Wound seeping

Hi Sabine, I don’t want to alarm you, but you may have the start of a surgical infection. I had similar when I had my appendix out in 2019. I had open surgery, and when I got home from hospital and finished the antibiotics they’d given to me my wound started to get very hot and red and swollen.   My advice would be to get someone to look at it as soon as possible, it may mean a short stay in hospital to get rid of any infection, I had to go back for five days. You could try calling 111 to see what they say, but you certainly need someone to check it asap. Do you feel OK in yourself, normal temperature etc? I don’t want to scare you but u think you need to take it seriously. And yes, don’t these things always happen when no one is available! Take care and good luck.

Viv x

Hi Viv, thanks for your message. Yes, I think you may be right, it could be the start of an infection. My body temp is normal so far, and I feel ok otherwise. Just that the wound is sore. I've only been given antibiotics on the day of the op, nothing since. I will call 111 and see what they say. Thanks again. xx

Hi my advice is to boil some water add some salt, cool down and gently clean wound with Cotton wool dipped in salt water. Don't rub just use cotton ball once and throw away. That should help until you can get medical advice. My wound on belly button started to irritate and looked red and seeping and it (boiled salted water)did the trick. X

Hi Mad, Thanks, yes, I did that last night and this morning. I thought it would help, I'll see if it gets better by tonight, if not, I will call 111.

Hi Sabine, I’d recommend calling your Ward for advice first, rather than 111, as what I was advised to do with anything post op. One of my laparoscopic wounds was weeping and I called them twice over it. The area round the knot can get a bit sore (I had this with a C section 33 years ago) and bathing it with a little warm boiled salt water on a cotton bud is what I’d personally do 2-3 times a day. 

And....keeping it dry and airy if possible x

Thanks, MarmiteFan, that was really good advice. It seems to have settled down a bit for the moment, so I will bathe it with boiled salt water again and see how it is in the morning. I will ring the ward if it is still worrying me then. Many thanks. 

Yes, I will. x

Hi Sabine, how are you today. Is the wound any better x

Hi Mad, it seems to have settled, thanks. I think the salt water solution helped. No redness today, so I will go and get it checked tomorrow, just in case. Luckily the surgery is in my street, so not far to walk. x