I'm finally back-cat bite

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone, I am SO, so sorry that I'm just now getting back to you

after sending the ER message. (I wish there had been a way I could have

gotten word back to you.) So I won't try to answer every message that

sent me best wishes & ask questions, if that's ok, about what the name

of the bacteria is. I'll answer as much as I can here & be as brief as I

can. Thanks, thanks first of all for all the good words. Again, I'm so

sorry I'm just now getting to where I can respond. So here goes:

My cat got me right on the vein on the outside of my right wrist. He

nicked it with just one inscisor & it barely entered. But blood spurted

all over the bed. Since I didn't know any better, I ignored the symptoms

as my arm slowly began to swell, get hot & turn bright pink. As I said,

we went to the ER & they then admitted me. It had made it's way to my

arm pit which is where the doc was really concerned. They started IV

anti-biotics & pain meds before getting to my room. ER called it

cellulitis, which was a crock. I was on IV anti-biotics every 6 hours

for 3 1/2 days. The name of the bacteria is Pasteurella. Condition is

called Pasteurellosis. Is not cat scratch fever. Scratching & even

breaking the skin slightly isn't harmful unless there are allergies.

This bacteria lives in a cat's mouth & on his teeth, healthy or not. If

not caught in time, it can be very difficult to control. B/c I'm on

Enbrel, they were even more concerned. Getting an infection while on

that can be even more difficult to control.

So that's about it. I'd just advise anyone who has cats to be very

careful if you play with them even slightly rough & they get a bit

agressive & decide they are going to just playfully bite you. All of us

with RA are at an even greater risk b/c of the lack of our immune

systems. This was a difficult learning experience [] I love my kitty

cats a lot, but they will never ever get their teeth close to my skin.

Thanks again & now I'll try to read the mail & play a bit of catch up.

Here's hoping everyone is having a pain free day & tomorrow will be even

better. Talk to ya later. Nae