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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do I need to go to hospital?

172 replies

Ohgodmylegmyleg · 04/08/2023 18:48

I’ve got an infected bite that’s not clearing from anti biotics in fact it’s spreading. Virtual GP app yesterday said looked like cellulitis gave me some antibiotics beginning with F. It’s been 48 hrs and it’s just getting bigger. I’ve made another virtual GP app but do I need to be seen in person at urgent care or anything?

really conscious because I know someone who had cellulitis that ended up septic on a drip In hospital

OP posts:
Lessstressedhemum · 05/08/2023 09:04

@Starmer , I know. I've had cellulitis a couple of times and flucloxacillin hasn't even touched it. Not has it worked for anyone else I know who has had it. That's why I said it was hopeless. Doxycycline or IV abx are the only things that have worked ime.

Starmer · 05/08/2023 09:27

@Lessstressedhemum and the plural of anecdote is not data.

Hope you're starting to feel better OP!

RoyalImpatience · 05/08/2023 09:31

Phew!! Well done op
How is it today?

Lessstressedhemum · 05/08/2023 09:50

@Starmer, am aware of this also. I should have originally said that this is only my opinion based on personal experience. Apologies for any offence or confusion I may have caused.

Confused2124 · 05/08/2023 18:10

Be very careful - I had cellulitis and became very unwell with it - started feeling very flu like, couldn’t communicate coherently, ended up in hospital for a week on IV antibiotics

PonkyPonky · 05/08/2023 18:34

I got cellulitis from an insect bite last year and it was hands down the absolute worst and most painful thing that has ever happened to me. I waited far too long to get it looked at though and ended up in hospital. You’ve got on antibiotics early so that’s good. They took about 3 days to start making a difference to me. The thing that helped the most for me was icing it. Painkillers did absolutely nothing. Ice helps massively with the pain, itching, burning and swelling.

JT12 · 05/08/2023 19:08

Get in to hospital ASAP. You can’t err with possibly sepsis. It is serious. My son had lymphangitis that was almost sepsis due to a cat scratch that got infected and ended up on a drip for 3 days. I wasn’t even sure if he needed to go to the hospital but when I took him to the doctor he was admitted as sn emergency and I was told I couldn’t have waited any longer. He was 16 years old and I didn’t realise how serious it was.

Candlestickchic · 05/08/2023 19:26

@Ohgodmylegmyleg how are you doing today OP?

Miisty · 05/08/2023 19:28

go to hospital you need IV antibiotics husband spent 5days in hospital with cellulitis

Original poster
Ohgodmylegmyleg · 05/08/2023 19:29

Candlestickchic · 05/08/2023 19:26

@Ohgodmylegmyleg how are you doing today OP?

I’m much better thank you! The redness has receded and now it feels bruised and sore rather than my being unable to weight on my leg.

thank you for checking in :) xx

OP posts:
Candlestickchic · 05/08/2023 19:35

@Ohgodmylegmyleg Great😀, that’s good news!

Turmerictolly · 05/08/2023 19:36

Dh gets this - the only thing that works for him is Co-Amoxiclav. He gets very feverish and confused and his legs turn purple black. It's very scary. Glad you feel a bit better.

newtoallthisshizzle · 05/08/2023 19:40

You need to go to hospital. They’ll put you on an IV drip to clear it all up. I had this from a bee sting last year. Antibiotics from the GP didn’t work so they suggested I went to A&E who were great.

Iwishikneweverything · 05/08/2023 19:58

Hi. You need about ten days of really strong antiobiotics. Otherwise risk of sepsis. Don’t hesitate. Go to a & e. Immediately. Hope all goes well for you.

Tereseta · 05/08/2023 20:12

I literally had the same thing happen to me in June, my GP doubled my fluxocillan dose in the end as it was getting more swollen. It is still tender now and the skin feels different a month on. My bite also turned into a big blister. Make sure you rest and keep an eye on it, it's horrible

Tereseta · 05/08/2023 20:13

Got to say I went to urgent care and they could be less bothered! Antibiotics and that was it!

Chappers001 · 05/08/2023 20:17

If you're not feeling unwell then you don't have sepsis and it's not an emergency. However it is important that you get someone to look at it either, personally I'd head down to a GP OOH or a pharmacist right away, they can assess how much is spread and what it looks like to determine whether you should have a different treatment, follow their advice.

Chappers001 · 05/08/2023 20:21

Whilst it may not have worked for you flucloxacillin is really not useless, and it works very well for the majority of people as a first line broad spectrum antibiotic.

JayVeeEmm · 05/08/2023 20:27

You probably were prescribed Flucloxacillin - an antibiotic that works best on skin infections.

If it is spreading, please seek further advice as it suggests the antibiotics aren't effective this time. The infection could be spreading, and eventually lead to sepsis.

I'd rather be wrong than not in this advice- - please at least call 111.

HedgehogB · 05/08/2023 20:46

Go. My mum had cellulitis after a bite, ended up in intensive care and one kidney failed. This was 2 days after starting antibiotics

Supersimkin2 · 05/08/2023 20:49

I’ve had this - you need A&E. Docs don’t have AB drips.

Halo10 · 05/08/2023 20:51

I would get yourself to A&E. Cellulitis can be very serious. Sounds like you may need an extra bit of help from some IV abx

Judecb · 05/08/2023 20:58

Go to A+ E immediately. I've had cellulitis twice. If it's not stopped it can become sepsis which is potentially life threatening.

lljkk · 05/08/2023 20:59

Thanks for update, glad it's improving :)

user9630721458 · 05/08/2023 21:29

Hope it continues to improve, OP! The only time was advised to go to A and E for an insect bite was when I developed a red line following the vein down my arm. Don't know what that was about, but 111 did seem to think that should be seen. Never heard of cellulitis, do keep an eye and get seen as others have said, if it seems worse.