Cellulitis

[Theruff1]

Hi Everyone ..I am still a newbie when it comes to CLL was only diagnosed 2 years ago . whilst very conscious of one’s weakened immune system i was worried about catching a virus so was vaccinated up to the hilt , 6 covid jabs 2 pneumonia , flu jab etc it never ever crossed my mind that from a small cut on my shin i would get cellulitis . I can’t tell you how bad and ill i have been with this . I am now into day 5 .. Day 1 was a trip to A & E as my hot swollen knee within 24 hours covered my whole left leg . I thought i would be put on an IV antib drip but was given the standard flucloxacillin tablets . The pain in the leg wasn’t anywhere near the problem of the very severe flu like symptoms that accompanied it . shivers hot sweats skin hurts to touch and tender body hurts all over etc . Now sorry to waffle but we are day 5 the swelling and redness on my leg has receded it’s not a spread up my leg more concentrated in the knee area , still painful but managable . However the flu like symptoms are as prevelent and as bad as ever can’t tell you how dreadful i feel . So firstly should i or is there any point speaking to my CLL specialist about this and also has any one got any advice for me on anything i can do to help .. i am taking paracetamol and ibuprofen alternately every 2 hours . As i say the leg looks like it’s improving but these flu like symptoms are not . should i go back to a&e or is it a question of giving it a few more days ,

thanks

[Walkingtall62]

Hi, I don’t know much, but if it was me I would definitely pass this by my CLL nurse, who will hopefully then talk to the A&E department. I would definitely go back to A&E, but please note I am not medically trained, this is just my gut feel. All the best

[Theruff1 in reply to Walkingtall62]

thanks , i think your right and probably best thing to do . I thought these flu symptoms would have eased by now .

[Walkingtall62 in reply to Theruff1]

or your GP, rather than A&E if they are accessible. Good luck

[Newdawn Administrator]

I’d think a call to your GP today is the next step.

Best wishes,

Newdawn

[Theruff1]

thanjs

[Poodle2]

I would also contact your GP to begin with. I don't think you should be having flu like symptoms with cellulitis. Have you done a covid test? You might have a flu as well, you never know. Sometimes it's good to have a cream as well (for the skin) - fucidin or something like that. Your GP can prescribe it.

I have it at home now (having had a few small cuts turn really ugly and cause some nasty problems in the past). As soon as I see a cut or graze turning very red and becoming sorer, I use it "as prevention" - I just don't heal that well anymore so this works for me.

[Pearlpink]

Hi. Sorry for long text! It sounds like the antibiotic you are on is only slightly holding it.

Flucloxacillin is fine for a normal staphylococcus infection but doesn’t cover a strep infection.

People often use just flucloxacillin and then add in others if needed. But you are at high risk with CLL so should certainly be seeing someone urgently if you still have temperature, pain, redness, and whole body symptoms.

If you have a hotline for your hospital for your consultants department, then ring them. Otherwise, as it’s weekend you probably need A&e.

You could ring 111 to see if you could speak to GP but I think 111 will just say you need to go to A&e.

They might well want to put a drip up or might give you oral antibiotics. I would say that with the level of pain you are getting I would recommend the person you can see today.

Don’t feel shy about it. Drs always expect you to come back if the problem doesn’t resolve. Antibiotics aren’t perfect. Sometimes there is resistance, sometimes you need additional.

I get cellulitis very quickly from insect bites with my CLL. On watch and wait I had a supply of antibiotics which were broader than flucloxacillin to start as soon as started to get red and hot.

I had fall two years ago and split head open . A&e cleaned it out and put steristrips on. I asked for antibiotics as so susceptible to cellulitis and they insisted that the (dirty) wound didn’t need them.

Within 6hrs I had cellulitis of forehead and didn’t have antibiotics at home. I had whacking temperature and didn’t realise. My Gp was wonderful!

I get lots of cellulitis, and I know it’s turned to cellulitis when it starts to really hurt! You have absolutely all the symptoms of cellulitis that is only partially treated.

Sorry to be bossy! I mainly get strep infections.

You can’t be definitive, but staph infections tend to have golden crust initially, and strep tends to spread along lines of lymph channels so you see red streaks. However once cellulitis established it can be combination of bugs.

Good luck!

[Theruff1 in reply to Pearlpink]

oh fantastic , that’s a great reply i shall certainly be back in touch with a & e

[W00dfin]

I was admitted to hospital with my cellulitis. It took them trying 3 different iv antibiotics before getting it under control. Fortunately I didn’t have flu symptoms.

[Theruff1 in reply to W00dfin]

ok good to know .. i’m heading back to a& e today

[wizzard166]

Hey Ruff

You've already gotten very good advice from our Members, so my input isn't any different; other than, mentioning similarity with myself on the Cellulitis issue. I feel this helps many on our site, when we report similarities to what others experience.

I had a small bang on my left shin a couple of years ago. I walked into one of our bedrooms and didn't look low enough to see a drawer opened on the bed frame. So I banged into the open drawer. It hurt like hell but wasn't bleeding much at all. Just a small skin break. Within a few days I had the inflamed red area going up my leg, so I visited my GP who immediately said Cellulitis. I think I got an antibiotic cream, and don't remember if I also got an oral antibiotic. Within about five days mine also receded. Interesting enough I still have a brownish discolored area on that part of my shin now years later.

I've also noticed that I get areas that take much more time to heal these days, with what otherwise was tiny little skin cuts or abrasions. Fortunately most of them do not turn into Cellulitis or other infections. I keep the skin cream antibiotic handy, and use it frequently when the initial abrasion takes place.

Carl

[Theruff1 in reply to wizzard166]

cheers Carl . I am currently sitting back in A & E they can clearly see a week on the flucloxacillan hasn’t worked . Have been referred to the orthopaedic unit . Have had my knee x-rayed and a cannular fitted and bloods taken ..saying if there is infectious fluid on the knee might be why it’s not getting better so may have to keep me in and operate on it to remove the fluid so watch this space .. will let you know !

[BallyB]

Go back to the A&E