Infection? If you're easily grossed out...be warned.
So...I had a suspicious mole removed-they took out a decent area of skin AROUND the site too.
I'm doing EXACTLY what the physician told me. No strenuous exercise that would stretch or irritate the area...mostly arc trainer, walking or nothing at all.
I'm cleaning the site with hydrogen peroxide, drying it and then applying neosporin, then covering it with a bandage.
Well yesterday when I was cleaning it, I noticed it's inflamed. There's pus coming out of several areas AND there's what looks like a red/blue bruise NEXT to the incision that also has pus coming out of it.
I'm freaking out of course because I've had sepsis in the past and don't want to go through that ordeal again. I'm going to call my doctor tomorrow to see if he needs me to come in...but what should I do? I'm already on an antibiotic and I'm taking it as I'm supposed to...
It hurts really bad and it's swollen...looks pretty angry too.
I'm doing EXACTLY what the physician told me. No strenuous exercise that would stretch or irritate the area...mostly arc trainer, walking or nothing at all.
I'm cleaning the site with hydrogen peroxide, drying it and then applying neosporin, then covering it with a bandage.
Well yesterday when I was cleaning it, I noticed it's inflamed. There's pus coming out of several areas AND there's what looks like a red/blue bruise NEXT to the incision that also has pus coming out of it.
I'm freaking out of course because I've had sepsis in the past and don't want to go through that ordeal again. I'm going to call my doctor tomorrow to see if he needs me to come in...but what should I do? I'm already on an antibiotic and I'm taking it as I'm supposed to...
It hurts really bad and it's swollen...looks pretty angry too.
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Replies
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get it looked at NOW waiting 24 hours is more than enough time for the infection to enter blood stream0
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I wouldn't wait either. When I was younger I had a biopsy done and the place they did it got inflamed and started pussing, to the point I had to use a maxi pad to catch the flow of puss. I had a doctors appointment so I didn't bother going in to the ER. I was young and stupid about it. As soon as I showed the doctor he rushed me into surgery to clean out the infection because it was so bad and he couldn't believe I waited that long. I ended up with a nasty scar from it and the heal time was weeks. Go in!0
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I had a similar situation. When I noticed the infection I thought it would get better the next day. And the next day when it was swollen I figured tomorrow it will be ok and I waited. The third day It looked pretty nasty I called out from work and thought all I need to do is rest and it will get better. Finally on the fourth day I went to the hospital. Once I got there I was rushed to a bigger hospital via ambulance. I was admitted and had surgery, I laid in the hospital for the next 23 days as my body fought off the infection.0
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So go to the ER now...0
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hospital - now! sounds like the antibiotics can't cope with the level of infection and you need something much stronger, maybe via IV?0
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or at the very least a walk in or urgent care. Don't screw around with it being so close to your heart. Also if your doctor has 24hr service call his answering service and talk to him he may meet you at the emergency room.0
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I'm a nurse.
That's bad if you're keeping it clean, on an antibiotic and it's still quite infected.
You need to be seen today (now, this morning) so you don't develop sepsis, MRSA, beta-hemolytic strep etc.
Yes, you may need IV antibiotics and/or have an I&D- incision & drainage.
Are you running a fever?0 -
or at the very least a walk in or urgent care. Don't screw around with it being so close to your heart. Also if your doctor has 24hr service call his answering service and talk to him he may meet you at the emergency room.
Yes, all doctors have an answering service. You may not get your doctor but one doctor is always on call.
Urgent care would probably just send you to the ER.0 -
Hospital. My aunt ended up in hospital for a week after thinking the wound on her arm would eventually respond to the oral antibiotics she had been prescribed after the initial infection. Better to be in overnight or a few days than spend a week there after ending up horribly ill.0
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I'm a nurse.
That's bad if you're keeping it clean, on an antibiotic and it's still quite infected.
You need to be seen today (now, this morning) so you don't develop sepsis, MRSA, beta-hemolytic strep etc.
Yes, you may need IV antibiotics and/or have an I&D- incision & drainage.
Are you running a fever?
I haven't checked my temperature.
Yesterday I had a horrific headache-but it went away and I feel better today. It's sore for sure an swollen. It's not a TON of pus that's coming out...and it seems to come out when I use the hydrogen peroxide. What worries me most is the bruise next to it that wasn't there before...and it has pus coming out of it too...
My skin also seems extremely red where the adhesive from the tape/bandages is.0 -
As a pierced gal, I have always been told : NEVER put peroxyde or Alcohol on a wound! NEVER! It will dry the wound and cause infection.
Go with saline water ONLY. (They even confirmed that on my CPR class)0 -
Weird...that's what my dermatologist specifically said to use. I know I shouldn't use hydrogen peroxide on piercings because it breaks down the metal...There's no metal here.0
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Another nurse here -- at the very least, call your doctor. If you are in the US, most have an answering service. Failing that, go to urgent care or the ER. Better to be safe than sorry. You don't want that bug getting an extra 24 hours to get well established.0
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Hydrogen peroxide has been shown to not be of any use.
Proper wound cleaning here,from Mayo clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-cuts/FA00042
ER - I'd go now.0 -
SO here's what happened.
Had the wound nurse here at work take a peek. She said it doesn't look too bad, but I should definitely call my doctor.
Called my doc and he got back to me. Let's just say THANK GOD for a smart phone with a high definition camera and a doctor who has picture messaging.
he took a look and said it looks bruised. As a safety precaution, he's switching my antibiotic and giving me a topical antibiotic ointment to use on it twice/day.
he said stop using hydrogen peroxide and start using mild soapy water.
Thanks all for your advice-looks like all will be well.0 -
Ah the wonders of modern technology...0
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Thanks for the update!
All of us in healthcare have seen waaay too many bad things! 0 -
As a clinical microbiologist, I'm concerned that he changed your antibiotic with out getting a culture so the lab can do a culture and sensitivity to identify the antibiotic that will correctly clear the infection. If you're taking the wrong antibiotic for the bacteria, it won't clear the infection and can potentially create a resistant bug for you (this is why things like MRSA happen and things like necrotizing fasciitis show up in surgical wounds)
Hopefully he set up a follow up appointment so he can check it and possibly take a sample0 -
go to the ER and let them drain it0
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I'm a nurse.
That's bad if you're keeping it clean, on an antibiotic and it's still quite infected.
You need to be seen today (now, this morning) so you don't develop sepsis, MRSA, beta-hemolytic strep etc.
Yes, you may need IV antibiotics and/or have an I&D- incision & drainage.
Are you running a fever?
I haven't checked my temperature.
Yesterday I had a horrific headache-but it went away and I feel better today. It's sore for sure an swollen. It's not a TON of pus that's coming out...and it seems to come out when I use the hydrogen peroxide. What worries me most is the bruise next to it that wasn't there before...and it has pus coming out of it too...
My skin also seems extremely red where the adhesive from the tape/bandages is.
Are you sure it was "pus" coming out or just the hydrogen peroxide oxidizing or "bubbling" when it came in contact with the wound?
Are you allergic to tape?
What oral antibiotic were you on and what did he switch you to?
I agree that the drainage needs to be cultured if indeed it is purulent drainage.0 -
I'm a nurse too. PLEASE call your doctor's answering service now or go to Urgent Care.
Why do people come to the internet for medical advice?!?!?! Drives me insane!!!!0 -
Ugh.
Step one- Call doc.
Step two- Urgent care as first option, not ER. This is not an emergency.
My husband has several moles removed from his back last year. We had a period where I believed there were getting infected- I was able to express pus out of the wounds. They were healing great and then started oozing.
Ends up he is allergic to the vicryl suture that will dissolve. He was fine with the topical sutures that had to be removed, but his body rejected the internal sutures. It could be something as simple as that.
Disclaimed- Fever, obvious infectious drainage (green, smelly), general horrible run down feeling- then go to the ER. A yellowish/white drainage doesn't equal an infection- it means there is some inflammatory process and there are some old white blood cells there. It could be infected but it might not be.0 -
GO NOW!!
I'm in a healthcare related field - I worked with someone who started with a minor skin infection, waited too long, lost several limbs before it was all over with because MRSA got in his bloodstream.
**some details changed in honor of HIPAA0 -
go to hospital immediately!0
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1. I thought there'd be pictures :ohwell:
2. I was going to tell you to high-tail it to the ER
3. Glad your Doctor is updated with technology
4. Hope it gets better.0 -
1. I thought there'd be pictures :ohwell:
2. I was going to tell you to high-tail it to the ER
3. Glad your Doctor is updated with technology
4. Hope it gets better.
I was hoping for pics, too....0 -
I'm glad you touched base with your Dr. Infections are nothing to fool around with.
It's ALWAYS best to keep an eye on it and if it's not getting better, or getting worse, go to urgent care or your ER.
Several years ago I got some road rash from a motorcycle accident and was putting neosporin on it but it got really irritated and I thought it was getting infected. It turns out that the skin was just very sensitive and the neosporin was just too harsh for that new skin.
Try not to jump to the worst conclusions, but you need to be cautious too. Better safe than sorry - do take care of yourself!0 -
As a clinical microbiologist, I'm concerned that he changed your antibiotic with out getting a culture so the lab can do a culture and sensitivity to identify the antibiotic that will correctly clear the infection. If you're taking the wrong antibiotic for the bacteria, it won't clear the infection and can potentially create a resistant bug for you (this is why things like MRSA happen and things like necrotizing fasciitis show up in surgical wounds)
Hopefully he set up a follow up appointment so he can check it and possibly take a sample
I have a follow-up appointment to have the stitches removed so he said he'd take a look then. He said if it doesn't improve to come in and he'll take a look. he said it actually looks like it is healing very well...the pus is significantly improved and I haven't started the new antibiotic yet...it just looks very bruised.0 -
I'm a nurse.
That's bad if you're keeping it clean, on an antibiotic and it's still quite infected.
You need to be seen today (now, this morning) so you don't develop sepsis, MRSA, beta-hemolytic strep etc.
Yes, you may need IV antibiotics and/or have an I&D- incision & drainage.
Are you running a fever?
I haven't checked my temperature.
Yesterday I had a horrific headache-but it went away and I feel better today. It's sore for sure an swollen. It's not a TON of pus that's coming out...and it seems to come out when I use the hydrogen peroxide. What worries me most is the bruise next to it that wasn't there before...and it has pus coming out of it too...
My skin also seems extremely red where the adhesive from the tape/bandages is.
Are you sure it was "pus" coming out or just the hydrogen peroxide oxidizing or "bubbling" when it came in contact with the wound?
Are you allergic to tape?
What oral antibiotic were you on and what did he switch you to?
I agree that the drainage needs to be cultured if indeed it is purulent drainage.
It's not the hydrogen peroxide. It's white discharge from three specific places. It's not copious amounts and it's not nearly as bad today...just a couple dots. No foul odor or anything.
Was on keflex-I forgot the name of what he switched me to. He said it's one that covers a broad spectrum including staph just in case. He's also giving me a prescription topical antibiotic ointment.0 -
I'm a nurse too. PLEASE call your doctor's answering service now or go to Urgent Care.
Why do people come to the internet for medical advice?!?!?! Drives me insane!!!!
Well first off, I did call my doctor. I had my facility's wound nurse at work (I too work in healthcare) take a look...AND my doctor has seen the wound.
You know what they say about *kitten* U ming...please read previous posts.0
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