Infection!!!!!

[jen36 1]

I am 4 days into my antibiotic treatment for the red bumps everywhere on my stomach, pain in the incision sites and SOOOOOOO itchy, I thought it would start looking a little better by now but it actually looks worse. Don't know if the sweat and heat is making it look worse. I just bought some neosporin and put that on after I just took a shower. Anyone else have this problem????? I don't know if its me but I am having all this fear that it will travel into my blood stream and stuff like that.

[onikenbai 33]

I've had some rather nasty allergic reactions to bandage adhesives used in surgery. Not for my lap band, because they were forewarned, but I once woke up from surgery basically screaming for them to get it off me. They pulled off the bandage and my skin had gone bright red and swelled up by at least a half inch. It was nuts. The only thing they could do for me was to treat with cortisone cream and antihistamines. Ask your doctor if either of these might do it for you. Neosporin doesn't do anything for the itching, I know well. You can also try the foot powder or even corn starch as they will both absorb moisture, although be careful not to get them in your incisions as I'd imagine it would not do them any good.

And yes, the heat is probably making it worse. I have big chunks of my body covered in red bumps the whole summer from reacting to my own sweat. Scratching only makes it worse so fight the temptation. One summer they actually had to put both my arms in casts so that I wouldn't scratch all my skin off in my sleep.

[jen36 1]

Thats the thing I didn't have any adhesive and I am 5weeks post op and this just started like the beginning of last week so I don't get it. I just want it to start healing I don't see any difference since Thurs yet. I go back to the surgeon on Friday so we will see. Thanks for the advice.

[Hollywood96 0]

i wouldnt put neosporin on it. more likely to contain the infection rather than help it. if doc says use it then by all means do so.

[jen36 1]

No Dr. never told me to put anything on it, I was just listening to everybody telling me to.

[monkeymama 0]

I had an allergic reaction about 3 1/2 weeks out- my incisions swelled and it itched like mad. At first I thought it was just the normal healing process and tried moisturizing lotions and Vitamin E oil- these made it worse. I then showed it to a surgeon I work with who said - absolutely no Neosporin!!! The allergist in the group then told me to use hydrocortisone and I also took antihistamines for a few days. The hydrocortisone was AWESOME!!! It took about a week to clear up.

What did the doc say when he gave you the antibiotics?

Edited June 8, 2010 by monkeymama
add something

[jen36 1]

I actually didn't see the surgeon he is an hr away from me but I talked to him over the phone and he thought it was infected, I go in to see him on Friday. It just doesn't seem to be clearing up. Do you think it would hurt to take like a benedryl a few hours after i take the antibiotic to see if it helps.

[NurseSophie 0]

I'm a surgery nurse and never ever ever put anything on a surgery wound. Neosporin is more for like skinned knees or paper cuts. Even then I don't personally use it...we tell patients just soap and Water and that's it. Get better soon! :-)

[monkeymama 0]

There shouldn't be any problem taking Benadryl with your antibiotic. It can't hurt to call your doc or pharmacist and double check though.