Ah, Guam’s many a wondrous things: the beautiful reefs, the eclectic people, the not-so-lofty mountains, the Staphylococcus aureus. “What in hell is that?” you may ask? It’s an unpleasant little bacteria that has basically infected every person here at one point or another. Well, at least those who engage in outdoor activities (or spend a lot of time in hospitals). Despite all of my precautionary measures (i.e., running a hash, working outside in vegetation-choked areas with shorts, etc.), I have developed a little something they like to call Staph infection, what results from the hard work and tenacity of our microscopic friend, Staphylococcus aureus. Fantastical.
In a previous entry, I mentioned Leptospirosis as a potential threat to adventure-seekers (or merely those who enjoy a nice bath in the river while sporting open wounds), but Staph is much more prevalent. It’s fairly easy to get, as I have learned, but, luckily, easily treatable in most cases. My case started sometime Monday. It began merely as an irritated hair follicle just above my kneecap, probably from wearing wet, muddy pants while exerting myself for an extended period of time. I’ll frequently get similar annoyances (especially on my thighs) when it’s hot outside. However, they’re usually areas that are just a little red, rarely sore, and they go away in a couple days. This, however, was an entirely different story.
Thinking it was just another aggravated pore, I picked at it a bit and went merrily along my way. The next day, it was fairly sore and still very much present. “Ah,” I thought, “it will go away in a couple days.” Haw! The next day it was a tad larger, so I decided to really give it a go and pick the hell out of it. Good decision! I blame my mom (a.k.a. Mrs. Pick-A-Lot) for arriving at this decision, given that 1) mom’s know just about everything and 2) it’s her most common strategy for any minor skin irritation of the pores. I figured there must be some bit of foreign matter lodged in there that needed extraction. Well, after substantial efforts, I got nothing. With the exception, that is, of agonizing pain. The following day, Thursday, I was gimping around like a champ. My “minor irritation” had turned into a large, swollen, painful lump upon my knee. Yummy.
I worked from 7-noon on Thursday and, knowing something was quite wrong, went to the Seventh-Day Adventist Clinic. This is the same location to which Brent drove to be checked out for his current ailment. SDA is, so I’ve been told, far and away the best medical facility on island. I’ve heard a couple horror stories involving Guam Memorial, such as serious misdiagnoses, used needles on the floor, and, in one instance, nurses forgetting to remove the I.V. needle from someone’s arm (I think this was Pete or Jason). Upon going up to the counter to ask for, uh, some assistance, please?, the nurse took out the needle, set it on the counter, and left it there. Sanitation and medical professionalism at its finest.
After some brief fiascos trying to prove that I have health insurance (I had yet to receive my insurance card… coincidentally, it had arrived that day and was sitting in the lab), I was shown in to see Dr. Todd Lloyd. Dr. Todd was a nice guy: your classic, bright, young, fit, extremely Christian physician. He quickly pronounced my leg gangrenous, beyond repair, and a severe biohazard. The only solution was amputation. He whipped out the nearest hacksaw… or so the story would proceed if it were any good. Actually, he determined, after a brief inspection and some squeezing, that I was infected. Dr. Todd also informed me that it was a good thing I came in when I did. Infections near joints can get pretty nasty if left untreated for too long. If bacteria invade the joint to a substantial degree (don’t ask me how much, how deep, or for what period they need to be festering in there), they can cause serious, sometimes permanent, damage. Luckily, I was not at this level and he prescribed to me Cephalexin, a generic antibiotic. I have to take it 4 times a day for the next ten days. If, after a couple days, things haven’t improved, I’m supposed to go back. This is also a precautionary measure because, as I learned online, there are an increasing number of drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections occurring around the world. No worries, though. And, if I go back, I get an I.V.! Let’s hope they dispose of the needle properly.
On an unrelated note, Brent just bought tickets to Hong Kong for himself and Haldre (on a related note, the two of them are now dating). There’s a rugby tournament there, which should prove to be a great time. But maybe not as great as the drug scene. The following is an excerpt from a recent conversation:
I: “Heroin?”
B: “It’s free there!”
I: “You’re gonna do the smack?”
B: “When in Rome!”
Yikes.
Hope you are feeling better! I also agree that picking at anything is always the way to go! Did you pour peroxide on it? I think you can cure anything with peroxide and Vaseline.
Posted by: Brooke at March 2, 2004 3:27 AM