DH has two huge lumps in armpit

[nameychangio675]

One has just started oozing puss. Arm around it going red. He’s had a recent ear infection and before that very nasty infected wound on his thumb. Which he got ABs for. I’ve finally got him to agree to go to the GP for the armpit. He’s 41 very fit and healthy. But he’s tired and run down. Should I be worried? I have health anxiety and I’m trying not to let my mind wander.

While diet and activity are linked to Type 2, it is not a perfect correlation. Type 2 has a genetic link and some people do develop it while still thin. Cases have been missed because people have assumed it's impossible to get T2D if you are not overweight.

There is also the possibility of LADA, which is effectively a slow-moving type of Type 1 diabetes (i.e. autoimmune based rather than linked to insulin resistance). If his sugars and HbA1c are high on retest and they say it's diabetes, request a diabetes antibody panel and C-peptide test to see which it is. Now that the antibody tests are available we have learnt that a decent minority of "type 2" is actually LADA. Everyone simply assumed previously that juvenile onset was T1 while adult-onset was T2 and it's not! This is important information as while LADA moves more slowly than T1 in children, he will require insulin. And it's important that you tell the GP that his dad has T1 as again, there is a genetic link.

@knitnerd90 incredible advice - thank you

I've had a big one in my armpit on and off for 3 years, which seems to come up when I'm run down. In 2020, I was given fluxoxacillin, which did nothing. It was driving me mad, so I burst it and put antiseptic on it.

About a year later, it came up again and I burst it, when it got unbearable. It was up a few weeks ago and even though I burst it, it's an angry little red lump. I wish it would fuck off!

DH now on antibiotics but still not well. Has a sore in his nose and a growth on his face. I’ve googled it and now I’m petrified he’s got Leukemia. He’s a usually very fit and healthy man, had a knee injury in September then a wound on his hand that got badly infected, a very bad ear infection and now these horrendous cysts. He’s been told to wait until Weds to have the blood tests due to the current infection/antibiotics. I just wish I had an inkling as to what is going on - or is this just bad luck and being run down.

Poor man, hope he starts to recover now

Could just be an unlucky spell. Try not to panic, hopefully next week will be reassuring.

I would just do the blood test today, they can always repeat it if needed

@Weenurse thats what I wanted to do but gp said not to - do you think it’ll skew things though - like will they know if the infection has skewed it?

Hey! It could be a condition called Hidradentis Supperativa. Very common in the armpits. There is a UK support group on Facebook that I’d recommend you join for support and advice as good management of it at the offset can reduce complications like tunnelling later on.

took me ages to get my diagnosis as it’s not widely known or spoken about x

@Creativepotter thank you

Hope he is ok and he gets the blood tests soon,

How’s your H doing @nameychangio675 ?

Waiting on blood test results (he had them this morning - it’s midday here). Thanks for checking in.

It turns out the infection was MRSA which I assume is why it kept coming back and why he’s still not right. So got to try new antibiotics.

He is still waiting on the other tests but I assume if it was something really bad we’ve had heard by now.

MRSA? Goodness me! I hope that it can be treated.

Poor man, no wonder he is not feeling well.

I don’t know much about MRSA but seems like different antibiotics are needed. But hoping that’s all it is. Not heard re bloods so hoping no news good news.

that sounds promising, hope he’s on the mend soon