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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this was poor from the pharmacist?

242 replies

Pharmacy1one · 20/04/2024 11:57

6 weeks or so ago I got two cartilage piercings in my left ear, tragus and helix.

I kept irritating them by turning over in my sleep and my toddler has knocked them a few times too so I was getting those annoying irritation bumps which were tender. I haven't had any pus coming from them, no temperature or discharge, just a bit of clear fluid when i removed them which I know isn't that abnormal.

I went to the chemist and asked to speak to the pharmacist, receptionist asked what the problem was and I briefly explained and said I want to buy something for the inflammation but was hoping the pharmacist could take a look first.

Receptionist relays that to the pharmacist and the pharmacist decided, without looking or even speaking to me at all, that it's infected and I need to go to A&E and get antibiotics and sprays would be no good.

She had her baby with her strapped to her back so I don't think she could have sat down with me in the consultation room in the first place.

I'm a bit miffed as we are routinely encouraged to see a pharmacist for minor ailments to take the strain off of GP's and hospitals, but this is the response I got for trying.

I have PTSD after having sepsis so now I'm scared about an infection that I didn't feel I had in the first place 😔 I can't just rock up to A&E for something like this surely, and there's nobody to have my children anyway.

Do you think I'm being unreasonable for thinking her response was poor?

OP posts:
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7
Cloudysky81 · 20/04/2024 16:46

The pharmacist knows their scope of practice.
Was it even a pharmacist with enhanced practice, not all have additional training for advice like this.

eveoha · 20/04/2024 16:26

PTSD from sepsis and submission to body piercings IMO is a risky mix

Tahinii · 20/04/2024 16:21

Firstly, YANBU and a pharmacist could have said “this is not within my scope of practice” and you could have made a decision about your next steps at least with some information!

I have no idea why some people are being so persistently argumentative. Even if they think YABU, some of the comments you’ve got are beyond ridiculous.

Allofaflutter · 20/04/2024 16:08

I hope the soreness goes quickly xx

Allofaflutter · 20/04/2024 16:08

Did you hear what the receptionist said? I just wonder if it was a case of Chinese whispers that made it seem like it was full of pus and infected? Otherwise how weird for them not to even look and but also the baby?

dimllaishebiaith · 20/04/2024 15:44

Frangipanyoul8r · 20/04/2024 15:35

“Inflammation” means red, hot and swollen which is definitely not just regular healing for piercings. If you stated your piercings were “inflamed”, then the pharmacist was correct - you’re beyond OTC treatments.

The OP is not a medical professional (I think) and therefore should not be expected to know that inflammation means red and hot and swollen and might use the word just for swollen for example

That's why medical professionals usually do examinations rather than relying on a person's lay description of the problem

Frangipanyoul8r · 20/04/2024 15:35

“Inflammation” means red, hot and swollen which is definitely not just regular healing for piercings. If you stated your piercings were “inflamed”, then the pharmacist was correct - you’re beyond OTC treatments.

Noyesnoyes · 20/04/2024 15:33

PodgePie · 20/04/2024 15:21

So you managed to go to the piercing salon during the week, but can’t go to another pharmacy during the week?

It's the weekend in the UK, where OP
is.

Original poster
Pharmacy1one · 20/04/2024 15:28

SwingTheMonkey · 20/04/2024 15:20

Op I bet you didn’t expect some of these absolute batshit responses you’ve had from such an innocuous post 😂

I must admit it has surprised me and I thought I was used to MN batshittery 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Pharmacy1one · 20/04/2024 15:27

PodgePie · 20/04/2024 15:21

So you managed to go to the piercing salon during the week, but can’t go to another pharmacy during the week?

When I woke up this morning, you know.. on the weekend.. the piercings which were 'only' sore a couple of days ago were now embedding themselves into my ear and needed to be removed.

Upon removal I wanted to buy something OTC for it because it was sore AF. There was only one pharmacy open locally. The one in my OP.

OP posts:
dimllaishebiaith · 20/04/2024 15:22

TheCatOnTheBedIsAllMineAllMine · 20/04/2024 15:04

Not at all strange having multiple piercings eh

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Well that's pretty racist considering how many cultures consider multiple piercings to be a standard part of their culture

PodgePie · 20/04/2024 15:21

So you managed to go to the piercing salon during the week, but can’t go to another pharmacy during the week?

SwingTheMonkey · 20/04/2024 15:20

Op I bet you didn’t expect some of these absolute batshit responses you’ve had from such an innocuous post 😂

chocmatcha · 20/04/2024 15:19

Pharmacy1one · 20/04/2024 15:13

You raise a valid point. I was looking on reddit before I posted here and came across a similar thread but the OP did go to A&E who didn't do anything IIRC.

We don't have a seperate minor injuries in here unfortunately, when you call 111 and ask for an OOH GP appointment or minor injuries clinic they direct you straight to A&E.

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Thats exactly what the pharmacist was doing! Following that protocol for your local area

chocmatcha · 20/04/2024 15:18

imparsleythelion · 20/04/2024 14:14

But it wasn’t just a sore ear. From your original post OP you explained to the counter assistant your issue and what you have done so far. The counter assistant would have passed this information on to the pharmacist. The pharmacist knowing they were newish piercings, the ears were sore, the piercings were sinking in the ears and you were asking for something for the inflammation they would know that there was nothing they could sell you and would be rightly concerned regarding infection. Inflammation is a sign of infection.
Both Community Pharmacies (Chemists) and GP practices are private businesses providing NHS services.
Before the NHS was formed GPs were private to encourage them to be part of the NHS they were allowed to remain as private business.

This exactly this

SlashBeef · 20/04/2024 15:18

TheCatOnTheBedIsAllMineAllMine · 20/04/2024 15:04

Not at all strange having multiple piercings eh

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You've come across as mildly unhinged in this thread..

Original poster
Pharmacy1one · 20/04/2024 15:13

dimllaishebiaith · 20/04/2024 15:04

Tbf even if it was an infection there's no saying A&E would do anything anyway

By DH recently had an infected finger, he went to A&E because that's where he was directed, and tbf it was quite infected

He was sent away and told to come back to minor injuries the next day, which he would have gone to in the first place if he had be told to go there

So if you are going anywhere minor injuries would make sense, but tbh piercing bumps are very common without an infection

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You raise a valid point. I was looking on reddit before I posted here and came across a similar thread but the OP did go to A&E who didn't do anything IIRC.

We don't have a seperate minor injuries in here unfortunately, when you call 111 and ask for an OOH GP appointment or minor injuries clinic they direct you straight to A&E.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pharmacy1one · 20/04/2024 15:10

TheCatOnTheBedIsAllMineAllMine · 20/04/2024 15:04

Not at all strange having multiple piercings eh

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Who hurt you?!

There's nothing unusual or rare about somebody having multiple piercings, being deliberately antagonistic to strangers on the Internet though.

OP posts:
Noyesnoyes · 20/04/2024 15:06

@TheCatOnTheBedIsAllMineAllMine you are making an utter fool of yourself, whilst this is very entertaining, you may regret it

.

TheCatOnTheBedIsAllMineAllMine · 20/04/2024 15:05

Pharmacy1one · 20/04/2024 14:38

I'm not the one hectoring people about their spelling or literacy and trying to appear intellectually superior am I? 😂

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No, thank God

TheCatOnTheBedIsAllMineAllMine · 20/04/2024 15:04

Pharmacy1one · 20/04/2024 14:26

What a strange person.

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Not at all strange having multiple piercings eh

dimllaishebiaith · 20/04/2024 15:04

Pharmacy1one · 20/04/2024 14:58

I'm almost certain I don't. There's nothing to suggest an infection other than the fact the piercings hurt when the bars were in, cartilage piercings are sods for healing anyway and do tend to flare up when knocked, which mine have been, especially if the bars are too short.

I'll continue to keep the area clean and if there are any developments that suggest infection I'll be on top of it.

Show quote history

Tbf even if it was an infection there's no saying A&E would do anything anyway

By DH recently had an infected finger, he went to A&E because that's where he was directed, and tbf it was quite infected

He was sent away and told to come back to minor injuries the next day, which he would have gone to in the first place if he had be told to go there

So if you are going anywhere minor injuries would make sense, but tbh piercing bumps are very common without an infection

Original poster
Pharmacy1one · 20/04/2024 14:58

dizzydizzydizzy · 20/04/2024 14:54

One of my DCs had an infection after one of those piercings. Went to the GP, who took it very seriously. I would call 111 if you think you may have an infection.

I'm almost certain I don't. There's nothing to suggest an infection other than the fact the piercings hurt when the bars were in, cartilage piercings are sods for healing anyway and do tend to flare up when knocked, which mine have been, especially if the bars are too short.

I'll continue to keep the area clean and if there are any developments that suggest infection I'll be on top of it.

OP posts:
dizzydizzydizzy · 20/04/2024 14:54

One of my DCs had an infection after one of those piercings. Went to the GP, who took it very seriously. I would call 111 if you think you may have an infection.

WatermelonWaveclub · 20/04/2024 14:52

CoconutQueen · 20/04/2024 14:02

I really hope someone makes a complaint against this pharmacist. Of course she should not be working in this role with a baby strapped to her back. Her employer should be informed.

It could be her pharmacy.