Anyone ever had cellulitis? Does it ever go?!

[Redfooty]

I cut the bottom of my foot about five weeks ago and three weeks later it started to look red on top. So last week I went to the GP and they said it was cellulitis. Have now taken a weeks worth of antibiotics.

Went back to the doctor on Tuesday and said I thought my foot was still red. GP thought it looked better but gave me more antibiotics. It's now -really red and sore.

Will it ever go? Should I just keep taking the antibiotics? They're giving me a headache and I don't think they're working

(Doesn't help I don't trust my new doctor as she seems mad)

It doesn't help that it's so hot and my foot is swollen because of the heat anyway

keep taking the anti bacs, could headache be dehydration?
I read that many people were dehydrated in this weather.
I think your foot is swollen due to the cellulitis not the heat.
Go back to the gp asap. not to frighten you but they may have to iv your ab into your system.

What are the antibiotics? Fluclox is given as a standard and can get rid of most. Although SM stoned the dosage isn't high enough.
Calvapen is needed for some bacteria.

Speaking as a non doctor/ health care but as someone who had had this multiple times.

You must keep taking the antibiotics, if you don't it will only get worse, and can be life threatening. However if it is not improving or getting worse, go back to your GP tomorrow. If you feel ill, ring 111 for advice.

I am taking Fluclox. First week had 500mg now on 250mg

Have you drawn a pen line around it to see if the area of infection is spreading? Do this tonight and if it's bigger in the morning you NEED to go back.

Cellulitis needs to be taken seriously. Antibiotics do not cause headaches, it’s more likely you are dehydrated and that is affecting you.
Complete your course of antibiotics, increase your fluids and elevate your foot !
I had cellulitis last year - caused by a leech bite - required 6 weeks of antibiotics and multiple complications. If you don’t improve get another opinion, you may require a different a/b

Are you sitting with your foot up?
You need to do this and if the redness is going further up your leg you need emergency treatment, immediately.
Mine took about 4 weeks to go, foot didn't go back to the size it was as skin had stretched
I have to wear flats now, can't fit shoes on the foot

SM stone
Sometimes

Fluclux didn't work for me, I ended up on penicillin as can't take erithrimitis which gp said he would have prescribed. iirc

Suggest going back to GP and asking to up the fluclox and take calvapen also. It should be better after 48 hours and not worse. As PP said it can get serious very quickly

Go back to GP. I had cellulitis very badly. GP didn’t take it seriously. I went to A&E for a second opinion and they admitted me and operated that day.
Sorry, don’t want to scare you but it can be serious.
Do not stop taking the antibiotics.

The first time I had cellulitis I was on antiobiotics for 8 weeks, then became allergic to penicillin so had to switch to a “mycin” type which wasn’t so effective and was on them for a further 4 weeks. They did talk about having to go to hospital to have IV AB’s but it started to get better.

It can take a long time to go. Keep taking them and go back to doctor if it spreads.

Thanks all. I thought there was penicillin in Fluclox?

It doesn't seem to be spreading up really. It's in my toes that they're swollen and red and there are a couple of mini blisters, and it's dry between my toes. Typical red shiny skin. Rash finishes below ankle.
I'll book another GP appt but will wait for another doctor.

I don't know red but they said the iv was penicillin because the Fluclox wasn't working.
maybe wasn't strong enough.
The thing is though after a day and night in hospital on iv it drastically improved, and started to slowly get better.
The sooner you get the iv if you need it the quicker you'll improve.
I was surprised.

Fluclox is a penicillin antibiotic, yes. It should be used to treat a narrow range of gram positive bacteria. However, ‘penicillins’ are a big class of drug and are used to treat all sorts of infections. One ‘penicillin’ drug does not fix all.

Please don't fuck about with this. I ended up in hospital on iv antibiotics for a week with it. If you are seeing no improvement then go to out of hours.

I had cellulitis leading to thrombophlebitis [sp?] and ended up in hospital. Can't remember 2 weeks of my life. For god sake keep an eye on it, take the pills and go back to the doctor.

How bad was yours? This is annoying but it's not overly painful and isn't really growing . I don't want to waste anyone's time

My mum had it for nearly 8 weeks last summer on one leg. I think she ended up having 3 or 4 different kinds of antibiotics and it was the last one that started to work. She was utterly miserable - and her leg peeled horribly. She found E45 kept in the fridge helped cool it and flannels soaked in aloe vera. But do go back if the antibiotics aren't working.

Did she feel ill? I feel tired and under the weather but again not sure if that's just the heat!!

I don’t like the sound of your skin condition, OP. The blister, tightness & redness. I’m a nurse and obviously I can’t assess you over the internet but from what you describing, I would urge you to get another appointment for assessment. It isn’t unusual for cellulitis to require long courses or oral or intensive IV antibiotic treatment. Get it checked, better safe than sorry.

*of oral, not or oral