Infection?

Shannonc951 · 01-23-2007, 04:21 PM

On Nov 14th I had a breast lift (benilli), breast augmentation, tummy tuck and lipo - everything seemed to be going well until I went into the PS office for a Post-Op visit and the nurse attempted to remove a stitch from the incision around my areola. When she was "attempting" to remove the stitch I could feel it pulling so she stopped. Well 2 weeks later I developed a "superficial" infection as my PS put it - he put me on some antibiotics, but a week later my boob became tender, hot and "oozing" from the infection site (medication obviously not working). When the PS took a look at it he decided to flush it with hyrogen peroxide (which burned). At that time he informed me that it looks as though my body is trying to "spit" out the stitches, and while doing so has developed a bacterial infection. He tried to locate the stitches but was unsuccessful. He has since put me on numerous stronger antibiotics and I have been flushing the infected site with hydrogen daily - but nothing seems to be helping? Still waking up sore and tender. Anyone ever have this problem? If so, what did you PS do? And did it ever heal?

Please help - thanks!

Tamster · 01-23-2007, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shannonc951

On Nov 14th I had a breast lift (benilli), breast augmentation, tummy tuck and lipo - everything seemed to be going well until I went into the PS office for a Post-Op visit and the nurse attempted to remove a stitch from the incision around my areola. When she was "attempting" to remove the stitch I could feel it pulling so she stopped. Well 2 weeks later I developed a "superficial" infection as my PS put it - he put me on some antibiotics, but a week later my boob became tender, hot and "oozing" from the infection site (medication obviously not working). When the PS took a look at it he decided to flush it with hyrogen peroxide (which burned). At that time he informed me that it looks as though my body is trying to "spit" out the stitches, and while doing so has developed a bacterial infection. He tried to locate the stitches but was unsuccessful. He has since put me on numerous stronger antibiotics and I have been flushing the infected site with hydrogen daily - but nothing seems to be helping? Still waking up sore and tender. Anyone ever have this problem? If so, what did you PS do? And did it ever heal?

Please help - thanks!

the thing that surprises me most is that you had your breast augmentation on the 14th of nov...you should be much further along in your healing...i think it may be time for a second opinion with a different ps...how do you feel otherwise?? are you feverish??

elizabethmc · 01-23-2007, 04:29 PM

Hon I'm sorry this did not happen to me, I had a breast augmentation/BL/MTT (Benelli lift, too, same as you) and thought maybe I could be of some help, but after reading it through no nothing like this ever happened. Sounds like that nurse did a job on you. My PS took out all of my stitches and never would have let a nurse touch me...I wish you the best of luck and hope that the infection does not get more serious than it is already. I will keep my fingers crossed for you sweetie, lots of girls on this board have had run-ins with infections maybe some of them will post to you. Please keep us posted as to how you progress. We'll be thinking of you.

Shannonc951 · 01-23-2007, 04:40 PM

Overall I feel fine - other than the infection site. I never developed a fever, or any other infection symptoms. I would hope my PS is performing due-diligence and I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I may have to seek some additional opinions. From the way it is looking I am already going to need a scar revision and I would hate for this to get worse (its already going on 3 weeks of pain). Thanks for the reply and advise.

Take Care!

milla · 01-23-2007, 04:42 PM

so sorry to hear about this

november to january, yes by now you should be well healed and if the antibiotics are not working perhaps you should get a 2nd opinion. if you do decide to go to another doctor, make sure you inform him/her of all the meds you already took and give as complete a history as possible.

good luck and hope you get better soon

sweet-t · 01-23-2007, 10:48 PM

Hi...so sorry you are dealing with this.
Do you have another appt scheduled with your PS to follow up on the antibiotics? I think I would want one, and soon. That, or see another doc for another opinion.

Did the doctor take a sample, for growing a culture in the lab, to know which bacteria you are dealing with? With mine, they found out by the culture that the antibiotics I was on weren't the best choice, so we switched to a combo of 3 others.

You may want to ask the doc directly "What is the plan here? What are we looking for to know it is getting better? Getting worse? What changes should I be sure to report immediately?"

These questions can help ease your mind in between appts.

Good luck! Today COULD be the day the antibiotics win!

Ina · 01-24-2007, 05:09 AM

If it is a local infection you're rinsing out with hydrogen peroxide then the antibiotics you're taking are probably more to keep it from spreading... Usually in cases like that, with the what-should-be-healed wound develops a superficial infection, like around a stitch, it develops into a boil or an abscess. That is, the body surrounds the infection site with hard tissue to keep the infection from spreading. Those can be very hard to drain as the pocket stays open creating more pus inside it.

If you haven't been feverish etc then to me it sounds like your doctor is treating you 100% right. The entire breast doesn't have an infection but it is indeed only superficial. That said if the pocket ruptures allowing the infection to spread then that's not a good thing at all, so the antibiotics are really needed as a better safe than sorry measure! It can be an ass to get to heal, hope it works out for you in the end!

01-23-2007, 04:21 PM	#1
Shannonc951 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: California Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Infection? On Nov 14th I had a breast lift (benilli), breast augmentation, tummy tuck and lipo - everything seemed to be going well until I went into the PS office for a Post-Op visit and the nurse attempted to remove a stitch from the incision around my areola. When she was "attempting" to remove the stitch I could feel it pulling so she stopped. Well 2 weeks later I developed a "superficial" infection as my PS put it - he put me on some antibiotics, but a week later my boob became tender, hot and "oozing" from the infection site (medication obviously not working). When the PS took a look at it he decided to flush it with hyrogen peroxide (which burned). At that time he informed me that it looks as though my body is trying to "spit" out the stitches, and while doing so has developed a bacterial infection. He tried to locate the stitches but was unsuccessful. He has since put me on numerous stronger antibiotics and I have been flushing the infected site with hydrogen daily - but nothing seems to be helping? Still waking up sore and tender. Anyone ever have this problem? If so, what did you PS do? And did it ever heal? Please help - thanks!

01-23-2007, 04:29 PM	#3
elizabethmc Happy Holidays! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oak Forest, Illinois Posts: 500 Thanks: 264 Thanked 201 Times in 157 Posts	Sorry sweetie! Hon I'm sorry this did not happen to me, I had a breast augmentation/BL/MTT (Benelli lift, too, same as you) and thought maybe I could be of some help, but after reading it through no nothing like this ever happened. Sounds like that nurse did a job on you. My PS took out all of my stitches and never would have let a nurse touch me...I wish you the best of luck and hope that the infection does not get more serious than it is already. I will keep my fingers crossed for you sweetie, lots of girls on this board have had run-ins with infections maybe some of them will post to you. Please keep us posted as to how you progress. We'll be thinking of you.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
how do you know if you have an infection?	sillyp	Breast Augmentation Surgery Post-Op & Recovery Forum	4	11-26-2007 09:44 AM
Infection...anyone?	Gabriella	Breast Augmentation Complications	10	11-24-2007 04:08 PM
Infection...	temptingtease	Breast Augmentation Complications	2	10-09-2007 01:07 PM
Saline vs. Silicone....things to consider	jenseygrl	General Breast Augmentation Discussion	36	09-30-2007 12:56 AM
SIgns of infection...	dillonsgirl	Breast Augmentation Complications	2	08-24-2007 08:42 PM

01-23-2007, 04:40 PM	#4
Shannonc951 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: California Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Overall I feel fine - other than the infection site. I never developed a fever, or any other infection symptoms. I would hope my PS is performing due-diligence and I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I may have to seek some additional opinions. From the way it is looking I am already going to need a scar revision and I would hate for this to get worse (its already going on 3 weeks of pain). Thanks for the reply and advise. Take Care!

01-23-2007, 04:42 PM	#5
milla Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: europe Posts: 1,316 Thanks: 190 Thanked 412 Times in 367 Posts	so sorry to hear about this november to january, yes by now you should be well healed and if the antibiotics are not working perhaps you should get a 2nd opinion. if you do decide to go to another doctor, make sure you inform him/her of all the meds you already took and give as complete a history as possible. good luck and hope you get better soon

01-23-2007, 10:48 PM	#6
sweet-t Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,085 Thanks: 769 Thanked 528 Times in 426 Posts	Hi...so sorry you are dealing with this. Do you have another appt scheduled with your PS to follow up on the antibiotics? I think I would want one, and soon. That, or see another doc for another opinion. Did the doctor take a sample, for growing a culture in the lab, to know which bacteria you are dealing with? With mine, they found out by the culture that the antibiotics I was on weren't the best choice, so we switched to a combo of 3 others. You may want to ask the doc directly "What is the plan here? What are we looking for to know it is getting better? Getting worse? What changes should I be sure to report immediately?" These questions can help ease your mind in between appts. Good luck! Today COULD be the day the antibiotics win!

01-24-2007, 05:09 AM	#7
Ina Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,002 Thanks: 546 Thanked 923 Times in 579 Posts	If it is a local infection you're rinsing out with hydrogen peroxide then the antibiotics you're taking are probably more to keep it from spreading... Usually in cases like that, with the what-should-be-healed wound develops a superficial infection, like around a stitch, it develops into a boil or an abscess. That is, the body surrounds the infection site with hard tissue to keep the infection from spreading. Those can be very hard to drain as the pocket stays open creating more pus inside it. If you haven't been feverish etc then to me it sounds like your doctor is treating you 100% right. The entire breast doesn't have an infection but it is indeed only superficial. That said if the pocket ruptures allowing the infection to spread then that's not a good thing at all, so the antibiotics are really needed as a better safe than sorry measure! It can be an ass to get to heal, hope it works out for you in the end!