What should you do??

I had a comment from a family in Florida that has just started their journey with MRSA with their 4yo. I pray it will be short for them! I've been thinking about doing a post re-capping what has worked best for us and what we use on a normal basis, so this comment has led me to do just that.

So..what would I do if I knew then what we know now? (just my opinion, from experience, not medical expertise!)

1) Wash hands frequently with regular soap - we use alcohol to spray down hard surfaces in the bathroom after showers.

2) Wash all towels and clothes after the first use (even dress up clothes) - it's a lot of laundry but MRSA multiplies very quickly. No sharing towels (we've even started using paper towels after washing our hands). Wash in hot water and dry on high heat for a long cycle. We dry on high for 90 minutes. I found in some research online that it takes about 30 minutes on high heat to kill the MRSA, so I make sure it's drying for about 30 minutes after the clothes are completely dry. I change sheets once a week. I have at times changed them everyday, but didn't see any difference, so went back to once a week for sanity's sake!

4) Keep wounds covered with band-aids or bandages that are sealed on all 4 sides so no pus can escape. We have found Band-Aid brand Ultra Care the best for smaller ones and use gauze and tape for larger ones.

3) We avoid antibiotics if at all possible. Sometimes just draining it is enough. We learned this the hard way. There were many times where the girls were off antibiotics for just a couple days before new spots appeared. Both girls now have candida (too much yeast overgrowth from a lack of good bacteria to keep it under control) from all the antibiotics and that can cause lot of other issues. There are times where antibiotics are necessary, but we are grateful they haven't been on them since February (May for me). We have had plenty of spots and a hand full of times that I thought one of us would end up on antibiotics, but we've been able to get them to go away without antibiotics. If you really need antibiotics, use Clindamyacin if your MRSA responds to it. The microbiologist I spoke to about MRSA said it's one of the very few antibiotics that enter human cells to get the infection there. I also take Milk Thistle with the antibiotics that helps it enter the cell better (from what my alternative doc tells me). If you can't use Clindamyacin (it is more expensive), take Bactrim or Septra with the milk thistle. It will help it get into the cell and work there.

4) Turmeric really helps with the inflammation and seems to help the pus dry up...one of the best results we've seen. Both my girls can swallow pills now (we taught our 4 yo out of necessity recently - have them look down when swallowing instead of up. The pills float so looking down makes them go to the back of the throat for when you swallow). If they have any spots I'll give them up to 6 pills twice a day. You may be able to find this as a liquid or add it to juice or chocolate milk or something if you can't swallow pills.

5) Hibiclens. As much as I don't like the fact that this is a type of antibacterial, we have found it keeps us from having to use oral antibiotics. For months last year we would do a whole body Hibiclens, but now we just do spots. We want to leave as much good bacteria on the skin as possible and it works just as well as a whole body Hibiclens rub down. We order this from www.drugstore.com and it comes with a pump top that makes it foamy and is much easier to apply. I would recommend showers instead of baths so you are not sitting in the bacteria, it can be washed off and down the drain in the shower.

6) Probiotics - This is basically good bacteria that lives in your gut. Especially important if you are taking antibiotics to help keep up the good bacteria since antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria. Don't take it at the same time as your antibiotics though because the antibiotics will just kill it. We usually take them right before lunch time. We rotate between Natren and Udo brand and both girls take these everyday.

6) Manuka Honey Ointment. We have been using this on any small spots and it really seems to help. The ointment is only 40% manuka honey, so it's not as sticky as the 100% stuff. If you have a large open wound, go with the 100% manuka honey, but for small spots the 40% seems to work well. We use the ointment found at www.manukahoneyusa.com

7) Tea Tree Oil and Colloidal Silver - We use the Manuka honey more often but rotate and use these in between. Tea tree oil can burn, so the manuka honey is easier to use on the kids. Colloidal silver seems to really help, but it seems to need an open wound to get in there and do it's job.

I hope that's not too overwhelming and that I haven't left anything out. I think the best thing we've found so far is the combination of turmeric orally and manuka honey on the wound in addition to good hygiene.

I have learned over the course of this struggle that I can't fix it. It's hard not to be able to "fix" what's hurting your children. It took me at least a year to realize this, but I now know. I am committed to keep looking for new information and pray for direction from the Lord for healing and direction on what to do next. I have learned a lot and my girls have grown through this. I hope and pray that one day in the future, I will be able to share our victory with those suffering along with us!

Manuka Honey results...amazing!

Last Sunday I noticed that my one eczema patch (the only one I have, about 2" x 3") on my shin was a little sensitive. Didn't think much of it. The next morning I noticed it... There was a white spot from infection. By the next day, the entire spot was infected and very painful.

I covered it with Manuka Honey and put a dressing on top. The Manuka Honey did burn a bit. I changed the bandage twice a day. I really thought I was going to end up in the hospital, again. It was just as bad as the other ones sending me there. Within two days the pain and sensitivity were gone. Even thought the pain was gone, on Friday, after being out for a couple hours, my leg was swollen to my toes. I decided to stay off of it the entire weekend and kept it covered. The only treatment I used starting last Monday was 5 turmeric capsules 3 times a day, Hibiclens in the shower, and Manuka honey dressings.

I can't believe that within a week, the infection seems to be gone and there is no drainage. Even the eczema is clearing up. It barely drained at all, meaning that the combination had to be killing it from the inside. Amazing! Antibiotics take longer than that! WHOO HOO!!

StingRay....

Thank you for your encouraging comments. I love that song by MercyMe...I'd love to hear more of your story....send me a comment with your blog or some info on your MRSA story???

Manuka Honey...

Ever since we returned from the beach we have been battling eczema and trying to keep it from turning into MRSA spots. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes not. Now that the weather is changing, it will be a little more challenging. BUT...I did order some manuka honey and manuka honey ointment. I tried this (the ointment) directly onto the girls eczema spots and it seems to be working amazingly well. My 8yo's skin was really broken out and just over night cleared up immensely, so I'm hopeful.

I would note, it would be impossible to put straight manuka honey on without a bandage...can be messy. Good for wounds, or skin infection with a covering, but not to spread on the larger areas that have eczema. But, the ointment is easier...I only put it on at night so they have jammies over and it's not nearly as sticky, although it is still 40% honey. It has done a great job with eczema so far, and keeping an eye on it with MRSA. I'll update you once we've had a few more days to experiment with it.

If you want to look into the Manuka Honey, try this website: www.manukahoneyusa.com

THey have lots of information and certify their rating (although I don't know exactly what they have to do for that), but it seems like a lab has to certify for them.

I'll keep you posted...

Tired!

I'm tired! Not like I need a nap, but just tired....

Wondering, will there ever be a time where I'm not slathering my girls with lotions and remedies, and bandaging their spots, or giving them supplements at every meal, or washing laundry all day? Will there ever be a time where we can use a towel more than once before it goes in the laundry, or clothes can be worn a second day or jammies a second night? A day where they can play dress up without the entire dress up box full of clothes having to be washed? Will there be a day like this?

A day when I can let the girls play in the woods without knowing that we will have to go home for a breathing treatment and Benedryl? A day where they can go to their friends houses that have pets and play while being able to breath at the same time? Will there be a day when they can eat what everyone else eats without itching and pain and rashes? A day where we can attend a Christmas party and not cringe when we see the bowl full of nuts on the food table? Will there be a day like this?

Will there be a day where eczema, allergies, asthma, and MRSA are not on our minds and in our actions? A day they can go to the pool and not be embarrassed by the many scars on their legs from their affliction? A day where they can go to bed WITHOUT a shower...where I can just say "girls, get ready for bed" and they don't require mom's eye and help for draining, band-aids, lotions and medicines? Will there be a day like this?

Honestly, I don't know if there will be.... I have to preach the truth to myself. I don't know how long these struggles will go on. I DO know that there will always be something. We will always have some struggle, some challenge in our lives. We live in a fallen world and it makes me long for heaven! I am so grateful that it's not a fatal illness or accident that we are having to live through. Grateful that we don't live in a 3rd world country where we wouldn't have access to healthcare. I am grateful that despite these obstacles, I have happy little ladies that love life and give me much joy. It's become normal for them, they know nothing different. I am grateful that one day, I will see my Savior face to face, and he will wipe away all the tears and pain and sadness and we will never again go through struggles and challenges, but will be filled with joy we can't even imagine! Most of all, I am grateful that he changed my heart to see the truth. That I once looked upon Him as a story and mocked him, but now I know He is so much more, and i am grateful that I am going through this knowing Him, because I don't know how we'd get through it without Him.

You Tube Manuka Honey Clip

Here is a very informational video from You Tube on Manuka Honey. Looks like (perhaps?) it's from a company that sells Manuka Honey, so keep that in mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1U0JG9xvsY&feature=related

Another Manuka Honey Story...

Prevention and Treatment of MRSA with Manuka Honey
By Frank Buonanotte, published Sep 04, 2008

MRSA related Staph infections are the cause of concern in many hospitals across the world. It is not an uncommon occurrence that a patient is admitted into a hospital with one ailment and leaves with a Staph infection. Although, hospital patients aren't the only ones concerned about MRSA. Doctors and other medical professionals have grown increasingly more fearful that they may be exposed to this deadly bacteria.

MRSA is a mutated form of bacteria that has developed a resistance to antibiotics. If gone untreated, a MRSA-Staph infection can be fatal. Amidst all the hysteria, scientists are beginning to recognize that a particular type of honey, known as Manuka Honey, is actually effective against this notoriously resilient superbug.

Researchers have examined MRSA that has come in contact with Manuka Honey and have determined that MRSA cannot survive in the healing environment created by Manuka Honey. MRSA is a bacterium that grows and divides into 2 similar cells every half hour. It divides by forming a wall across the middle of the cell, which then splits in half to create 2 new cells. Studies have shown that Manuka Honey interferes with the cell cycle of MRSA by affecting the separation of new cells, so that cells unable to complete division are disabled at that point in the cell cycle.

All types of honey contain hydrogen peroxide which is a known antiseptic and disinfectant. However, scientists have discovered that there is an additional antibacterial component in Manuka Honey, making it much more effective for therapeutic use. This additional component, known as UMF, is unaffected by enzymes that dilutes the effectiveness of regular honey. It remains active when used as a wound dressing and diffuses deeper into skin tissues.

In addition to its unparalleled antibacterial properties, Manuka Honey is also considered to be antimicrobial and, therefore, capable of treating both bacterial and fungal infections. Another advantage to utilizing Manuka Honey for medical purposes is that its anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce pain in damaged tissue.

Manuka Honey is made by bees that use the nectar from the flower that grows on the Manuka bush, which is indigenous to New Zealand. It's this unique nectar that provides Manuka Honey with it's impressive healing qualities. Since Manuka Honey comes from New Zealand, it can be somewhat hard to come by. However, a New York-based manufacturer of skin care products called Honeymark has developed a line of Manuka Honey products that is available in the U.S.

"Manuka Honey is natures best kept secret," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International. "Although, its ability to conquer the battle against MRSA superbugs is projecting Manuka Honey into the lime light." Unlike some traditional forms of medicine, Manuka Honey has been found to have no negative side effects when used for medical purposes.