For the past three weeks Ryan’s had a rash on his booty that is just not relenting. My instinct is it began as a side-effect from the antibiotic to treat his urinary tract infection. It’s not getting worse — and perhaps just a tad bit better — so that’s good, but the healing is excruciatingly slow. We had Dr. Rodriguez’s office stop by our house to take a look.
We are treating it aggressively with a three-fold process. First, a thorough cleansing followed by cool air to dry it (blow dryer). Then a topical mixture. It’s quite the concoction: steroid ointment, Balmex, Monistat yeast cream, cortaid, and anti-fungal cream. Finally, we leave his behind exposed and absent of pressure as much as possible. Oh, and we have a fan lightly blowing on it. Keeping him dry is paramount. We repeat this four times a day.
You know, this is just consistent with all the complications from brain injury. And, complications from treating complications. The “if it’s not one thing, it’s another” existence over nearly two years now. It really sucks! Big time.
The challenge, unlike most injury, is it affects the entire body in unpredictable ways. Without the benefit of Ryan being able to tell us what’s wrong, no matter how diligent, sometimes we are faced with acute conditions.It’s an ever changing process of determining Ryan’s baseline and evaluating deviations from it. Oh, and the baseline is always changing. So, we must be careful in figuring out if it’s a baseline change or a deviation.
I’m not joking when I tell you I’ve strongly considered buying a microscope, slides, petri dishes, vials, and centrifuges. Sue thinks I’m just crazy… make that crazier.
“… I’ve strongly considered buying a microscope, slides, petri dishes, vials, and centrifuges.”
Sounds like some great items for Ryan’s Wish List to me. After all, they, like everything else, will be used to aid his recovery. I say go for it.
When Frankie was first diagnosed with cancer, his immune system was in a constant state of being compromised. So, as a preventative, they put him on the antifungal, Micafungin. This antifungal is given intravenously. They typically start with Micafungin because it’s supposed to treat all but about three Fungi. Unfortunately, for Frankie, he managed to develop one of the three FUNGI it didn’t treat. So, they took a biopsy of his skin sores, and while awaiting biopsy results they started him a much stronger antifungal, Ambisome. Ambisome is also given intravenously. Ambisome can also be too much on the kidneys/liver so its not given unless it’s completely necessary. Under close monitoring of his kidneys and liver, Frankie remained on Ambisome for an additional 6months and thankfully, we never saw the fungus again. They removed the ambisome from his regimen when his treatments became less aggressive, making his chances of picking up that same fungus o another less. Frankie is still in treatment and he has a “history” of developing Fungus, so he now takes daily, via mouth, the antifungal, Fluconazole .
To treat any bottom irritation he’s had, we’ve used what the nurses refer to as “butt paste”… it is a mixture of Zinc oxide, nystatin and mineral oil . We applied it after cleaning the area with baby wipes, a couple times a day. We then exposed his bottom to air, good old air. This has helped our Frankie tremendously and I pray any/all of this info helps your Ryan.
With love and in prayer,
Keri, My Frankie and Family
This is great information!
Zinc for rashes where the sun don’t shine. At Walgren’s it is called, “butt paste”. I got it as a joke to satisfy my irreverent sense of humor, but, instead, found that it actually works. But, I digress, believe it or not, lanacain cleared up a rash i developed on my chest just last week. I took it only to stop the itching–but found the rash gone the next day. I cleaned the area first with alcohol, then applied the lanacain. Good luck with this….sometimes, it’s like cradle cap…really hard to get rid of (used some kind of tar shampoo for that). I know you will figure it out. Ryan thanks you from the bottom of his heart for taking such fine, kind, loving and successful care of him. Annie–love u, Ryan
http://www.summertan.com/psoriasislamp.htm
When mine got diaper rash I remember on the way to the beach the Dr suggested laying him out on the deck in the sun. Between that a d the saltwater we were good in no time. Wonder if the sunlamp above might help. Any way to soak him in saltwater in the new spa? Ask Dr. R about the lamp?
This sounds like good ideas — sun and salt water — usually the correct natural remedies do no harm at least. Do you have a sun lamp, Ken? If not, I would be thinking of the sun. A couple of your “groupies” (every time I think of this description, I almost roll on the floor!) could hold up a beach towel if there are houses out back. That is, if we every get a sunny day. Short exposures can be very healing. I am concerned about the rash because this is the way those horrible bed sores sometimes begin. Heaven forbid this happening! Thinking of you and hoping to find a cure for Ryan’s rash. Love
You are so right. Not knowing the cause and not knowing if the rash itches or burns is another dimension to this never ending journey. I do know that antibiotics can cause yeast infections and that COULD be the cause, in which case the Nystatin topical cream/ointment would probably help. I know that itching from the yeast infection can also give way to burning, if the skin gets irritated enough. I’m glad Dr. Rodriguez’s office was able to come by formulate a good treatment plan. Please keep us updated.
Ken, we may all sound like broken records here, but you and Sue take amazing care of Ryan. I thank the Lord every day that he has you for parents. You, too, are made of “the right stuff.” <3 carla
Yes, it is always something and not knowing if the rash itches or burns which would be tough for Ryan. Hate to think about this! Is it possible that a biopsy or scraping would determine what the rash is? This could be done by a dermatologist (know this from experince), but his physician might do it as well. There are numerous reasons for rashes, probably in the hundreds, and I am sure you already know that. Benedryl spray and Seabreeze are great for itching, but not a cure like prednisone preps or creams for the many kinds of fungal infections. Good luck with finding out the cause, but sometimes that never happens and just disappears on its own. Let’s hope so. Always here. Love
Ken, You would probably do just fine if you had that equipment. You know Ryan better than anyone. Hoping that nasty rash clears up. I know I’ve said this before ,I am SO sorry you all have to go through this ,it’s not fair .Stay strong,Ryan will get better and if ever I can help in any way ,I would be so glad to. Always here praying for you all Love Gail
Do you have Candex? If he has a fungal infection, either the doctor can prescribe several anti-fungal prescriptions that will take care of it from the inside out… or the Candex will, and more effectively than treating from the outside.
Nyastatin and Sporonox come to mind and you should be able to get them in the G-tube. Make sure he is not getting anything with sugar as fungus grows in that environment.
I would love to have a microscope, slides, stains, etc. It would make it all so much simpler! Makes sense to me.
We do have (and use) candex! You were actually the one who suggested this to me a long time ago.
He should be getting four a day… two in the morning and two in the evening, preferably on an empty stomach but because he has had the antibiotics, he may need the prescription which should not harm him and would clear it up from the inside out (I am being redundant, sorry!) If you have time, go to http://www.knowthecause.com and read some of the articles. I have been fighting my own battles with this recently which was a total shock to me, but I am convinced that fungus is a huge problem ( I don’t think I am over reacting). I know you will figure it out. Reading daily and praying.
Another thing I thought about is if you are still giving Ryan Ensure or some product like that? My understanding is that it is high in sugar or or some form of it. If this is still the case, combined with antibiotics may be the tipping point of the overgrowth of fungus/candida vs. any probiotic he is getting. I would think, based on what I have heard you describe his daily regimen, I wonder if you can discontinue the Ensure type product completely or temporarily to get this cleared up… I may have it all wrong but I thought I would mention what popped into my mind.