So I've been through the wringer! My CM and syrinx was very advanced and took twice as long to do the surgery, and I spent weeks in the hospital afterwards. Less than a month after my hospital release I had to go back.They reopened my site and excavated a nasty staphylococcus infection that was living on the plate they put in (my surgeon actually didn't tell me he had put a plate in either) but has moved into my bones now.
I've been battling this infection now for a few weeks, but suddenly I became allergic to the antibiotic they were giving me intravenously at home, VANCOMYCIN. There's a condition people can get from it called "Red Man Syndrome" which is not actually an allergy but a flushing of the skin due to a too rapid infusion rate... This was NOT what I was getting, I actually became allergic (hives, itchy, hard to breath, etc...). So I've been switched to an oral antibiotic, CLYNDAMYCIN which has its own problems but for now it seems to be doing the trick. The problem there though is that its not going to kill the infection as fast as the vancomycin was so I'll have to take it longer.
So I'm just wondering if anyone else had to go through this bone infection called OSTEOMYELETIS? I feel like the antibiotics are working, but I would really like to know if anyone has any pointers for how to beat this thing? I'm sure some of you can relate, but I have been through too much with this stupid CM crap already. I want to beat this infection quickly. So far I've been taking lots of vitamin C to boost my immune system, lots of water and lots of rest to help my body recover, and eating pro-biotic yogurt to make sure I don't get C-DIFF from the clyndamycin. Just any other pointers to boost my immune system and increase blood flow would be great.
I am so sorry that you are going through such a hard time. Infections are really hard to get over between the antibiotics making you feel yucky and the syptoms of the infection. We use alot of natural remedies along with traditional medicine in my family. I know that garlic is a great natural antibiotic but you have to be careful ingesting it if you are on other meds. Some clash like blood thinners. You can check with your doctor. Years ago I had a breast infection that would not go away while I was breast feeding my son. I took antibiotics and it kept coming back. My very smart Natropathic MD told me to make a garlic poultice to draw the infection out. I put it on and the pain went way the first day and after the second day using the poultice the chills and body aches went away and the infection went away and never came back. I'm not saying that you will have that experience but other than smelling like garlic there is no down side to trying it. The only thing you have to watch out for is the garlic will irritate your skin. You can look up how to make one on the internet. Or you can just think I'm a kook and ignore this all together. : ) Wendy
While I was in the hospital last time for the second surgery there was an infection specialist that was working with me and he told me about the staph infection. The staph infection is what spawned the bone infection. The infection itself was actually on the metal plate that they put in my head (the infection doctor revealed to me). My research has revealed that basically any trauma to your bones, accidental or surgical, can give you this infection though. The metal plate was the instigator in my case. I go for blood tests every monday too to check my blood toxicity levels.