Pain after incision and drainage packing OMG HOLY MOLY

[nutsnutspistachionuts]

I had a painful abscess on my side, just below my bra strap. Didn’t clear up with a week of antibiotics so yesterday I had to have incision and drainage. It all escalated very quickly, I was in my GP at 11am being told it needed immediate removal and in the hospital having surgery at 4pm. I had it under local because I wanted to be home quicker and I’m scared of general anaesthetic…It was very painful but I was brave/hard/whatever and managed it. The strikes at the hospital made it all feel a bit chaotic and that influenced my decision too. Anyway made it home last night, without any discharge notes (they're being posted lol).

Had my packing changed today by the district nurse and OH MY GOD it was painful. Now everything feels a bit worse than before. Is this normal, just because they’ve prodded it about a bit?

The overstretched hospital barely told me anything. The district nurse today said I was looking at daily packing changes for 1-2 weeks. Feel completely unprepared for all this. Has anyone had packing before? Will it get easier?

I WFH so I can mostly rest up but there are two things I have to go to this week, painkillered up to the eyeballs I guess.

Yes I've had Few of these. It has to heal bottom up so it will take as long as it takes. Be careful, one time I ended up with staphylococcus. Don't push yourself, your body needs to heal it. Grit your teeth when getting dressings done. It will get better. I had one dressed for months so it sounds like yours wasn't as bad as it could have been 💖😼

I had to have wounds packed on several occasions and you have my sympathy - it's excruciating. I was able to have gas & air at some appointments and this definitely helped me get through it so it's worth asking it's an option.

The sting. The anticipation of the pain. The actual pain…

Unfortunately a lot of the pain will be as the nerve endings that have been cut through are touched. First few days will def be the worse, still painful after that but hopefully less. It has to heal from the inside out - reason they pack is simply to stop the wound healing across the top leaving a empty hole inside. Take paracetamol half hour before the last king change. Best of luck.

Thanks all. It is agony isn't it? I only had 20 mins notice about the appt today so was barely enough time for the painkillers to kick in, hopefully that will get better.

I actually have AXA health insurance at work but I've never used it and not sure if it's any help, hmmm...

Make sure they've not packed it too tightly! I've had this on a gynae abscess and the pain of the overpacking still makes me shudder. I was an inpatient though and had access to hard drugs!Mine felt a million times better when it was repacked less tightly. If I'm making any sense.
Hope you're OK!

I’ve had this. Unfortunately it’s excruciating but it gets easier. I took ibuprofen/ paracetamol before each appointment and codiene for the first few 😵‍💫 Rest as much as you can so you can heal and avoid infection 👍

I found it hurt less the more it was changed.

Thank you! Maybe she packed it tighter or knocked a nerve today. If they're changing it every day maybe some days will be better than others. Good to hear it gets better though!

Terrified of infections but hey ho.

Some will be better at it than other for sure.
I had it done too and was amazed how much ribbon gauze mine could hold, repacking was quite painful. It did make me sympathetic and much more careful when packing wounds for patients once I became a nurse.

Packing changed again today and it was not as bad. Still "ow ow ow ow" but nothing compared to yesterday. After yesterday's DH said I looked like I'd gone into shock. The nurse today seemed more experienced. Which figures because yesterday's nurse was saying she used to go to my son's primary school and it sounded like she had all the same teachers, who are only in their 30s and 40s. Thanks all for your advice!