Infection 10 weeks after c-section

[Manchot17]

I had an emcs 10 weeks ago (for my first baby). Through failed after care by the community midwife and maternity unit, I didn’t know that I was anaemic, had a UTI, external wound infection and an internal wound infection - I just thought the symptoms were a horrendous phase to go through. I’ve been backwards and forwards to the hospital and now with my GP. Every time I see someone new and we are back at square one. Weirdly I don’t seem to get much of a temperature so the GPs think everything is okay. However, I’m now finishing my 4th course of antibiotics and I’m convinced that the infections (mainly the internal wound one now) never goes, the symptoms improve and then when the antibiotics have finished the symptoms get worse again.
Has anyone been in this situation before? How did you finally overcome the infection/s? If the antibiotics are not fully working what is happening inside my body?!
The symptoms (flu-like symptoms, hardness in belly pouch, hallucinations, chills, night sweats, sudden bleeding and clots, stomach pain and discomfort, foul smelling discharge) are really getting me down and seems never ending! What have your experiences been like?

I was readmitted to hospital for very strong iv antibiotics (ciproflixcacin and metronidazole) it turned out I had a antibiotic resistant superbug which I got through the surgery itself. They took swabs from my wound and ran them to see what was the bacteria causing the infection? Have they done this for you? I found when they initially put me on amocixillin that symptoms improved but only whilst I was on them, as soon as they finished I got sick again. I would push for a referral back to women's health in your hospital and get them to run some urgent tests. Hope you feel better soon x

Hi inthesky42, thank you so much for your response! This is really helpful!
When I was under the care of the hospital through triage, the consultant was going to admit me for the IV and then when the midwife took over she said it wasn’t needed and gave me oral tablets instead. Then went past the 28 days point and they wouldn't see me anymore and I had to go through the GP. The hospital was sending my swabs off but there was confusion at one point over which antibiotic I should be on which funny enough was the metronidazole that you mentioned, I never ended up having it. My GP disregarded my request for updated swabs and gave me new antibiotics over the phone, which still have not cleared the infection. I’ll go back to the GP, refusing to take any more oral antibiotics I think and request to be referred back to the hospital. Otherwise can see it going on forever!
Thanks for sharing your experience!

I had an external infection. I could smell it whilst still in hospital but told I was wrong it wasn't infected. Ended up being re-admitted for iv antibiotics a few days after initial discharge. Then the merry-go-round started after I was discharged. Infection flared up, was given 4 days oral antibiotics as it was only a minor infection. Back at gp 3 days later as flared up again. This went on for 8 weeks until I saw a lovely GP, she said looking at the symptoms I should only need 4 days, but looking at my history lets give you 2 weeks and get rid of it for good. Hopefully someone soon looks at your history properly and you get the treatment you need.

Thank you for sharing Bigpinkslippers! That is so true, no-one seems to be taking the time to look at the bigger picture. So hard isn’t it to get to the bottom of medical issues sometimes when you see someone new each time. I didn’t know that you could get a course for 2 weeks just assumed it was for up to 7 days.
Did that tackle the infection for good? Have you had any symptoms since or is it nicely healed now?

The infection cleared up completely after the 2 week dose and never came back.

Ask to go back to gyne outpatients, maybe a collection somewhere not resolving?

Sounds like you have been round the houses. I had similar problem, discharged after first readmission with oral antibiotics, flare up, gp thought only minor so didn't do anything, tried to go back to triage they said no as too many days postnatal, luckily I'd been booked a follow up appointment as an outpatient to check all was OK, presented at that appointment with racing pulse, raging fever and generally feeling like absolute crap. Then they finally listened, readmitted me and did all the swabs to get the right iv antibiotics to fight it off. I nearly complained to PALS (in your situation I would recommend that you do, as it seems there's a definite failing in the follow up care in this situation and there is no proper pathway for patient care, at one point I was one tick box away from sepsis diagnosis as it had been left too long). I really hope they listen to you and get you the treatment you need. Needless to say I'm now done having kids because this was my 2nd c section after an emcs first time around and I can never face another c section again!!

Quick update: By chance, I happened to receive a call from my health visitor for a catch up as she knew my recovery hadn’t been the greatest. As I wasn’t getting anywhere, thankfully, she called the maternity ward on my behalf and they advised that I go to A&E to be reassessed and referred to emergency gynaecology. So I did. After new swabs, bloods, 2 lots of IV antibiotics and a full check up, the symptoms have fully gone for the first time in ten weeks! Fingers crossed it stays this way. Even in the last couple of days, I’ve been able to do a lot more as getting more and more energy everyday! Whoop whoop 🙌
Thank you all for your responses! x

Inthesky42, thanks, cor you’ve been through it too! Bet you’re so glad to be out the other side, especially after 2 c-sections! Yeah I must admit, I can’t quite imagine going through it all again at the moment for number two 😬🤦🏻‍♀️ x

@Manchot17 did you have backache with this? Wondering if I have an internal infection or UTI as I'm fighting something and have abdominal pain around my C-section scar and backache, feel so run down. 5 weeks PP.

Hello, I’m sorry to hear that you are having a tricky recovery. Yes, I did have back ache too. It’s difficult as symptoms do overlap. I’m now
3 years on from my post 😊 I’d recommend keeping a note/ diary of your symptoms and go back to your GP. I know I had to be persistent to get sorted in the end. I hope
you feel better soon and can enjoy your little one!

@Manchot17 thanks so much for replying after all this time! Must seem like a distant memory now. I'm going to head to GP tomorrow (will beg for a F2F) as my working hypothesis is UTI or internal infection from C-section. Typically symptoms started Friday night, when GPs and nursery's close for the weekend and we have a 2 year old at home too! The sleepless nights and visitors descending yesterday have been a challenge but almost there. Husband has just offered to feed little one with expressed milk I had in the fridge, so I can have a lay down!