Tuesday, August 06, 2013

Tattoo Update

 
A couple of days after I got my Incredible Hulk tattoo, I noticed that was leg was turning red and starting to swell up. I went back to the tattoo shop to ask them about it. The co-owner of the shop (also a registered nurse) took me in a back room and looked at my leg. She said it looked like I had cellulitis and if it didn't clear up in three days I should see a doctor. When I got home I googled cellulitis.

From MayoClinic.com --

Cellulitis (sel-u-LI-tis) is a common, potentially serious bacterial skin infection. Cellulitis appears as a swollen, red area of skin that feels hot and tender, and it may spread rapidly.
Skin on lower legs is most commonly affected, though cellulitis can occur anywhere on your body or face. Cellulitis may affect only your skin's surface, or cellulitis may also affect tissues underlying your skin and can spread to your lymph nodes and bloodstream.
Left untreated, the spreading infection may rapidly turn life-threatening. That's why it's important to seek immediate medical attention if cellulitis symptoms occur.

Needless to say, I didn't wait three days. I went to the doctor the next day and he prescribed an antibiotic. I've been on them for five days now and my leg is looking a little better. The swelling has went down and it's not as red. Hopefully it will clear up soon.

I told my wife that if I lose my leg, I want to have it stuffed so that I can still admire my tattoo. Then I'll get a peg-leg and become a pirate. She doesn't think that's funny. :)

6 comments:

Doug said...

Great story -- way to make something good out of a scary situation. Hope you continue to heal.

That's still a great tattoo... and I'll still never get one!

Doug

Dex said...

I don't know if I'd go stuffed. Maybe flay the skin and mount it in a nice air-tight temperature/humidity controlled frame.

budsreviews.blogspot.com said...

You're lucky. I came down with cellulitis in my left leg on June 10th, and was hospitalized until July 4th! I was on IV antibiotics for my entire hospital stay, and for two weeks following! As a fellow blogger, it kept me from posting almost the entire time. I'm still not 100% -- but I'm getting there. budsreviews.blogspot.com is my site - you might like it. I sure enjoy yours!

Amber said...

Came across your post this evening. I have over 20 tattoos and my last one I wound up with cellulitis. Went on antibiotics within 3 days when I realized my leg wasn't normal. How did your tattoo heal? Was it alright? Did you need touching up?

Erick said...

Hi Amber! My tattoo healed fine. No touching up needed. Over 20 tattoos? That's awesome. Unfortunately my wife won't let me get another one because the cellulitis really scared her. :/

Amber said...

Yeah I'm pretty heavily tattooed which was why I was shocked! This isn't common for my healing. I'm glad yours healed well. I hope the same for mine. I've seen some online that are awful but it looks like they let it go too long. After 3.5 days of antibiotics the swelling is down and half the red is gone. Perhaps one day you can get more but I understand. Next time I get a tattoo I'm basically going to put myself in a sterile bubble. :)