Should I go to a&e with this? Am I a timewaster?

[Vanillacheesecake1]

Hi, genuinely cannot think straight and can’t tell if I should go to a&e or wait for the gp in the morning

basically I had plastic surgery on the skin at the top face 3 days ago. I had all the normal post surgery pain and tightness and I’ve to wear a compression bandage around my forehead which isn’t particularly comfortable either. But all within the expected amount for after surgery. My post op aftercares were all fine and they said the pain/tightness was normal

but tonight it’s taken a different turn and there’s no out of hours number for the private surgery company to ask. I’ve got a sharp pain at the right side top of my head/scalp (about 3 inches above the area of surgery). It’s excruciating and worse when I move my head especially turning it to the right. But weirdly, as a result of the surgery, I have absolutely no sensation in the top of my scalp at all (I knew this was an after effect of it for up to 6 months) but it’s weird because the area that’s sore is the area that I have no sensation in. Like I can touch the area and am not aware I’m even touching it, but yet I can feel an excruciating pain so I don’t know how that works. I also keep getting a really weird sensation like a cold dribble feeling as if it’s spurting blood and it’s dribbling down my head but there’s absolutely nothing. I can tolerate that but the pain is getting worse and it feels totally different to the other pain/tightness I’ve had which was normal. It started 2 hours ago, cocodomol isn’t helping it at all whereas it was helping the other normal post surgery pain but that all felt sort of achey whereas this is like a sharp stabbing pain.

I can just about get myself positioned in a way that it doesn’t hurt but I had a short nap and I woke up and it still wasn’t better. It’s not particularly swollen or red or hot and I’ve been taking antibiotics after the surgery but I’m just worried about the pain. As I’m typing I’ve got myself into that position that it doesn’t hurt too much but as soon as I move it’s like there’s a knife through my head.

would I be unreasonable to go to A&E for this when I’m otherwise fine? I just don’t know if this pain is normal post op but they don’t have an out of hours number to call and ask and I’m worried about it getting worse and no painkillers is helping it. But since it’s a private surgery, if it is something wrong it’s my own fault for getting the surgery and not a true accident or emergency so not sure if it’s ok to go to A&E for this? I don’t want to be a timewaster but it’s really, really sore. Or is this the kind of thing that you power through and call the private surgery number in the morning and maybe see the GP if necessary in the morning?

sorry, I’m absolutely exhausted after the last few days and can’t think straight so any help would be appreciated x

Yep.

I would go in asap with an infection near an surgical wound on your head.
bring lots of water and pack food and pain killers.

Bring your current medication and while waiting try and put together a short factual timeline of events for the drs

I really hope you get it sorted OP, it doesn't sound normal. I had my ears pinned back when I was 16 and was in absolute agony, my mum kept phoning the receptionist who said it was normal but didn't ask the surgeon.. I then fainted because the pain was so bad, I went back in and the surgeon who turned out to be a junior SHO- no issue with that but wasn't who I signed the consent for, had actually folded my ears down in the bandages and the pain was unbearable. So even tho I was told by the receptionist it was normal it really really wasn't and I should have pushed further.

Really hope you get it sorted x

How are you feeling today?

Hi, apologies just catching up and forgot to update earlier

i went to the GP who was extremely kind but said he can’t really do much because it’s a private treatment, however he did offer to give me some stronger painkillers and gave me some more antibiotics. He said to get back on to the private place and insist they see me but I slept on and off most of the day as I haven’t really slept properly in the last few days

however tonight the pain became absolutely unbearable and I decided enough is enough and I checked my scalp to pinpoint exactly where the pain is and I’ve found something weird. It’s like a lump of something hard, it’s right at the end of the incision and is black and solid- it looks like a blood clot but it doesn’t feel like that- it’s properly solid and feels much more on my skin (the rest of the incision has small crusts of blood but it all wipes off- this doesn’t) I’ll attach a photo below. But this is the exact location of the pain. Im more than freaked out because if it’s not a blood clot I don’t know what the fuck it could be

Now that I’m seeing it in the photo it does look like a blood clot to be fair, it just feels so solid and attached to me like it’s not just a clot on the surface IYSWIM.

whether or not it is a blood clot, i don’t know if that’s the thing causing me pain, or if that’s caused by something else which is the thing causing me pain (if that makes sense)

Op, just go to A&E!!! There is nothing to be ashamed of.

My DH had an awful time post surgery. I really think you need to get checked now. Just think how much better you will feel once this is resolved. Worsening pain or pain that's not improving needs seeing to.

One thing i learned about post surgery infection is that there are two types of infection. One that can be treated with antibiotics and one that can't. The latter needs surgery to clear out the wound before having a long period of much stronger antibiotics. What is your actual temperature? I know your head is wrapped but it won't add that much extra heat - I have tested this theory before. I would not rule out infection at all. A&E will do blood tests to see what's going on and possibly a CT scan. They will have their own surgical team who can advise. Make sure you explain you can't get back to the original place you had surgery.

Painkillers and existing antibiotics aren't going to do anything here. You do need seeing to and a&e is the place.

Go to a&e now!

To me it looks like dried blood (I don’t know if it’s called a clot or something else). But, if you’re in severe pain, you should get it looked at properly. Did the GP check the wound?

That lump just looks like a scab. However,to have this intense pain following surgery isn't normal so you need to be assessed by a clinician.

It sounds like a migraine tbh but you should get seen to rule anything else out.

Private cosmetic surgery scares me. We see their complications post op in the NHS regularly. Aftercare should be better, no out of hours support following surgery is crazy. They obviously think that their patients should just go through the stress of scrabbling around to find answers.

OP I think you really need to go back to your surgeon, travelling if necessary (I know you said it was done in a different part of the country). The NHS are going to be reluctant to mess about with another surgeons work if it was done privately.

It sounds like the lump/clot might be pressing on a nerve, or a nerve is irritated. Your surgeon needs to sort it.

However I’m assuming there will be no way of contacting them now as it’s the weekend? In that case if the pain is so bad you can’t eat, sleep or think, then yes you’ll need to go to A&E. I don’t really know what they’ll do apart from stronger painkillers though.

First thing Monday morning you need to ring your private health number and insist on being seen and go to the surgeon.

It’s possible , as it’s at the end of you incision, it’s the knot of your suture, which is covered in a blood clot. Which is why it feels harder than the other areas of clot. If this has been bandaged tight against your bone, it will explain your pain, leave it loose. Give it a few days. It doesn’t look infected in this photo

OP I just don't understand given your GP said go and see the hospital you had the procedure done and that was quite a bit of the advice here why you didn't go? You can go to A&E and I'm sure they'll help but they'll have no details on the procedure you had done and are not experts in this field.
Call the hospital and demand to see someone !

OP
There have been days and days of working before now, why did you not phone your clinic back?
I know you called them, but you really need their advice now on what to do next.
it’s not really acceptable that you’re in all that pain and don’t know where to go to.

you’re really needing to follow back up with them and get someone in RL to help you. You’ve had loads of advice on here and you don’t really seem to be taking anyone up on it.

Have you a follow up appointment to have stitches out?
Intense pain I presume would be discussed in aftercare advice? Did they suggest the surgery would leave you with temporary pain?
I had cysts removed from my scalp, not the same I know but was advised any pain/sign of infection I had to return asap. They said 2 days max it should feel uncomfortable but should feel no intense pain.

I am taking everyone up on it! I contacted the original place who simply upped my painkillers. I had a mix of responses to go to a&e or to go to the GP so I went to the GP. I know I should have called yesterday after seeing the GP but I’ve barely slept for the last 3 days (I slept Wednesday to Thursday but not a good sleep) and I was absolutely exhausted- I sat on the couch and accidentally slept the majority of the day. I’ve listened to every piece of advice but yesterday was the first time I didn’t because I was physically exhausted!

i tried to contact the place this morning as a long shot (not expecting to get through) and I didn’t, just as I didn’t the other night, but they’ve just called back and turns out they’re open on Saturdays and are going to get the on call consultant to come in and check it. I live a very long drive away but I’m going to get a lift in because it’s worth it to get it checked and I’m worried about it

That's definitely the right thing to do!
Good luck!

Oh I'm so pleased the consultant is going to look at if for you. How far away is it from your home? Make sure you take some over night things just in case

Hope you manage to get it sorted OP, I would like to say that I’ve lived my entire life with the most ridiculous giant forehead and high hairline and this is the first time I’ve ever heard that you can get it surgically fixed! I would absolutely have this surgery if I could afford it!

It could well be nerve damage op. I had surgery on my groin recently and the shooting pains down my leg were unreal, although the surface of the wound was pretty numb. I wonder if it's nerve damage causing some kind of migraine.
Don't let the clinic fob you off, say you've already been to your gp and you've almost gone to a&e and you won't hesitate to take it further if they don't give you satisfactory aftercare.

how long have they said to keep the bandage on? if you can take it off, just nip into the shower and let the water run on it. helps soften the dried blood which is basically all it is. as a wound is healing it starts to feel like it is tightening and this is what causes pain

I can't believe the private clinic have just abandoned you like this. They should be billed by the NHS for your follow up care. No wonder private clinics make profits, they take your money and only do half a job

It sounds like nerve pain. There are different painkillers that act on this eg gabapentin. I do hope you feel better soon 💐

How are you doing today?

Hi, I’m so sorry in the delay in replying.

I was seen yesterday afternoon and the doctor and other staff could not have been more fantastic. They were seriously great.

it turns out I have a big crust/scab (bigger than I realised/in the photo) which is at the end of the incision and the bandage has been causing it to dig in and basically pushing it into the incision causing all the pain. My reaction was probably a bit dramatic for what it turned out to be but honestly it was excruciating. It was basically a big jagged solid crust digging into the incision and the reason it was so sore is because the incision was still sort of unhealed so obviously a scab digging in to the wound would hurt it.

they cleaned it and it’s made it much more bearable, and I’m due to wash my hair tomorrow for the first time which should soften the other scabs and make things more comfortable too so I’ll update tomorrow

but overall it seems to be sorted and thankfully wasn’t anything serious :) thank you so much again everyone for the help! I’m privately very grateful I didn’t go to to a&e after all for what turned out to be a scab lol, it was unbelievably sore though! X