thread: Infection after caesarean section - anyone else?

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jul 2008
    118

    Infection after caesarean section - anyone else?

    Hi everyone, I'm hoping there might be some other women out there who have had a similar experience to me. I ended up with a c-section a month ago and about two weeks after I discovered that I had a post-operative infection. I have been told that it is superficial (apparently none of my reproductive organs are involved), but I am concerned about the length of time it is taking for this issue to resolve itself. Without going into the grotty details, I have been on two different kinds of antibiotic for just under two weeks, and it is still there. My OB has told me that it may take a few weeks to clear, but surely after having almost completely my antibiotic course things would have cleared up by now? I'm just wondering whether anyone else has ended up with an infection after a caesarean, and how long they took to get over this. I'm considering getting a second medical opinion on this, because I'm worried about how long this is taking - it isn't very pleasant!

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    on cloud 9.....
    2,105

    Definately seek another opinion, better still, go to the hospital yourself and cut out the middleman. I had an infection and had to go to surgery to have it cleaned out.
    I spent each day hoping it would just get better and it didn't, so best to get it sorted asap. Best of luck.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Feb 2005
    Sydney
    2,597

    yes I did with my first c/s. I was on 2 lots of (Keflex). Are you also putting betadine on your scar? is that where the infection is? thats where mine was. Betadine twice a day gotr rid of the infection faster

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jul 2008
    118

    Oh no, that's terrible! The first person who looked at it was a doctor at the hospital as I couldn't get in to see my OB that day. She actually didn't think it was that bad - but then she also prescribed me antibiotics that didn't actually treat the infection at all! Maybe I should try going back and see someone different. Thank you!

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    on cloud 9.....
    2,105

    I needed at least 2 days of IV AB's, the dr said that oral AB's would do nothing at all.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Sunny Qld
    14,682

    I had two different sets of antibiotics at the same time - really powerful ones apparently - and it still took a month before I felt normal.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Jul 2006
    In The Land Of Wonderful...
    1,751

    GET IT CHECKED OUT NOW!!!!!

    I remember writing a reply in Arimeh's thread about the same thing a while back... will have to go search it so you can read the replies.....

    I'm a worst case scenario - and I won't write it all down again, because BB members would be sick of reading my story by now!!

    You can have a read of my journal - but please remember I am an extreme case - I don't want to scare you or make you upset

    PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE get it checked out by someone else xxxxx

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Aug 2006
    On the other side of this screen!!!
    11,129

    I agree, go for the second opinion. I had one that lingered on for the better part of three months - it took repeated doses of a variety of antibiotics, and several days in hospital on IV antibiotics, to get on top of. They should have taken several swabs by now to check that the bacteria is actually responding to the ABs you're on. They should also do another ultrasound to check where exactly the "collection" is.

    Re the betadine - you've mentioned the gory details so I'm assuming your wound is still open in parts and discharging? I was told not to use anything on it until the wound closed. Once it was closed I used the spray-on betadine for several weeks, and it was great. While it was still open, I would bathe the area every day with STERILE saline solution (swab it on with cotton wool balls) and then hairdryer-it dry, which seemed to help.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    Brisbane Qld
    288

    I agree with everyone go back and get it checked out again and again until it is sorted.

    I had to have an emergency c/s with #3 due to fetal distress and she had pooed inside of me sorry if tmi but she looked like a swamp baby when she came out. They didnt give me any antibiotics when I left the hospital and 2 weeks later I was back in with suspected blood poisioning I nearly died, I had so much rotting discharge again tmi sorry that they were really worried....so was I quite frankly anyway I spent the next week on a drip and was an absolute mess. I am supposed to have another c/s with this one I can tell you I will be looking for any signs that everything is not ok this time it was horrific.

    Sooo please get yourself checked out I think that infection is the reason it took us 4 years to conceive this one, when I was normally pgnt in just a month or 2 with the others.

    Good Luck I hope it all gets cleared up for you.