I have a question about the speed that infections set in to a person. I got a cat bite Friday night after I stepped on our cat by accident then lost my balance so I could not get off of her quickly. The infections started immediately and Saturday night I was at urgent care getting tetnus and antibiotic shots. Now I am told I need to call the surgeon who is supposed to do my knee replacement a week from today because the urgent care told me they were sure I would not be having surgery until the infection is gone. I am on 10 days of antibiotic pills twice a day. My question is that is this something that happens when one has lupus, that an infection starts immediately? This is the 2nd injury I have had in the last 3 months that went into a bad infection immediately.
Not necessarily- depends on the infecting agent Yes you do need to contact your surgeon as joint replacements should not done if any infection is present
Hi reet,
An infection will start straight away it's because our immune system sees it as a foreign body...that's why they've reacted quickly and gave you a tetnus and antibiotics and regarding operations you have to be at the best of your health and i've had operations and they go all through the lark wanting you not ill with infections etc, as poobie as stated.
reet the link below explains alot about bites from cats and their salivia....Terri :)
http://voices.yahoo.com/who-risk-cat-scratch-fever-8171763.html?cat=70
Thank you, Poobie and Terri. I looked up cat bite and found info on it but not about the auto immune issues. I started hurting so bad with in an hour of the bite and thought I was in a flare. I went to bed and covered up with my down comforter and got up the next day feeling awful. We had company but I went to the coach and fell asleep. When they left I went back to bed and slept and when I got up everything on my leg was worse, hot, etc That is when I went to urgent care. Honestly, I had no clue that something could infect that quickly. A couple of days yes, but an hour?? Wow! I will not make this mistake again. Thank you both for your answers. Rita
Hi reet,
Your welcome mate and it sounds like you had a really bad rough ride...i've add tetnus's since i was 18 because of my seizures with cuts etc and sometimes my bruno will open my skin if he trys playing if i'm outside or sitting inside but i get no infections through the tetnus, i'm due my next one in 2017, so you should have yours in another 10yrs and state this to your GP...If bruno catches my skin and does a cut it heals quickly because of my Antiphospilid syndrome.
I hope both are kicking in and helping you better but i bet your operation date will be altered now...sorry to hear that when you need it.
Do takecare and rest...love Terri :)
reet said:
Thank you, Poobie and Terri. I looked up cat bite and found info on it but not about the auto immune issues. I started hurting so bad with in an hour of the bite and thought I was in a flare. I went to bed and covered up with my down comforter and got up the next day feeling awful. We had company but I went to the coach and fell asleep. When they left I went back to bed and slept and when I got up everything on my leg was worse, hot, etc That is when I went to urgent care. Honestly, I had no clue that something could infect that quickly. A couple of days yes, but an hour?? Wow! I will not make this mistake again. Thank you both for your answers. Rita
You most definitely need to contact your surgeon. Joint replacements cannot, under any circumstances, be done when you have an infection. It can lead to some nasty complications if even a smidge of infection is still present. Please promise me you'll let your surgeon know asap!
Bites are nasty little things. So many germs and other yucky things in mouths that get passed on easily. Some people just seem to be more prone to developing infections than others, even if they don't have an autoimmune disorder. It all depends on the infectious agent and how quickly it gets into our system and where in our system it lands... if that makes sense. Hope your bite heals quickly!
Thank you, Ballerina. I contacted the surgeons office this morning first thing. He was in surgery all day so the nurse will talk with him first thing tomorrow morning. I don't expect that the surgery will be happening next Monday. Reet