cellulitis

[Clyde12]

I normally get cellulitis in my arm in the summer months….probably from insect bites. This morning I’ve woken to similar discomfort (like a bruised feeling) in my shoulder and upper arm. There are small areas of redness and swelling starting to appear from the elbow upwards so I’ve started Flucloxacillin. Just wondering if anyone else has had cellulitis from elbow up? All my lymph nodes were removed during mastectomy operation 10yrs ago. Thank you. Mary.

I have posted the above in the lymphoedema site but not received any replies.

[anna4969]

hi Mary

I have lymphedema from removal of lymph nodes due to breast cancer., as well. It stinks! And yes, my cellulitis infections are mostly at the elbow and above. Once in awhile, I will have near the hand or wrist but mostly elbow and above. I see nobody responded to you here. You may want to join the LSN thread. Hope the arm is feeling better🎈

[Clyde12 in reply to anna4969]

Thank you. I’m also in the LSN group and did get replies. I’ve had cellulitis many times but this was different somehow. Anyway, it responded well to the flucloxacillin and all is well now. Thanks for your reply.

[anna4969 in reply to Clyde12]

you are so welcome, I had one outlier cellulitis infection too a couple years ago. It presented differently and I was a bit stumped too. My doctor generally puts me on moxiflixicin or vincamycin. Both work very well, thank goodness!

Take care😊

[Rebec in reply to anna4969]

Thank you for replying. I had a previous reply.

Why aren’t you wearing a protective sleeve which won’t allow also insects to bite you.

[anna4969 in reply to Rebec]

I'm not sure what you mean about protective sleeve, I wear my sleeves religiously and often times in summer an overlay sleeve. It still happens, be it at night when I take off for a bit, shower, etc. My sleeves are my second skin, so not sure what you mean. Please elaborate.

[Rebec in reply to anna4969]

You mention that you get insect bites so if you wear those elasticated sleeves over your arm, they should protect you against it happening.

[anna4969 in reply to Rebec]

To some extent. How about you?

[Rebec in reply to anna4969]

I have been lucky about insects. Never been bitten but now that I’m writing this, I’m sure one of those nasty little creature will want to show me they are cleverer than I thought they were!!

[Clyde12]

yes, I too wear protective sleeves in ‘the biting’ season! Mosquitoes must be crafty wee insects!

All the best. 🦟

[anna4969 in reply to Clyde12]

Oh yes, they are sneaky and of course always seem to find the lymphedema arm/hand not the other arm/hand.

[Rebec]

BTW, talking about the elasticated sleeves, I got an answer from one of the Lymphoedema nurses whom I asked if I should swim wearing my sleeve so was told that this is a good idea as long as the sleeve is an old one as it might get damaged by the chlorine in the water.

I’m glad that the majority of the ladies here had their breast cancer in the right breast as I was very worried during the radiation sessions as my cancer was in the left side so near the heart!

I decided to trust the engineers who, I was told, calculate the angle and the strength of the radiation given to us.