infections in the wound

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1

Has anyone out there had an infection in their breast scar? I would like to know how long it takes to clear. (I am on my second week of anti-biotics)

2

Hi Marjep,

I had this and it took 2 lots of antibiotics and about a month to clear. The whole area was very inflamed and sore but it disappeared quickly in the end and no problems since. Hope yours will clear up soon.

Margaret x

3

Hi Marjep
Sorry to hear you’ve been having problems. I had an infection after my mastectomy and it really knocked me for six. If you’re not sure how it’s getting on, don’t hesitate to contact your BCN. Different infections need different antibiotics and lab results take a while to come through, so the first prescription may be a best guess about what will work. My infection turned out to be resistant to penicillin, but responsive to other antibiotics. It didn’t clear up till I got the right stuff. I do hope you get better soon.
Sarah
XXX

4

Hi Marjep

Sorry to hear that you have an infection, I have one in about a 2cms long and Have been on anti biotics for seven days, am seeing breast nurse on thurs and will see what she says. It does seem to be making me very tired, just when I thought I was recovering well

I hope you get better soon

heather xxx

5

I have had 2 mastectomies and developed infections in the wound both times. 1st time just a couple of days after surgery while I was still in hospital, 2nd time a couple of weeks after discharge after surgery. Both times it took over a week and a couple of different sorts of antibiotics to sort out the infection, and I felt really rough at the time, but there were no after effects. The 1st infection meant that the whole 7" or so of the wound had to be opened up again, cleaned out and allowed to heal open. This took a few weeks and a lot of changes of dressing by the district nurses and my husband, but it worked.
If the treatment you are on doesn’t seem to be working, don’t wait. Go back to the hospital and ask them to look at it again and sort it out. And if the antibiotics are giving you bad side effects (eg. sickness, diarrhea, etc.) ask if they can change the antibiotics to something you can tolerate.
Hopefully it won’t take long to sort out your infection, but go back to the hospital if you have any worries.
Best of luck,
Lynn

6

Hiya,

I developed an infectection in my mastectomy area * 5 * weeks after surgery (??)
I was put on a weeks course of antibiotics that didnt clear it up so my breast care nurse got me in to see my surgeon who diagnosed a case of mild cellulitis, gave me another course of antibiotics that were for 10 days. This course of tablets did the trick and infection cleared.

I hope yours clears soon.

Julie x

7

Hi

I experienced an infection 2 weeks after surgery, i had to have a strong dose of anti-biotics… it worked, but it took a few weeks for the inflammation and it to heal completely. I was very tired, and not able to eat for a few weeks… i ended up losing 18lb in a few weeks!

I hope your BCN was able to help, it does take time for infections to heal and don’t underestimate how your feeling.

I hope it clears soon, and take it easy.

Tracey x