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<blockquote data-quote="rlsnights" data-source="post: 320910" data-attributes="member: 7948"><p>Veteran of 6 hospitalizations for cellulitis here. My advice is:</p><p></p><p>1) Take the antibiotics. Set an alarm or do what you have to do but do not miss a dose and try to space the doses out the way they're prescribed. If it means taking a dose at midnight and at 6 am try to do so.</p><p></p><p>2) Keep that leg elevated above the level of the heart all the time for the first day or two and as much as possible after that until it is well healed. That pretty much means lying in bed with his feet up on multiple pillows or folded blankets with pillows on top. Above the level of the heart is the important part.</p><p></p><p>It makes a HUGE difference and will get him up and moving much more quickly compared to just sitting around with it on a stool or leaning back in a recliner. Yes I know it's boring but much less boring than being in the hospital or losing your leg.</p><p></p><p>3) No ice on it in case they didn't tell him. Cool compresses are OK but no ice packs. He will not want to get in a hot shower or expose it to hot water for at least several days. It's a bit like having a burn - hot things will make it hurt like the devil.</p><p></p><p>4) Fluids - drink lots. And I don't mean coffee or tea.</p><p></p><p>5) Take your vitamins. With doctor's approval I would pump up the B complex, C and D3 and take Flax Seed oil or similar source of high quality Omega 3's.</p><p></p><p>6) Draw around the edge as someone else suggested. Check it often - every hour is a good idea until it's obvious that he's getting better. If the redness expands once he's started antibiotics or pain gets worse, back to ER you go. Do not wait - it can get much worse in as little as an hour. At ER tell them he needs to keep the leg elevated and can he wait on a gurney in case they want him to sit in the waiting room for 5 hours.</p><p></p><p>If it hasn't begun to visibly improve within 36 -48 hours of starting antibiotics, call the doctor. They probably need to switch to something else or add a second one. Or follow doctors directions if he says to call sooner.</p><p></p><p>7) Probiotics - he should be either taking these by mouth (get the kind that's refrigerated and broad-spectrum) or eating the good yogurt that really does have active cultures (most of the brands you can buy don't really) preferably one low in sugars or that only uses real sugar - no corn syrup. He does not want to get a c-diff infection on top of the cellulitis. </p><p></p><p>8) If he starts to have significant diarrhea you need to call the doctor that day. If it's copious (like 3 times his intake over a matter of 2 or 3 hours ) and he has severe abdominal pain go to ER. DO NOT STOP AT GO TO COLLECT $200. IT MAY BE THE LAST $200 DOLLARS HE EVER COLLECTS. Or he may just lose his colon.</p><p></p><p>9) Excellent hygiene by all household members is important to avoid secondary intestinal infections like c-diff. Handwashing with soap and warm water is the only way to really get rid of c-diff spores. And I would wash all produce, especially lettuce, several times. Preferably remove skins from fruit, cook vegies, skip the salad for now and avoid eating out.</p><p></p><p>Right, that's about it.</p><p></p><p>Should he continue to be stubborn, inform him that cellulitis can go septic if it isn't gotten under control promptly. Does he really want to be in ICU on the brink of major organ failure because it was inconvenient to stay off his feet for a few days? Thought not. And I am only exaggerating a tiny bit.</p><p></p><p>Good luck</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="rlsnights, post: 320910, member: 7948"] Veteran of 6 hospitalizations for cellulitis here. My advice is: 1) Take the antibiotics. Set an alarm or do what you have to do but do not miss a dose and try to space the doses out the way they're prescribed. If it means taking a dose at midnight and at 6 am try to do so. 2) Keep that leg elevated above the level of the heart all the time for the first day or two and as much as possible after that until it is well healed. That pretty much means lying in bed with his feet up on multiple pillows or folded blankets with pillows on top. Above the level of the heart is the important part. It makes a HUGE difference and will get him up and moving much more quickly compared to just sitting around with it on a stool or leaning back in a recliner. Yes I know it's boring but much less boring than being in the hospital or losing your leg. 3) No ice on it in case they didn't tell him. Cool compresses are OK but no ice packs. He will not want to get in a hot shower or expose it to hot water for at least several days. It's a bit like having a burn - hot things will make it hurt like the devil. 4) Fluids - drink lots. And I don't mean coffee or tea. 5) Take your vitamins. With doctor's approval I would pump up the B complex, C and D3 and take Flax Seed oil or similar source of high quality Omega 3's. 6) Draw around the edge as someone else suggested. Check it often - every hour is a good idea until it's obvious that he's getting better. If the redness expands once he's started antibiotics or pain gets worse, back to ER you go. Do not wait - it can get much worse in as little as an hour. At ER tell them he needs to keep the leg elevated and can he wait on a gurney in case they want him to sit in the waiting room for 5 hours. If it hasn't begun to visibly improve within 36 -48 hours of starting antibiotics, call the doctor. They probably need to switch to something else or add a second one. Or follow doctors directions if he says to call sooner. 7) Probiotics - he should be either taking these by mouth (get the kind that's refrigerated and broad-spectrum) or eating the good yogurt that really does have active cultures (most of the brands you can buy don't really) preferably one low in sugars or that only uses real sugar - no corn syrup. He does not want to get a c-diff infection on top of the cellulitis. 8) If he starts to have significant diarrhea you need to call the doctor that day. If it's copious (like 3 times his intake over a matter of 2 or 3 hours ) and he has severe abdominal pain go to ER. DO NOT STOP AT GO TO COLLECT $200. IT MAY BE THE LAST $200 DOLLARS HE EVER COLLECTS. Or he may just lose his colon. 9) Excellent hygiene by all household members is important to avoid secondary intestinal infections like c-diff. Handwashing with soap and warm water is the only way to really get rid of c-diff spores. And I would wash all produce, especially lettuce, several times. Preferably remove skins from fruit, cook vegies, skip the salad for now and avoid eating out. Right, that's about it. Should he continue to be stubborn, inform him that cellulitis can go septic if it isn't gotten under control promptly. Does he really want to be in ICU on the brink of major organ failure because it was inconvenient to stay off his feet for a few days? Thought not. And I am only exaggerating a tiny bit. Good luck [/QUOTE]
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