Caregiver not with MRSA but exposed to MRSA

MRSA!
Ken, the chances of you giving Corrine MRSA is slim! Unfortunately, it is everywhere! It's almost common for people who have been hospitalized, had surgery etc.. to come down with it esp. since their immune system is low. My husband, who is absolutely healthy and never had cancer, ,and wasn't hospitalized, developed MRSA on his hand out of nowhere. He was on a business trip and noticed a small bite(he thought),on the top of his hand. The next day his hand was swollen and it continued to get worse until it blistered and was a nightmare(and we had just flown to Aruba).He was treated with strong antibiotics for about 6 weeks and I helped nurse it back to health. Yes, the hospital has all sorts of germ and when the immune system is already low, you're better off at home away from all that. The MDs won't send her home if they don't think she is ready. Try to relax. You are doing an amazing job! Things will improve. HUGS!!! Cathy

chilibbq said:

Unfortunatley, Corrine is
Unfortunatley, Corrine is taking her drs word as gospel, ignoring the research I have been doing all along to make sure I do not endanger Corrine. Reinforced by her family who has been there 2 out of the 3 times she has been hospitalized and rarely been there otherwise to do the daily things she needs, such as cooking, cleaning, emotional support, Dr appointments, emergency room, daughter's needs, landscape maintenance, etc. I was in the hospital room today when her family was there and I could not take the tension in the air. Corrine tried to get her mother and I to talk. I told her mother I was tired of being judged by people that do not know me. She started in on me and I told her this was about Corrine and nobody else. I could not continue the conversation for fear of upsetting Corrine and the things I wanted to say were not the Christian way to act, so I asked Corrine to call me when she was feeling up to it and I left. If I am not there, I do not know how much support she will get. But if Corrine and other drs beleive I could make her sick, I need to back off.
I am no "Monk", but in the past I was a chef, even before that I have had a compulsion to always wash my hands and steralize surfaces. For years I was nick named Felix Unger. Is that enough?
Ken

Oscar Madison speaking
Ken, I have been untidy - sometimes legendarily so - all my life. Mom used to joke that the first time I threw my rattle down I enjoyed it so much I never stopped throwing stuff on the floor.

Joking aside, Corrine's concerns are well justified. But I can tell you that even a dedicated lifetime slob like me can practice completely effective hygiene. I did stop working out at the fitness club when Moopy began chemo because God only knows what kind of germs they have there. Outside of that, I sterilized and sanitized more often than I did in my entire life (which includes three years as a janitor).

The week after Moopy's first chemo infusion I contracted the Rotavirus. Both ends going full speed, sometimes at the same time. I was so bad off I wanted to hop into the john and pull the handle on myself. Better that than give the Rotavirus to Moopy. Instead, I sanitized the entire bathroom, top to bottom, every time I used it. And guess what? Moopy didn't catch the Rotavirus or anything else, from me or our staff of three pooches.

It's sad to say this, but I think you are following the right course. I hope that Corrine will see that you were right - the sooner the better. Perhaps you could have a woman present your case to Corrine: it's an established fact that the Moopster is usually much more willing to agree with another woman - any other woman - than with her awfully wedded husband. In any event, I wish you both the best!

Joe

cruf said:

MRSA!
Ken, the chances of you giving Corrine MRSA is slim! Unfortunately, it is everywhere! It's almost common for people who have been hospitalized, had surgery etc.. to come down with it esp. since their immune system is low. My husband, who is absolutely healthy and never had cancer, ,and wasn't hospitalized, developed MRSA on his hand out of nowhere. He was on a business trip and noticed a small bite(he thought),on the top of his hand. The next day his hand was swollen and it continued to get worse until it blistered and was a nightmare(and we had just flown to Aruba).He was treated with strong antibiotics for about 6 weeks and I helped nurse it back to health. Yes, the hospital has all sorts of germ and when the immune system is already low, you're better off at home away from all that. The MDs won't send her home if they don't think she is ready. Try to relax. You are doing an amazing job! Things will improve. HUGS!!! Cathy

Frequent handwashing and buy
Frequent handwashing and buy some latex gloves, if you are allergic to laytex, I think there are non-latex. We used them all the time when I was a CNA.