LIFE AFTER INFECTION: TO TOUCH? OR NOT TO TOUCH?
By Doreen Mulman
A RECENT QUESTION FROM A FELLOW NF/MRSA SURVIVOR:
Do you find yourself not wanting to shake hands with people? I have observed as I was leaving the restroom a few times that not too many people wash their hands. That TOTALLY freaks me out! I want to scream at them! I have always been somewhat of a germaphobe but now it's heightened intensely! I get weird looks from people all the time... I totally cannot help myself! I wash and use Purell on my hands constantly as do my wife and kids... I was just wondering if I was a little more OCD than most... Thanks!
MY ANSWER:
It's really a two-way street for me.
I don't let people touch me AT ALL if possible. Unfortunately, I know A LOT of huggers. I hate being hugged. Sometimes it HURTS, especially if they press my arm or shoulder.
I try to avoid shaking hands, but it's not always possible. One day, my accountant shook my hand. A little later, he asked me about my arm. After I told him about it, he asked if he shook my hand. I said YES, and fully expected him to say, "Good, because you have been through so much, I want to congratulate you!" or something POSITIVE.
Instead, he got a bottle of Purell out of his drawer and proceeded to clean his hands RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, as if I was still infectious and ill-mannered enough to touch people with my diseased hand. Pretty stupid to think I could even still be walking around with flesh eating bacteria. UH, DUH, I nearly died!!! They had to rid me of disease for me to live!
I AM A VERY RESPECTFUL HUMAN, I would never infect people if I had something that could be caught! HE REALLY HURT MY FEELINGS ON SO MANY LEVELS. It's been so hard for me to be near people ever since then. I basically HIDE IN MY HOUSE all the time.
Oh, and handwashing is a simple and effective way to stop the spread of skin infections. Everyone should wash their hands often, especially after touching common surfaces in stores and gyms, after touching money, or after touching someone they KNOW IS ILL with any type of infection, skin or internal.