AIBU to go A and E ? Photo warning

[Brighton5555]

Hi I had surgery on my stomach 3 weeks ago tomorrow all was going well until about 5 days ago when I had a red rash go across my stomach quickly following my yellow/orange/pink sometimes with red leaking

took hours to even speak to a gp and then they gave me two different types of antibiotics which I started on Monday .

i don’t know if it’s infection only or a infected pool of fluid under the skin. The leaking has increased.

no fever, some deep stomach pain on and off , no smell, Shouldn’t it stop leaking now the antibiotics are in my system ?

Absolutely right I do have a allergy to penicillin. The surgical team said the antibiotics are working which surprised me but I have to go with what they say and complete the course .

I am going to contact my gp in the morning to request either a follow up with them to check the healing or the permission to book in with the nurse for dressing change / general look. I am also going to chase the swab results to make sure I have been treated with the right antibiotics.

@ZealAndArdour not really , it’s a fairly common wound infection - but only lab analysis will confirm or deny obviously

Glad you were seen OP, probably wise to have a gp follow up , I hope that the antibiotics kick in soon .

So deep.

Any accident will do, paper cuts need the blue light.

I too think logging it with GP again is a good idea.

I hear what Zeal says about hospital antibiotics, not on thin air. But OP said : "Monday I spoke to a doctor over the phone who prescribed antibiotics." So it's not that the GP had a photo, saw her, did a swab, is it? So how does anyone know that the GP prescribed the right one?

Make sure you let them no you had to be seen at A&E.add weight to the need to be seen by the nurse.maybe fluff it a bit and say they recommended it. Because this needs to be done by a nurse.
I no you will be aware but do t panic if u do feel poorly.metronidazole on its own is mega strong and can cause tummy and roughness.so with another one with it.also remember you CAN'T DRINK alcohol with it.try and have a little bit of food in your tummy when you take it too.just to lone your tum.

Don't let high and might receptionist fob you off.id say your were told to phone in and get some apts to ha e the dressing changed via them due to where the wound currently is at.

Because we have anti microbial guidelines which inform first and second line antibiotics for every type of infection. Most people are fine without a swab/sample sending, and get better with the first line treatment.

The guidelines are put together by microbiologists and public health experts and pharmacists who can zoom out of an isolated clinical scenario and look at the bigger picture of the most prevalent pathogens at a global/national/regional level, taking into account antibiotic resistance, risks vs benefits of the ones with nasty side effects, etc etc.

She should NOT have wasted time asking the opinion of people on mumsnet, they could have been critical hours wasted.
She should have been on the phone to 111. Nobody on mumsnet knows whats wrong with her, nobody knows what medication she is on or if she has any co-morbidities.
When I had a stroke I certainly didn't waste time asking random people on a forum what they thought. I was on the phone to 111 ff's.

Who's she the cat's mother. Her husband was working to 1am, so the children were her priority. 🙄

To even speak to a doctor on Monday I did a E consult and was out to the next day. I spent 90 mins on hold to 111 when it got worse who told me to go to a pharmacy for advice … yes really… When I argued that they then got me a call for Monday afternoon with my Gp where he prescribed the antibiotics.

today is day four and there is no change to the colour or the amount but two surgical doctors at A and E are happy with that I am on. The course finishes Monday and I’ll be back on the phone, attached is after a manual needle drain and a further hole being made taken this morning

@Brighton5555 have you been able to arrange for nurses to change your dressings? They will be able to ensure they reduce the chances of more bacteria entering the wound.

also if you aren’t improving don’t wait for Monday over the the weekend. Go back to a and e

Is that last picture from today? If so I think you need to go back to A&E. That’s not right.

That’s the photo from this morning . The surgical doctors were adamant that the antibiotics are working, having already placed a cannula I thought they may have given IV. He advised change dressings only once a day unless really soaked and clean just with water .
Everything we use is sterile , clean, use gloves … They said only return if I feel unwell ( I don’t ) or have a fever ( I don’t ).

Oh gosh I'm sorry that looks awful.
I don't know if that's normal but definitely go back if there's no improvement by Monday.

I’ve had a lot of surgeries, none of my incisions looked like yours.

Please, if you feel even the tiniest bit unwell, go straight back in.

Even if you are feeling okay, please call 111 early tomorrow morning and push to see or video call a GP urgently.

This is not normal and infected incisions are not something to mess around with.

What was your operation OP? What has the surgical team who did it said? Because it sounds like atrocious aftercare if you had to go to A&E

Have you had a private tummy tuck OP? I only ask because surely you should go back the designated nurses for aftercare?

I'd keep pushing op. This isn't a cough,sore finger etc where we can "quwrry" you being seen.its a major missing wound.get it seen.tell them it causing you major distress,u can't sleep or focus and you please need their support.tell them uve had to be taken to a&e had cannula and swabs and drains.
Make some shit sound horrific if needs be but get yourself through that door.
We are here to support you too ok.but you need looking after luv.yoh deserve that.and there is no way you should be left in fear with a wound like that.thos is precisely the time it's vital for after care. I no the bus is in trouble but you just keep pushing ok.

How are you doing @Brighton5555

Thanks everyone . I’ve spoken to a gp again and she reviewed new photos and is positive I don’t need more antibiotics and what I had is strong . She said the leakage is normal and I have an appointment with the nurse today to check the wound / healing and maybe assist with dressings . I’ve invested in the dressings the hospital were not happy to give me and they aren’t cheap but they are keeping everything more secure .

I’m glad to hear the nurse is doing the dressings now. I hope things continue to get better!

Good luck with it all OP; I would say my infection took 6-8 weeks to heal, that was being seen 2-3 times as an outpatient. It's a bit of a slog, and you need to sit on your arse to let it heal (something I failed at which didn't help at all).

Well done op. You have taken continuedproactive steps all along.im sure it will be fine.
Make sure you look after yourself bow.its the best thing you can do so that your wound can heal.that means mentally and physically.
Get lots of rest if you can.the power of a nourished,rested body is highly under recognised!

that is good to know
might be too late but you can get payment prescription plan for the dressings?