Keyhole wound has gone red and warm a week after I got home. Normal healing or do I need to see someone?

#1Lorna McK(Joined May 2026 · 17 posts)September 24, 2026, 9:38 pm

Had my gallbladder out in Bangkok in early September, all went well, flew home ten days later with the surgeon's letter. Felt fine on the flight, fine for the first week back.

Since yesterday the little wound by my belly button has gone pinker round the edge and feels warm when I put my hand near it. There's a bit of clear stuff on the dressing this morning, not much. The other three wounds look fine. I don't have a temperature as far as I can tell but I haven't checked properly.

I've emailed the hospital with photos but it's the middle of the night there. Am I overreacting? I don't want to waste my GP's time with a private operation they didn't do.

#2Margaret F(Joined Mar 2026 · 21 posts)September 24, 2026, 10:10 pm

You're not wasting anyone's time. Ring them in the morning.

#3Dr Helen WardMedical moderator(Joined Mar 2024 · 82 posts)September 25, 2026, 7:20 am

Margaret is right, and please don't wait for an email from Bangkok to decide this.

In general terms, a surgical wound can become infected from a few days after the operation until it heals, which is usually 2 to 3 weeks, so a week after getting home is squarely in the window. The signs to take seriously are redness, soreness, heat or swelling around the wound, fluid or pus coming from it, the wound opening, and feeling unwell or feverish. Some pinkness at the edges of a healing wound is normal; what matters is change in the wrong direction, so redness that spreads, pain that is getting worse, or a wound that was dry and has started to leak.

I can't tell you which of those this is, and nor can a photograph on a forum. Your GP practice can, today, and they will see you whatever caused it. Take your discharge notes, the name of the operation and a list of any antibiotics you were given in hospital. Check your temperature properly before you ring. And if you develop fast breathing, confusion, blotchy skin, or feel very hot or very cold and shivery, that's 999 or A&E, not a GP appointment.

The guide to aftercare when you get home has the list of what to bring back from the hospital, which is the bit that makes this kind of appointment quick.

#4Lorna McK(Joined May 2026 · 17 posts)September 25, 2026, 9:02 am

Temperature is 37.4. Got an appointment at 11.

#5Lorna McK(Joined May 2026 · 17 posts)September 25, 2026, 5:46 pm

Update. Practice nurse looked at it, then the GP. Mild infection in that one wound, swab taken, short course of antibiotics. Nobody batted an eyelid about it being done abroad, the GP just wanted to know which antibiotic I'd had in the hospital so she could pick a different one, and I had the discharge sheet with it on. Very glad I'd kept that.

The hospital in Bangkok replied this afternoon too, apologised for the delay, and asked for the swab result when it comes back so it goes on my notes there.

#6Lorna McK(Joined May 2026 · 17 posts)October 7, 2026, 12:05 pm

Closing the loop for anyone who finds this later. Swab came back as an ordinary skin bug, antibiotics worked, and the wound has healed flat. Sent the result to the hospital as they asked. Lesson for me was don't sit on it for a night wondering whether you're allowed to ring the GP.