Infected wound?

Gillybob Ouch! I hope it improves soon.

I was suspicious harri but I have never had surgery before and wasn't sure if it might have just been the stitches getting tighter ( well they were but it was because of the swelling and the infection) . I am so glad I "did was I was told" by the helpful gransnetters and sought advice quickly . Have got strong antibiotics ( horse pills) and tbh it feels a little bit better already . Stitches all out a few days earlier than expected but looks to be healing quite well .
Thank you everyone . You are stars .

Always be suspicious if you see red swollen areas. Surgical wounds will be a little sore but should not be as you described. It is not something you ponder over, if you are concerned you get medical advice pronto. Hope the antibiotics are starting to work.

Thank heavens you took action gillybob - I heard on the radio only yesterday that over 40,000 lives are lost every year to sepsis in the UK. Never worth taking a chance. Hope those antibiotics kick in fast.

They will kick in within 48 hours.

Thank goodness you went and got the antibiotics. They should kick in fairly quickly, but if it is no better in a couple of days phone the surgery again.

I had an infected wound once and ended up in hospital with septicaemia (now called sepsis) because I didn't realise, the first sign was rigors.

Ouch, gillybob Glad you got it sorted before the weekend, and I hope those antibiotics do their stuff quickly.

Glad you took action. That sounds really nasty. Now try to relax for the evening. I hope you have a better nights sleep

Quick update.

Just got home from GP surgery and the wound was infected.

Quite nasty too the nurse said.

She took the stitches straight out which was agony !

I am by no means a "softy" but they were embedded into the swelling and boy did it hurt.

Course of antibiotics too.

Thank you everyone for persuading me that contacting the surgery was the right thing to do. I'm now wondering how long the antibiotics will take to kick in?

The best of GN...giving you advice so you feel enabled.

Much better than leaving it until Saturday when you would be sitting in A&E for heaven knows how many hours. The antibiotics will have kicked in by then!

You've done the right thing, Gilly Infections can flare up fast. As it is you'll get it looked at this afternoon and action taken at once.

Just nipped into the loo at work to have a look (it's really painful at the minute) and it's bright red and swollen. It's very tender to the touch too. I can't understand why this has happened as it seemed fine yesterday. Grrrr.

I'm glad I took everyone's advice and rang the GP surgery, as I am feeling a little bit worried.

Heat, swelling, pain and excessive exudate may or not be purulent- classic signs of an infection. Hope it clears up soon. Sometimes stiches are taken out a little early and the wound cleaned which may be enough if not as others have said ABs.

Thank you for giving me the push I needed, everyone.

I have just come off the telephone to the GP surgery. I described my symptoms to the receptionist and she said it sounded like an infection to her too, so I have an appointment with the practise nurse this afternoon.

Act now and call the surgery. I had an operation, didn't realise the wound had become infected and nearly died from septicemia!

And charleygirl is right - take your temperature and tell the receptionist about it.

Act now Gilly, and it will probably be sorted out by the weekend. Leave it and you could be in serious trouble. It sounds to me like an infection, it needs looked at by your GP and a course of antibiotics. Get on that phone at once and don't take no for an answer.

Agree....Ring the surgery. Better to be safe than sorry.

As you have recently had surgery contact your GP asap- it sounds to me like an infection. Take your temperature also. You may require antibiotics.

Call the practice nurse at the GP surgery? It doesn't sound right to me.