is it cellulitis and what should

Liz that's what my right foot & leg are like just now. My GP says that I'm to keep it elevated as much as possible & stay off my feet. I'm currently taking Flucoxacillin 500 mg 3 times per day. For my own peace of mind (not instructed by GP) I rub antibacterial hand gel onto the affected areas twice a day I don't know if the last thing helps or not but it certainly can't hurt

Hi liz,

Very sorry to hear that. Is the foot visibly 'inflated' compared to the other one?

Yes, elevation helps for cellulitis in leg/foot. When lying down put 1 or 2 pillows under ankle perhaps?

The main things is that if it _is_ cellulitis, you urgently need to go on a strong anti-bacterial course for 1 or 2 weeks (to kill the infection). Push your doctor to give you something strong (and that which you're not allergic to).

Intra-venal anti-bacterial agents work much faster but you may need to sit in hospital for a week or two.

Hope that helps and very very best wishes

For a start who did they diagnosis cellulitis? The reason I am asking is that I was told I had cellulitis, but I am pretty certain it isn't. The antibiotics didn't make the slightet difference! I was on them for 2 weeks. Has yours gone worse over time? Plus, I note that the are worse at different times of the day. Are the worse overnight and morning and e.g. in hot weather or rooms? The reason I am asking is that even though I haven't been officially diagnosed I am pretty sure I know whats wrong. For a start, cellulitis doesn't often happen in both legs! This is a link to what I think I have just check it. http://www.erythromelalgia.org/Home.aspx

Liz,

If I was you I would ask your GP to refer you to the dermatology department of your closest large hospital as soon as possible to get this condition under control. Especially in view of your other ailments

Fingers crossed

Beardy funny you should tell Liz to ask to see a dermatologist, as I went to see one yesterday due to the same problem! I paid for a private consultation rather than wait months for the NHS. He was brilliant.  He agreed that he thought it might be EM but the cause unknown as I have a few things that can cause it. So, what he is doing (I couldn't believe this) was that it seems that every so often a lot of the specialists covering all sorts of things have a meeting every so often to discuss rare illnesses and he is inviting me along to the next meeting which he said is in a couple of weeks. Of course it depends where you live Liz and whether they do things like this in your area. I am in Cornwall and my hospital is The Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust. Until yesterday I didn't know they did this, but it might be something new they have started to do. Whatever it seems a great idea to do this so that more doctors are aware of rare illnesses.