Question for a Nurse or anyone who may be able to help!
 

My mom and I take care of 2 elderly ladies in my moms home, they live with her 24/7, it's like a alternative to a nursing home. I go in 6-7 days a week and take care of them during the morning and afternoon.

One of the ladies who is 87 has a severe rash on her peri area and under her breast. This has been going on for 6 months now and we have tried everything we can think of. We have did the Monistat 7, She has been on medicine, creams, we use corn starch, we even used the Monistat cream on her area 2x a day and have went through 3 tubes. NO CHANGE!

We have talked to her doctor who suggested we keep her briefs off of her at night and during naps, so we did, but no change.

She is on hospice, so she has a nurse come in once a week to check her over.
The nurse says it's from her urine burning her skin down there. But how can she have it under her breast??

The nurse says to give her cranberry juice.

I'm so frusterated with this I could scream. She has not seen a doctor, we have told her family numerous times that she needs to go to the doctor. But they have not taken her.

This rash is very bright red and she complains it hurts and itches. I feel so bad for her and I don't know what else to do for her.

She gets a shower every other day and I wash her up in the mornings that she don't get her shower. Then my mom takes the bed side care over her at night. She is kept very clean, so I just don't have any more answers.

Can someone pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee help????

well... i have NO advice... but i wanted to say that i think what you do is amazing... you are making a huge difference in this woman's life.. clearly her family won't listen to her needs... she must feel great knowing she has you and your mom looking out for her :)

Thank you so much marci!

SShe has been with us for almost 2 years now, and she was in a nursing home before coming with us and she was not happy there.

Now she is like a new woman. She does have Alzheimer's, but you would never know it sometimes! She has her good days and a few bad days! But she is a joy to take care of!

pm ing u

Thanks for your advice. I will pass it along!

Sounds like a fugal infection. Make sure that when you wash under them, they are dry. Don't use scented soap or apply lotion.

Back in the day, they used to tape them to their back :eek: (picture that)

Thank goodness for evidence based practice :p

Hope she gets better soon!

my grandmother had the same thing it sounds like ans she had it for 2 years and still does but with no flare ups

they told her after about 6 -9 months of tests that it was from oh gosh either a fungal infection or bacterial and so she started taking antibiotics and then come to find out it was some form of staph the was antibiotic resistant and she had it in her peri area and under neath her breast also

they said it was there becuase they were two of the hottest and moisture areas on the body and that she must have washed the part of the staph infecction and then she used the same rag and same area to wash other areas and it spread but it go into her nose and to the point where she couldnt even be around people and if you were you had to be super careful.

but she still has it it just hasnt flared up in months but ask them about that or see if her doc could make a house call

i may not be the exact answer but it doesn sound really really similar

Try some over the counter yeast infection cream. I see this all the time in the ER where I work. Monistat or lotrimin cream 2-3 times a day. You should be able to see a difference within a couple days. This happens alot in elderly and in infants. Does it have an odor-if it is yeast it will usually have an odor. If the cream does not work you should see a doctor, just like someone else said it could be a staph infection-staph infections are a huge epidemic right now and it spreads fast and also very contagious, so be careful. Good luck.

It is a type of fungal infection due to moisture and heat. Get some Nystatin and Triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment to put there and it will go away in no time. This does require a prescription from a Dr., but they should be able to call it in to a pharmacy without an actual visit. This is a definate treatment for what your describing!!!

I worked in a nursing home when i was a CNA and i seen this type of thing a lot most of the time it was a fungal infection and it needs to be cleaned and dryed everyday also the area needs to breath so not having skin to skin contact where it can sweat putting a dry cloth between her breast and her chest. Also the briefs it would be wise to air that to at night like the doc said. Also i would see if it is staff because i have seen that to like the other posters mentioned. I hope she feels better soon i know it can be very painful and very irritating. Also does it smell? This is also a sign it needs to be aired as well. she can get ulcers if the rash turnes into sores. You are a wonderful woman to help take care of these women!:thumbup: It takes a very special person to do this and i commend you for it.! Please keep us updated and make sure that nurse and doctor really look at her and not just look over her this could get serious if not properly treated

Oh yes that Nystat Cream works wonders!!! When my son used to get yeast infections on his butt and nothing would help he was blistered and bloody but this stuff cleared it in 2 days everytime!!! Great thinking!!:thumbup: