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Friday, February 13, 2009

Grateful for Modern Medicine

 




You can probably see the sausage finger quite easily. But if you look closely you can see that the back of my hand, and even part way up my arm is quite red.

Thus, an encounter with the medical profession. This all comes from that cat bite. Yes, indeed, kitty gave me a nasty infection in my lymph system. So I spent six hours at the clinic- they were very busy today. Finally got in to see the doctor. He agreed that it's a really nasty bite, but was a lot more concerned about the hot redness spreading up the arm.

Got a tetanus shot (He joked, "I suppose you haven't had one for about 1000 years." And he was right of course). Got a shot of rocephin, one of the few antibiotics that's effective against the bacteria in cat saliva. And got a prescription for augmentin, a heavy-duty penicillin relative. If it gets any worse tonight I'm supposed to head straight for the ER. So far it's not better, but it's also not worse. And I have to go back to the clinic tomorrow for a second shot of rocephin.

He said it was good that I came in as soon as I saw the redness, or he would have needed to send me to the ER for IV antibiotics.

So the quality in today is that as much as I hate having to have medical assistance, I'm very grateful that it works pretty well when I really do need something.

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9 comments:

Rick (Ratty) said...

Ouch!!! Who would have thought that a cat could rival a rattlesnake? I knew their scratches could irritate, but I had no idea a bite could do that. I hope it doesn't get worse.

Sharkbytes (TM) said...

Thanks, Ratty. The infection is better this morning, but I feel worse somehow. My angry mouth is also much better. Funny how all the things that are injured are improved, but overall, I really feel like crawling in a hole. Have other plans though! Should have something fun to write about tonight.

Anonymous said...

Hope you feel better soon. Sounds - and looks - pretty awful!

Lin said...

Uh oh--you were right, kitty got you good. Yikes. Does kitty have something going on too and is that why the instant infection? Maybe she isn't feeling good either. Hope you and the finger are better soon. Don't be flippin' people off with that nasty thing!! :)

Lynne Campbell said...

Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks for the visit to my blog!
Come back soon
http://seekinghisface.blogspot.com

Blessings, Lynne

Sharkbytes (TM) said...

A, Lin, and Lynne- Thanks for your kind thoughts. Heavy duty antibiotics really kick germy butts. Although the finger is still swollen the redness is all gone, and the doctor was very happy when I went back in for the second shot.

I'll be happy when I can use the hand better, but it's on the mend.

The Silver Age Sara said...

I don't like doctors either but you sure needed one this time and I'm glad you got medical attention. What a nasty bite. I hope you are much better now.

medical safety said...

Washing with clean water and soap and letting it bleed for awhile, most of the time will do the trick.

Sharkbytes said...

medical safety- I know how to care for all kinds of wounds, even serious ones. I treated this one with utmost care, did all the right things. But this particular infection is not the norm.