Reoccuring cellulitis of the left buttocks.

Miss Rachael! This is very interesting because this is exactly what happened to me! It happened for the first time about 3 months ago, on my left buttock as well. I'm a male, 31 years old, fairly active, and have always tried to live a healthy lifestyle. I have my splurging moments as everyone else of course, but for the most part I watch what I put in my body. The first time this occurred it was after I went trail running out here in Phx. I ran about 3-4 miles, went home and felt fine. Next morning I woke up with major soreness on my groin and my left buttock. Later that day my groin was red, swollen, and tender to the touch as was my left buttock. I simply self diagnosed it as a possible groin pull and treated it with cold/hot compression, and refrained from any physical activity for 2 weeks. After a month of no running, just lifting, I decided to go for a sprint at the high school track, this time I felt the symptoms that night when I was home relaxing. I got the chills, cold sweats, and a mild fever (101), then the next morning woke up with the same exact swelling of groin and left buttock. Thought, "How strange?" But ignored it again and went away on it's own.

Well fast forward about 2 months and after working out at the gym, lifting, cardio, steam room, then sauna. I went home and felt the same exact symptoms; fever, chills, sweat, and swelling. This time I decided to go to the doctor the next morning, which was when he diagnosed me with Cellulitis. I asked him all sorts of preventive questions and treatment questions. He basically told me that since we all carry staph on 30% of our bodies, some of us are more prone to staph like infection, which is what this can mildly be compared to. So he advised me to stay out of environments that are breeding grounds for staph, public locker rooms, steam rooms, sauna, hot tubs, etc...also to wear preventive workout gear such as longer shorts or workout pants, longer sleeved workout shirts to avoid the possible contamination from the machines at the gym. Well after that last treatment of oral antibiotics I decided to stay more active, eat way more healthier, fruits, veggie, and lean protein meats, and also got on some good supplements such as multi vitamins and bought some probiotics, to replenish my body back with the good bacteria it needs to fight off infections.

Anyway, wish you the best! Let me know what you more you find out.

Hi when you get it how quick do recover.i exactly get same as you groin node swell til painful. My top of thigh or buttock rashes badly and tender but then can travel down leg. I'm not sure if it's true cellulitis as I can have it subside within 2 to 3 days with IV antibiotics. But do you get the raging fever also been getting any interesting blood results. Well I do as my spleen gets enlarged but think due to infection. Wondered if you got this too? Sorry I see you write this a while ago. Hope you're better now x

Hi,

I seem to be suffering something similar - the lymph nodes in my groin become painful, I can become feverish and then it hits the next day spreading across my left buttock and hip and (once) right down the back of my left leg, covering a reasonably large, and worrying, percentage of my body.

It took me a while to get the doctor to agree with me, as, although it can take a week or two to go, I can usually be over the worst of it in a few days and so the doctor initially thought it was a rash as I didn't get to him quick enough. The second time it occured was on Christmas Day and couldn't get an appointment for days so gave up. With, the most recent outbreak I got there in time and he: a) agreed it was cellulitis (I'd had it once before elsewhere, not connected with this, so knew what it was when I saw it), b) he'd never seen anything like it and c) he was mystified as to the cause. I've also had numerous small infections that looked like they were about to go full-blown but I managed to fight it off, with only a small patch of reddish skin, after the initial symproms.

Last time I had an extra symptom - it came on hard when I was asleep with none of the usual early warning signs and was pretty much full-blown when I awoke, in addition I felt wretched (the kind of ache you get with, for example, flu or food poisoning), confused and light-headed. I collapsed unconcious once and was all over the place, nearly going flat out on the floor a second time before I crawled to the couch and waited it out. I eventually recovered after 3-4 hours but it was a worrying development.

As the doctor didn't know what it was he ordered a panel of blood tests, which all came back normal - kidney and liver function, white blood cell count, inflammatory markers, etc. so he didn't know where to go.

Luckily, I did some research online, finding this discussion and another one (this also seems to include some unrelated problems too, but includes other people who sound like they also have something similar - the original poster doesn't reporting recurring issues, although they may have amputated the buttock before it could, but indiyanna, Piperlady and neenee1 do):

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Rare-Diseases/Cellulitis-Buttocks-SURGERY-REMOVAL-plz-answer/show/655696

Unfortunately, neither this thread or the other have any answers, which is a worry.

However, I did dig up some other information:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21597579

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11578067

Both suggest that atypical cellulitis of the buttocks can be caused by a psoas abcess:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psoas_muscle_abscess

http://www.mdguidelines.com/abscess-psoas

This can present in a number of ways depending on which direction it empties out, cellutis being one of the signs if it empties towards the buttock/hip. While antibiotics can clear up the cellulitis, the abcess needs to be located, drained and then treated with hefty antibiotics or it seems obvious that it can happen again and again.

The worry about that, beyond the fact that it is usually caused by something else going wrong somewhere in the general region (it was lumbar TB and so was a lot more common back in the day, not it is Crohn's - as I say I had no inflammatory markers, so this seems unlikely, the tumour described in the second abstract would show up with cellulitis on the right side), is that untreated it is always fatal and it kills you by sepsis, the symptoms of which sound very much like what I had in addition to the cellulitis. I am generally healthy at the moment so survived, but if I hadn't been... Anyway, at least next time I'll take it seriously (I feel like I dodged a bullet there, so won't let that happe again) and go straight to hospital, if I can concentrate enough to work out I need to, a nasty Catch 22 right there.

The doctor wasn't 100% convinced (he suggested it is was unlikely to go away if it was an abcess, although the second abstract I link to says they treated the cellulitis and then addressed the abcess months later), but he liked it enough to refer me to a colo-rectal surgeon who will be able to look into this further and suggested they'd think he was a "clever doctor" for suggesting such a rare potential source of the problem (he has credited me in the results, so hasn't stolen all the "glory" for himself ). He also suggested that the cellulitis itself might have been sufficient to cause the sepsis. Luckily, it was enough to kick this up a rung of the ladder to a specialist who might stand a better chance of working out what is going wrong, even if my initial diagnosis doesn't pan out.

Now it might not be an abcess, but it is certainly worth checking out if nothing obvious shows up, like a compromised immune system. The problem I see for you missrachael is that the ultrasound tests (and perhaps the MRI) should have shown it up, although I will be asking for a CT scan, which sounds like the best way of finding one. It is worth mentioning to your doctor anyway, so they can look for it specifically, if they haven't already.

Anyway, that is the story so far. My appointment is still a couple of months away, I'll see how it goes. Fingers crossed that, between us we can figure out what the underlying issue might be, although I'm also resigned to the possibility that there may be more than one cause, so one fix might not solve every problem - it won't stop me digging though, this is just my best first shot. Let us know how things go, for you and everyone suffering.

Good luck.

Just a quick update.

My GP also sent me for a blood test in case I had a compromised immune system, but this was clear even on the inflammation markers.

The consultant inspected me for any possible breaks in the skin, found nothing and sent me for a pelvic MRI with contrast. This turned up nothing and they discharged me back to the GP, which was disappointing, as I thought we were starting out on our journey of exploration.

I was gearing up to getting an appointment with my GP (to get referred back to hospital for more tests) when it happened again, on the hip, across the buttock and all the way across my lower back. I again got sepsis on top but without the more extreme symptoms (fainting and confusion). I got an appointment with my GP the next day and he said that while he could give me antibiotics and I'd get better, it looks like it'd only happen again. Instead of doing that he sent me straight to A&E, where I did collapse as the sepsis hung around for another day. I was put on IV antibiotics and paracetamol for the feverish symptoms (I was still at 38 degrees C when I went in, although my temperature was higher earlier). Unfortunately, it was the Friday of a bank holiday weekend and I didn't get seen by a dermatology consultant until the Tuesday, by which point it was pretty much all sorted out. This meant that, despite them coming up with a range of tests they wanted to do (deep skin biopsy and the CT scan I've been looking for), it was already too late - they think their best chance of finding the source is when I am at my sickest (the blood test and MRI scans were weeks/a month after I'd got better). So I was sent home with oral antibiotics and they'll issue me with a letter that means next time it happens, I grab my bag and go straight to hospital where all the tests will swing into gear. It is annoying that I'll have to wait to get sick again (and potentially suffer another bout of sepsis) but I understand why and feel it is another step on the path to finding out what the problem is and sort it out.

One thing: the deep skin biopsy is because the various doctors who have seen it don't think it looks like a surface infection and they need to know what layers are actually being effected. They have suggested it might not even be cellulitis, but panniculitis, an infection of the subcutaneous fat:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panniculitis

Although there are many varieties of panniculitis, I have had a look around and I'm not convinced it would give such an extensive infection of a relatively even colouration. Also cellulitis can go deep into the skin, including the subcutaneous fat. However, it is good to have options to test and seems like a good sign that the source of infection is internal not external, which is definitely what I was thinking, as only a fixed source hidden somewhere in that general region could cause a regular outbreak in the same area (esp. as there are no obvious ways for the infection to get in from the outside).

So, yes, some progress and I am still hopeful this can be resolved, but we'll have to wait and see.

Hey again.

The last time I had this 'cellulitis' I had blood culture taken and they found a strep b bacteria. this is a pathogen known to be carried by women typically in their vaginas. i have a coil and had all these symptoms same time span since its fitting therefore its being taken out in case it is to blame. i think my cause of infections is internal. still not sure but hoping to not have it again! did you ever get a blood culture done. Can i ask you more questions of your case?  Any low lymphocyte counts? spleen enlargement and if you ever had a bacteria isolated from the blood cultures and did you ever have a coil? Recurrent thrush? sorry just like to know of any similarities? thanks x

 

Hi Emps

i will try giving most info I know now to update. But I have questions for you too!

i haven't had an episode since 29th july

i was on a longer course of antibiotics a months worth.

my coil is only just out.

my immunologist only just run some more tests to check my immune system.  I seem on the low end of normal on most things

lymph 1.7

haemoglobin 11.5

wbc. 3.8

neutrophils 2

platelets 135

i have no idea why I ur. Lower or baseline figures on my blood and these come when I am seemingly 'healthy'

i have no more spleen pain (or what I thought was spleen pain).  No drs could confirmed it was or could be.  

My spleen has a history of enlargement over last 2-3 yrs but each scan shows it getting smaller again.  Gone from 16.2cm, 15.8cm to 14.3 and another scan is on the 1st December.

hope that shows to be of normal sizzle then. The spleen is something I suspect to be causing the blood count to be substandard.

the other immunology tests cleared me of all other things but the remaining test I think is the lymphocyte proliferation assay. This basically sees my lympocyte response to invaders I think. I hope this shows it's good.

i don't not get any other infections easy and no other skin infections anywhere else. I am unconvinced it's an immune problem. I get the normal expected number of cans and colds and get over them fine ok with no antibiotic help.

the coil removal was a long shot remedy. No dr thinks it is related to the cellulitis but it is the same area and been there same timeframe as the problem (round 3 years now)

my my treatment plan is now long term low dose antibiotics. Not months but years according to immunologist. They said the last occasion a streptococcal b bacteria was in my blood system, quite scary and I understand they want to protect against sepsis, it is dangerous. 

I will follow their plan as advised but have my concerns over antibiotic resistance but the benefit out weigh the risk.

can I please ask where you are from? I am in England.  Could I please ask your regular blood test results?

do you think you have healthy leg circulation and do you suffer any lymphadema. That is swelling puffiness of ankles/leg.

i am curious to know the state of your spleens also. Do you bruise easily? 

Many questions here, I am sorry! Just trying to compare and contrast to find similarities. 

The longest spell I had not having it was about a year being free of it, then for it to come back.

do you ever see a trigger like a insect bite or break in skin eczema or cut on the leg etc before you get an episode.

also have you ever had any lower surgeries? I have 3 c sections and gallbladder out in past 10 yrs? I am 34 now. Well I think that covers it.  Lol.

I've just been released from hospital after my second episode of cellulitis. My first was in Belize in central america in 2005 when I was a soldier in the British army. I have been prescribed flucloxacillin 500mg capsules, one, three times a day. The hospital that I have just been released from (The Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy in Fife in Scotland) rather naively believed that the infection would dissipate by tomorrow which will be exactly one week after I was a admitted with this infection. I know this to be false as older family members of mine have also experienced this infection & reported that it get worse each time it recurs & that recovery time is longer each time

Although I contracted the cellulitis infection in Belize the first time, I was sent back to Edinburgh to be treated under the care of Dr Aldridge the consultant and clinical lead of Dermatology at The Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh.

Does anyone know if there is any evidence to suggest that use of a steam room might speed up recovery?

Hi everyone, I am shantanu, 17, from India (sorry)

(Unneccessary description ahead) So two months earlier on a sunday morning my mom told me to clean cut the grass in my house' backyard, It was after it (without knowing about a cut) I saw a half a cm swollen up cut on one of my finger on right hand. That day I didn't take more look into it and just washed up the injury and went to my bedroom. The next day it caused that swollen area quite itching and turned red.

But in two-three days the injury was no more just a reddish part inside that injury.

After 5-6 days when I was in a hospital (not for my cause ofc) I stood up there for a while and with a weird pain some swollen rashes I saw on my both hands near wrists. It was when I first worried about it. Beacuse its not a symptom you see everyday on both hands at a time. I told it to my mom about that. She told me to get it checked by a doctor. Unknown about what was it I got to doctor about 5 days later that incident(and yes he wasn't a skin specialist, just a random doc. in my area) he prescribed me with some meds and told me not to be serious about it. While in medications there was no rashes but as soon as I stopped taking them the rashes came up again. That day I did some searches and followed some random posts about rashes on hands and its types. After some 15 days I got to a thread where I felt "this is what I am searching for". I did more research and found that it was cellulitis and was worried about it. The next day I got to a doctor and told whatever happend, he just gave me some meds for 5 days and as earlier nothing happend to me JUST for that 5 days. Later that I went to that clinic again after some days and this time the specialist and another. He just looked at it and told me the symptoms to be sure and in just a minute he gave me some medicines for a month . After a month and half there doesn't seem any rashes but later then , I felt some pain in my top of butts, I touched it and it was swollen (was a minor when saw) and it increased in size after 2 days. Today is my 4th day with it, I am worried about myself reading all this and no one got to any cure. Please tell me if its in earlier stage or not. Where should I go first now? I am a gamer ,webmaster(blogger) and a student, I play games for most time and this is when it causes my rashes on my hands.

Please Reply me if you have any cure .

I don't know if I could get a reply to a 4 years old thread.

P.s : the doc. Never gave me antibiotics.

Hello, I have been suffering from a similar situation. I have had 3 occurrences of cellulitis on my left buttock over the past year and half. It seems to come on at night and then I notice it in the morning when there is servers pain, fever and warmth in the area. I have needed IV antibiotics each time. The Drs don't seem interested in finding out why this is happening and are stumped. I have had ultrasounds, CT and MRI and everything comes back normal. I suffer from primary  lymphedema. I had had recurrent cellulitis in my left leg previously but oral antibiotics always worked for that. With the left buttock, oral isn't as effective. This all started when I was pregnant on in bed rest in the hospital Sept 2016. In Oct is was clear but came back in Nov 2016. It was clear for a year and was back Dec 2017 in the same area. I am wondering if there have been any updates with anyone's situation here? Dr says my blood tests are normal now. I am still having tenderness and some shading where the u section was. Does anyone else have tenderness afterwards and a coloring where the cellulitis was? How long did it last? What antibiotics seem to be most effective for everyone?  Any help or info is greatly appreciated.