My story is kind of long so bare with me. I had a surgery on July 1,2013 on the back of my head. They put a small implant in which later got infected. My skull ( back part) became infected which is what they call osteomyelitis. I spent over a year on daily IV antibiotics and another 6 months of oral antibiotics once I was done with my IV's. On top of everything I was going through I developed severe depression and was put on several antidepressants, because of my fear of ever getting it again because of what I read online and the horror stories about it and how people lose limbs. Due to the depression I lost nearly 60 lbs. and almost took my life. Ive been off antibiotics for months now and am ready to go back because it was my passion to transform myself. Ive been cleared by doctors but still theres that fear in me everytime I drive by my gym, I get the flashback of going to the hospital everyday and the stories I read online.
How do I protect myself from getting MRSA at the gym?
- Thread starter Riki246
- Start date
PrinceDianabol
Well-known member
I don't quite understand the question. Why are you worried about picking up the infection in the gym specifically?
carverelli
I am banned!
We are steroid specialists not communicable disease gurus
halfwit
I like turtles.
Except genital warts. Gotta watch those burners!
I don't know what to tell you OP. You had a horrible experience, but the odds of catching something comparable are slim. In fact, all the hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps are a step in the wrong direction. We need exposure to bacteria in order to maintain a healthy immune system, otherwise we become fragile and susceptible to infections at an accelerated rate.
My .02c
Gbrad
Member
I agree with most of the replies already. I'll add this:
Look at it like a freak accident. That's how my orthopedic surgeon had me compartmentalize tearing my ACL. The demons are gonna be there. You just gotta move forward with reasonable caution. You don't wanna turn into "bubble boy" over it. I understand by comparison your experience trumps an ACL tear on the suck factor scale. The logic still applies.
Best wishes
Look at it like a freak accident. That's how my orthopedic surgeon had me compartmentalize tearing my ACL. The demons are gonna be there. You just gotta move forward with reasonable caution. You don't wanna turn into "bubble boy" over it. I understand by comparison your experience trumps an ACL tear on the suck factor scale. The logic still applies.
Best wishes
Albiedamned
New member
Speak for yourself
First off, your response to this trauma is totally appropriate considering the severity of the infection and its location. Who wouldn't get flashbacks every time they drove through an intersection which you got into a terrible accident a year ago? Now if we're like 3-4 years down the road and your freaking out, therapy is in order. Mastoiditis, cranial osteomyelitis is serious and recurrence is more likely after an initial infection because of degraded tissue, the small chance of pockets of dormant/walled off infection, and most of all, as halfwit indicated reduced normal flora. That collection of good microorganisms that protect us from bad motherfucker organisms. Proper regular cleaning and hand washing are important, but it's the mechanical action and rinsing that reduces the contaminant count. You don't have to kill every last bug, just cull the herd a bit. Antibacterial soap on our skin actually weakens our immune system, at least the part that we talked about before, normal flora. Just clean it regularly. As far as the gym equipment, sanitize away. Be that OCD motherfucker and wipe that shit down before and after with Lysol, alcohol, etc.
carverelli
I am banned!
I stand corrected... my bad- who was to know you were lurking in the shadows
Charles Bronson
old timey gentleman
work in healthcare myself..
OP I'm sorry you went through that man.. best of luck to you in getting back on that horse brother
like anything else man - you gotta cowboy up
guys.. I've seen a patient lose a leg from treatment resistant bugs.
and really.. FUCK THAT! it ate him up, his leg was melting, rotting off the bone.
finally had to cut above the knee to save worse from happening - you DIE
the fucking gym is a breeding ground for some nasty fucking bugs guys.
wash hands and that of course - but if you have broken skin barrier ( cuts scrapes scratch road rash )
fucking WRAP that shit up.
athletic tape over some antibiotic gel on the skin breach
- thats two barriers that are quickly and easily put in place.
albie damned covered it pretty well,
i would add to just be consistent with your hygiene coming and going from the gym
OP I'm sorry you went through that man.. best of luck to you in getting back on that horse brother
like anything else man - you gotta cowboy up
guys.. I've seen a patient lose a leg from treatment resistant bugs.
and really.. FUCK THAT! it ate him up, his leg was melting, rotting off the bone.
finally had to cut above the knee to save worse from happening - you DIE
the fucking gym is a breeding ground for some nasty fucking bugs guys.
wash hands and that of course - but if you have broken skin barrier ( cuts scrapes scratch road rash )
fucking WRAP that shit up.
athletic tape over some antibiotic gel on the skin breach
- thats two barriers that are quickly and easily put in place.
albie damned covered it pretty well,
i would add to just be consistent with your hygiene coming and going from the gym
PrinceDianabol
Well-known member
So like Gbrad said, I should just suck it up and go back to doing what I love and let it kind of be a thing in the past? Would you guys do the same? It does suck to thinl about it and it nearly ruined my relationship because of my depression and my lack of not want ing to do anything but go to work and sleep. No medication could help me get over the fear, hard for many to understand but its true. And the fact that my life nearly ended at 23 ( at the time) was a huge blow
halfwit
I like turtles.
Albiedamned
New member
M
Look, anxiety and fear are real emotional responses. They happen. They are not however actions. You get to choose your actions. Hiding or confronting. Flight or fight. You choose your own adventure and live the life you want. Eventually acting a new way will create a new emotional response. It'll take time, but it happens if you do the work and let it.
Look, anxiety and fear are real emotional responses. They happen. They are not however actions. You get to choose your actions. Hiding or confronting. Flight or fight. You choose your own adventure and live the life you want. Eventually acting a new way will create a new emotional response. It'll take time, but it happens if you do the work and let it.
@Albiedamned. Yeah Ive been wanting to go back for months but I guess I just have to build up the courage. If it was anything but a deadly staph infection I would have been fine and also spending over a year on IV's and having to rely on them to live really messed me up mentally.
Hi, neurosurgeon checking in. You seem to be suffering form a form of post traumatic stress disorder. If it is really getting in the way of your quality of life, then i suggest you see a psychiatrist so they can properly diagnose and treat you.
Infected scalp flaps and osteomyelitis are a bitch to treat, you are lucky to get out neurologically unscathed.
If you really want to prevent gym related infections (and gym based infections ARE real), These are the best things to do:
1) take a quick shower before and after lifting
2) wipe gym equipment with a towel with some alcohol in it. If you can get your hands on sterilium or softaman (from B Braun) (they are medical grade disinfectants) that would be better as they have activity against Mrsa
3) decolonize once a month with clorhexidine bath if you are mrsa colonized.
Good luck!
Infected scalp flaps and osteomyelitis are a bitch to treat, you are lucky to get out neurologically unscathed.
If you really want to prevent gym related infections (and gym based infections ARE real), These are the best things to do:
1) take a quick shower before and after lifting
2) wipe gym equipment with a towel with some alcohol in it. If you can get your hands on sterilium or softaman (from B Braun) (they are medical grade disinfectants) that would be better as they have activity against Mrsa
3) decolonize once a month with clorhexidine bath if you are mrsa colonized.
Good luck!
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