Got horrible infection in stiches from op a week ago and feeling very miserable

[GetOrfMoiLand]

Had a gynae op last week (keyhole surgery). Bikini line and belly button stitches not dissolved and very red, raw and pus coming out. Plus smells a bit whiffy. Incredibly painful - not just the stitches sight themselves, but inside, I feel like I am being wrenched inside my stitches, iyswim. Went to drive to the docs earlier, hurt to change gear.

Dr has signed me off for another week, taken swabs and bloods and says it really hasn't healed at all (I also have raised temp). She also commented on the smell - she scared me to death saying they would test for MRSA. What the hell would that mean? Plus my stomach is all bloated and I look 4 months gone.

I am starting a new job in a few weeks and just want to get well, am feeling very down just want to get better.

Oh I don't know I am just moaning.

Thank you so much

Yes - I was given amoxycillin (sp).

I have also got some co-dydromol and diclofenac left over from operation.

The op was because I had awful abdominal pain and went into A&E last Saturday, I had ovarian cysts but they said that they weren't big enough to remove and they would go down on their own. They said that the pain was just ovulation pain (have never had ovulation pain ever, however my periods have been erratic lately). So god knows.

oh poor you Getorf.

I'm no doctor but I thought you'd need stronger antibs than that. I had some sort of horrid infection in a wound and they gave me some power antibiotics that seemed to do the trick. Maybe they are waiting to see what cultures it grows to get the antibs right :-(.

Sounds very very very painful

so was the surgery just to see what was there or to remove the cysts?

Oh no!

I'm so sorry to read this GOML.

You mean she didn't give you any more pain relief?

I'd go see another GP tomorrow or Friday, tbh.

I think I will go and see another doc. She was rather dismissive (didn't make me feel any better when she said 'ooh taht's rather whiffy' when I pulled my top up.

She was a but grumpy because on the bed there was some paper which was all rumpled and torn from a previous patient - she asked me to lie on that without changing it, and I said 'please can you change the paper' so she probably thought I was a bit precious and huffed and puffed a bit. There was a load of rumpled up paper from the bed just chucked on the floor.

She just told me to take ibuprofen, luckily I have got some painkillers from last weeks escapade.

Yes the surgery was to see what was there - I had had an internal ultrasound and they could see the cysts, but they opened me up to check that they weren't twisted or bleeding. I had a orange size cyst about 8 years ago which bled and had to be removed, so I think that influenced their decision.

I know it's moaning about bugger all in comparision to people with serious illness, I am feeling particularly pathetic at the moment which is not like me at all really. Feel like I have got the start of flu, all hot and bothered, and feel sick.

Thansk for listening.

Christ I sound like Frasier CRane

Thank you for the advie - I think I will see how it goes like you said, if it is not any better by Friday will call nHS direct.

it is not moaning about nothing!

you've had a surgical procedure!

I agree, please go and see another doctor if you don't feel any better. You sound terribly poorly and those infections can spread round your body so quickly.

Always better to be bothersome in this case and not worry about the repurcussions. Just remember all your mumsnet buddies ordering to the doctor, then you won't worry about it .

hope the results are ok and you don't have to have a follow up procedure

If you don't have some marked improvement by Friday - i.e., if you're still running a fever or in a lot of pain/still pussy/whiffy - definitely get an emergency appointment or, after 6PM, ring NHS Direct.

You can ring tomorrow and ask them to see if a GP will prescribe you more painkiller.

Not really on of her to get grumpy about changing the paper seeing as you were there with infected surgical wounds .

Thanks very much for posting on probably the most boring thread on mumsnet!

I will definitely do that - DP wanted to go to out of hours GP last night but I didn't want to because the Brits were on . Have found NHS direct to be very helpful in the past so will iuse them.

Thansk again.

Try another GP at any rate if you are still hurting or have fever or the wounds are still smelly/pussy after 2 days on the ABs.

You may need something else or a stronger or different AB.

Just don't let it lie if things don't improve by then no matter what's on telly!

Oh Getorf, I really feel or you! I've had infected stitches and they were worse than labour.

You are definitely not moaning and I would second the people saying that you cannot be too 'bothersome' in this case.

Oh no ((((hugs to you)))) that must blumin OUCH! Like what realrabbit said - hope you have a comfortable night x x

It's not my normal GP thankfully - is a locum.

I was going to watch masterchef but I can't be arsed, think will go to bed.

Thanks you lovely lot.

Sounds very uncomfortable - poor you. Definitely agree you should get another opinion if there's no improvement soon - no matter what your 'lovely' GP said.

Poor you it does sound very painful obviously an infection somewhere. You definately need something stronger than Amoxycillin. Please try and get back to see someone if you still don't feel well tomorrow.

GOML

I would be contacting the gynae ward staff who carried out the operation as a matter of urgency. Were you given you a follow up appt?. I ask this as no follow up post such gynae surgery is completely unacceptable.

If this hospital has PALS I'd be making use of their services because you need to make a formal complaint.

It sounds like they've made a real pigs ear of your op and have caused you a post operative infection as a result.

Such things do not go away on their own; it needs urgent treatment. You will need to be persistant in order to get answers; you simply cannot afford to be fobbed off here.

Sorry to hear this GOML...i second conacting the ward who dealt with you at the hospital, they may want to see you to check things over...

Can you bath yet?Tea tree baths are brilliant for infected wounds HTH xx

You poor thing:( Salt bath is also good. Hope you feel better soon x

Hello.

I went to out of hours doctors and told them the story, they said it was a nasty infection, and gave me some different antibs (oxotertracycline or something). Said that there was no need to go back on the ward and if I wanted a referral I would have to go back to my GP.

I have got a GP appointment this afternoon (not the locum, a different doctor who I KNOW) and I am going to speak to him about it and ask his advice. Swab resukts should be back then as well.

Atilla thanks - I think I will make a complaint about the initial treatment in the hospital certainyl.

Otyher than that I have been in bed feeling grim. Stll got a temp, but the wound looks less nasty.

I know it sounds daft but I am just feeling so low about it, however hopefully I am on the mend now and will be back t o work next week, fingers crossed.

Thanks again everyone.