Wound infection

[LittleFlo]

Having yet another sh*t night. I have a surgical site infection in a wound where I had surgery a month ago. Basically I trod barefoot on a broken wine glass, and they had to operate to make sure there was no nerve damage and also to get rid of the glass - then over the past few days the wound opened and became pussy so I ended up in A and E and they confirmed a skin infection.

Well anyway - I'm waiting until tomorrow to collect antibiotics, as there's been a delay prescribing them as they had to wait for swab tests results to develop and come back.

Over the past few nights I've had flulike symptoms of nausea, shivers, aches, pains, etc... Tonight has been particularly bad. My stomach feels quite off (but I've eaten normally). I just don't feel right. Does this sound linked to the infection? I know someone who had a skin infection on their face and they too felt flulike.

Besides which I'm going through tremendous stress - I recently escaped an abusive relationship, and yesterday my grandma went into a hospice to die. Pretty intense stuff. Maybe my tummy is off from stress too.

And then there's the impending doom of Noro to look forward to...

So bloody sick of this stupid phobia. Please help x

[jparsons93]

It's most likely from the infection. It's somewhat of an immune response telling you to take it easy and get meds basically. You will feel better after a day or two of antibiotics! I'm sorry you've got so much going on. I hope it all gets better soon.

[LittleFlo]

Thank you - you are lovely.

I hope you're right. Can an infection in my foot really make me feel unwell in myself? Cos it's only a superficial infection (we think - can't be sure how deep it is - though it's pretty nasty anyway, very gross to look at).

[MaybeBaby]

Infection can really make you feel terrible. I had MRSA in my nose a few years ago and I felt really bad. Stomach was off, was very lightheaded etc. Hope it all goes well and you feel top-notch soon!

[LittleFlo]

Bless you - sounds horrible! Yeah I'm the same, I just don't feel right at all but can't put my finger on it. And for some reason the unwell feeling has mostly been at night, is that normal too?

I'm panicking about Noro. But
appetite is fine.

Aside from antibiotics and obviously keeping the wound clean/looking after it.. Is there much I can do about the ill feeling? I thought about taking something like paracetamol but don't want to take anything that is going to antagonise any tummy troubles.

[jparsons93]

Thanks!
i had a staph infection on the back of my thigh almost 6 years ago and I had high fever and flu like symptoms. Bacteria can do weird things to the body. As long as a fever isn't above 101 it's important to not treat it because it kills bacteria. That's how your body takes care of itself.

[LittleFlo]

Really freaking out. Shivering like mad and feeling a little n*. Just really don't feel right at all. I keep telling myself it's the infection but I'm still panicking. It honestly feels like flu. It's horrible, my whole body aches. I'm very scared about v*, please reassure me x

[LittleFlo]

I also still don't know what type of infection it is - wasn't told if it was cellulitis, staph, or whatever. I saw a nurse in A and E and not a doctor you see. The wound is basically very wet, lots of yellow pus and brown discharge/bleeding. Not much redness. But the wound is very tender to touch as is the immediate surrounding area.

[jparsons93]

I don't think you will throw up. Did they give you any advice on cleaning it or applying ointment? Do you currently have a fever?

[MaybeBaby]

I felt like that too. My brain felt so fuzzy. I felt like I couldn't get a deep enough breath. I was panicking too. I had a fever and chills. The whole left side of my face swelled up. Within 1 day. There vasn't much discharge till I started the anti-biotics. That sounds like a pretty yucky infection. Do you have a regular dr? If not can you call A and E and see if they'd be willing to prescribe you an anti-emetic with the antibiotics? Might make you feel soooo much better. Oh and I had mastitis (breast infection) when my daughter was a baby. I couldn't even lift her on that side. I had the chills so bad, even though it was the middle of the summer. Infections can really bother your stomach. And when you already have anxiety about feeling bad it just goes in a vicious cycle.

[LittleFlo]

Thank you for talking to me - it's 2.20am here in the UK (not sure where you are?!)... I'm not even at home, I've come to stay with family to visit my sick grandma.

So I'm laid on my mums sofa whilst they are all in bed - and I'm shivering and panicking myself into a frenzy.

The hospital said to not get it wet (I've being hanging my foot out of the bath!), and to change the bandage often, which I have too. The wound looks more closed than it did on Monday when I first when to A&E but there's definitely more pus and blood, bizarrely. I'm wondering if there's a piece of glass still in there and that's why it's opened up. It's itchy, and I'm getting stabbing electric shock type pains in it. My foot feels kind of stiff. I don't think I have a temperature but I do feel cold and have chills

[LittleFlo]

Thanks for your replies again, it's getting me through Yes exactly Maybe Baby - my brain feels fuzzy. It's like having flu but without the respiratory symptoms. I just feel like my body is fighting something. I do have a doctor but I'm out of town visiting family. My mum wanted me to go to A&E tonight but I hate it there, makes my phobia worse. Anyway she's said she is going to take me to a doctor tomorrow whether I like it or not. The anti-emetics are a good idea - do you think they will let me have them? It's not a nausea like a SV nausea, it's more like a sickly feeling, that make sense?

Poor you getting mastitis - I've heard that's very nasty. You were very brave.

I think my stomach is off too because I'm on a low dose antibiotic for acne and that medications has been bothering me with nausea and other side effects since I first started it.

I feel a little less anxious now and so feel physically a lot better

[jparsons93]

I messaged you on chat.

[LittleFlo]

I don't know how to get on chat :/

[MaybeBaby]

Mastitis was the worst. You have to nurse through the pain because it helps get rid of the infection. Was crazy! I'm glad you're feeling somewhat better. you should make sure you don't have a temp. A temp could be a sign that your infection is getting worse. That might warrant another trip to the dr. They never told you what kind of infection it was? Did they swab it to make sure it wasn't MRSA?

[LittleFlo]

I think I may have had a temp as indefinitely felt feverish and shivery. I feel okay today but I really don't feel right. Mum's taking me up to A&E, definitely going to make sure I get antibiotics and anti-emetics. No they didn't say what infection it was, they took the swab on Monday and said I wouldn't find out from my GP until tomorrow! Ridiculous

[MaybeBaby]

I'm so glad you're going back in! You'll be on the road to recovery in no time!

[LittleFlo]

Aw bless you! Well the nurse I saw said they should have given me antibiotics on Monday straightway, not waited for swab test results (which won't come back until tomorrow). Anyway he's cleaned it and dressed it and I've got antibiotics. He says I need to see the doctor next week to book me in for a thorough wash out of the wound under local anaesthetic. He also said the ill feeling/fever/flu like/nausea type symptoms are totally normal given how nasty the infection looks. He wouldn't give me anti-emetics though. He said the antibiotics should make me feel better in a day or two - though I'm waiting for the side effects of them now! Got to take paracetamol too for pain, fever, and general lethargy. I honestly feel so rough, just don't quite understand why something in my foot can make me feel so unwell!

[MaybeBaby]

Oh man I am so happy to hear that!! You live in the UK correct? I hear they sell phenergan (promethazine) over the counter. That is my anti-emetic of choice! Unfortunately in the US it's prescription only.

[LittleFlo]

Yeah UK - oh will look out for it, thanks! I've taken one antibiotic and already feeling tonnes better - weird eh..