Abscess (pic), should I pop it?

[WanderingTrolley1]

Very painful abscess on inner thigh developed Sunday evening, saw Dr Monday morning, she prescribed antibiotics which I don’t think is making any difference - red area has grown over last 3 days.

This spot came up today and it getting larger. Do I pop it?

Woah, that's impressive!! Definitely leave until tomorrow before any more squeezing.

😍

Delightful

🤤🤤 that's amazing
I wouldn't be surprised if the swelling went down overnight and you didn't get much more out of it now.

Well done for being brave. Does it feel any better?

Also the hardness could be inflammation, not necessarily pus etc. Have you taken any pain killers/anti inflammatory?

Marvellous! 🤩

Why do I love that picture so much, I am usually so squeamish!

Well done so pleased this thread is still here!

My DH had something very like this on his chin once 🤢 and he was very stoically just leaving it be and waiting for it to do it’s own thing. But it didn’t budge and I eventually convinced him to give it a little pull. We still talk about the “face worm” that came out of it!!

There may well be some 'chunky bits' which would account fir the lumpy feeling. Up to you if you have a firm squeeze to see if you can shift it. 👀 🌋

It might be a gift that keeps giving.
Sorry I love a good bit of sporn

Never ever ever pop an abscess. It will make it worse. Go to your gp, so they can decide what to do as if they pop it they will clean it up and put you on antibiotics most likely.

Be super careful about keeping that clean, you don’t want the contents spreading bacteria. Use tcp and cover it with a large pad, even folded tissue is fine. Bin any tissues after one wipe, clean the area and try to avoid it going on skin. Wash your hands very well straight after. You don’t want more!
It should be fine now, it’ll go down- just be aware of managing the contents.

I do now feel like I should mention that the “face worm” I described above turned out to be MRSA and an absolute nightmare to shift. He got several other infected boils/abscesses and then passed it to me before the GP finally did a swab and we had to embark upon an extremely thorough deep cleanse with antibiotics, special body wash, gel up our noses, bed sheets and towels on a boil wash etc.

So yes, keep it very very clean. That plus could be highly infectious!

I would definitely do the hot glass bottle method. Much safer than squeezing, which forces the infection deeper into the tissues.

Keep it and surrounding area super clean and sterile.

My daughter had a Bartholin cyst at 27 weeks pregnant. When they cut it open the surgeon literally put a metal bin under her and you could hear and smell it.

We had a room full of people because word catheters are quite unusual, but seeing the green faces of some hardened HCPs was brilliant.

Lol I'm so please you all seem to like popping things as much as I do

@sprinkleyumnut

Never ever ever pop an abscess. It will make it worse. Go to your gp, so they can decide what to do as if they pop it they will clean it up and put you on antibiotics most likely.

Go to your GP?? 🙄 🙄 🙄 If the OPs surgery is anything like my GPs none will see you!! 😔 😔 😔

@Rachie1973

My daughter had a Bartholin cyst at 27 weeks pregnant. When they cut it open the surgeon literally put a metal bin under her and you could hear and smell it.

We had a room full of people because word catheters are quite unusual, but seeing the green faces of some hardened HCPs was brilliant.

Jesus, that must have been a whopper! They can make you ill quite quickly, I was delirious with one, burning up and seeing all sorts of weird things, I was ready to attack it with a maths compass (random) when it exploded on its own. The relief was immediate.

@TheViewFromTheCheapSeats

Be super careful about keeping that clean, you don’t want the contents spreading bacteria. Use tcp and cover it with a large pad, even folded tissue is fine. Bin any tissues after one wipe, clean the area and try to avoid it going on skin. Wash your hands very well straight after. You don’t want more! It should be fine now, it’ll go down- just be aware of managing the contents.

Yep, I'd be covering that with a dressing and TCP too. Super clean hands.

I don't go to the GP with mine, I would be there every other day! Mostly I leave them to burst alone but sometimes pop them
Shower with hibiscrub or dettol soap and dressings if they look likely to stick to clothes
If they're incredibly big, burning hot and painful then yes I go. Golf ball size is my "time for GP" level

I had an abscess under my arm which, after a few days on antibiotics, reached a point when it was runny like that if I so much as touched it. Then it reached the glorious point when just a little pressure produced big blobs of stuff that came out in a succession of pops, I still remember fondly how enjoyable it was and how good it felt afterwards.

Warm shallow bath with a few drops of tea tree oil is my go to. That and a tea tree oil compress will bring it out.

That picture of the eruption looks like pure relief