Hey everyone, hoping to grab some advice or additional care tactics (:

So 3 and a half weeks ago I had my first tattoo started, everything seemed clean and I did my best with after care. It seemed fine up until a few days ago. Since then here is a sort of time line of what has happened:

1: my tattoo has remained scabbed and itchy pretty much since I got it. It is located on my foot and I had been told that it would take longer to heal in general so wasn’t concerned.

2. About 5 days ago I noticed that the area around my tattoo was red, this area goes all the way around the tat and extends about 1 cm out in each direction. The tattoo gets pretty itchy if I rub it accidentally now. However no other symptoms, no pain. Noticed slightly swollen lymph nodes next day.

3. 2 days ago I got a sudden fever, along with chills off and on, swollen lymph nodes. No other symptoms or pain. No change in tattoo.

4. Yesterday I talked to a doctor and a tattoo artist. The artist said it might be an allergic reaction or staph. I showed the doctor the tattoo and he said probably staph, and I was given antibotics. (Kerflex) still no change in tattoo.

5. Today I still have fever on and off, chills, swollen lymph nodes and I have now developed a cough… A sort of tickle in my throat. No change in tattoo, no heat, no pain, ect.

I know I have only been taking the antibiotics for 2 days, however I’m just looking for advice as it’s my first tat… Hoping maybe someone has had a similar experience or just has some extra knowledge to share.

Thanks in advance for any answers, I really appreciate them… and of course if my 7 day run with the antibotics does nothing or I get suddenly much worse I will seek medical attention (:

Thanks again, will try to answer any other questions to best of my knowledge!