Does this look infected? *TW wound*

[GayPareeee]

Had 25 stitches removed a week ago, Nurse swabbed it this morning after pharmacist saying thought it was infected. Nurse said wasn’t sure, GP prescribed antibots without seeing me ‘if I feel I need them’.

I keep getting odd, grim whiffs from it, it is a bit sore but it’s not weeping (there is something if I dab it. I am minded to wash, dry and slather it with sudocrem tonight (been putting Vaseline on it as per hospital), would that be silly? Does it look infected to you?

i Don’t think it’s come apart, they cut a bigger than needed flap of skin to pull it tight to cover the whole area, like a flag, it was either that or a graft made from shark cartilage!. I am hyper mobile though and my skin does stretch and heal badly!

Because it’s my job

The brown area is eschar, there is no skin under there, this is where they may have put the graft material. I’ve dream on your photo to show where the skin flaps (the bit cut bigger to cover the area have pulled apart)

If you were my patient I would want to see you back this week. Best of luck

That’s, I was back at max fax a week ago, but they are impossible to get hold of. I now have a lull of 3 weeks where I’ve no appts unless the wle comes back positive then back for more to be removed.

i should get the swab results back Monday and will then try and get in with one of the older GPs who know me, it’s v unhelpful being discharged with a follow up phone number that is never, ever answered!

I’m a surgeon. I don’t think this wound looks good. There is a hint of golden crusting which suggests a staph aureus wound infection ( usually sensitive to flucloxacillin) . I think your specialist team need to take a look.

I would stop getting it wet ie stop washing your hair. Clean with antiseptic , let it air dry . No picking….

So I woke up this morning and and area had burst and was leaking, it stank but SH still maintained it seemed fine. Finally got through to hospital, swab requested by GP has grown multi staph strains, so am going to be seen tomorrow and she’s trying to get microbiology to say what antibiotics will work.

Thank you all but especially @olympicsrock , I would still be waiting to be contacted by the GP - just hoping I can sleep ok as I now have a completely exposed area.

Glad you are getting it sorted. Which hospital are you being treated at?

Just my local hospital, if the biopsies show more cancer I think Ill be referred to the Marsden

Ah, if you were local to me I may have been able to get you seen quicker. Fingers crossed for your results.

Bless, thank you!

@olympicsrock who needs the lab when you can identify the organism by look!

Sorry you're having all this hassle op, hope they get you right soon.

Glad to have helped OP… hope your GP gives you some flucloxacillin. Most staph is sensitive to this especially staph aureus.

That’s the problem, I took it for a day at the weekend but it burnt my oeshophagus and made me feel awful so stopped again pending results of swab (GP didn’t think I need anything but prescribed just in case). I have EDS so am tricky with meds (and healing!). So annoying for me and Drs

That would make sense 😂 I wasn't being a smart arse just wondering how on earth you could see.

OP how are you today?

Sorry @pyjamarama forgot to tag you too, thank you.

Feel grotty today, on way to hospital now, also fed up of being so oozy and stinky with no way to hide it. Thanks for asking

You poor thing, hope you get it sorted 💐

Hope you got on ok this afternoon @GayPareeee .

Well, t’was interesting. Said microbiology recommended no antibiotics so instead they debrided as much of the scab as they could, gave it a thorough clean and put a mesh/gel dressing on it, first time it’s had anything on it. They think it’s smelly and oozing cos the scan needs to come off and hope this has done it.

i was meant to be going to Spain for the weekend next week with DS14, told DH to go instead but now feeling hopeful I might be able to make it after all. I’ Ve got to wash it every day and I’ll take a call at the weekend.

Thank you, you’ve been so helpful, all of you

Fingers crossed it starts to clear up and heal now, OP. I hope today's treatment wasn't painful

Hi OP , good that you’ve had a face to face review. Yes now that the scab is off you can wash it daily . (Only has to be dry when you are drying out a scan) . The issue with micro swabs from wounds is that they usually pick up a load of normal skin flora as well like staph epidermidis hence micro saying no antibiotics.

It will now do what is called ‘ healing by secondary intention ‘ meaning that the wound bed is healing v from the bottom upwards which is fine but just takes longer and leaves a wider scar.

I think you would be fine to go to Spain ( it isn’t dangerous - I wanted you to see your team because a scar on the face should be as tidy as possible) . I would get some fucidin ointment / cream from a pharmacy ( no prescription needed) to take with you in case it gets worse while you are away) . It is really good for staph.

also - avoid sunlight while away ( broad hat needed) . I did some plastic surgery and we used to say factor 50 or tape over the wound initially for first 6 months.
The problem is that sunshine on healing wound causes brown pigmentation in the long term.

Thank you, I was out all day and wore a headscarf as it's too raw/sore for a hat just yet, but there is still a lot of green discharge which I think stinks (DH less so). I've got petroleum soaked gauze in as only half the scab is off so they want the rest to be soft so I can carefully remove it.

I am like Shane Warner, wearing pure zinc on all my biopsy sites but this has at least made be not care!

I would just wish they had warned about this at the time, I was given the same aftercare advice for this as I was for the initial biopsy, when it's a different beast entirely!

Thanks again

What instructions were you given from the medical professionals following the surgery?

Were you given a contact number in case of problems?

Hope the scab drops off quickly for you , it sounds like a bit of misinformation post op which is concerning .