Cellulitis

Yes, DH had it twice and had to be admitted to hospital for IV a/b’s. The second time he managed to be discharged with a cannula and a district nurse visited at home to administer the a/b’s by bolus.
I’ve had it on my face which looked and felt awful but I got away with oral a/b’s, catching it early on.
Sincere sympathy it sounds as if you have had a very nasty dose and perhaps your immune system was low.

I had it in both lower legs when I was in my 30s. Oral antibiotics sorted it. I then had it in my face a few years ago, and had 2 lots of antibiotics together, for a week. You perhaps ought to speak with your GP or the hospital, if it isn't getting better. In the meantime, wrap a bag of frozen peas in a clean teatowel, and put it on your legs

You need to seek further medical attention.
Contact GP first thing.
Or ring 111.
Or go A n E.
And tell them exactly how bad it is. How you feel. The pain etc.
These thing can flare up again.
I knew someone that happened to.
It became very serious very quickly.
All the best.

Thank you. I'll contact my GP in the morning and try and get an appointment.

My DH gets this at least once a year. Doctor has given him antibiotics to keep at home for when it recurs. It’s a nuisance but antibiotics do keep it under control. He has also been advised to moisturise his skin and not to rough dry his skin after showering.

I have had it twice both times in the legs. WX treated with powerful antibiotics which resolved it
It was really painful and can be serious so if you still feel unwell get medical advice .
A tip is to draw round the red marks with a pen, easier to check it’s not increasing in Size,
Good luck hope you feel better soon .

Coppernob

Thank you. I'll contact my GP in the morning and try and get an appointment.

Yes, or phone 111 if you feel ill in the night.

I've had it twice in my arm, the first time the GP had no idea what it was but she phoned the hospital and they diagnosed it over the phone. Oral antibiotics got rid of it. The second time I saw an experienced locum (retired GP) who said it needs more than one course of antibiotics and it responded without hospitalisation but he gave me a prescription for more to keep at home to take at the first signs of a recurrence.

I hope they can resolve this for you and give you antibiotics to start taking at home in case it recurs.

He has also been advised to moisturise his skin
Yes, I was told that too.

Seeing my GP tomorrow morning

My brother used to have this. He was told to elevate the legs as well as having antibiotics.

I got it months after a hip replacement and had to be hospitalised. As silverlining58 says, draw a line around it and if it gets bigger/spreads more before tomorrow call for help. If you have recently had surgery you should phone your ward for advice too.

My 92 years old MIL has been fighting this for many months. Several courses of antibiotics and spent 2 weeks in hospital with IV antibiotics. What helped her legs most was, recomm by Derm’t was regular 20 min soakes in a solution of potassium permanganate. Get a small trug or plastic box to fit leg(s) in. Old towel & protect floor as this is purple and stains. Wish you some relief soon Coppernob.

Whilst I didn't react as badly as some, I did suffer this some years ago, and it took ages to resolve as they need to find the best antibiotic for that particular cause (there are lots). I also got eruptions all over my legs and needed months of prescription moisturiser till it all settled down. I now wear compression stockings and it is mostly not a problem, but at the worst attack I could barely walk.

I’ve recently suffered from cellulitis on my face, very painful but managed to mostly get rid of it with oral antibiotics. I was woken up by what I thought was a flare up earlier this week but think/hope that although I’m very careful it must have been too much sun.

I first heard of potassium permanganate about 50 years ago when a hospital specialist prescribed it for DD’s painfully cracked feet. I think that PP is difficult to obtain now but I’ve still got a few tiny tablets left which I can crush to make up the solution described by Musky17.

When I first went into hospital I had a line drawn round the small red patch under my right knee. By the next day my whole right leg was red, swollen and very painful. It is now the back lower leg and ankle that are still like this.
My leg is now peeling and I'm leaving skin wherever I go despite moisturising it regularly.

I had cellulitus in both legs, the district nurses bandaged both legs, changing dressings every few days. It was well over a year before the dressings could be removed, my legs looked a mess, but at least they weren`t seeping anymore. There`s just a bit of scaling left on one foot now, but both legs are permanently discoloured.

Very interested to read this as suffered with cellulitis many times since having mastectomy and lymph glands removed. Goes into my arm but never been in pain with it but feel very ill. Told never to go abroad without antibiotics and have it down on my medical records at the doctors can be given easy access to antibiotics.
I have very dry skin as well and try to be very careful with any cuts, grazes or scratches and wash well and apply dressing, as told germs can enter via a cut and turn into cellulitis as no lymph glands to filter away bacteria.
Frightening how quickly it spreads up my arm, going bright red and swollen.
I try to be careful and people don’t realise how serious a condition it can be.

Yes I’ve got it right now on my arm. I’m on antibiotics and am not seeing much improvement but it’s only day 2. I’m quite scared to be honest.

Wishing Coppernob and wooden spoon a full recovery

For any worrying or worsening symptoms or general feeling of unwell
You can always ring 111.
Day or night.
Thats what they are there for.
All the best.

Thank you. 111 was where I started on 18 May. We were away visiting my sister in Derbyshire for the weekend when I was taken ill. I ended up in hospital in Chesterfield for a week, about 2 hours away from home, with only enough clothes etc for a weekend. What a nightmare!

MIL was having District Nurses visiting 3 x weekly to change dressings on both legs for months. When she finally got appt with Dermatologist, he wrote out the prescription for little potassium permanganate tablets to dissolve in warm water and local pharmacy did stock them. Nurses said they were familiar with this treatment, so why didn’t they arrange for this? Visits took much longer & they are already hard pressed for time. MIL’s legs improved greatly by bathing in the PP. Now only once weekly Dist Nurse visit & she’s feeling much better at last & we’ve taken her out shopping! Good luck with GP tmrw Coppernob.

Hope your appointment with your GP went well Coppernob.

After 3 days of antibiotics my arm is very very slowly losing its angry red look. I have tried aloe Vera gel and a gel for children to soothe chickenpox to releive the pain and inflammation. I must say they have both helped. This might be of use to others.

It is quite frightening how quickly it escalates and becomes a serious thing. I hope I’ve turned the corner and hope Coppernob has too.

I saw my GP this morning and he has given me another week of antibiotics. He had my latest blood test results and the infection rate is going down. However, he was worried about my potassium level which was higher than it should have been. He sent me to A&E for a further test. After a 3 hour wait I was told it was ok and I could come home. Further blood tests after I've completed the course of antibiotics.