Swelling

Hi! Wondered if anyone has had a similar problem. Woke one morning to find a really large swelling all around the site of my CRTD. Attended hospital and after being visited by 4 doctors was sent home with Anti-Biotic, just as a precaution. Have taken the tabs for a week there has been no change in fact I have realised that the swelling is at it's largest in the morning. It appears, when the x-rays were compared that the PM had turned but when checked it was working as it should. Would be grateful for any feedback thanks. andronicus

3 Comments

infection

by Tracey_E - 2016-02-29 03:02:44

Is it more sore or red or accompanied by fever? Any of those are signs of infection and need to be treated aggressively. That doesn't mean taking just any old antibiotic and waiting patiently, it means doing cultures to find out exactly what you're dealing with so you hit it hard with the correct antibiotic asap. Sometimes you have to be pushy about this to get your doctor to take it seriously but it's important because infections treated incorrectly can spread which means weeks of iv's and often, removing the whole thing and replacing it again later after the infection clears.

Once when I had a replacement, it stayed swollen well after it should have gone down. It didn't hurt and the incision healed well, no infection signs, was just swollen. Turned out to be fluid. A heating pad on low took care of it.

don't wait a week

by Tracey_E - 2016-03-01 03:03:36

If he thinks there is ANY chance it is an infection, please call back now- not next week- and insist on cultures. If it is infection, you could be on the wrong med for the bacteria strain so you'll be wasting a week which will up the chances of it coming out. If your doctor hasn't dealt with it, ask to be referred to an infectious disease specialist. A doctor can be wonderful, but if it's something they haven't dealt with before they may not get the gravity of the situation.

Is t or Isn't it?

by andronicus - 2016-03-01 11:03:51

Saw the doctor yesterday has given me more anti-biotic's says it could be an underlying infection and that if that's the case it will have to come out as you say. I will try the heat pad and see if that helps before I see him again next week. It was red at first but the day after the redness had dissipated. Thank you so much for the Information and you are correct in saying that you have to be firm with the medical side although in essence I feel that they have been very good with me.

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