I
have the idea that this blog should be useful to others in similar
circumstances. It would be useful if there was a forum where I could
post my musings, but when I look for these things none of them seem
to be directed at what I am doing. Be that as it may, I'd like to
offer something about a minor medical problem that can affect
elderly, immobile people with compromised immune systems.
My
mother has some difficulty in washing her hands thoroughly because
they are so weak and inflexible, and they are kind of permanently
cupped because of her arthritis. Since she became unable to have a
shower, she has had to rely on flannel washing of face and hands twice a
day, and complete bed-baths twice a week. I kind of did notice that
when using the flannel, she doesn’t really get into the pit of her
palms or between her fingers, but she also uses hand sanitizer every
time she has used the commode, so I had no serious concerns about
hygiene. Just after Christmas I did notice there was a pale red
patch in the centre of her palms, but it didn’t mean anything to
me. Then her right hand swelled up all through the knuckles and
became very painful. Her left hand was hurting too, both looking red
and inflamed on the backs of the hands and around the knuckles. She
called the doctor and described her symptoms, not mentioning anything
about a tiny pale pink patch in the palms of each hand - why would
she? The doctor said it sounded like a flare-up of her arthritis and
prescribed Ibuprofen gel. I wasn't too happy about her using
ibuprofen, but complied by applying it all over her knuckles and
between her fingers, where she was feeling the pain. Then we
noticed that the webs of her fingers had become very red. I was
concerned that the ibuprofen gel was causing bruising, as she is on
warfarin and it's not recommended for anyone on blood thinners. But
she was getting relief from serious pain in her hands by using it, so
I carried on with her wishes, by continuing to use it a couple of
times a day. The gel was creating a seal on her skin, preventing any
air getting to it. The redness got worse and her knuckles continued
to be excruciating. Then I noticed a white crusty, damp growth had
appeared in the pit of her palms and between her fingers. It looked
like a skin infection to me. By then my brother and his wife had
come to care for Mother while I took part in a dance show, and bro –
being a doctor – confirmed that it looked like an infection. She
had an appointment anyway at the local GP's, for a different reason,
and my brother asked them to look at her hands. Right away it was
diagnosed as some kind of yeast/fungus infection, probably candida,
and they took swabs, prescribed a cream and suggested she stop using
the ibuprofen gel. She is now using a prescription hand-wash as well
as the cream, and slowly the rash is clearing up. Two weeks ago it
was terribly painful for her to have the cream applied, but the
soreness has abated and now the skin is just rough and dry and
broken-looking. I have also now introduced a proper hand-washing
session a couple of times a day, where I bring a small basin of warm water for Mum to get her hands right in and really wash in between
fingers and into the pit of her palms. While she is using the
prescription hand-wash I am using plain warm water, but have also
used Citricidal mixed in, or Epsom salts. Citricidal is made from an
extract of grapefruit seed, and is used for its anti-fungal and
anti-yeast effects.
http://www.diagnose-me.com/treatment/grapefruit-seed-extract.html
Epsom
salts are just great for aches and pains and also have antiseptic
properties. Once the prescription hand-wash is finished I will use
the Citricidal.
I
have also sent off for a very good product called 'keffir' supplied by the Chuckling Goat, which is a live culture in goat milk, which
boosts the immune system and is effective against a wide range of
conditions from IBS to skin infections and auto-immune problems.
This will take some time to arrive, as they have to wait for the
goats to produce their milk and then for the culture to do its thing.
I've sent off for a soap and a hand cream by them, as well as the
stuff you drink. I will report back on how well that helps when I've
had time to try it.
I
hope this is helpful
thanks Kim
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