Staph infection AGAIN

Does anyone have any experience with this??? I can feel a lump under my arm - a sign that I am getting yet ANOTHER staph infection.

I first got one in a sore on my thigh about 2.5 years ago. A bad boil on my leg, which needed to be lanced & then antibiotics.

Shortly after, got one under my arm - same symptoms & treatment.

Then, in the last days of pregnancy, found a lump under my arm and started to worry about lymphoma (sp) but it swelled and swelled and spread until I had three boils under one arm and two under the other and multiple nodes swelled also. With antibiotic treatment, those broke on their own and faded away. Leaving scars and dark bruises. (I can't tell you how much it hurts to have multiple node under your arm swell to the size of golf balls.)

Then it started back up again a few weeks after the baby was born - same thing under both arms. This time I called the doc right away and got on the medication, so it wasn't as bad - one under each arm.

Now, only a couple of weeks after finishing the last dosage, I feel another swollen node under my right arm!! WTF???

I'm going to talk to my doctor, ut I was curious of anyone had any experience with anything similar?? :(

One suggestion is to use a new disposable razor EVERY time you shave your underarms, and to shave underarms first, before using the razor on any other body part. After shaving use an astringent or aftershave, to cut down on razor bumps. Also, make sure you scrub out your tub with a bleach based cleanser before you use it. Sometimes the tub can be a source, and using a razor that's been sitting in the wet edge of the tub can be the culprit. Just a note...we all have staph aureus on our bodies. The problem occurs when it gets into deeper tissues through areas of injury.

Kristin, one of my employees has had the exact same experience. She ended up having surgery to remove some of her breast tissue, which so far, seems to have helped. I hope you don't have to go through anything so extreme, but you might want to ask about long-term solutions if this continues to be a recurrent problem for you.

I have a friend who has one right now, right where her thigh joins her torso, i.e. right where the leg of your panties goes. She is in such pain..and this is her second one in the same area. It literally is the size of a golfball...and it just looks so red and sore. She's on antibiotics now, but has to go in on Monday if it hasn't improved.

Like Rozie said (and she should know!)..it's only when the Staph enters the body through injured tissue that it becomes a problem, so I would venture to guess that yours in your armpits could very well be related to shaving. :(