Ulcer Treatment

[Eve]

I saw a Dr on Friday who diagnosed me as having an infected ulcer on the top of the inside of my leg.

He gave me some antibiotics and said to see if it starts to clear up but, it it hasn't got any better after 3/4 days to go to A&E to get it sorted out there.

I'm on day 4 now and it's still very painful and not clearing and seems to have spread and potentially got another one starting.

I've had them before but they've always cleared up well with antibiotics before though I have had a bad run of infections to include a couple of infected wounds and bad bout of cellulitis, thank goodness I'm on a break from my immunosuppressants at the moment.

Will see how it is tomorrow but was wondering what he means by sorting it at A&E, seems a bit drastic to go there too! I assume something like draining or dressing or something?

I'd have to go up in the evening as can't miss work at the moment so am trying to work out how long it would take, how much (if any) pain I'd be likely to be in after etc...

Has anyone had it done and know what it entails? I'm still holding out hope for the antibiotics though!

[Jemisa]

Oh Dear jenna that does sound painful. You should find some improvement after 4 to 5 days, If not , your doc is right go to A&E. Whatever they do they will make you as comfortable as poss, they will freeze it first before they lance it or drain it.
But get it sorted because it could get a whole lot worse if you don't.
You seem to have had your fair share of infections lately, are you a diabetic by the way? or been tested for diabetis?

jem

[Eve]

Eeek, the word lance just sounds evil in itself!

I have been tested for diabetes so many times, especially with the recurrent infections but nothing ever shows up.

I've got to go back on my immunosuppressants for my arthritis at some point and dreading it as really don't want to have to contend with the extra problems they might bring with the infections I get anyway.

I usually tend to get them when I'm really run down or when I'm about to come down with something, they have been the precursor to some bad illnesses like when I had a stomach ulcer and suspected meningitis (was some brain swelling virus in the end).

Just keeping my fingers crossed the antibiotics start to kick in as the treatment just doesn't sound nice!

[shaneystar2]

I had ulcers on my lower leg Jenna due to that ruddy cellulitis .The antibiotics took the cellulits down but the ulcerated bits took ages to heal .I was given Fuciderm or some Fuci stuff which helped somewhat but what really healed them up nicely was Manuka honey .
http://www.manuka-honey.eu/ . Lots of other info on Google .Hope they soon clear up for you .

[LoftyLottie]

I have had an infected wound on my leg for a month or two and was given oral antibiotics and also using fuciderm. The nurse at the surgery last week checked the wound which is taking ages to heal and suggested I use tea tree oil on it t wice a day. To be honest, it is responding very well to tea tree oil. However, it was already on the mend all being very slowly. Because the area around it is so very red still I have been worried about cellulitis and keeping a close eye on things.

Hi Shaney x

Good luck Jenna x

[LoftyLottie]

Shaney, did you rub the honey on your leg or eat it? ;o)

[shaneystar2]

Haha Lofty ...Nooo I put on the ulcers :) Just on some sterile dressing things which I got from Boots Twice a day .My ma in law had an ulcerated leg some time ago ,way before she died and I remembered her using honey and it all healed up .So I looked into it and it was very effective . Got said honey in Holland and Barret .
http://www.hollandand...?pid=1523&prodid=1619

[Sqad]

jenna. odd remark by Dr to go to A&E as it is neither and Accident or Emergency.
As you are on immunosuppressant drugs ANY infection is going to take longer to heal than normal, so be patient.

If it is an infected ulcer, as you say, then I can´t see where incision and drainage will come into the picture.

If it doesn´t start to settle within 48 hours more, then go back to your GP.

[Eve]

That's what I thought Sqad, it seemed a bit OTT to go to A&E as, as you say, it is neither an accident or emergency and I'd hate to take up their time when they should be dealing with far more serious stuff (and, unfortunately all the other crap from being a major city one). I've had another two start to come up since starting the antibiotics and another one which looks ominous so maybe just need some more time and zapping.

I've not been on the immunosuppressants for a while now, was on and off them so much as would get so many infections or warnings to come off them for a while and I can't tolerate them very well anyway and the stepping back up every time was becoming a bit of a pain. I had a chat with my rhumatologist and she said to give them a break for a while and see how I do, especially considering my age and wanting a family at some point.

They have managed to sort some of the pain by helping the malabsorbtion and thereby some of the deficiencies like Vit D causing bone pain which has helped.

I had a bit of a flip a while back and was so sick of all the meds I just came off a load of them (inc citalopram 40mg, amitriptylene 20mg...for chronic pain and such, that was a fun few weeks!) cold turkey without actually liaising with my doctors which wasn't ideal, I just felt so drugged up all the time so wanted to give my body a break and see how I coped and phase back in as necessary.

Gave my malapsorbtion drugs a rest too and calcium stuff to see if things have settled after the initial lot. It's made a difference but still problems so looks like will need to go back on but hopefully can get away with not so much/often.

Actually, thinkng about it, could it be some kind of deficiency kinda thing from coming off the malabsorbtion meds which has kicked them off?

I think I really should actually go see my GP and go through everything.

[rowanwitch]

You Gp practice may have at least one nurse with special training in tissue viability if not there will be some at your local hospital....you Gp can refer you to this service....