Infected cut - any ideas?

[essbee]

I'm pretty sure it's infected, i've had it over a week and it's now red around it (whole area about 2 or 3 inches), it's also swollen and leaking fluid (yuck!!).

Avoiding gp's is there anything else I can try? I've tried salvon and covering it. MTS is sending me some slightly out of date anti-biotic cream, do you think this'll do the trick. Oh and my whole arm now really aches.

Cheers my dears

If your arm aches, you need to see the doctor, hon.

yes I would see the doctor (or even the nurse - they are good with wounds!)

I took ds rather reluctantly as he had a seeping, infected wound (thinking I'd just be given antibiotic cream and be done with it) and they put him on a massive, 10 day, 4 times a day course of antibs.

I think infected wounds can easily get worse quite quickly so worth getting seen by GP I'm afraid.

Hot bread poltice

Need some lint or gauze, put bread in lint and put in boiling water, take it out and squeeze water out, then put on infected area.

I swear by this and it will bring all the gunk out, though I warn you it does sting.

Would you consider seeing a pharmacist?

Alternatively, dh will set to with a scrubbing brush if he gets a dirty/infected cut then applies loads of savlon or similar - but cut must be clean first and it looks like it blo*dy hurts when he's scrubbing away.

Tbh, if your whole arm aches, I think you need to be seen by someone who knows what they are doing!

I think you need to see the doctor as well, sounds as if you need some antibiotics. The cream probably won't be enough if your arm is aching.

It may well be something like cellulitis, which you really do need to get seen by the GP.

You poor thing,

Have you tried warm water with salt in it at regular intervals then letting it dry in the air, before applying a clean bandage with no creams? This is the good old-fashioned way to kill infection, but to be honest it sounds like it would be best to get it treated professionally as otherwise it could turn septic or worse?

I'm ok about seeing a pharmacist, I just don't want my (new) gp knowing anything else! I'm embarrassed already about the amount of things that i've found out that are on my medical records.

The salt and bread things sound good to try too though, i'll try those tonight.

Do you think i'm ok leaving it 'til tomorrow to see the pharmacist, just that i'd have to take ds/dd today.

Thanks loads!

essbee
that's what your GP is there for! your health! honestly, if you're in pain and it's leaking fluid, bread's not gonna work unless it's got penicillin spores all over it.

essbee go to the gp
other posters are right, that is what they are there for

infections that are left can turn very nasty

Bum! I know you're right I was just hoping someone could just tell me to leave it and it would go away or something.. I've just looked at it again and it's actually swollen right across the width of my arm now. Have I ever mentioned I don't like going to the gps??

Actually do you think a walk in clinic would see me/sort it? I'm sure they're one in town and I really do want to avoid it getting on my records along with seeing my gp!

Oh and what's cellulitus? Are you telling me I have dimples in my thighs??

(as a side issue, why worry about it getting into your medical records? An infected wound can happen to anyone!)

Any place where a doctor can look at it and prescribe what's needed to make it go away will work, but streaks up your arm, leaking fluid and pain are NOT good.

Go today. Don't put it off.

If you develop a fever, get to A&E asap.

and cellulitis is a soft tissue infection ie what happens when bacteria get in a wound, and rather than infecting just the skin and local area, start getting aggresive and spreading up the limb - can be quite nasty.

nothing to do with cellulite!

I'm sure the walk-in clinic would be able to sort you out if you don't want to go to the GP

Got to go to school now (already late!) but I will go and see at least a pharmacist or find the walk in place tomorrow. I really don't think I can face taking my son today.

Thanks again for your advice and kick up the bum, was needed. i'll let you know how I get on when I can get online next.

Any news essbee?

essbee, how are you? did your move go ok??? been looking for you on here but havnt found you for ages!!

I ended up going to the walk in clinic last night as it was getting worse. They were really good and only had to wait 5 mins to be seen. She said it did look infected but was localised as I didn't have a temp so she cleaned it up and put some stuff on to draw the gunk out (and made it hurt like mad!!) which i'm supposed to leave on for another day. I've also got some cream to use after and clean dressings I had to take it off and put a new one on this morning though as it was leaking through (sorry I know it's gross!). It's looking much less swollen though so I think it's healing. Thanks again.

Lol! Believe it or not I crossed posts with both of you as I got distracted! (my ex called me on my mobile!).

Stacey - The move eventually went ok, i've been in about a month now and mostly things are going ok considering! How's you? Sorry we never managed that drink, you'll have to come to Devon to have one!

im fine hunny, thats a bit of a long way for a drink! lol, if your ever visiting give me an email!!!

we're fine, expecting baby no 2 and moving into our own place soon, oh yeah and getting married in aug, so got a lot going on this year! lol

glad the move went ok, hope your arm gets better quickly! sending my love!

WEll if you make it down it'd be a very cheap holiday! I do come up quite a bit atm but i'm trying to cut it down but it's very lonely here most the time!! Congratulations on your baby news and your wedding plans!!

Cut's got ultra yuck now btw and itches like crazy! Much less swollen tho.