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Original poster

A&E or Doctor on Monday

128 replies

Needanewnamebeingwatched · 15/04/2023 16:52

Had a 360 FDL tummy tuck on 11th March, surgery went well. Lots of fluid build up which was normal, however three weeks later I developed an infection in a small hole I had and ended up in hospital for three days. This is fine now and no fluid coming out of it anymore.

Now I have a soft area, with pain and redness at the front of the scar. With dark brusing?! Underneath.

Do I wait until Monday and go and see the doctor or ring the plastic surgeon who dealt with me while I was in hospital (no idea if they are there) or just go to A&E.

I tried a walk in centre last time and got told off for not going direct to a&e as they couldn't deal with the issue.

Pictures are 1 normal side and 2 of the "bad" side

OP posts:
Theredjellybean · 15/04/2023 19:13

I am a GP and i would say if NHS 111 who are notoriously risk adverse put you through their algorithm and it said GP monday then you are ok.
that does look like a small collection under the scar tissue but you have no clinical signs of sepsis that you have described here
I would see you in out of hours gp service over the weekend if you had come through to me ( i work in out of hours and we get all patients via nhs 111 then ring them to triage)
so you could ring back and ask ( firmly) what out of hours gp service you can be seen in .

Kam610 · 15/04/2023 19:15

Op, you've asked on here A&E or Dr on Monday, but it looks like you've made up your mind anyway.

I'm a nurse and would be concerned if a patient of mine had spreading infection like that. Although your temp is ok now, sepsis can come on quickly and rapidly. I would seriously consider a trip to a&e tonight.

violetskypurple · 15/04/2023 19:15

Needanewnamebeingwatched · 15/04/2023 18:40

I don't want to tie up A&E tonight, so will wait it out probably till Monday morning, unless as others said it gets worse.

I mean I wouldn't want to use any NSH resources, not that I haven't spent all my working life paying in mind you, being 52 now and paid in since 16 🙄

What was the point in posting if you should go to A&E for everyone to say yes to go
A&E and then you say no?

Elcapitano · 15/04/2023 19:18

A&e. It looks a bit like my mams leg did with cellulitis, the Dr told her off for not going sooner because the infection in the skin is close to blood vessels and once it reaches that, then you're septic.
Just go and they'll give you some antibiotics

AbsoluteYawns · 15/04/2023 19:18

OP I'm no doctor but omg that looks bad! Get to A and E for some help!

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 15/04/2023 19:19

You were told last time, by the walk in centre, that A&E is where you should have gone. So why on earth are you going to go to the GP on Monday?! They're just going to say the same thing.

Throwncrumbs · 15/04/2023 19:26

You should have contact details for your surgeon if you had it done in the uk. Did you have this surgery abroad? If you did then you now expect the NHS to sort it out? It looks infected and there’s a build up underneath that may need cleaning out. Yeah they will love you in a&e!

MeinKraft · 15/04/2023 19:29

Throwncrumbs · 15/04/2023 19:26

You should have contact details for your surgeon if you had it done in the uk. Did you have this surgery abroad? If you did then you now expect the NHS to sort it out? It looks infected and there’s a build up underneath that may need cleaning out. Yeah they will love you in a&e!

Well what's her alternative, just die of sepsis because she had the audacity to pay for her own surgery rather than try and get the nhs to do it?

Throwncrumbs · 15/04/2023 19:33

MeinKraft · 15/04/2023 19:29

Well what's her alternative, just die of sepsis because she had the audacity to pay for her own surgery rather than try and get the nhs to do it?

Show quote history

The alternative is to pay to have the surgery in a reputable private HOSPITAL, with aftercare in the package in the UK. Not go to a CLINIC in a country where it’s CHEAP for a reason as you get NO aftercare. After all it’s your life that’s at risk.

ChocHotolate · 15/04/2023 19:37

I am not having a go at the OP so don't jump on me for that.
But....
Overseas elective surgery (tummy tucks, boob jobs, teeth etc) have become a big problem for NHS hospitals in the past couple of years. Everyday where I work we get at least 1 person with a complication from this type of surgery. Of course there is no follow up from overseas so the poor individual ends up in A&E. Replicate this nationally and you can imagine the impact this is having

IhearyouClemFandango · 15/04/2023 19:39

Honestly, that's all besides the point surely? Regardless, many of us do things every day that put us at risk of needing the NHS

Dymaxion · 15/04/2023 19:48

@Needanewnamebeingwatched I honestly think you should be seeing someone before Monday, A&E or at the very least the out of hours Doctors if you are adamant about not going to A&E.
If that very fragile looking wound area breaks down, you are going to be in for a very protracted and messy healing process ( think weeks/months ) and a lopsided and much bigger scar at the end, is that what you want ?

tolerable · 15/04/2023 19:49

a+e- better safe than sorry-go

Willowthecrisp · 15/04/2023 19:50

OP I had a scar infection (from a C section) and 111 wanted me on antibiotics straight away. It was red and painted and I had a little seeping from the wound where it re-opened due to the infection. I would phone 111 again if I were you. Alternatively try an online pharmacy- they have prescribers who may be able to help. It’s pricey though.

Original poster
Needanewnamebeingwatched · 15/04/2023 19:52

Right the 6 surgeon I saw were 3 when I went into hospital they came to have a look, as there was talk if opening me up clearing out the infected fluid, but they didn't need to in the end.

1 a day later who came to check me and tell me no surgery required.

1 at a follow on appointment to look at the small hole and 1 for the second follow up appointment who discharged me Tuesday last week.

All said the surgery looked great and it was unfortunate that I got an infection

Having surgery in the UK wouldn't have prevented that.

This is picture is now and it looks less angry and sore.

Temp is

Yes I did ask A&E or doctor and would have gone to A&E if things got significantly worse, but I'm not going to tie them up unnecessarily.

OP posts:
Original poster
Needanewnamebeingwatched · 15/04/2023 19:53

Temp is 36.8

OP posts:
Boohisspiss · 15/04/2023 19:53

Looks very sore. When I was at university i
had cellulitis on my leg, left it because I couldn’t be bothered to go
to a and e. Two days later I went into septic shock and spent a long time in hospital. Just go now, get it treated quickly so it doesn’t get worse/ have to spend more time in ghastly hospital.

Original poster
Needanewnamebeingwatched · 15/04/2023 19:55

ChocHotolate · 15/04/2023 19:37

I am not having a go at the OP so don't jump on me for that.
But....
Overseas elective surgery (tummy tucks, boob jobs, teeth etc) have become a big problem for NHS hospitals in the past couple of years. Everyday where I work we get at least 1 person with a complication from this type of surgery. Of course there is no follow up from overseas so the poor individual ends up in A&E. Replicate this nationally and you can imagine the impact this is having

How many have complications from surgery in the UK?

Against how many have complications from surgery abroad?

OP posts:
dig135 · 15/04/2023 19:55

I was going to recommend the same as the others. I've just had a hip replacement privately and I can ring the hospital 24/7 even when the specialist outpatient unit is shut. They're then able to contact my consultant if needed.

If you really don't want to go to A&E (which I'd recommend), presumably you could still call your overseas hospital for advice as they should be contactable at all times. They may be able to look at photos or video call you with some advice at least. But I'd still go to A&E.

Aberdeenusername · 15/04/2023 19:56

Op I got sepsis from my C section and the scar was much smaller than that and didn’t even look as bad as that. You’ve no idea what your infection markers in your blood are like just now regardless of your temp etc please go to A&E

Gcsunnyside23 · 15/04/2023 20:05

My dad had no temp and just redness, which dud spread, after he got his knee op and it was a hairsbreadth from sepsis. It then resulted in a year of surgery and recovery. I would say if you're worried then go get seen asap. My dad also got his knee op abroad, it was under the EU scheme so fully reputable doc and hospital. EU scheme was pushed to him by NHS as the waiting list was so long. Not all surgery abroad is dodgy Turkey doc

megletthesecond · 15/04/2023 20:12

If this is actually real then get yourself to A&E now and stop being so reckless with your health. It will cost the NHS more to fix a bigger mess.

Bluebells1970 · 15/04/2023 20:13

Thing is OP that there's no way of knowing what is behind that tissue. I had a badly infected C section scar that initially looked fine from outside. 25 years later I've still got a horrific ridge of scar tissue. If you've had this procedure done and paid good money for it, don't chance a lifelong scar from this.

OconsRazor · 15/04/2023 20:17

I had a tummy tuck in the UK and had brilliant care and I still got an infection. The private care was amazing at no extra cost; dressing changed three times a week, they phoned me at home to see how I was, etc.

And mine never looked as angry as that tbh. I think if it had I would have got it checked at A&E.

Mirabai · 15/04/2023 20:30

A friend of mine had a wound, where he had fallen off his bike, checked by the GP as he was concerned about its redness. GP said it was fine - no pus, no fever, heart rate normal. Well, he nearly died of sepsis.

Your wound may be fine or it may be infected, no-one here can tell regardless of their qualifications, and regardless of your temperature and heart-rate. Only a blood test will tell for sure.