Like the title says. Thumbs infected, hurts like crazy. Doc gave me a 10 day course of antibiotics. How long before I should notice a change?
Joey
Like the title says. Thumbs infected, hurts like crazy. Doc gave me a 10 day course of antibiotics. How long before I should notice a change?
Joey
I think they usually start to work about two days after the thumb falls off. 
24 hrs +/-
what did the doctor say when he prescribed the pills?
Most likely 2-3 days. I'd give the doc a call if you don't notice a difference or if things get worse by day 3.
Is it a skin infection or is it in the muscle? I had a bad hangnail get infected (happened fast too) with some swelling and it took about two days for the swelling to go down enough that it didn't throb once I started the antibiotics. I can't remember what they prescribed though.
Just amputate everything above the wrist. Guaranteed no infection after that.
Doctor said I wouldn't get infections if I'd just keep my thumb outta there.
Even if it looks and feels better, take the antibiotics until gone.
The doc didn't say how long, just that they would clear it up. It's been about 5 days so far...
Joey
Just sack up and cut your thumb off.
My experience with antibiotics has always been that they give you about 110% of what it LOOKS like you needed. That is, if they gave you 10 days worth, it will probably be cleared by day 8. That said, it should have started clearing by day 5.
They do that to ensure all of the infection is gone. While you might feel okay after 8 days, there are probably still a few bugs left in there. Those have a little more resistance to the drugs, so it will take a little bit more of the drugs to kill them. If you skip the last few days, then they multiply, and we end up with drug resistant bacteria and viruses.
What did they prescribe and How did it get infected...Maybe the wrong antibiotic for the job. Clinically we usually see infections clearing by day 3 to 5... Is it striated or striped near the wound or warm to the touch the infection is still very active and you need to go back to the doc! And yes take as prescribed that is one way that super bugs are created... Honestly by day five I would at least give your dr a call.
MedicineMan wrote: What did they prescribe and How did it get infected...Maybe the wrong antibiotic for the job. Clinically we usually see infections clearing by day 3 to 5... Is it striated or striped near the wound or warm to the touch the infection is still very active and you need to go back to the doc! And yes take as prescribed that is one way that super bugs are created... Honestly by day five I would at least give your dr a call.
Cephalexin... It's a generic for keflex. It us still warm to the touch. Guess I'll call the doc Monday morning. I started taking them on Tuesday. So today is the 6th day.
Joey
Kelfex is a good drug for skin structure infections. I would reccomend you call the doc though, should have started to clear by now.
In reply to MedicineMan:
I will first thing in the morning. Think I'll live till then?
Joey
you'll probably live.. but your hitchhiking days will be over
Guy sitting in a restaraunt, cranks at the waiter
"Hey, You've got your thumb in my soup!"
Yeah, well, it's infected and the Doctor told me I have to keep it warm."
"Well stick it up your arse!!"
.
.
"I do when I'm in the kitchen."
There is really only one way to be SURE it won't go bad:
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