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Original poster

Infected elbow/ arm..

63 replies

NewYoiker · 24/04/2019 00:57

So I had an accident at work last week.. it involved a scalpel and a fainting medical student. Long story.

Anyway. Occupational health gave me a hiv test and not a lot else as it was a clean scalpel. They were frankly fucking useless. I went to see my GP today as it was my day off and I was worried. When I went to see him it was a fairly clean wound and he took a swab and said to keep it open to the air. As I've just finished a course of Clarithromycin for an infected face (got all the sexy stuff me don't I?!)

Now I've had a bit of pain from it over the weekend but oh my god it's mutated through the day. I'm
In work tomorrow and off on Thursday but I don't know what to do with it!

Do I cover it up with a dressing and hope no one notices the discharge or get another appointment tomorrow ?

The photos are;
This morning at 7am
This afternoon at 3 (after the swab)
This evening at 10pm

It's so fucking painful!

OP posts:
bloodywhitecat · 24/04/2019 01:03

I'm no expert but that looks like it is tracking outwards, I'd be calling 111 for advice tonight.

DoorbellsSleighbellsSchnitzel · 24/04/2019 01:06

Sod work. Get another appointment tomorrow. That's not right.
Keep an eye on spreading redness/heat in the area, and also on whether you have a high temperature.

DoorbellsSleighbellsSchnitzel · 24/04/2019 01:08

Are you able to use a marker to dot around the current red area? (In order to identify if it's spreading further, and by how much)

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
PointlessUsername · 24/04/2019 01:09

I agree i would call 111 the ring of redness looks like it has spread from the pictures.

Original poster
NewYoiker · 24/04/2019 01:19

I don't have a temperature but my s absolutely kills! I put a dressing on earlier and it helped the pain a lot, but when I took it off before a shower it was wet and frankly fucking gross!

I think I might have to ring in sick Tomorrow and see if the gp will see me again. He's absolutely amazing but I think wanted to wait as I've literally just finished a 2 week course of antibiotics for my face so he was of the view it should give me a bit of cover for this? But it's a mess :(

God work are going to hate me for ringing in as I'm lead nurse for a big case tomorrow but I can't put a gown on that without a dressing and dressings just make it produce so much exudate it's ridiculous.

OP posts:
Original poster
NewYoiker · 24/04/2019 01:20

*arm not s Blush

OP posts:
DeRigueurMortis · 24/04/2019 01:50

I'm not a HCP but that doesn't look good to me.

You however are a Nurse....what would you advise someone else to do?

That looks infected to me and it's spreading.

Frankly I'd go to A&E now especially as the injury was caused by a medical scalpel (that you believe was sanitised/clean but who knows?).

Original poster
NewYoiker · 24/04/2019 01:57

@DeRigueurMortis I'd tell them to stop being a fucking idiot and go to a&e / the gp as soon as possible

I don't why I have such a hesitancy to go. I think I'll go. It would be really stupid to ignore this but I hate using the nhs. Blush

OP posts:
FiremanKing · 24/04/2019 02:02

I fell over as a child and the graze became infected and my parents took me to the doctor as it was so painful.

It was on my elbow and he said it could turn gangrenous and I had to have the scab soaked off and the wound cleaned and it was very painful but whatever it was they did the infection cleared up.

Get it seen to as a normal would shouldn’t hurt that much after the initial injury

DeRigueurMortis · 24/04/2019 02:33

Well you have your answer then OP.

Get to A&E.

It's a wound caused by a medical scalpel.

That's serious, you know it and even I as a non HCP know it.....

DeRigueurMortis · 24/04/2019 02:39

Oh and tbh even your first picture doesn't look good.

You can see the swelling already and minor pustules of infection.

Tbh I'm surprised you've waited this long to get it addressed.

Stop being a bloody martyr (said kindly).

BlackeyedGruesome · 24/04/2019 02:48

Get to A and E as that is spreading spectacularly fast. Very worrying after finishing antibiotics, seems like some resistant bacteria have taken holdrapidly.

Don't wait til morning. Go now.

MrsMozartMkII · 24/04/2019 03:15

As others have said, that's taking hold fast especially considering there should still be antibs in your system. Get your butt along to A&E lass.

costacoffeecup · 24/04/2019 07:25

I'm sure you don't need to told this but given it happened in a hospital I'd be worried about MRSA and the like. Hope you went to get it treated OP.

RockNRollNerd · 24/04/2019 07:38

Cellulitis is fucking painful and looked like that when I had it. You need to see a doctor and probably need more antibiotics (disclaimer not a doctor just had cellulitis)

TheFuckfaceWhisperer · 24/04/2019 08:29

Morning OP, did you go to A&E? I really would get it seen to as soon as you can if you haven't already, before it takes hold too much

Original poster
NewYoiker · 24/04/2019 09:24

I did go to a&e, and they were appalled at it. At the fact I'm a nurse and left it so long Blush. They wanted to give me iv antibiotics immediately in a&e but they couldn't get a cannula in for ages and it took 7 people trying to get blood out of me, the veins just kept collapsing. so I had to stay in as they were worried about sepsis. I am ticking a couple of the boxes

It's gone all green now 🤢

Infected elbow/ arm..
OP posts:
beenhereages1 · 24/04/2019 09:28

Get well soon Op, that looks so painful!

PointlessUsername · 24/04/2019 10:04

Glad you have been seen, get well soon.

MrsMozartMkII · 24/04/2019 10:11

Blinking heck! So glad you went in. Very much hoping it isn't sepsis.

DoorbellsSleighbellsSchnitzel · 24/04/2019 11:10

Glad you went in! Were you kept in overnight for the IV ABs or are you home now?

DeRigueurMortis · 24/04/2019 12:18

Glad you went to A&E.

Hope the HCP's get it sorted for you. Sepsis is nasty so fingers crossed so don't have it.

misscockerspaniel · 24/04/2019 12:48

OMG that looks painful. Brew Flowers

Original poster
NewYoiker · 24/04/2019 14:35

@DoorbellsSleighbellsSchnitzel I went in and they gave me me iv antibiotics after I finally had a cannula but I'm

Still in

OP posts:
wigglypiggly · 24/04/2019 14:40

That looks really painful, have they found the type of infection yet, guess they have tested the original patient. Hope you feel better soon, green gunk isn't nice

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