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Local Items: Need advice on island doctors
Bonaire Talk: Local Items: Archives: Archives - 2008: Need advice on island doctors
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sara Basehart (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 11:07 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have been on island for 3 weeks. My kids have been scratching their mosquito bites (as kids do) and I keep warning them about infections (as moms do) but the worst has happened and one of my daughter's bites has swollen her foot up huge and hot, running with pus and red lines travelling up her leg. I took her to the hospital yesterday (monday), but there were no doctors there that day (wtf?) so we went to the doc across the street. He was nice and proscribed topical benzocane and amoxycillin antibiotics....but they don't seem to be working, today the area around the sore is turning purply/black. I informed the doc that we have been in contact with people who have mrsa, and he wasn't concerned or even sure what it was at first. I am concerned to the point of freaking out a little and I want someone to tell me if there is a good doctor on this island who does care, or if I need to get tickets home. We are not supposed to be leaving until the end of the month. Help me! Who can I take her to who will do a mrsa culture if the hospital isn't even staffed???

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sara Basehart (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 11:20 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Actually, the surface stuff was Bactroban, not Benzocane. Sorry

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (Bellevue Condos ) (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1563) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 11:36 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sara. Here's a link from the Mayo clinic on MRSA as an FYI...
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DS00735/DSECTION=symptoms
Between you & me since this is a staph resistant bacteria personally I wouldn't play games with it.
If you can't get an accurate culture within the next 24-48 hours, I'd fly back to the US.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By RA. thankyousir,mayIhaveanother? (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2746) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 11:38 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sara, My daughter contacted MRSA last year while on Bonaire. They should start the antibiotics right away if MRSA is even suspected. Amoxycillan will not work. Ask Michael at Chat-n-Browse for some advice, he is a wealth of knowledge and know how. I think he will be able to help you out if no-one else chimes in here.
Please let us know how she is doing. Please be careful if you are touching the wound, as it is easily spread this way.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sara Basehart (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 11:44 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Vince,
I am more than aware of what mrsa is, and how serious it can be, but all staph infections look alike. A culture here on island could save me 100's of dollars if it's just your average run-of-the-mill horrible infection. The doc she saw yesterday was Dr van der Vaart at the Centro Medico, is he any good? Do you think I should just return to him and make a bigger fuss, or try the hospital again?
thanks for responding,
Sara

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6626) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 12:17 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I think the advice about Michael at Chat and Browse is probably your best/quickest bet. It seems counter-intuative but Michael is a wealth of information.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Johnson (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #430) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 12:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

IMHO, the hospital is probably not the place to start. But going back to the doc might be worth a quick try.

For diving issues, Bonaire has one of the best docs around -- not sure about infectous disease docs. I also don't know what they have in the way of meds - do they stock iv vanc? Do they have a lab to do that kind of testing?

I would start with a long time local and ask where they would go for a similar problem. Michael would be one source but there are others on the island I would trust as well (i.e., Bruce or Kitty at the CI). Years ago, it would be off to Vz, my guess is that you will now be going to CUR or, more likely, AUA. CUR is super easy to get to, AUA a bit less so. Otherwise, I would be heading to the US.

I would do that today. A friend was in the hospital for five days for a similar sort of thing (contracted in the US).

It seems like these are your options:
1) If you are a DAN member, consult them. If you have the right insurance, they may even cover an evac to Miami.
2) Find out if there is a viable alternative closer (somewhere in the ABCs)
3) Figure out a way to get to the USA.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #880) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 1:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

If you've seen Dr. van der Vaart (one of the doctors in the building across from the hospital), you've seen the best here; go see him again. It's not unusual that there's not a doctor at the hospital. The hospital (to the best of my knowledge) has doctors on-call, that's all. If you need any labs done, Dr. v/d Vaart will order them, and you'll need to go to the lab (at the hospital, or near Napa; labs close early, like around 2 or 3pm). The labs here do some tests on island, the rest have to be sent to Curacao. As you can imagine, that takes a lot of time, especially if you missed that week's shipment (the lab sends stuff to Curacao only on certain days, not daily). This is small-island health-care reality; our population is too small to support most of the services available full-time in larger areas.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By RA. thankyousir,mayIhaveanother? (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2749) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 1:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The test for MRSA takes about 2-3 days for results here in the US so could be quite a while on island since it has to first get sent somewhere else.

Take Ruth's advice, she is a trusted voice here. As I stated before if MRSA is suspected start the antibiotics right away and follow up with the rest. They may have to drain it and they also have an antibiotic ointment which they give (Miprocin, I believe) My daughters started to clear up that evening after they drained it and started the meds. We did have the test and it was a confirmed case of MRSA. Childrens immune systems are amazing and get to work quickly in healing things, she should be fine given the proper treatment.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #881) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 1:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

FYI, none of the doctors here do their own lab work. They have a sheet of paper from the lab that they fill out by ticking off the boxes for what tests they want done. You then take this paper and go to the lab, where blood is drawn, urine is given, etc. Doctors will take some cultures, like a pap smear, but then you still have to take your petri dish and the lab paper to the lab. Tedious, but it's the way it's done.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sara Basehart (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 1:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you all for talking to me.
Help has arrived in the form of Irene (she was reading) and she's arranging a car rental for me.
We're going back to Dr Van der Vaart
Wish us luck,
Sara

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #178) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 2:11 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Whether it is MRSA or something else, the symptoms you describe on that foot are extremely serious. Red lines traveling up the foot mean that there is now spreading through her veins or lymphatic system and it is spreading up her leg. "purply/black" means that now the circulation to the foot is compromised because of the infection in the veins.

Your daughter is in danger of losing her foot or her life.

GET OFF THE DAMN INTERNET AND GET YOUR KID BACK TO THE STATES. AT LEAST GET HER TO CURACAO. You have a real medical emergency here and hours count. If you can get local medical help to stabilize her, that's great but your focus should be ON LEAVING BONAIRE.

Geoff

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Pietri Hausmann (BonaireTalker - Post #31) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 2:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

dr.v.d. vaart is the best and also the chamber physician here... stick with him. .. he will take the time to listen and is open-minded... in order to go to curacao -you are opening a can of worms .. you must be referred in from bonaire by a physician and on and on it will go .. you will not accomplish a thing in curacao unless you follow the protocol.. been there-done that for nearly 30 years.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #179) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 2:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I certainly would not say NOT to go to Dr. V.d. Vaart. Is he there? Is he available? The clock is ticking for that kid.

It is a simple fact, with those symptoms, she does not have a lot of time to fool around and definitely not to be shopping price. It could go slowly or it could suddenly take a turn for the very much worse. This is not a simple "bug bite".

I'd also get in touch with the pediatrician back home and get their recommendations. I sure would not be depending on an internet chat board.

All I know is that once the veins are infected, once there is some sign of underlying necrosis or of lack of circulation, especially in an extremity, the condition is progressing and very serious.

For all you know your local doctor could be off island.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #180) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 2:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oh yeah, your local doctor saw her already AND NOW SHE IS WORSE.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ***Boat Chick*** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5940) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 2:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sara, if you can't get her to see the doc today, I would seriously consider getting her back to the states. Geoffrey has a good suggestion, call your local pediatrician and ask for some help as well.

They symptoms you describe are not good. Take it from someone who has suffered a medical emergency on a small Caribbean island, now is the time to get your daughter to a hospital in the STATES. If you happen to get as far as Puerto Rico, take her to Prespeterian hospital or Auxilio Muto. Do NOT let them take her to UPR Carolina.

good luck, and keep us posted.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By RA. thankyousir,mayIhaveanother? (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2750) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 3:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sara, I just checked and the antibiotic ointment is Mupirocin. This along with oral, NOT BROAD SPECTRUM ANTIBIOTICS will resolve this infection without any lasting effects. (my daughter does have a small dark scar where the infection started) which by the way was the result of either a spider or scorpion bite.Please keep us posted.

If you need to go to Puerto Rico take Cynde's advice about the hospitals, she knows first hand.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #882) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 3:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

There's no where off-island for her to go today (she already missed a local flight to CUR to catch AA's CUR/MIA afternoon flight), and as Petri pointed out, going to the hospital in CUR (or Aruba) is not really an option, unless she's sent there on the ambulance flight by Dr. van der Vaart. Even so, a trip to the hospital in Curacao is not cheap or easy; the health care system is VERY different than in the US, except maybe for the amount of paperwork necessary... And not to forget, English is people's 3rd language. If she needs IV meds, that can be done in the hospital here, Dr. van der Vaart can admit her.

After calling the child's pediatrician in the US (hopefully she's rented a phone, and maybe her own pediatrician can speak with Dr. v/d Vaart during her visit), she is going to need to consider getting out of here. If I were a visitor, in a medical emergency in which I didn't feel secure in the available services, I'd consider Jackson Memorial in Miami: Given the choice, I would get to the mainland, and not stop in Puerto Rico. I'd even skip the AA thru SJU, and get over to CUR. If there's space on AA's morning flight she can fly DAE (or whatever airline has space) tonight, overnight in CUR (taxi to/from Marriott, this is not the time to save money) and then get the morning AA to MIA. If morning AA is full, then get to CUR during the day tomorrow in time for the afternoon AA (preferably on Bai Bini, aka Divi Airlines, tel: 563-1913, 839-1515, or 888-1755). My third choice'd be AA via SJU, but a potentially long SJU layover would be miserable, and would probably be followed by a crowded airbus to MIA. The jet AA uses from CUR to MIA, is more comfortable than the crowded airbusses I get stuck on out of SJU. IMO.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #181) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 4:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

With symptoms like she describes, not only do they need to start treating the original cause, they now also need to treat the consequences and save the girls foot.

That may very well take a real hospital with venous specialists.

What worries me is that Ms. Basehart was concerned with spending "100s of dollars". With symptoms such as she describes, this is not a good time to shop price or think of how to save your vacation. Her description in the OP is just about textbook of an infection going septic.

I could be mistaken. I'd love to be. I really don't think I am. The only question really is how fast this could spread and when the spiking fever will start. If it gets to that, it will be very scary.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #182) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 4:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Oh, regarding ointment, with the infection in the veins and lymphatic ducts, ("red lines traveling up her leg"), a topical antibiotic is useless.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #11818) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 4:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Please take note:

I just went through a very bad infection, I waited to long to get my sorry butt to the ER. I was on the edge.
Three days in the hospital, a midnight operation, and worst part, months of doc's visits.

GET THE GIRL TO A REAL HOSPITAL!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie B. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7572) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 5:04 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Staph infections are quite scary. Get her to a hospital immediately that can handle them without delay! My hubby had one and didn't know it, got it treated, very hard to get rid of, thought it was all gone, it has come back, treating again with very strong antibiotics, if that doesn't work, he has to see a specialist for ifectious dieseases. They are not to mess around with at all. If he had gone to the doctor earlier and had it treated sooner, it may never have gotten to where it ended up with. We are hoping this round of meds will work. Time will tell, he is not contagious, but it has left scars.

Jerry, hope you are in the home stretch of it all now.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By RA. thankyousir,mayIhaveanother? (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2752) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 5:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Geoffrey, the ointment was used in parallel with oral antibiotics but you are correct in what you said. I guess we got lucky, and had it treated prior to it becoming a serious threat.

I only hope Sara's daughter is treated promptly and this ordeal gets put behind them quickly. I do think though the worst thing we can do is criticize Sara at this point. Being a mother I am sure she is feeling horrible right now and sometimes we panic slightly and get confused as to what the right course of action is.

All the information provided here was because people cared and wanted to help, that's why people come here in search of answers. Usually they are not of this magnitude where someone's life could possibly be in danger. Let's keep our fingers crossed that all turns out well, I have a feeling it will.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #183) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 5:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The assumption that this is MRSA is dangerous and pointless. MRSA is just one thing that causes these symptoms. So let's stop with the MRSA. It could be worse than that.

I am not trying to be critical of Sara except in the sense that she may have misjudged this as more of a nuisance and not a potentially life changing emergency. I don't feel that any of us serve her by catering to her feelings when what she needs is to recognize the emergency and act.

She needs to get moving on this and martial all her resources far more than she needs to feel supported. She needs to be screaming for medical help, not visiting the chat and browse except if Michael can help with her needs being heard.

For others ... when you see dripping pus, especially in the tropics, that needs attention. When you see red lines running towards the center of the body from a wound, that is really serious. When you see skin or flesh that is darkened, blue or purple, it's a lot more serious. I'm really surprised that her daughter is not running a high fever but that is likely the next thing if something isn't done. She better be close to a hospital when that happens.

What she describes could indicate MRSA but it could also indicate a lot of other things, all of them potentially with permanent consequence if not treated. In the tropics, the list is longer. So, simply because the last time you saw a nasty looking wound it was MRSA, that's meaningless to the current condition and a distraction from getting treatment. However well intentioned people are by directing her according to their various theories, that is not help it is distraction from the very acute need for complete medical attention for this child.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie B. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7573) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 5:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

RA, you are right, hope Sara posts again after this is all over and lets us know how her daughter is. It is very hard when something like this happens on an island. I remember when we were on ST. Kitts and hubby ate conch for the first time. Well, he had a very severe allergic reaction and I had no idea of what to do, called the restaurant and they told me he could die if not taken care of immediately, drove to the clinic/hospital, got lost, pulled over in the pouring rain, stood in the middle of the road to flag down a van, who thank goodness showed me where it was. Right in front of that hospital was a graveyard and I freaked! Didn't know if I should go there or not, did not have a choice. But I was lucky, they had a good doctor there from San Juan that day, got a shot in the butt and arm and he was o.k., would have died if he didn't get there, so I am glad Sara is taking her daughter back to the doctor on Bonaire. I am sure he will do right by her and help Sara get the medical attention, be it on island or back in the states.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #11822) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 5:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post



(Message edited by bonaire9 on July 15, 2008)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ***Boat Chick*** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5941) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 5:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ruth, you are right about not going through SJ if you don't have to...been there done that.

Sara, if you do read this again, please let us know if there is anything this group of very caring folks can do. Maybe Michael can keep us posted if she contacted him with help or assistance. I did mention this to one of my docs, his only comment was "I would get back home."

RA is also correct in that amoxycillin will not fight an staph infection, bactrim is a good choice.

Take care, and again, this is a group of very caring folks in the time of need, even if it's money to help get the child home.

(Message edited by cyndelee on July 15, 2008)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #883) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 5:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Now, in the same thought: This is real life in paradise, and something everyone lurking and dreaming of moving to "paradise" needs to remember. Stuff happens. We have a real hospital. A real small hospital. Do we have all of the best and/or latest medications available? No, and neither does Curacao. We have a health care system based on what we (as an island) can afford (and we probably still need a lot of money from Holland to have it). This is the reality of a small, charming, quaint, undeveloped island. It's not reasonable to expect a big, fancy, full-service hospital, with lots of staff and specialists, for a resident population of only 15,000. We can only hope for improvements with an increase in our population base. The health-care system here is decent (for our size), but you have to know how to work your way through it, and be pro-active. This is not easy for a visitor, or even new resident, to figure out.

Sara/Irene--please let us know how it all turns out. If you need more help, please call my cellular: (09) 562-5742.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ***Boat Chick*** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5942) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 5:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ruth, you are a gem. If you or Michael hear anything, please let us know...I am worried:-(

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #884) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 5:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Nah, not a gem, but thanks. Just someone who has way too much personal experience with the system. I'll let you all know if I hear anything. I am concerned too.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jan Klos - ( Hamlet Bonaire ) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #675) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 6:13 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sometimes I just wish, that people would read their posts before the press the POST BUTTON. You have a mother that is frantic, and reaching out for help. If something happened to myself or a family member or friend,really serious, that needed emegency treatment, I would need the help of someone on the island, that has the contacts, and the know-how of what to do, where to go, and how to get there.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Geoffrey (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #184) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 7:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Here is a thought ... if a cruise ship pulls in, they may actually have the medical care needed on board.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ***Boat Chick*** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5945) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 8:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I don't think so Geoffrey. One of our docs is out of Alaska, and he says during cruise ship season, their ERs and hospitals are full. They get one or two passengers from each ship, each time. When I was in PR with my mom, one of the problems with getting her transfered to a better hospital in PR, was that it was spring break, so all of the hospitals were full from the small island emergencies and cruise ships.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sara Basehart (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 9:03 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ok, everybody, this post has gotten waaaaayyyy bigger than I ever intended. Yes, my daughter's foot doesn't look great, but it is not rotting off...I should have specified that the black/purply part looks more like a bad bruise that necrotic tissue. The red lines have been halted by the antibiotics, but the red swelling increased to 4 times the size of the initial swelling. I made it back in to see Dr v.d.Vaart today. In some ways the foot looked better- less swollen, she could stand on it w/out pain, but the darkening and the fact that it hasn't scabbed, plus she has broken out with small"fever blisters" on her lip -without the high fever, and her earring hole in one ear is also infected made me go in for a professional opinion. I am not a young parent, and I am not a first timer either, I would NEVER compromise my daughter's health or safety to save a buck, thank you Geoffrey, but I do travel the world with my children and I am not quick to panic. I try to stay calm in the face of uncertainty and make decisions that are the best course of action for the whole family. If I rushed home every time one of my two kids (age 7 and 2) got hurt or had some unusual set of symptoms, well, I wouldn't ever be away from home. These are not great symptoms, and I AM being cautious. We are having the lab tests tomorrow that I asked for yesterday and the doc said the results would be back in the afternoon. I am satisfied with Dr V.d.Vaart, and hoping that the labs will tell us if we are just dealing with a nasty staph infection, or A REALLY NASTY STAPH INFECTION...and if we need to go home, then we will go home. I don't have a price limit on my family's health and safety, but I am also not some rich tourist who can afford rash decisions. My husband is here working and we are lucky enough to accompany him here to your beautiful, mellow island. And so we are dealing, best we can, with this unforseen complication. Without a photo, it is hard to rush to judgement on what is happening to her foot. I have tried to add a photo to this, but can't load it (?) I will keep you up to date on what happens tomorrow, but PLEASE don't be so quick to judge. I reached out for help and advice, and I appreciate your responses overflowing. My being on the chat-while trying to rent a car on line- brought Irene to help me, and she is an angel for all she has done. We are holding steady, and tomorrow we will know more. Tonight I will sleep well, and I hope the same for all of you. Thank you again for your kind concern and well wishes and I will tell you what happens tomorrow. Goodnight all, and sweet dreams.
Sara
a loving mama

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By RA. thankyousir,mayIhaveanother? (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2753) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 9:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sara, I'm so happy to hear and it sounds like you are certainly level headed and have the situation totally under control. I travel a great deal with my kids and know how scary things can get!

I also know 100% how you can't over react to every little thing or else the children and yourself would both be basket cases and afraid of everything.I'm sure you will do what ever needs to get done and things will be fine. Thanks for the update!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #886) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 9:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Whew. Thanks for the follow-up.
Nite!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #11825) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 9:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I need some KFC.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kobi in Virginia (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7054) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 9:57 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the update. There are a few lurkers, I'm sure, that just exhaled; me included.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ***Boat Chick*** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5946) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 9:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sara, whew, glad it is all under control. I certainly hope WE didn't overreact, but we did...it's what we do when someone posts something such as yours, and we are all loving caring folks, so we are ALL like mother hens (and roosters?)

Take Ruth up on her assistance if needed, she knows the ropes.

I need KFC and a Polar!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Goodwin (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #273) on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 10:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hey BC, I'll share my employee meal with you......

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ***Boat Chick*** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5951) on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 10:31 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Dave:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #887) on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 10:34 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I think there are a lot of lurkers...did you notice there was very little activity on the rest of the threads during this one? Kobi, you were not alone holding your breath! Nothing like possibly rotting flesh, infectious diseases, pus, and blood poisoning (that's what I thought of when I saw the info re: the red lines running up the legs), to get everyone's attention. Let's hope Sara posts that the meds are working, and the situation's in even better control today... Breathe!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3228) on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 11:41 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you all for the vote of confidence. What I would have done is given Sara my US phone to call her doc in the states. I agree that Dick is a good diagnostician but sometimes a second or third opinion is invaluable. Sounds like things are under control.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By elaine sculley (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #297) on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 1:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

i would also get dan insurance especially if living overseas. just a suggestion. hope all goes well.
es

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Sara Basehart (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 4:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi everyone, just stopping in to say that YES! the antibiotics are finally kicking in and my daughter's foot, if not looking normal, does look a lot better. The lab tests they did only showed that there was a lot of infection happening, but nothing extraordinary. All I know is that the red lines that first day really got my attention, I knew it was wrong, wrong wrong, and though I have many reasons for fearing an antibiotic resistant strain of staph, it is not. She is going to be fine. I have never seen an infection leave behind such a large and ugly bruised area, and may never know what caused it. All I know is that 3 good things came out of all this:

1. My daughter will not be picking at her mosquito bites-at least for a while
2. she is also finally sick of the tv
3. I found out what a caring community this is

Thank you all for everything, all your advice and support. Like any bizarre sickness, it is scary when it is happening so fast and you can't be sure what's the right thing to do. Those red lines screamed "help!" and the darkening of the skin tissue was out of my realm of experience, but as they say, all's well that ends well.

I have received so many private emails about why I would ever even think of mrsa that I will end with a small explanation. In my town in New Mexico, USA we are experiencing an unbelievable amount of mrsa cases, especially in children. It is the community associated mrsa, or ca-mrsa, which almost always takes the form of a skin infection. The cases are numbering in the hundreds, and ours is not a large community. So, sensitized or not, since early detection is the key to keeping it in check, it is pretty standard right now for any of us to insist on a mrsa culture if anything freakish starts happening to our skin, or especially our children's skin. Not trying to start a panic, and for that I am sorry. Just doing what for us has become standard operating procedure over the past couple of years. It was in no way a comment on what I feel about the cleanliness of this island. I love Bonaire and envy you all for your good fortune to live here.

Thanks everybody, and if you ever get a weird bug bite in Taos, NM look me up and I'll help you out!
Love!
Sara
mother of "the foot"

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6636) on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 5:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the followup Sarah and I am (and I'm sure everyone else) is absolutely delighted her foot is healing. There are a few thing that really ring our alarm bells, one of them is skin infections in the tropics, another is DCI symptoms (the bends).

The standard saying way south is, Get thee to the tropics for your soul, get thee to the states for medical.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ***Boat Chick*** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5961) on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 10:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

"Mother of the Foot"

Thanks for checking in with us mother hens and roosters. As you stated, we are a very caring community, and like Ruth and Michael, who are "natives" in my book care just as much.

I'm glad you posted, and was able to get the "foot" cared for, and that the meds are working, and that the "foot" will be OK:-)

Keep us posted, and enjoy the rest of your time on the island:-) Just hollar if ya need anything else:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By karen gaffner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #211) on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 8:47 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

i was one of the lurkers. i am so relieved to hear all is going well.BT is amazing.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie B. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7582) on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 8:51 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wonderful news, Sarah! Thanks so much for posting and letting us know. :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jan Klos - ( Hamlet Bonaire ) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #677) on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 9:06 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Great news Sarah !!!! Glad to hear your daughter is healing. The bruising might have been caused by the scratching.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #11845) on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 9:20 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Sarah.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By susan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #366) on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 9:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sarah, so glad to hear your daughter is doing better! You must've been scared out of your wits! BTers are a wonderful bunch of people! Some can be alittle harsh...but do mean well! I think we all knew the last thing you wanted was to put your daughter in harm's way! Working in a hospital, I know that MRSA has become a very prevalent infection, & it's scary! Please take care, & enjoy the rest of your vacation!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Skip C (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #101) on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 1:17 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for the update Sarah.
I can almost hear the collective sighs of relief on this forum. Skip

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By elaine sculley (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #304) on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 10:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

thanks for the clarification. i have learned something new. sara take care.
es

 


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