Mumsnet Talk

Been on antibiotics in the hope this infected cyst will go down on it's own, but after a prod by the doctor, a few hours ago we have a gushing mess. For now I have a whole which keeps leaking, covered with an iodine patch & dressing. Is there anything else I can do to help it mend quicker? It is right where my bra would sit under my boob so it needs to go quickly so I can get back to wearing a bra again - my G cups are making my shoulders hurt!

I would go back to your GP, if it's a deep hole, they may be able to pack the wound with a special dressing to help it heal properly without becoming reinfected.
Hope you get it sorted soon, sounds sore!

<klaxon>

Photo, good squeeze, more photos.

Seriously with cysts don't you have to get the cyst sack out to get rid of the cyst? If you don't it will just refill.

Good call viva

Yes, go for the sac.

Also, more description of the bursting needed. Please.

Personally, I'd get tweezers in there and root about for the sac. There are DIY tutorial videos on YouTube to show you ow to do this. Then slap a load of detail on.

Dettol.

Though, we'd like details (and photos) as well.

Someone get Stratters.

In the meantime it would probably be a good idea to but some soft bras without underwire and with a deep band around the chest so it doesn't cut in.

You will need to get the sac out, in the position that it's in you don't want it coming back. If your GP can't refer you then DIY (with lots of anti-septic) is probably better than nothing. There are plenty of weirdos MNetters with an interest in this sort of thing, I'm sure one of them would be delighted to give you a hand.

I had one that had to be redressed by a nurse every other day for a few weeks. They packed it to start with then it got less and less

GP has already referred me, but I'm thinking it could be months before I get surgery. Just constant discharge, mainly clear but some blood mixed in. GP measured it at 5"x3" this morning & it had already gone down a lot! Just the thought of possibly having an open wound for months makes me feel physically sick :-( but really want to leave it alone & not pick at it so not to make the hole bigger!
Is Dettol better than iodine strips then?

Go back to the GP. Or at least ring and leave a message.

I'm guessing when he referred you it wasn't an open wound, so maybe he will need to do a more urgent referral now?

I'm actually quite impressed with how it looks. It's only seeping clear puss & looks like it's trying to form a scab already. None of the yucky thick goo that I would associate with a sebaceous cyst & at least the pain is all but gone! Just itches now which I think is it trying to heal itself. Will see how it is in a couple of days.

Ok, maybe I spoke too soon. It's still kind of bursting again every few hours & completely soaks through the dressing. Can't work out if this is normal part of the process or not! So I'll be off back to the doctors in the morning to see if it needs properly draining to get rid of the infection. Still don't know if I'm just expecting a much quicker recovery period than I should!

Mine took weeks to recover, they did refer me to have it properly removed but I wuss'd out! To be fair, touch wood, alls good

Congratulations on the eruption! I had one a while back and dr advised dressing with magnesium sulphate paste which hurt but apparently helps draw out all the infection. They can make you feel rough - hope youmfeel better soon.

Just back from my appointment with the nurse drags heels looking embarrassed who decided there was much more thick oozy gunk to come out & spent an enjoyable (excruciatingly painful for me) 15 minutes squeezing filling at least 6 swabs!!! I now have to go back every day until it's all out :-( - feeling very sorry for myself, but happy that she is confident it will heal after that. Will be so glad to see the end of it though!

God that nurse is lucky.

That's one lucky nurse...

Why thanks for the sympathy guys!

My mouth is just watering. I never get good pus, though my teens let me squeeze their spots for a treat.

I love pus. Haven't been near a decent spot for ages.
I had a boil on my shin last year, even that had hardly any pus. Am liking the sound of your cyst op

<wonders if it's too late to retrain as a specialist spot squeezing nurse>

I'm glad it's not just me who enjoys a good squeeze!

Oh, I nearly missed this. We'll wait for more updates

Well after several more trips to the nurse, she is now happy it is completely clean & has been packing it with silver every couple of days so it heals 'inside out' not 'outside in' (does that make any sense?). It was originally a big crater the size of a walnut, but is now only the size of a pea. My nurse has been absolutely fantastic & my only big problem now is having to wait to wear a proper bra again.(impatient me???) Although I have to admit that my GENIE BRA discovery has been an absolute lifesaver! Never, ever imagined that I would need over a month off work for it though. Twas a very, very big one apparently! At least I have another 2 weeks off over Xmas & new year. I just hope it's properly closed by then & I can have my old life back!!!

Ignore everyone salivating at your wound, seriously ignore than as they know fuck all about things like this other than wanting to see pus!

I see your last post details the severity of such things.

Mine took 6 months to heal.

plus a further surgery, you wont get the surgery until it is healed BTW.

So to anyone in a similar position, IGNORE calls for pulling out the sac, just follow the nurses advice and keep it clean!

I don't think people should have a go themselves. But I have a smaller cyst on my toe which the doctor has drained once quite a few months ago but it came back. And I've squeezed some clear jelly like substance out of it and then it bled. It's kind of healing now but a bit sore. I'm going to make an appointment with the GP after Christmas. Somebody mentioned this sac thing to me as well. Said it would keep coming back till the sac was removed.

They wont remove the sac if it is infected.

If people keep pissing about with it it will stay infected,

How do you know it's infected. I put Savlon on mine.

I meant how can you tell if it's infected? I'm getting worried now!

What about this sporners?

believe me - you will know from the pain if it gets infected! & the smell!!!
My nurse is convinced that the sack came out 2 weeks ago & is confident it will heal itself & not come back. I really, really hope she is right!

Pugs that sounds really painful and awful for you. I'm sure if the nurse is convinced the sac is out it will be. Hope it heals up soon and quickly.

Thanks Vivienne. Not much pain as long as I don't do too much now. Xmas shopping quite stressful though as I keep thinking people are going to knock into me! Determined not to let the buggers win though!