Dick Storey

Rowland--I've not seen anything from you in a while. I hope you are okay.

W Leggett

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Linda Darnell (Moore)

In memory of...
Barbara Clydean Bailey Yackell of Lubbock, Tx passed away November 29, 2024. 

Nelson Evans

WARNING!

I don’t normally write much here, but please read this all the way to the end.

I hope this will keep your friends and family from having to go through the pain and suffering that I did.

As many of you know, I have had a knee replacement.

In August I had to have some dental work done.                                                                                               23 hours after the dental procedure, my knee was badly swollen and I could not walk, unassisted.                 In the emergency room, they found that I had an infection in my knee, from the dental procedure.

The short version of this story is that I then had to spend a week in the hospital, have two surgeries on my knee, have a picc line put in, through which I had antibiotics pumped into me from an IV bag that I had to carry with me, 24/7 for 6 weeks. I had to sleep with it, shower with it, live with it, 24/7 for 6 weeks.   Additionally, I had to go to the hospital infusion department daily, to get another antibiotic injected into my picc line for the same time period. I had to wear an ankle to thigh brace for 11 weeks and I still have to go to physical therapy twice a week.

I tell you all of this because it was preventable!                                                                                                If the dentist had only given me amoxicillin, 1 hour before the dental procedure, I would not have gotten the infection. 

Anyone that has a knee, shoulder, hip or heart valve replacement should always be given an antibiotic 1 hour before any dental procedure.

Ask any orthopedic professional, they all know this.

But, the American Dental Association guidelines say that if the replacement is more than 2 years old, then antibiotics are not needed.

I am proof that they are WRONG! My replacement is 41/2 years old.

Please pass this information on to anyone you know that has a hip, shoulder, knee or heart valve replacement. Hopefully you can save them from getting an infection.

They need to insist on getting an antibiotic before any dental procedure!

Joy Lee (Mullins)

Nelson, what a nightmare!!!  I hope you're doing well at this time, and will not have any future problems with your knee replacement.  Thank you for the heads up!

Connie Schuerman (Von Dielingen)

Oh wow Nelson !  What agony for you to go through !  Sure hope by now that you are back to normal with your knee mobility and that the infection is all finally out - how miserable you must've been!   

Linda Darnell (Moore)

Nelson, I'm so sorry you experienced such an ordeal. 
I've had hip replacement and strongly cautioned to take precautions to take antibiotic before dental work or any surgery to prevent infection. Thankfully I've been spared infection; I'm just reinforcing what you said of importance of pre medicating before dental work etc. I sincerely hope you are well into recovery and this will all soon be just a memory. 

Linda Fisher (McLellan)

I have had a total shoulder replacement and always take amoxicillin before my dental procedures, even cleaning. I asked the doctor if I needed to do this and he said it was up to me, but I read up on it and decided I wasn't taking any chances. I am so sorry you have had such a difficult time and hope you are soon back to normal. You are right it was totally preventable if they had just told you. Thinking of you and wishing you well.

Linda Fisher (McLellan)

By the way, the dentist always told me to take amoxicillin before my cleaning and I have seen them turn away clients who had not taken their amoxicillin. So at least some of the dentist are trying to prevent this very thing from happening. 

Nelson Evans

Linda, as you said, it's good that some dentists are aware and looking out for their patients.

I now have to take amoxicillin twice daily for at least six months, then they will reevaluate to see if I need to take  it for the rest of my life. I will be in PT for 3 months. Then, hopefully I can look back at this and laugh about it.

Cheryl Corazzi (Essex)

I was told by my dentist that I didn't need to take meds before procedure. I told my orthopedic doctor and he said, YOU INSIST THAT HE PRESCRIBE THE MEDS BEFORE ANY PROCEDURES AND IF HE WONT DO IT, THEN FIND ANOTHER DENTIST. Thank goodness, my dentist agreed and prescribes the meds for me. I really did not realize how dangerous this protocol could be if not adhered to faithfully. Wishing a full recovery and thank you for alerting us to this situation. 

Dick Storey

Nelson-what a terrible experience you are going through. I'm glad the amoxicillin helps. 

I'm curious: Did your doctor take a sample and grow the bacteria in a sensitivity test (it's rare that they do this these days)?

Still, I wonder if they identified the bacteria (sorry, the biologist in me springs up now and then). Since they treated you with amoxicillin, it does not sound like MRSA. But if the IV dose was vancomycin (or ~) it tells you more.

Taking that much antibiotic is not fun! 

It is good others take a dose (4 tabs actually) 30-60 minutes before dental work. I certainly do for cardio problems. 

Amoxicillin is the drug of choice. But others work too, at least for now.

Hang in there!

Bill Williams

_{Damn, Nelson I have never heard of that before I am glad you are doing okay, I have been thinking about getting a body replacement, my life style has just about worn this one out, but from what you said if I get any dental work done, I will get me a 55gal drum of the Amoxicilian}

_{Take Care Ole Friend} 

Dorothy Wade (Crawford)

Glad you are recovering from that awful ordeal.  That is really good information. Grant had a quadruple bypass last year and I know the dentist gave him the antibotics the firt couple of times he had his teeth cleaned but the last time the dentist said he was out of them!  I was unaware of that until after his appointment.  I will be sure Grant gets his antibiotics before any more proceedures.  You all take care. 

W Leggett

DAM NELSON, I HAVE HAD KNEE REPLACEMENTS AND WITHIN THE LAST MONTH DENTAL WORK LIKE YOU STATED. HAVING PROBLEM WALKING. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY HEART DOCTOR TOMORROW. HAD HEART SURGERY SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.

YES, I WILL MAKE HIM READ WHAT YOU WROTE. 

Dick Storey

Bill--frankly, if your doc or dentist does not know about antibiotic therapy before dental work I have a suggestion: Find a new doc. 

--------------------------------

Dorothy--If a dentist claims he or she is out of antibiotics I'd urge you to have the dentist call in an Rx and take it before the procedure. Maybe the same suggestion as above.

This is all medical care 101.

Nelson Evans

Dick,

Vancomycin for Corynebacterium Striatum, then two weeks for Cultibacterium Acnes to grow and that was treated with Rocephin daily infusions.

W Leggett

DICK, MY V.A.  DR ALL WAYS GIVE ME A SHOT OF antibiotics before WORKING ON ME. HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY RIGHT KNEE AND BACK.

WILL SEE MY HEART DOCTOR TODAY AND WILL TALK TO HIM ABOUT THIS SUBJECT. MADE A COPY OF NELSONS MESSAGE TO TAKE WITH ME. 

Nova Guynes

Nelson

Thank you for the message discussing what you went through, and the precautions people need to take after knee replacement surgery.  Carole had knee replacement surgery a few years ago, her doctor gave her written instructions to give to our Dentist on what needs to be done before any dental work.  The instructions said for two years. She will now insist on getting an antibiotic before any dental procedure. 

I made a copy of your message and gave it to my neighbor, who just had knee replacement surgery and to a golf buddy that has it scheduled. 

Take care, be careful and get better. 

Bob Lewis

Nelson, I empathize with you. After my surgeries, my dentist insists I take antibiotics before he does any dental procedure. Those infections are terrible.

Dick Storey

Thanks for the follow-up Nelson. You have been through hell.  Now get well, please.

Clark Walter

Dear Nelson, Sorry to hear about your health problems.  Prayers for you coming for rapid recovery.

Dick Storey

Nelson,

You know your stuff.

To add a bit--

Vancomycin is often the first drug of choice for C. stratium but is administered IV b/c  the drug is not well-absorbed in our GI system. I was given it for MRSA years ago—another nasty bug.

C. acenes is a common skin bacteria often associated with acne infections—hence the species name. It exists on the skin of nearly every one of us and is easily transmitted through skin contact but is seldom morbific. I assume Rocephin was administered b/c it has activity against a range of bacteria. Your doc was on top of it. Some are not so much, in my experience. And don’t you know they both hate having me come through the clinic door.

And, again, you have been through hell. Get well, will ya?

Dick Storey

Bill Williams

Happy birthday Will (aka cowboy).  Have a Coors (or 6) for old-time-sake in Rosw​ell.

Connie Schuerman (Von Dielingen)

Hey there WILDMAN BILL !!   How are you doing ?  Think of you often - hope all is well ! 
 

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HEALTHY and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all !!