C section infection not clearing after 4 rounds of antibiotics!

[naggy095]

I’m now 8 weeks pp and my c section wound looks like it’s becoming infected again! All red along the scar and hurting again. Plus it smells, but no visible oozing (yet).

It first became infected around 2-3 weeks, was put on Flucloxacillin, which did nothing, then was put on co-amoxiclav, which appeared to clear it. A few days after the last dose it looked like it was becoming inflamed and infected again, with oozing, the doctor on the labour ward disagreed and discharged me without medication. I still felt like it was actually infected so spoke to the GP the next day, was prescribed another round of co-amoxiclav and did a swab of the wound. It took the whole course for the swab result to come back, for which I needed another course of specific antibiotic. So I took that and within a couple days my wound looked great, it seemed like the infection was actually clearing! I finished the course, all was good, this was about a week ago. And now today as I said it looks inflamed and hurts, with the same infection smell. That’s 4 rounds of antibiotics now already. I’m currently on antibiotics for strep throat at the moment as well!

What on earth is going on?! Why is it not clearing??? Has anyone else had this happen to them?

I could have written your post! I’m now 14 weeks post c section and finally feeling more myself. The infection was actually worse than the c section itself.

For me, one gp said that the dosage given originally was not strong enough!
I cleaned the wound with cooled boiled water at least 6-7 times a day.
I worse very loose clothing and (sorry if tmi) but no underwear or my dh boxers that way the wound was open and getting air .
I took 1000mg of flucloxacillan 4 times a day and then the co- amoxiclav on top of that. As well as paracetamol in between. Honestly felt like I was just constantly taking tablets.

I was on complete bed rest, couldn’t even get up to lift my baby, needed my dh to do it for me.

It eventually healed but I was told if the infection returned then they would most likely consider opening the wound to drain it.

I really feel for you this happened to me, I was on antibiotics for 6 months! It was horrendous and iv never felt pain like it! I had my child during Covid so they’ll midwifes at the hospital didn’t want to even see me! When a gp finally saw me he said he didn’t even need to look at it as he said he could smell it as I walked in! I was on numerous antibiotics for 6 months untill it finally cleared. Don’t let them fob you off keep going back if it doesn’t improve or the antibiotics don’t work, hope you feel better soon! X

Thank you both for your comments. It really is so frustrating as I’m just going round in circles. The GP has given me some antibiotic cream to apply to the wound and to give it 7 days, if no improvement then they’re going to re-swab it and review my options.

I honestly thought I was done with this as the scar looked so good a week ago!

So I’ve been using the cream since my last post and I don’t know what to make of it now? The pictures don’t show that the skin around the scar is also slightly red/purple too. It still hurts too, but not a lot. Does it look ok or should I go back to the GP? The scar line itself is quite red. I’m 9 weeks postpartum.

To me it’s actually looking okay! The purple/ red skin looks to be more likely stretch marks than anything else. It doesn’t look inflamed or that it weeping but if you want to get it checked over then please do so!

How did it heal op? I'm now in the same boat and looking for anything that would help breaking this vicious circle of the c scar getting constantly inflamed and oozing.