why I can't take part in Secret Santa!

[Benchwayze]

I hope there is going to be another episode of Secret Santa at the end of 2009. I would like to put my name forward but I have a problem that is going to prevent me doing so.

I am waiting for knee surgery. I had a date on Jan 2nd, but in the same post there was a letter telling me that I had tested positve as a carrier of MRSA and I couldn't go into the Krankenhause.

To try to banish the virus, for five days I had to have a thrice daily, all-over scrub with surgical disinfectant. Then, every five days thereafter I had to have swabs taken (20 days gone by). I needed to show three clear swabs before I can go in for the surgery. I passed two of the swabs and failed the last one. So now I have to start the procedure all over again. Who knows when I will show 'clear' and get the surgery I need? I am not bellyaching btw, although the pain is a bit rough some days.

I bring this up because now I have no idea when I will be able to go for my surgery, nor when I can resume normal woodwork.

As a 'warning' for all, the hospital I am going into is taking part in a Nationwide trial on this MRSA problem and it looks as if this procedure will become standard practice for all NHS hospitals this year. Therefore, if anyone on the forum is expecting surgery in the near future, be prepared for this. Believe me, it's no picnic using this disinfectant and it plays havoc with the skin.

This is a pernicious virus, that doesn't respond to most treatments, so I understand the need to fight it. What bothers me most is that whilst I am undergoing this 'decontamination', I am taken off the waiting list. So I smell a 'fudge' of the figures here!

I'll be back at the bench when I can throw out my 'unclean' bell!

 

[Paul Chapman]

Hope they manage to get you sorted out soon, John.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Benchwayze]

Thanks Paul... In the meantime, I can do what I can in the shop and also keep posting as and when necessary!

Thanks again.

 

[Lord Nibbo]

As a 'warning' for all, the hospital I am going into is taking part in a Nationwide trial on this MRSA problem and it looks as if this procedure will become standard practice for all NHS hospitals this year.

Sorry to hear of your problems Benchwayze, not only does this all smell of fudge but it also shortens the waiting lists at a stroke. I expect come the next general election Labour will be bragging on how well they have done regarding waiting lists. :twisted:

 

[Benchwayze]

Thanks Lord Nibbo,

The thing that really worries me is what do I do if they just cannot get rid of this 'infection'? Will I ever get my entitlement? I am seriously thinking of raiding my savings and going private! But then I think of all the tools I would have to do without!

I suppose it will all come out in the wash! NPI!

Cheers

 

[wizer]

That's Terrible John. I know what it's like to be on a waiting list!

Perhaps you could do a bit of carving or something else which allows you to be seated?

 

[Mattty]

Jeeees thats not good. I hope you can keep your morale up mate. I wish you all the best and hope you get the all clear next time.

 

[Benchwayze]

That's Terrible John. I know what it's like to be on a waiting list!

Perhaps you could do a bit of carving or something else which allows you to be seated?

Aye Tom..
I reckon I could try. I just had a stool seat made by one of the turning guys, so I will put the legs on it and maybe use it to sit down and dovetail! Or something. I won't let it beat me!
Cheers!

Jeeees thats not good. I hope you can keep your morale up mate. I wish you all the best and hope you get the all clear next time.

Thanks Matty... Like I said, I am not letting this stop me woodworking!
Alla best.

 

[Woodmagnet]

Crap news John, i've just had a downer too. I can't have
surgery on my neck/spine as it's too far gone
and because it's degenerative it is going to get worse,
on the bright side though, i can have surgery on my shoulder
and i have an appointment with a vascular surgeon to
sort out my blackout's (narrowing of the arteries/blood
vessels in my neck). I haven't been in my workshop/shed
for almost a year now and it's driving my nut's :evil: ,
have you got a scroll saw John? , that might be something
you can use until you get sorted.
Try to keep your chin up mate even though it's hard at the
moment. There will be light at the end of the tunnel. :wink:

 

[Benchwayze]

Hi Kevin,

PM sent btw...

Thanks for that Kevin. Appreciated.

I recently sold a nice scrollsaw through the forum. That was to help a neighbour, who wanted to raise a bit for charity. I do have a little clock to make, so maybe I should've bought the saw for myself! Ah well, the clock can stay in the box for now!

Thanks for the idea, but SWIMBO might object if I bought more machines without selling some first!

Errrmm... I wonder how many 'Hegners' I'd get for the price of a 20 year old 12" Sedgwick MB? :lol: :lol:

 

[filsgreen]

Thanks Lord Nibbo,

The thing that really worries me is what do I do if they just cannot get rid of this 'infection'? Will I ever get my entitlement? I am seriously thinking of raiding my savings and going private! But then I think of all the tools I would have to do without!

I suppose it will all come out in the wash! NPI!

Cheers

Nil Desperandum Benchwayze. If you still have MRSA after three swabs the Trust will have to put you in an isolation ward or room whilst you have your op.

I swabbed myself recently because I was moving to a different ward and it was discovered that I had it in all of the places I swabbed. I have to go through the same routine but this is where it all gets a bit odd.

If I turn out to be a carrier, I will continue to work there using NSP's, gloves, aprons etc, during nursing interventions. However, the rest of the time I will not use gloves, how will this impact on infection control with my colleagues?

I spoke to the infection control nurse about my wife, after all if I've got it; she must have it. She asked me if my wife works in health care, I said she didn't, no worries was the reply :shock:

It turns out that over 60% are carriers and go on about there lives without knowing it. The difference in your case is that your going into a "sterile"environment and they want to know if your going to contaminate it. If you check out the NHS website I'm sure it will put your mind at rest.

Phil

PS. You have to bear in mind that I am quoting Jersey infection control standards, the NHS may differ.

 

[woodbloke]

John - all the best for the future, hope everything goes well and you can get your surgery - Rob

 

[Ironballs]

In relation to Phil's point, have they told how and why you might be a carrier and what to look for in your domestic environs to try and eliminate it?

 

[Benchwayze]

Hi IronB,

Nothing mentioned at all. As for my domestic environs..
If I tell you I served for 12 years in the Royal Navy and that SWIMBO's ideas of what's clean and what's dirty are also quite clear, you can guess the most likely place I contracted this.

The fact is, we have both spent much of the last two years running in and out of outpatients' depeartments, on either my own behalf or SWIMBO's. (We've had a couple of those years!) So I am in no doubt, but the hospital are clearly trying to say that the problem is being imported to them and not just by me.

There seems little I can do but keep on with this regimen until I clear it from me. I am getting through underwear like crazy too... :lol: :lol:

Phil,
Thanks for the info but so far no suggestion of an isolation room. They are more concerned that during surgery I might get the infection in the incision, which would be a bit risky for me! I do appreaciate your comments though and I am scrubbing down like I was HMS Victory's Quarterdeck!


Thanks again chaps.

 

[Benchwayze]

John - all the best for the future, hope everything goes well and you can get your surgery - Rob

Much obliged Rob. I'll beat it!

I am told with new knees I won't be able to go too close to Electro-magnetic cranes, or I could go on a quick ride! :lol:

 

[StevieB]

Oh Dear. Sorry to hear about your predicament, but there are a few misconceptions on this thread. MRSA is a bacteria, not a virus. It stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphlococcus aureas, and is a strain of S aureas that has developed resistance to most (but not all) antibiotics. As much as a third of the population carries the bacteria naturally on their skin. It lives quite happily for the most part, although can cause some red-ness and scaling of the skin in a few cases. It is not something you 'catch' from not washing or from not cleaning your house properly. Whether you carry it or not is mostly related to your skin pH (acidity) as it only lives within a narrow window. Thus some poeple carry it, and some do not. Washing with soap or antibacterial shampoo etc will reduce it, but not eliminate it for any great length of time.

The reason it is a problem in hospitals is becuase of two factors - firstly open wounds in elective surgery - getting bacteria into a wound is never a good idea, getting one resistant to most antibiotics into a wound is definately not good. The second reason is that most patients in hospital have weakened immune systems from being ill. This makes them more prone to catching infections and makes those infections harder to clear when they are caught. In severe cases or young infants it can even result in death.

Thus if surgery is not essential, it makes sense to take all steps possible to eliminate the bacteria if possible. Hence the washing regieme you have been asked to follow.

Steve.

 

[Benchwayze]

Agreed Steve,

But the regimen has been completed. I failed the last of three separate tests. I have to go through the whole thing again - so if washing will not eliminate it, then I shall be doing this again - and - again - and again...

It seems there will be no end to it.

 

[filsgreen]

That is my point Benchwayze, if after three sets of positive results, you are deemed to be a carrier and they would have to carry out the procedure , as long as you accept the risk. I forgot to add that they can then use antibiotics that may eliminate it.

AFAIK StevieB may want to confirm.

Phil

 

[Benchwayze]

Hmmmm...

Well my GP insists on three clear swabs before he will contact the hospital to book me in again.

This from a man who told me to gargle with salt water, to clear a chest infection! Sore throat? Maybe, but a chest infection?
Anyhow, I will just keep everything crossed.. :lol:

Cheers fellas.

 

[StevieB]

I guess your GP has the final say - your only option if he will not condone it is to go to another GP or go private. I would suggest a second opinion before going private. As to antibiotics and MRSA, from memory Vancomycin will kill MRSA but it will only be used in extreme situations as it is one of a very few antibiotics MRSA is not immune to. Signing your own acceptance of the risks is something that would vary from hospital to hospital - its also the risk to other patients that would be a concern.

Steve.