Infection wound post surgery?!

[JIMER202]

Does this look majorly infected??

I had a lap 11 days ago and this is the only incision that hasn’t healed so took the steri strips off as they kept getting wet and this mess was underneath. Will I have to have oral antibiotics for this?! I’ve previously had c diff so am very high risk for relapse from oral antibiotics 😭

No picture. If it's still wet after 11 days how come you haven't been back to see Nurse or doctor?

See the GO emergency appointment today

GP

no picture but get someone medical to check it

Yes, get that checked - nurse at GP?

Yes, that's infected. I've had an infected post surgical thing and ended up having two nights in hospital on IV antibiotics. Sorry, go to A&E, don't faff with 111 or GP.

Eeeek. Sorry Op just seen pic. That needs a swab to identify what it is and antibiotics.

Going to see Dr today (the surgeon that did my surgery). How long would a swab take, am I likely to be out on oral antibiotics as we wait? I have no idea if I can shower or not with it like this.

I didn’t see the Dr sooner as it was covered by steri strips until today so I didn’t know the mess it was! Argh.

Did it look similar to this? Any other symptoms? I feel well in myself so hoping that continues!

About a litre of yellow gack was eventually dripping from my bellybutton. But it started like that 🫣

That's definitely infected. Get into A&E immediately and they swab and give you broad spectrum antibiotics and once results come back they might switch you onto specific ones.

Omg! Did it get worse even with treatment?

Anyone know if I can shower? I have a drs appt soon. He will decide a plan I guess.

It’s not necessarily infected, it might just be sloughy. Either way it needs assessing, cleaning and dressing properly.

Yes, you can shower. You might find that the exudate goes away completely if you wash it away.

This is it post shower, headed to the hospital now. Will update!

That looks like it's healing to me.
I would be surprised if ABs were given for this.

They are watching it for a few days, have to keep it clean and dry! It hurts like a mother***!

I hope it dries up soon. I think it will, from the look of it.

Do take painkillers if it's bothering you.

Is your wound okay now @JIMER202?

Get it checked but in the meantime make up a saline solution using salt and boiling water. You need a lot of salt… maybe 10 or so tablespoons to a couple of pints of water. Let that cool and then soak a cotton pad in if and put it on the wound.

My Dad taught me this method as a kid and I always use it and recommend it. Many a time my kids have soaked a grazed hand or scabby foot in saline. It even worked well on my friend’s weeping cesarean wound. The salt is an antiseptic and pulls bacteria out of the cells. It often dries up a lot even after one application.

I am not saying it’ll cure if entirely- you may well need antibiotics- but it will help.

Hi yes update was saw my surgeon and he was not concerned and I didn’t need antibiotics, was told to keep it clean and let air get on it and it’s now half the size and totally dried up.