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I have an infection

Posted , 15 users are following.

CelsB
CelsB

I took myself to A & E last night because I was anxious my wound was becoming infected.  It was feeling hot, sore and getting a little red along the incision line.  The doctor agreed and has put me on antibiotics.  He says it is a soft tissue infection and not a deep wound infection but I am terrified after reading horror stories about people needing operations and worst possible scenario having to have their hip joint removed.  I am 6 weeks post op.

I have no idea how this has occurred.  Everything was going well for the first few weeks.  I knew I had some fluid under the skin, the physio said so last week but at that point the wound looked clean and sealed and he advised me to massage it with E45.  Whether this has introduced infection I don't know .  

I am due to see my surgeon for my 6 week check up on Monday.  In the meantime I am looking for (hopefully) words of reassurance.  I am on Clarithromycin 250mg twice daily.

I am worrying myself sick.

Cels xxx

2 likes, 53 replies

53 Replies

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  • susyp
    susyp CelsB

    Posted

    Hi Cels sorry to hear your news. Can't offer any advice on this other than its not a deep wound infection just tissue so I am pretty sure it won't affect your hip. Try not to worry I'm sure the Hospital would of sent you for other tests if they thought it would.

    Thinking of you as I know everything is a worry.

    Take care

    Sue x

    • CelsB
      CelsB susyp

      Posted

      Thanks Sue,

      The doctor took my temperature which was fine. I think it would have been raised if it was anything too serious. He also looked at my whole leg rather than just the incision area.  I specifically asked him if was a 'surface infection' (I didn't know what to call it) or anything more serious.  He seemed quite certain it was just a soft tissue infection.   

      Cels xxx

  • rose0000
    rose0000 CelsB

    Posted

    Oh no cels, my heart stopped a beat when i saw your post come up. There have been plenty of other hippies on the forum with infections and they have been fine, I hope that will be a small comfort to you, and myabe they will post to reeassure you. I have been thinking of you and hope you will continue to post so we can support you. I would be upset, anyone would, but I am sure you have caught it early and it will be okay now you are on antibiotics .big hugs to you today 
    • CelsB
      CelsB rose0000

      Posted

      Thank Rose,

      Of course I will continue to post.  I have had so much support here I hope to be able to give something back.  Infection has always been one of my biggest fears and the one we seem to have the least control over.  Scary!

      Cels xxx

  • sarah1996
    sarah1996 CelsB

    Posted

    Oh no im so sorry to hear this. Hopefully it will heal up quickly if its only a soft tissue infection.

    Get well soon hunnie xx

    • CelsB
      CelsB sarah1996

      Posted

      Thanks Sarah,

      I hope you had a better night last night Xxx

    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 CelsB

      Posted

      I did other than when i needed to get up for the loo but i was so stiff i was literally crying in agony and couldnt pull myself up. Had to wake my dad up for him to help me and my mam getting me up. Felt bad about that though since he sleeps bad to begin with and has work but i felt 1000x better once id managed to stand up.

      Really hope your infection cleara up though, you were having such a good recovery to. But im sure it will clear up quick. Becareful hunnie xx

  • lors23
    lors23 CelsB

    Posted

    Aww god cels what a shame you must be scared. Something is telling me that l heard not to use e45 cream and that bio oil was the best but l can't see that being the cause of infection though. I am 7 weeks post op and my wound has totally healed up. It actually looks like an old wound. But l had glue no staples and l could not see any stiches.

    Hopefully it is just a surface infection like the hospital said and it clears up. Is your wound still raw and new looking? Are you feeling ok otherwise?

    Thinking of you l hope it clears up soon

    Laura xx

    • CelsB
      CelsB lors23

      Posted

      Thanks Laura,

      No, my wound is all sealed up now, but it became quite red which, along with it feeling warm to the touch and the general pain in the area prompted me to get myself to the doctor.  Apart from feeling generally hacked off that this has happened I don't feel ill.  One good thing, I drove myself to the hospital (naughty naughty) and didn't find driving a problem at all.  I left at about 5.30pm too so the roads were quite busy.

      Cels xxx

    • bini31328
      bini31328 lors23

      Posted

      Bio oil is excellent , when I worked in A and E we were always told to tell patients to avoid using anything with lanolin in it as can contribute to excess scar formation - dont know if E45 has that or not. Bio oil is very expensive but primark do a version that is much cheaper and just as good - ive heard vaseline mentioned as well but dont know whats in that except for petroleum jelly. None of them will cause infection . They went in through my old posterior scar which looks better now than it did previously - less puckered / lumpy - its just at that itchy phase which is a good sign of healing and i find im rubbing it unconsciously through my clothes all the time  - which must look a bit odd when I,m out ! Xxx
    • CelsB
      CelsB lors23

      Posted

      Oh, by the way, I think it was Aqueous cream that was not recommended (Graham's website).  I tried bio oil but experienced a burning sensation - now I'm thinking that was possibly because of the infection.  The E45 was recommended by my physio as being neutral and moisturising Xxx
    • lors23
      lors23 CelsB

      Posted

      Ha ha l think l started driving earlier than l should have to but l felt ok to do it. Just be careful then. I sometimes get some aching from the both wounds and other times l can't feel them at all. Depends on what sort of day l have had. Like yesterday l drove to my work (about 20 miles) for a meeting then l stood and spoke to my team for a bit afterwords went for breakfast with my hubby then home. I felt sore last night both hips were in pain and my back and l could feel both wounds at each side. But l slept longer in my bed than ever l usually get up about 2am to 3am and move to couch but l never woke until 6. It sure turns your life upside down l feel low today and have done for past 2 days then sometimes l feel happy and motivated.. it affects everything in your body and life. Some days it just gets to you.

      I hope your infection clears quick cels its just another setback hopefully just a small one. I was bothered with itching for week with both scars felt like there was anys running around ha ha

      Laura xx

    • lors23
      lors23 bini31328

      Posted

      Ha ha l was just saying that to cels l was bothered with itching with both scars it was like ants running around and l used to rub my legs through my clothes to. I could be wrong about e45 cream it was just something in my head was saying it was not the best for scars. Oh so primark do a cheap version thats good to know thanks. I am really happy with both scars they are very neat just like 2 near lines on each hip/cheek.

      Thanks

      Laura x

    • CelsB
      CelsB lors23

      Posted

      The doctor I saw last night muttered "Beautiful scar" as he was poking me around,.  He seemed quite impressed.  He was actually really lovely,  I apologised for going to A & E, but explained that through the day I was becoming more and more concerned until the point where I just had to do something, and he said "You've done exactly the right thing".  I don't like using A & E as a secondary GP service and although I didn't exactly feel my case was an emergency I knew how quickly an infection can become serious especially in an operation wound.  

      Just clock watching now until my next tablet - 6.30 pm.  I can't wait to get them in my system!

      Xxx

       

  • brenda92532
    brenda92532 CelsB

    Posted

    I'm sorry to hear your news you were doing so well. How are you feeling on the clarithromycin anti biotics? I'm also allergic to penicillin and don't like taking antibiotics. I was once given some without penicillin and I was ok with these.

    Lucily I haven't had any problems with discharge from the scar and I had staples. It's now 12 weeks post op and it was feeling sore last night and this morning but nothing more.

    I think you will do what is right and it's good having so much advice and reassurance.  Hope it all goes well for you and take care.

    Brenda xx

    • CelsB
      CelsB brenda92532

      Posted

      Hi Brenda,

      They seem okay at the moment.  I've had Erythromycin before, which the doctor said were similar, and had no bad reactions.  Fingers crossed they'kll do the trick and get rid of this flipping infection.  

      Cels xxx

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