Ringworm and Upper Respitory Infection.... Long post.

I am new to to this site, but i keep finding myself at your forums so here goes nothing... I apoligize in advance for the long post. I am at my wits end and need some sort of guidance to deal with this mess.

I recently moved into a new apartment with my 5 year old cat and decided to get a new kitten as this is the first time he has lived as a single cat. Good news is they get along great, like they were rasied together. Not so good news.... Kitten has brought ringworm AND an upper respitory infection to her new home.

Before I realised that she had it, I obviously cuddled her like crazy and wound up with ringworm myself. So I took Kitty to the vet and they gave her a steriod shot because the infection got into her lungs and sent me home with an oral ringworm medicine and an antibiotic. I took my resident cat in, but he was not showing any signs and the vet would not treat him for anything.
I have been to the doctor multiple times and first got a cream, now I am 5 days into and oral/shampoo/bodywash treatment.

One week later, new kitten is not showing any signs of ringworm but still seems to have a killer URI. And of course my cat has gotten both infections really bad. He has 5-6 huge sores on his face, runny nose, sneezing, red eyes, and this wheezing cough. I of course feel terrible for him. But he is on the same meds as she was.... Just a week later.

I just dont know what to do, I feel like I am going to crack everyday. I worry that they are going to pass the infections back and forth. I am cleaning every single day, but it is getting unmanagable since i dont have a washing machine and get about 3 loads of laundry worth a day from changing beddings and coverings on couch, not reusing any clothes or towels... My ringworm seems never ending, i now have over 20 spots, when the old spots heal, new ones crop up. This is so frustrating as i feel like i am taking every precaution I can changing closes, wearing full coverage yet breathable clothes at all times (given it is summer) doing my treatment everynight which is almost a 2 hour affair since I have only a bath tub, changing linens, washing my hands after i touch either cat. And on top of this I work with elderly people and was advised to not be in contact with them until I am healed up, so I have been on a sick leave with no income for nearly a month.

I truly hope that this long rant doesnt offend anyone. I dont have anyone in my life who has dealt with this before, and I feel like a leper since i do not want to infect anyone else with this. I am reaching out to find some reassurance or advice from someone that may have experienced what I am going through.

Thank you in advance!!

So, for yourself, you are on an pill, plus special shampoo, and a form of a cream to apply?  And nothing is working after 5 days?  Are some of the older spots going away or not? 

Does the kitten still appear to be ringworm free?  If his URI is still really bad, though, after a week, I would think he needs a different antibiotic (I would THINK).  What does the Vet think about THAT? 

And if I understand correctly, the only  medication for ringworm the adult cat is on is an oral medication?  No cream, no lyme sulfer dip, no shampoos?  If not, I would ask for some, or try to get some from another source

If you cannot work because of this situation, can you not collect short term disability?  That should certainly be an option for you

I, personally, have never  dealt with ringworm, and I hope I never have to , but I know lots of people have, and it sounds terrible.  I know it's tons of work, that's for sure.  And it sounds like you are particularly sensitive to it ....some people have a natural immunity to it and never even get any sores from their cats.

Have you seen this particular thread?  There are what I think are some helpful hints in it:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/253453/ringworm-wars

Thank you for the reply!

Yes, the older spots are going away but new ones keep popping up. It is quite frustrating..

As for the kitties:

The vet is an approved vet from the shelter I got the cat from, so the first check up to the kitten was free. But I am wondering if I should try another vet. They recommended that I take the kitten into the bathroom and run a hot shower so the steam can help clear her out, which I have been doing with both cats, but I don't really understand how that would change anything if a full round of antibiotics and a steroid shot hasn't worked.

And the older cat is only on an oral medication, like the kitten was, which seemed to work for her. Again, it is just such a frustrating situation because his symptoms didn't start up until her ringworm looked completely gone so I worry they will pass it back and forth. Which the vet says is "possible"   

I wish I would have went with my first instinct and treated them both together instead of waiting as the vet suggested.

Thank you for the link, I read through it and was also wondering about the lime sulfur dip. If nothing else it comforting to know I'm not the only one who has dealt with this.