Tattoo's anyone ever have a bad reaction?

B_cigarbabe

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I recently just got a new tattoo {actually half of it!:frown1:} unfortunately before the artist could finish, my arm started being incredibly
sensitive to him even wiping my arm.
I had to have him stop after three and a half hours because even with the pain medicine I had taken, I could not continue.
Long story short; Went to the E. R. with suspected blood poisining
found I had cellulitis.
My arm turned purple and green was horribly bruised from shoulder to just above my wrist. I had fevers, chills, sweating, and then it started swelling from my shoulder to just above my wrist.
There was a red angry line going down my arm from the tattoo when it started blowing up.
Went back to the shop and they were pretty horrified.
The owner {not the artist} said he only has seen this happen once but it wasn't so severe as mine was.
Any suggestions as to what,why and how to proceed?
cigarbabe:saevil:
 

psidom

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do you have antibiotics for the cellulitis?
i think tattoo is contraindicated if you have cellulitis.

to be honest i would not proceed in hourly increments that is for sure.

i would contact a physician and ask for the contraindications of
cellulitis and tattooing.

just an idea.:smile:
 

B_Demention

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Sorry to hear that, Cigarbabe. I had cellulitis from one tattoo on my upper right arm about four years ago - it had gotten infected and the surrounding skin was irritated, with red streaks leading away from the tat. I also had flu-like symptoms just as you describe, as well as more scar tissue formation than would ordinarily be the case. I went to the doc and got antibiotics as well as a topical cream to keep things clean on the surface. Everything cleared up after about two weeks, but the skin around the tat remained red for several months before dying down completely.
 

ManlyBanisters

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I never had anything that extreme - I had a slight reaction to the blue ink that the guys who did mine used. But it was very local (only on the actual blue areas) and I controlled it with simple topical anti-septic cream. I did however notice that even years later certain other things would set it off again - thisi s why I am posting. I had to be careful both about getting too much sun on the blue areas and about the brand of sunblock I used.

I thing psi and slant are right - ask the docs and leave off tattooing til it is well and truly healed - but even then be very careful what you rub into the skin on the tattooed area.
 

B_cigarbabe

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Thanks guys!
Psidom I didn't have the cellulitis until after I got the tatt.
Even now it is extremely sore under my arm so I'm still
not quite sure if I'm going to be able to finish the damn tattoo!
I have a doctor's appointment on the 20th so we'll see how it turns out.
Funny but the colors are the same as the dragon on my ass not
much different at all although the doctor in the e.r. wondered
if he "wiped" it clean while inking me.
Let you know thursday.
Thanks to all who answered.
cigarbabe:saevil:
 

WifeOfBath

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Cellulitis is an infection which you could have gotten from the tattooist's equipment. It can be very dangerous if left untreated, so I hope you got antibiotics from the ER. Definitely talk to your doctor and your tattoo artist, but you might also want to consult with someone else in the tattoo industry to see if they have information on cellulitis and tattoos or g ive you contact info on someone who does. What worries me is that you may have gotten the infection because of improper sterilization of the equipment used on you. Cellulitis isn't an allergy or other bad reaction, it's an infection. In this day and age, with MRSA being so common, skin infections can be very dangerous.

No matter what, it sounds like you'll probably have to wait awhile to get your tattoo finished. You really don't want to mess with infection-- it can spread to your bones or blood which would be very bad.

Good luck, and stay healthy.
 
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Bbucko

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I am really sorry to hear about your grief, CB.

As a two-time veteran of MRSA staph infection (and having a this-and-that knowledge about medicine) I concur entirely with WoB. Each time I was hospitalized for MRSA, I was admitted from the ER with an initial diagnosis of Cellulitis. Later cultures confirmed what it actually was.

Please don't ignore this: I very nearly lost my left leg last fall.
 

Mem

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Sorry to hear about your illness. I hope you recover soon and quickly. I'm sorry that you missed the get together in NYC. Take Care.
 

jason_els

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Lord this blows! "Bad reaction," is the understatement of the year! Yeesh!

We missed you both at the meet. :cry:

Get better soon M!
 

B_cigarbabe

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As always I'm impressed by the friends who have posted here vast
knowledge of cellulitis and medical issues! I have had cellulitis many times previously when I was using. Of course those days are long gone thankfully.
I did noticed when I've gotten this previously and refused to seek medical attention, it turned deadly. I got it with pneumonia, that kept me on I.V. antibiotics for 16 weeks once it infected my bloodstream.
From the cellulitis I managed to get bacterial endocarditis which has almost caused me to lose my life because I'm hard-headed and refused treatment.
This also led to my open heart surgery and the five surgeries this past fall.
As much as I despise the medical proffession I will have to seek them out again. Blecch! I do have a couple of dedicated doctors on my side thank goodness. Sorry for the ramble! I'm a tiny bit afraid this will turn into more of a big deal like it usually does with me upsetting my family ,last rites, arguing about pain meds and all that goes with being seriously ill in a hospital, because I hate to go in and be looked at.
I wish you all good health and thank you very much for the help.
Wish I had of went with Nick8 to N.Y. though!
hugs to all,
cigarbabe:saevil:
I'm on levaquin pills now but will undoubtably need more since my hands and extremeties are swelling up and I'm having problems now with my joints for some reason. Related? Bbucko W.o.B.?