Bleeding and very red tender breasts

Hi everyone,

I had my uplift and fat transfer 11 days ago. Since yesterday, both breasts have become very red around the nipples and down where the uplift is. I've been absolutely fine with the pain, but since yesterday it has been pretty sore and stinging quite a lot.

I have just had a look at my bra and theres a big patch of blood on the left breast where the uplift wound is. It has a small patch of yellow gunk on it too   Pus?

I've been on a course of antibiotics which I finished today as well.
I don't know what it is. Slightly concerned and could do with some advice please  xx

Its absolutely normal for you to be oozing blood babe, so I really wouldn't worry about that, the only time you need worry when you see blood if if you see no sign of it stopping and you have sodden dressings babe.

And the yellow... Well, this 'could' just be liquid fat. But its not something I'd personally ignore, so I'd call your clinic first thing tomorrow sweetheart and have them take a look to see what's going on for you.

It could be nothing, but with you seeing the 'gunk' I think it would be wise to have that checked.

If you're very worried babe you could even use the 24 hour emergency number you should have been given upon discharge to talk to a medical professional at the hospital.

No need for any panic though hun, its just that the would would be best checked over. Xx

Thanks Cookie. I wasn't given a number, but I just rang the hospital and went through to the ward. It's really very sore and quite hard and warm. I was told to go back in early tomorrow morning so a Doctor can have a look and sounds like I may need another course of different antibiotics.

I was so happy I had finished this course too!

Possibly babe. They may take swabs first to see if there is any sign of infection, send the swabs off and locate the exact problem that might be there before treating, or if they suspect its a definite infection then yes, anti-bs suitable for the type of infection they feel it is (there are different ones) they may well pop you on another lot.

I know that may not be the best news, but its best to catch things early isn't it and get it sorted quick.

On the other hand.... It may just be oozing hun...

But it is best to be seen and checked so please let us know how you get on hun. Xx

I hope it is just oozing. They're so tight and I desperately want to scratch them too.

I don't know how I should clean up either. I was told no soap because of the glue, but is there anything I can use to clean the area. I don't feel water is enough.

Salted water would be best. Be sure the water has been boiled first and cooled and then add salt to create a saline solution. If you're cleaning both breasts hun don't use the same cotton buds or whatever you're using on both breasts, use a different one for each one sweetie. Xx

Thanks Cookie, I cleaned it up using the salty water solution.

Just to update you... I was on my way to the hospital a few hours ago and my mum crashed the car pretty bad, so we came back home. I have since tried to to get an urgent appointment with the GP as advised, but they refuse to give me one and instead I will be seen by a nurse at the surgery which I had to push for!  She was trying to get me to go back to the hospital which I can't do because of the car.

I rang the hospital and the nurse on ward told me to demand to be seen by a GP and that the surgeons are in theatre, so even if I were to manage to get there, I would have to wait a few hours to be seen. I feel close to exploding. Has been such a stressful morning trying to comfort my mum and now the GP surgery refuse to get me seen by a doctor. Is a nurse enough?

All I want to know is if I need a new course of antibiotics or not.

You really need to be seen by a GP hun. If you have to wait to wait to be seen... Then I'd wait hun.

I hope both your mum and yourself are OK after the car crash babe. Maybe make a double appointment and have your mum seen too just to ensure you're both OK as well have your boob checked babe.

Big hugs - what an awful day for you both 

Tahnks for the hugs! It was only a little bump, but pretty bad because the damage is incredible and she only bought it a few months ago.

I asked for a GP, but the nurse said she does minor injuries so if I need antibiotics, she can prescribe them. They said I can't see a GP for some crazy reason. There's nothing I can do really. The nurse at the hospital said I can go in, but the surgeons are all away in theatre.

I think it's so straight forward. I don't have a fever or anything, it's just very warm, swollen and red.

Some GPs frown on people using private treatment and then  coming to use the NHS resources, but to fair to you, this is an exceptional case and if you had the means to go the clinic then you would and did indeed try.

If your only option is the nurse there's really not a lot you can do but see a nurse is there hun.

A doctor/surgeon really should be the ones examining breasts that are suspected to be infected. But I'm hoping if the nurse does suspect your boob requires attention that she would call your GP in for their opinion. Xx

It's all NHS though. I didn't have the surgery privately and I was told by the hospital to see the GP or go in to the hospital. I couldn't go into the hospital, even though I was literally around the corner from it, my mum wanted me with her after the crash so I had to come to the gp surgery instead.

Just been seen by both nurse and gp and neither know what to do, so the gp is going to give the hospital a ring for advice as they don't know what it is. They said maybe an inflammatory reaction x

Ahhhhh... Sorry babe. I do remember now.

Well, all the more reason why you should have been seen by a GP.

Really hoping they get to the bottom of what's going on and why its so important to have consistent care from those who deal in plastic surgery.

Not at all your fault today and should have been given priority care seeing as this was through the NHS. Hopefully they'll find the cause and get it treated ASAP.

Keep us updated hun. Xx

It was an allergic reaction to the sutures. Simply taking antihistamines will fix me! All that worry over something so small.

Glad the nurse decided to call in the GP too because she diagnosed me with cellulitis initially and tried to put me back on the same antibiotics that I had only just completed yesterday!

Also interesting how the attitudes towards me changed. Over the phone and when meeting the nurse had a very negative attitude towards me. I felt very judged. Then when she found out it was reconstructive surgery for a deformity she suddenly became quite sympathetic and helpful. Same experience with the GP too.

Yes, we do find that elective surgery is very much much frowned upon. Its really so unfair isn't it.

I too had an allergy to the suctures. I hope the anti-histamine help you babe.   Xx

Definitely. It makes you think twice when judging other people too. It made me feel quite small.

Ooh it gets so inflamed and itchy doesn't it?! thought it was just my skin knitting so i put up with i.! Just wondering - when you had your allergic reaction, did you have further ops with the same sutures, or was that your last op? My GP told me to take pics so when I have the next stage of reconstruction they know not to use the same. Thing is, if the alternative means worse scarring then I'd rather happily put up with hayfever pills when the skin reacts to the sutures. Xx

I'll be honest babe, I had an awful time with my allergy so I'm pleased yours seems to be limited to redness and itching - I was told I wasn't to have dissolvable suctures again the ones I had if I remember right off the top of my head were called Vicryl, so when I had my last re-op I had the old fashioned stitches and have healed beautifully. No problems at all this time. Xx

How did you react to yours?

Good to know you've healed so well with the ordinary stitches! Helpful to know if I get them next time too x

I didn't have a good time at all hun.  

If you're not queezy about this at all you can take a look by clicking the spoiler below how I reacted to the dissolvable stitches

Spoiler:

My skin just completely rejected them and opened up. I had open holes for 10 months, until I changed surgeon and he stitched me up with regular stitches and I'm fully healed now, have been since about 10 days after her stitched me. Xx

Ouch! Looks quite painful.

I did read about some people reacting that way. I can't believe you had open holes for so long too. It's good you're all sorted now and I'm so pleased you don't have holes anymore! x

Me too hun. I ended up ditching Transform after 10 months with open wounds and going private and they look really good now  

Just goes to show how quickly that all could been resolved doesn't it and I wouldn't have had to have gone through all of that if they'd have just re stitched me in the first place after the diagnosis. Xx

Yes. Quite shocking that Transform didn't take responsibility. 10 Months is a very long time to wait. At least you made the right decision and you're happy now x

Just wanted to say that I had yellow oozing (which in my case was liquid fat) for as long as 3-4 weeks post surgery.
I didn't have any complications because of that, I just had a cotton pad in my bra which I changed every 5-6 hour.

You know the spitting stitches image you sent me cookie, that's me right now! Except they're pretty big under the nipple.

I stopped taking Loratidine for the allergic reaction for two days as I have pretty much been taking them consistently apart from a break in mid December. Each time my healed wounds reopen and bleed. All around the nipple and down the lollipop. So sad :(

Any idea as to how long I should take them? Is there any way the stitches will dissolve or will my body reject them until they are out?

Xx

I take loratadine yearly daily as I suffer allergies to lots of things so they are ok to take

so sorry to read that you are like this, maybe you should contact the surgeon xx

Thanks tinker bell. The hay fever pack stated not to take it for so long, which is why I gave myself a break assuming it would be good for me. I think if I take it everyday I will be fine. It's just that I had been looking after the skin so well and it's ripping open wide so the scars are looking messy. It's difficult to contact the surgeon with it being through the NHS, but I have been taking photos to document it so that he can see when it comes to my follow up in a couple of months.

Hope you are healing well since your re op :)