturbing to see my face that way I couldn't do it. On Wednesday night (the 21st of May) I noticed a small blemish on my chin and went to bed. I was watching TV for a couple hours and realized it was starting to feel weird...and I knew that feeling.

I got out of bed and washed, cleansed and medicated the area. I got up again that night and repeating the same thing. By morning it had really swollen. The next day I continued the wash, cleanse, medicate. Friday morning I woke up to find my lip swollen about 3x it's normal size. I looked nothing like myself and my chin was swollen half way to my ear. I knew I had to make a trip to the ER since the oral meds don't work for me until I get some Vanq in me.

I waited until my husband was home from work (he came home early) and headed to the ER...thinking I was only going to get an IV of antibiotics. They ended up having to cut it open and pack it in addition to the IV Vanq. Sent me home to return Sunday morning (the 25th...our 12th wedding anniversary). In the meantime it really wasn't draining. I felt they had packed it too tightly and was right. On Sunday morning they removed the packing and drained it. I was sent home on Bactrim and Clindamycin. By Sunday night it had drained completely, but there was about an inch circle around the area that was really hard, like scar tissue. I massaged the area for a few days and it has now returned to normal.

Since this breakout, our entire family has washed with Hibiclens every night for a week. Now we are back to twice a week. This really seems to help. We will continue pressing on, knowing that perseverance leads to proven character. (Romans 5)

Update...still battling

Well, we have so appreciative for the past 3 months without antibiotics!!! WhooHoo! The MRSA is trying to creep back in. Both girls would get really small spots (just looking like a pimple up to about a quarter in size, but instead of a white top, MRSA as we've seen it has a yellowish or greenish top sometimes with a black spot in the middle). All of these spots we were able to treat topically with our trinity treatment (bactroban, colloidal silver, and tea tree oil - rotating)and each girl only had one at a time for the last month or so.

I have noticed that the frequency and size and amount is picking up. My 8yo last week developed a deep one about 4.5" in diameter. It was pretty painful and really the only major one we've seen in three months. She did have a few small ones on her buttock. We did treat it topically and drain the large one over a few days and now they are all healing up well. It's amazing though how much of a mark they leave. I took a picture of it today...after it's been puss-free for 3 days now and it's still really red and large. She has quite a few scars on her legs from these nasty things!

My 4yo's skin is looking great! Her eczema is so much better and she sleeps through the night now that she's not so itchy. She does have some eczema on the palms of her hands and a small spot on the bottom of her feet...but that's it! That in itself is a miracle!

Both girls are still dealing with allergy issues. We were at a friends last night and both had asthma attacks, we suspect from pet dander. We have decided we just can't visit with people that own pets for now.

Now...with me. Yesterday I had a small pimple on my chin. Last night it really started hurting and swelling to the point that I only can smile on one side of my face. So, MRSA on my face now! Uggh! I hope this one doesn't leave a scar! I drained what I could, which wasn't much. The rest of the swelling doesn't have a top or head to drain from, so I will wait.

As far as our treatments go, we've been doing the same thing since January. Hibiclens shower twice a week, washing towels after first use, and jammies and clothes worn once for both girls. We've tried the Bactroban nasally at least three times with no results.

Now, on another note. I started reading Job a couple months ago. I knew Job battled a difficult illness, but did not know it was from boils! Wow! This is not a new thing! He was miserable and didn't have the doctors and medicines we have today. He would go to the banks and scrape and wash his boils with sharp stones!!!! Uggh! I am grateful we live in the time we do and hopeful the Lord will bring us through this and develop character in our family at the same time!

Another spot

Well, my 8yo showed me a small red spot (about the size of a penny) on her thigh a few days ago. I was hoping and praying it was just a little irritated spot. . The day after she showed it to me the first time it had a top on it, and I knew it was MRSA. We were able to drain it over the next few days, used our medicine trio and kept it covered with a bandage. Today it looks like it's drying up and no other spots have appeared! That's great news, as most of the time when one comes, many follow. There's definitely progress.

I'm considering doing a Vitamin C cleanse. It helps rid the body of toxins, and I really feel like it's hanging out "in" us somewhere. I'm researching it now and will keep you posted.

Warning: Pictures Added

I just added some pictures of how we've seen MRSA in our family. The one's I've taken of the large boils didn't come out. I only have some small spots, a rash that developed small pustules that tested positive for MRSA and a picture of me in the hospital when the MRSA turned to cellulitis. Hopefully we won't have any more large one's to take pictures of, but if so, I'll post them then. They are at the bottom of the page, beware if you are sensitive.

Record for the girls!

Well the girls have been Mrsa-free for a while now. My 4yo is going on 26 days, and my 8 yo 20 days. It's been wonderful!

It's not gone completely though, I have had a small spot for a few days now on my forearm. I've been treating it with colloidal silver, bactroban, and tea tree oil and keeping it covered and it looks like it's healing now. Praying the girls stay clear!

Still looking good!!!

I forgot what it was like without MRSA going on with someone in the house! Girls still looking better than ever. Anyone out there dealing with MRSA, I would really suggest taking Milk Thistle with your antibiotic. We have been dealing with this for over a year, and this time it cleared up much better than usual and we are hitting a record for how long it's been gone. I'm hopeful! The milk thistle is the only thing we did differently. Our kinesthesiologist suggested it. If I understood him correctly, the MRSA cell is hard to penetrate, and sometimes the antibiotic is kicked out of the cell before it can really get rid of it. The milk thistle is suppose to help the cell allow the antibiotic in. This is totally my interpretation of how he explained it, but it seems to have helped.

Now, the news I got yesterday. The doctor we found that has been so supportive and helpful is closing!!! I don't know all the details, but apparently she is going to start writing instead of being a doctor. I'm praying we find another one soon, in case we have any further MRSA episodes.

Wow....what a great 2 weeks!

Well, my 4yo has been MRSA spot free for 12 days now, and my 8yo for 6 days! It may be a few days more than that, but that's how long they've been off of antibiotics. Actually, their skin looks better than ever! Really, it's so soft and supple. It's never been that way!

I am so thankful, these last couple weeks have been great. My 4yo still itches a lot, I think some allergy we haven't figured out yet. We joke that she is allergic to sleep, because, of course it's worse when she is laying in bed doing nothing and can concentrate on it more.

We just sent off a test kit for both girls testing their GI tract to see if there is any underlying issues there. I suspect my 8yo has an intolerance or allergy for wheat, soy, and milk. We'll see what the test shows. We will be taking both of them back to our Kinesthesiologist within the next two weeks for more allergy treatments.

Another blessing....My 4yo helped peel eggs for deviled eggs at Grandma's this weekend! Oh, the simple pleasures she has missed out on because of her egg allergy. No cookie baking for the holidays....always watching the other kids enjoying this....but she never complained about it. She knew what would happen, the itching, red, burning on her skin. But now, none of that! Thank you Lord!