Cellulitis in ankle and lower leg returns.......

[IamEarthymama]

For the second time time year. I am in agony and don't feel very well at all.

I have psoriasis all over my feet and up the outside of my legs. I think I scratched my skin, it got infected and I developed cellulitis around right ankle joint. I rested, took ABs and it eased.

I can't rest at the moment, I just can't, too many obligations.
Hopefully next week will be quieter and I will do all I can to make sure I get well.

My questions are:

What can I do to prevent reoccurrence?
Any tips for hastening healing?
Any links to thyroid issues? (ongoing investigations)

Please lovely MN Tribe, help!

Not medical but one of things I would focus on is diet.
To maximise health of skin I would eat a SMALL handful of nuts daily (sunflower, cashew, chia seeds, almonds, pecan, flax seeds, Brazil, walnut, pumpkin seeds, etc) fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, avocadoes, oily fish, broccoli, pomegranate, kiwi fruit, spinach, soy, dark chocolate, adequate amts of water, sweet potato, bell peppers and tomatoes. These sources would boost your skin & immune system. Check with your doctor that these foods are ok with your medication and condition.
Hope it gets better.

Thank you for replying

Funnily enough I bought lots of your recommendations last weeks as I have read " How Not to Die"!

I am taking CoenzymeQ10 too
Thanks for your good wishes xx

My DH has had cellulitis 2 - once in his face (we couldn't work that one out) and once in his finger. The GP said that once you have had it, you are much more likely to get it again. Basically any reddening of the skin and/or swelling go straight to the GP for ABs. I'm not sure how to prevent it, as any broken skin is a route in for infection. Obviously your psoriasis will be a problem in this respect. DH has no thyroid issues.

Hi I'm sorry to hear you're suffering with this, I've had it a couple of times in ankle area, from very minor injuries (I was a carer and didn't rest!) but luckily it hasn't recurred for over ten years.y

A main aid to healing is keeping your foot up, at least level with your hip, as much as possible. And manuka honey is an excellent antiseptic for early intervention, on scratches etc. Realise it's difficult if you're busy but better rest than something like sepsis setting in! Get well soon I wish you well.

This is a great ointment, Medihoney, for many things, eg skin or other early external infections usually subside within 24 hours. You can get it from Holland & Barrett or Amazon. Warm salt water will help early smaller infections as well.
www.amazon.co.uk/Medihoney-Antibacterial-Wound-Medical-Manuka/dp/B0013YQ9CU/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?keywords=medihoney&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1527859895&sr=8-3

Sorry should've said I agree with Seeline in that antib's are essential. I was talking more about helping the antibiotics do their job faster, and preventive measures. Good luck.

Thank you all so much
Will try your recommendations

Have just taken ABs and been really sick because I haven't eaten I think
The cellulitis affects my appetite and I am not good with ABs
I am going out tonight apparently

Wish me luck

The main thing you can do to prevent recurrence is skincare. It has presumably got it through a crack in your psoriasis.

Having recurrent cellulitis is firstly painful but also runs the risk of damaging your lymphatic system and giving you lymphoedema so you are right to want to prevent it.

The best thing you can do it try to keep your psoriasis under control and keep your skin moisturised at all times so it doesn't end up with dry cracks that bugs can slip in through. You need something like Epaderm or Zerobase, not E45 which is not good enough.

Also check out that you don't have any athlete's foot lurking between your toes and get rid of that.

Hi just coming back to say thank you to all pp. I have taken on board your suggestions.

I am on ABs recommended for cellulitis and anti sickness tablets too.
So far so good as I have been resting.

I am an avid gardener but struggle in long trousers and trainers in this beautiful weather.
Do any of you know a barrier cream that would allow me to wear sandals or at least not need socks?

I look a bugger when everything on the allotment is basking and I am sweating and uncomfortable!

Sorry, but I got cellulitis being bitten by a spider in bare feet while gardening and wore socks which stopped the critters from then on. I only had it once in 2013 and it was the itching that gave me sleepless nights until all ABs had been taken. Rather wear cotton socks than get that again, which I haven't.

Rather a smiling happy bugger than a miserable, insane with itching one is my philosophy

I know you say you can't rest, you're too busy... I get it, that's me, ALL the time, however the last time I got cellulitis (bout 3 over 5 years), I ended up with sepsis and the cellulitis infection ended up blistering and took all of the skin off my leg. Nearly two years later I'm still significantly scarred (pic attached). So (and this is hugely hypocritical of me as I don't pay heed to my own advice) ... Please rest, and take care of yourself...at least until the infection's subsided!

I know! I know! 😊😉😊

But I have a pair of Merrell sandals that I adore, I like to wear a strapping top, a skirt with pockets and my Merrell.

Looking down at my beige and taupe trainers with ankle socks just isn't right.

DW has just said, get over yourself 😳😂😂🤣🤣

I wouldn't wish cellulitis on my worst enemy as it has restricted my life so badly.
I have a cut on each hand and I have two plasters on both under my gardening gloves as I am terrified that it will move around my body.

Sheena Cruikshank talks about our immune system in this episode of the Life Scientific on R4

Ok I will stop whining and be grateful!

Doorbell, sending hugs, xx