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Great big effing boil on my neck! Help!

611 replies

BagofHolly · 13/08/2011 12:48

I've NEVER had a boil, ever, and now, 4 days after I go from long hair to a short bob, I've got something that looks like another nipple. It HURTS! I've put metanium on it and it's coming up to a point but there's no head on it. I don't feel too well either but that might be unrelated.

What should I do?! Help!

OP posts:
JodieHarsh · 18/08/2011 10:43

Ha, I'm glad Migrating asked for a pic before I did Grin

BagofHolly · 18/08/2011 10:43

No pics, coconuts. I was sweating, screaming and swearing too much. I'm dreading tomorrow. The nurse I'm seeing is a nice woman but she's all the delicacy of a bricky.

OP posts:
honeyandsalt · 18/08/2011 10:42

The nurse sounds amazaballs.

Truly Holly you are a star. At least the fucker is drained.

When I was little I got an arse boil wot had to be lanced - but at least I got bean bag out of the pain. I bloody loved that bean bag, made it all worthwhile. Anyway, my point is, you deserve a trip to the cinema or something treaty and nice.

JodieHarsh · 18/08/2011 10:42

Holly, it was so awful that even now if I think about it I feel tearful. A student dentist botched some injections and burst a blood vessel in his jaw. my strapping, brave copper DH, who once walked on a cracked ankle without realising it was broken (true story!) was reduced to an incoherent animal for about 48 hours. It was horrendous. HORRENDOUS. But just a tooth! (Well, an internal bleeding Hmm)

MigratingCoconuts · 18/08/2011 10:38

Totally, agree. i'd definately be less heroic than you have been under considerable provocation.

Glad they are happy with it. And I think you are right to take their judgement. If its not spreading then it is just a boil and hopefully its bags have been sent packing.

piccy update? Smile

BagofHolly · 18/08/2011 10:37

Jodie, dental haematoma? Oh.My.God. The poor lad!

(Did it burst?)

OP posts:
BagofHolly · 18/08/2011 10:35

Sorry, not "our", YOUR poor Dad! I'm not secretly your sister and have been building up to a big reveal!

OP posts:
JodieHarsh · 18/08/2011 10:34

Oh lovely funny Holly, you've been such a fecking Trojan, you deserve a good sob, a bottle of pinot noir, a box set of something frivolous, a duvet, three servings of tiramisu and a medal. AND HIGH DOSE VITAMIN C LIKE, FOREVER.

Bless the nurse. That 'It's just a....' thing is weirdly reassuring. When I had to take my hollow-eyed DH for emergency dental surgery having watching him screaming in pain from a dental haematoma (don't ask) I sobbed in the waiting room and the dentist said, "It's just a tooth", and it was weirdly comforting.

I digress. TAKE CARE YOU PUSTULAR PIMPLE YOU X

BagofHolly · 18/08/2011 10:33

Our poor Dad! I'd do time for anyone who slapped me on the boil.

OP posts:
HouseOfBamboo · 18/08/2011 10:32

ooh you poor thing, ow ow ow Sad Hopefully that's the worst of it over now and Cyd the livid cyst will start to mellow out. Put your feet up as much as you can and eat biscuits.

BeeBread · 18/08/2011 10:30

I'd feel sorry for myself too!

This reminds me of a story my Dad has told me repeatedly since childhood. When he was a boy, he also had a boil on the back of his neck and the other kids at school would take great pleasure in slapping it when he was looking the other way. One boy slapped it so hard that it burst and Dad has NEVER forgiven him. I swear he reserves all of his bile and hatred for that 9 year old.

Must have hurt like billyo though. The other kid must have had a bit of a shock too...

Purpleprickles · 18/08/2011 10:29

Oh Holly I would be weepy too, have a Brew and some chocolate and curl up on the sofa to watch rubbish tv. Leave the dc to fend for themselves, it's character building Wink I'm very relieved they don't think the infection has spread. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for CystFab or Kath.

Dragging myself away from this thread now to take ds to the park.

BornSicky · 18/08/2011 10:26

Wine and lots of it, or Brew and biccies.

Sad
JetLi · 18/08/2011 10:24

Its never too early for Wine holly - hope you are on the mend soon

BagofHolly · 18/08/2011 10:20

Ok, I'm back in the car. I saw the HCA and the practice nurse, whom I know well and respect.

I have just endured HIDEOUS pain. I'm not particularly foul mouthed generally but heard myself groaning with language that would stop a train.

Theyve lanced, dressed and packed it. I asked about cross contamination, being in isolation, strep and staph, etc, and PN said that she's done a good job with cutting it all out (I do feel more able to move etc) and that the hospital would only do what she's done, and that the thing on my chin is just a spot. She said that once it's calmed down (cos bloody hell it's livid now. Really aggressive!) that they'd have another look and see if there's a cyst thing inside in which case I'd have to have a bit if minor surgery. I'm booked in tomorrow to have my dressing changed and probably with the DNs at the weekend. She said the cocktail of ABs I'm on are doing their job as it's receding from where it was - it's now about 3" wide, whereas when I was feeling rotten, the pink bit was right down my shoulders, a la Denby side plate. I got a bit weepy, and she said "C'mon love it's a boil. It's nasty but just a boil." So I've been for a walk and pulled myself together a bit. I trust her judgement as she does this every day, is a nurse who stays in top of her continuing education, and she's just had a good nose in it.

That's not to say that I dint appreciate and value the opinions of those of you who would take a more conservative approach - please don't think that, but she's a professional and has seen it, (and many more similar,) in real life.

Bloody hell's fire, that hurt. I have a high pain threshold - I've had to self inject stingy stuff every day I'm pregnant, plus 3 kids in 2 years, and that twatted.

I've got a huge dressing on and am suddenly feeling very sorry for myself. Sad

OP posts:
BornSicky · 18/08/2011 10:16

have just read the whole thread and watch the development of Cyst... a bit like one of those flicking picture books you had when you were a kid.

He's an evil bugger isn't he?

hope you're OK at the docs.

I got an infection from horsefly bites two weeks ago, had ABs and still have manky skin where the bites were. Hurt like hell, but not so much now.

you have my sympathy (and my splitting sides from laughing at Cyst and friends' antics.)

RustyBear · 18/08/2011 10:10

Wish I'd opened this before - I'd have said go to A & E - DH had a very similar thing this time last year, which he left hoping it would go away (he was at his mum's for the weekend) When he came back I made him go to the minor injuries place & they gave him ABs, but said to go to the doctor if there was no change in a few days

No change by Thursday, so he went to doc - he took one look and said go and pack a bag, I'm ringing A & E so they'll be ready for you.

He ended up having it drained under GA, and was on IV ABs.

It left a hole about 4cm x3, which I was shown how to pack with ribbon bandages every day for 6 weeks till it closed up.

Incidentally, the doc said he thought it was an insect bite - probably a blackly, which come over from Europe at this time of the year.

iamsuchachicken · 18/08/2011 10:07

OP please please please go to A&E if the GP doesn't come up with a proper treatment plan.

If you were near me (you won't be I am in Northern Ireland) I'd have your kids for you gladly Sad

Purpleprickles · 18/08/2011 10:03

Holly because I am a hypochondriac interested in medical matters I have just googled staph infections and agree that you should visit A&E. Your chin weeping sounds worrying. It's always best to be cautious!

MigratingCoconuts · 18/08/2011 10:00

If it is spread GO TO THE HOSPITAL NOW

I have know people with runn away infections like this and I don't want to go into details but it is seriously very dangerous and life changing/threatening.

HouseOfBamboo · 18/08/2011 09:59

Oh Holly hope the clinic is more helpful today. The chin thing doesn't sound good.

Thanks for the clickable links last night folks. I hadn't expected anyone to do it so quickly so fainted with frustration fell asleep before I saw them. Then woke at 4.30am, checked phone and clicked on link. Thank god DH didn't wake up, I would have been instantly divorced for serious weirdy behaviour I think.

ShirleyKnot · 18/08/2011 09:55

Holy shit!

Have just read this thread with my jaw agape and my stomach churning.

Holly - you are a funny funny lady - but please I beg of you..if you don't get anything other than "more ABs" from the GP then GO TO A AND E.

I know it's difficult when you've got little ones but SURELY TO CHRIST someone will have them for you while you go and get this thing sorted?

pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease...

It would be awful for this thread to end in something not funny at all.

faverolles · 18/08/2011 09:54

Soooo pleased you're still with us! I was getting worried last night!
Agree with the others - get thee to hospital, get it properly looked at. :)

chimchar · 18/08/2011 09:40

oh god holly....it sounds like its branching out...rioting even!

fucidin cream is clever (my dh calls it fuck-a-din btw) but not THAT good....

i'm joining the get to hossie posse.

good luck!

5GoMadOnAZ650 · 18/08/2011 09:39

Omg that is horrific! I have a reoccurring boil on my stomach which I've been told will have to be cleaned out and packed in hospital if it doesn't totally heal soon, yours looks much bigger than mine so I'd have thought it's going to need something similar. I hope you feel better soon!