Hi Tracy, it's Melissa again. I know what you mean about the PTSD. I have it
from my previous bouts with MRSA too. I am changing careers from a physical
therapy assistant to a computer administrator because I can't handle the
patients coughing, drooling not to mention the toileting. I work with
geriatrics. I wash my hands all the time and shower as soon as i come home
every day. I know that I am no more contagious that anyond else out there. I
don't worry about what people think. I often try to bring awareness about mrsa
to others and that makes me feel good. I just don't ever think about what
others may think. I feel like the cure is just too easy and i have to bring
awareness to others if the media and the FDA will not. And when i say that, i
mean manuka honey at first site. I'm sure the important people in your life
don't judge you. You have dealt with this way too long. You might want to ask
your doc to check your vitamin D levels.
There is research out there linking low D to increased risk of infection. I
wish you well!

On Mar 31, 2009, at 10:46 AM, "Tracy" <hemphottie1970@...> wrote:

I'm colonized and have been since 1991 when infected at Dunn Memorial in Bedford
IN after what was supposed to be "routine" knee surgery. I have come close to
death 3 times now, and narrowly escaped amputations twice. I am permanently
scarred badly on my right leg and I will have problems with my knee for the rest
of my life cuz of it. My last battle was a year ago and removing one of my eyes
was discussed as a possibility to keep it from going to my brain and killing me.
I plucked my eyebrows and within a week I was in the hospital unrecognizable, I
looked like a scene from Rocky due to the swelling. My docs were scared I wasn't
going to make it this time. Friends and family were scared to come visit me and
many chose to give support online rather than show up at the hospital. When
talking to the program director at my college about why I had dropped out for a
semester I had to explain to him what MRSA was cuz he was clueless. He stepped
back from me
with visible fear and asked if I should be in his office or on campus. It
freaks people out and I feel like a walking threat to people's lives. I have
never passed it on to my knowledge though. I have also begun to wonder if it was
what knocked me out of a job I had been offered. I don't care how much I educate
someone about it, I'm still viewed as being different now. It has affected me
psychologically greatly to go through all this. After this last battle I don't
feel the same inside anymore. I already have issues with C-PTSD and it has made
it worse. I feel like I am in an everyday battle against an unseen army that is
constantly trying to kill me. How many more times will I be able to win the
battle and stay in one piece and alive? How much more can I take mentally?

I would like to hear from people who have been colonized and have dealt with
this repeatedly. How are you treated socially now? How are you coping mentally?







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