Just after a bit of advice and reassurance really. Also a bit of a vent.
I was diagnosed with cellulitis a few weeks ago in A&E. They had me on IV antibiotics, gave me some oral ones to take home and said if things weren't improving after 48 hours I had to go back. It was on my back and I live alone so I couldn't really see, I could only go by feel.
I managed to get pictures taken by friends at some point.
On the 3rd day, I was feeling dizzy and sick. I couldn't eat and was in a lot of pain. I saw my GP who sent me to Same Day Emergency Care and they decided that I needed IV treatment, but didn't need to stay in so I went back for 3 days. On what I thought was the last day, they then said I had to come back every other day for 2 weeks.
When I went back, a different consultant decided that actually, I didn't need more IV as my bloods were OK. I expressed concern that the skin on my back was still tight and I had swelling and this awful pain. He said the pain could be shingles, even though I don't have a rash and decided to send me for an MRI of my back to see if there was anything lurking under the skin.
He said the results were fine, so discarded the shingles idea but the area was still hard and swollen so he gave me a course of oral antibiotics. That course finished but I had a red hot lump on my side and that side felt like it was on fire.
My GP sent me back to SDEC and a consultant there decided that although my bloods were OK, I had to be admitted and put on IV antibiotics for at least 3 days. There wasn't a bed, so I spent the night on a trolley. Not even 12 hours later another consultant decides that because my bloods are OK, I just need a high dose of oral antibiotics and I could go home, but if I wanted to stay in another night I could.
He also said looking at my notes, he doesn't think I originally had cellulitis and the pain indicates shingles despite having no rash. There was no explanation for the lumps I had/have. He changed his mind after seeing the original pictures and then said I did have cellulitis and that maybe in one of the lumps I have an abscess. I said I had been sent for an MRI already, but it turns out it was of my spine and not the area that was swollen. 😣
I asked why the diagnosis was so different from the night before and he said it was a matter of opinion. I asked if I preferred the previous consultant's recommendation, could that plan be followed? He said no because even if I stay, he's moving me off IV to oral. I said if that is the case, I'd go home but said that while I didn't want to stay in hospital, the previous consultant's plan made more sense to me.
That course has now finished. I went back to my GP yesterday and she said my back looks a bit better, but the swelling on my side is still there and the skin is tight. She's hesitant to send me back to hospital because of the inconsistent advice I've been getting, so she's given me another course of antibiotics at a high dose.
I'm feeling constantly nauseous and even though the pain relief is doing its job somewhat, my side still feels really uncomfortable. I tried to work from home but it hurts to sit up for too long even though lying down is also uncomfortable.
Has anyone had cellulitis for this long and gone through all this? When did the pain start fading?
I'm so fed up.