Sporn alert - boil in groin - do they always need a GP?

[fanjoboilhelp]

Huge lump in my groin - it’s about the size of a cherry tomato . Squishy; with a head on it but won’t burst despite trying . It’s sort of between the fatty bit and my leg iyswim . It isn’t sore in the slightest - just huge, but I’m feeling a bit fluey, headache, dizzy, shivery, tired . No fever (checked) . Do these things always need a GP? I’m dithering over trying to pop it with a needle ...

It does need a doctor. The trouble with trying to squeeze it is you might send the gunk into the blood stream rather than bursting it. Given you are feeling fluey I would call 111 tonight rather than wait.

You could maybe try a warm not hot bath or shower or a warm but not hot flannel compress. But given the flu like symptoms maybe contact GP.

You might need Antibiotics.

I was prescribed them once for an in grown hair that would not come out.
Mohave you tried a hot flannel etc.

Magnesium sulphate might sort it. I had a couple of large abcesses there that needed hospital treatment (turns out they were a sign of diabetes) but smaller ones usually sort themselves out on their own or with mag sulph paste.

I remember using mag sulphate for one years ago on the inside yes, could get some off amazon for tomorrow . It’s not throbbing or anything, it’s just like a huge lump . It’s probably my fault for being fat, which is putting me off getting medical help in case they laugh at me . Will give a hot flannel a try . I feel like it should be painful but it isn’t at all - until I try to squeeze it . Diabetes wouldn’t surprise me, I’m fat with PCOS so it makes sense ther would be catching up with me .

On phone to 111 now

I've used savlon before now. Its helped pop it and then I've applied more once all the gunk is out. Good luck op..

Maybe it’s an enlarged lymph node?

I just wanted to say, I’m sorry you feel that way about going to the doctors, you shouldn’t have to feel that way. I hope it gets resolved for you soon

I would try a hit as you can stand compress multiple times over the next couple of days, hot salty baths and bug dollops of Savlon or Mag Sulphate. Seek GP if it doesn't die down. film it

**hot

*Big

If it was just the boil without the fluey feeling I wouldn’t bother with GP and go at it with hot flannel, mag sulfate paste etc. (am also fat and avoid GP as much as I can because there’s no point - any and all ailments are due to being fat…) but since you’ve described feeling unwell too it’s worth getting checked out.

Actually,that's true, fluey isn't a good sign. Get it checked

photo and YouTube link if you pop it

I'd be more concerned about the feeling fluey (which could be a sign of a systemic infection suggesting you might need antibiotics) than the actual boil itself.

Glad you're calling 111. Hot compresses and salt baths in the meantime might help. I hope you feel better soon.

I'm always first with a pin. Especially if there's a head. Figure giving all the gunk an exit port is less traumatic than squeezing.

If there's a definite head and it doesn't hurt then that would be what I would be doing as it needs drained.

But I do agree that fluey feeling is worth checking out too. Although with no fever or pain then could be unrelated.

If you may have developed diabetes take it from me anything from an insect bite to a scratch can quickly develop into cellulitis. I think you should ask 111 just to be safe. I had cellulitis recently on my face and tracking down my neck from a tooth infection. My face was very swollen and red. Luckily my gp prescribed antibiotics extra to the ones the dentist had prescribed.

It’s being managed as ?covid19 .... have said I’ve done a lateral flow already this evening out of curiosity and thinking I should and all absolutely fine - but said they need to run it past COVID team as I said I felt hot - but also said to them my thermometer is only saying 36.6 . Aaaargh . Anyway GP from ‘covid team’ will ring, have to self isolate until told otherwise and she said I’ll also get a call about booking a PCR test .

I did say in meantime what to do re abscess - ‘well we need to rule out covid19 as a priority first...’

That was quick - as soon as off phone GP rang and said, abscess, flucloxacillin and ignore all COVID correspondence!!

I had similar thing once, it was the size of a golf ball and SO painful to walk, but I hobbled to the walk in centre, looking like a sore John Wayne, and they gave me painkillers and antibiotics.
Hope it's better soon.

@JeanClaudeVanDammit - great comment. I too avoid the GP because I am ashamed of being 3 stone overweight and embarrassed. I think I'd actually feel less embarrassed if I had a drink or drug problem tbh.

Still pretty bad this morning - the whole of the right side is solid/red and swollen . Managed to sleep last night but struggling to walk ... OOH GP said to take 4g flucloxacillin (so eight tablets) and then go down to 1 4x a day . Hopefully that clears it out - I can’t eat as feel so sick but can put up with that!

Ouch, sounds really painful! Glad you’ve got some antibiotics, hope they kick in soon.

Do you have diabetes OP?

Not that I’ve been told about - had normal BM when it was checked a few weeks ago, had a normal blood test Dec 2019 too . It hasn’t been checked for a while though . I’m 21 stone and he PCOS so it wouldn’t surprise me if I was, but I don’t know how to find out .