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Original poster

Anyone around... scared

786 replies

DarkSuitsSadSongs · 07/08/2025 22:46

I'm home alone with my 12 year old twins as my husband is working away and not due back until tomorrow evening. He's about 6 hours away.

Over the last few days I've had a painful boil under my boob. I saw the GP today as it doubled in size overnight. There is a red circle around it. She prescribed doxycycline (2 a day) and said to phone back if it gets worse.

I've been getting more and more unwell. My left arm has started tingling, I'm sweating with cold hands and feet, the pain is indescribable and I'm exhausted. I slept for 6 hours this afternoon and I'm still utterly exhausted and all my joints hurt.

I've had to phone my father in law who is an hour away to come through to sit with the twins. I'm on hold to 111 but a 45 minute wait to call answer as a minimum they said.

I'm not sure whether just to call a taxi when FIL gets here to go straight to accident and emergency.

I'm a little freaked out at how unwell I feel.

OP posts:
Jellycatspyjamas · 08/08/2025 09:33

I’m glad you’ve been seen and had a treatment plan. I too would complain, the hospital should complete a datix because it’s a clinical near miss. Not everyone would have your confidence to wait after being advised to go home and could have ended up very unwell.

Rosscameasdoody · 08/08/2025 09:36

DarkSuitsSadSongs · 07/08/2025 22:46

I'm home alone with my 12 year old twins as my husband is working away and not due back until tomorrow evening. He's about 6 hours away.

Over the last few days I've had a painful boil under my boob. I saw the GP today as it doubled in size overnight. There is a red circle around it. She prescribed doxycycline (2 a day) and said to phone back if it gets worse.

I've been getting more and more unwell. My left arm has started tingling, I'm sweating with cold hands and feet, the pain is indescribable and I'm exhausted. I slept for 6 hours this afternoon and I'm still utterly exhausted and all my joints hurt.

I've had to phone my father in law who is an hour away to come through to sit with the twins. I'm on hold to 111 but a 45 minute wait to call answer as a minimum they said.

I'm not sure whether just to call a taxi when FIL gets here to go straight to accident and emergency.

I'm a little freaked out at how unwell I feel.

OP you need to get to A&E. There are a number of issues with boils, and if you feel unwell there is clearly an underlying issue that needs sorting. I would book a taxi and get a bag together with essentials, together with the antibiotics you’ve been given and as soon as FiL arrives, get yourself to the hospital. Doxycycline is a powerful antibiotic and it can make you feel very unwell, so you need to eat checked out to see if that’s having an adverse effect too.

ParvuliThankYouDebbie · 08/08/2025 09:37

MarchionessVonSausage · 08/08/2025 03:52

After taking my observations she said "you don't have sepsis. Cellulitis yes. Sepsis no"

Cellulitis can turn bad, very quickly, and then all hell breaks loose.

I would hang in there and wait if you can. Hope you're ok?

Yes it can.
I’ve just spent an entire week recovering from yet another bout of it. I think it’s about the seventh or eighth time I’ve had it. First time I was so ill I was admitted but I know the signs now and got antibiotics straight away. Not sure if you know this OP, but once you have had cellulitis once you’re much more prone to getting it again. Even the most innocuous tiny sting or bite can trigger it for me now. So do be vigilant in future if you get any stings bites or cuts. Hoping you get better soon.

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Original poster
DarkSuitsSadSongs · 08/08/2025 09:39

HopingForTheBest25 · 08/08/2025 09:32

If you take yourself to the hospital, will you be admitted straight to the ward you need to be in for an immediate treatment or will you be bounced back to A&E at the new hospital? This would affect whether I took myself or had the smaller hospital make the transfer.

I've never been to A&E at the bigger hospital but I would guess they would have processed me through A&E and had a surgeon come down to see me for an assessment so in all likelihood it would have been a quicker route to the surgeon.

OP posts:
MumWifeOther · 08/08/2025 09:39

LadySuzanne · 08/08/2025 08:08

Read the thread.

Show quote history

Or what? 😂

Original poster
DarkSuitsSadSongs · 08/08/2025 09:42

The Dr here is happy to discharge me so I can make my own way to the other hospital.

My friend is just coming so I'm all packed up.

The plan is to have IV antibiotics on arrival at the assessment unit (they have arranged an admission so I will bypass the waiting/triage) and they will repeat the bloods and a surgeon will assess me at some point today. There is a bed waiting for me so I won't be hanging around on a chair.

OP posts:
FlamingoFloss · 08/08/2025 09:45

Good luck OP and hope you feel better soon xx

hopspot · 08/08/2025 09:45

Safe travels op!

Salome61 · 08/08/2025 09:47

You poor thing, best wishes for your recovery. x

Iamnotalemming · 08/08/2025 09:50

Glad you're getting the care that you need.

verycloakanddaggers · 08/08/2025 10:07

taxidriver · 08/08/2025 09:12

but maybe if the op had gone to GP the GP may have referred her straight to the large hospital
which is where she needs to be
i had an abscess and this is what the GP did for me, they have the ability

Edited

Maybe, but what the nurse said was dangerous and should be reported as it was not appropriate or safe advice.

EnjoyingTheArmoire · 08/08/2025 10:18

Lifealwaysgetsbetter · 08/08/2025 08:57

Ouch… I knew someone who had a skin infection that turned v nasty and ended up needing stones of flesh removed. He was morbidly obese but the amount of flesh needing removed was unreal… you did the right thing going to hospital but always go to a decent sized one even if not as local. I’ve had sepsis a few times and I didn’t actually feel that unwell at first but as you say it can change v quickly. I’m glad you’re in hospital now. But next time (hopefully not), do call 999 as even waiting 45 mins for an ambulance means you aren’t hours in the waiting room. I took my husband with kidney stones and assumed he’d be taken straight in.. nope. Rolling around the waiting room and only the receptionist watching - and not reacting in the slightest. When asking for some help, they just replied “we are busy”… I now doubt if someone collapsed, that that would change things…. So now on its 999 or go to a large hospital if it’s hours for an ambulance!

Show quote history

Sorry but this isn't correct.

An ambulance is emergency transport to A&E. Once you arrive at the Emergency Department you are triaged just like everyone else.

If the Triage Nurse thinks you're a Category 5 then you're still going to be waiting.

You don't get bumped up the list just because you've arrived in an ambulance. It's not a fast track to being seen quicker.

All you're doing is taking an ambulance away from someone who actually needs it.

MagnoliaTreeBlossom · 08/08/2025 10:18

Glad to read you've got your transfer arranged @DarkSuitsSadSongs

You mentioned the pain is now across the top too so make sure you sit in whichever seat means the seatbelt can be strapped safely across your shoulder to lap but won't be touching the site to minimise discomfort. 45 minutes is a long journey sitting upright when you're in pain so you need to be as comfortable as possible.

I hope your treatment goes well and you make a speedy recovery. 💐

PistachioTiramisu · 08/08/2025 10:19

You poor thing, OP, I sympathise. I had a cyst in my lower breast and while it was filling it was absolute agony - I used to say it felt like a thousand needles in there every time I moved!! It was so gross it grew a stalk out through my breast which eventually burst. Had it removed eventually. Hope you feel better very soon.

justinhawkinsnavalfluff · 08/08/2025 10:19

So glad your getting a proper treatment plan. Good luck with it all! 💐

willitevergetwarm · 08/08/2025 10:26

Good Luck OP, hope you are soon feeling better and can get back to your twins

HateLongCovid · 08/08/2025 10:46

taxidriver · 08/08/2025 09:12

but maybe if the op had gone to GP the GP may have referred her straight to the large hospital
which is where she needs to be
i had an abscess and this is what the GP did for me, they have the ability

Edited

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. 🙄 Like the op said she was worried about possible sepsis.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 08/08/2025 10:47

DarkSuitsSadSongs · 08/08/2025 09:42

The Dr here is happy to discharge me so I can make my own way to the other hospital.

My friend is just coming so I'm all packed up.

The plan is to have IV antibiotics on arrival at the assessment unit (they have arranged an admission so I will bypass the waiting/triage) and they will repeat the bloods and a surgeon will assess me at some point today. There is a bed waiting for me so I won't be hanging around on a chair.

Goodness, I hope it all goes well for you. It sounds very painful.

rainbowstardrops · 08/08/2025 10:48

I really hope you start to feel better soon Flowers

Wheresthebeach · 08/08/2025 10:49

Glad you're getting treatment. A tad shocked that the nurse suggested going home. Thank goodness you stayed to see the doctor.

CracklingFlames · 08/08/2025 10:51

You did the right thing. I saw my gp with an abscess in the morning. Antibiotics prescribed sent on my way. Some extra sense made him ring me at 8.30pm after evening surgery closed. He spoke to me and sent me straight into hospital. I had sepsis and surgery to remove abscess. That's how quickly things can go downhill.

Stitchtakeover · 08/08/2025 10:57

Glad you stayed to be seen. Hopefully everything will be sorted soon.💐

ns87 · 08/08/2025 11:20

Sounds like you've made all the right choices, sending luck and love x

Original poster
DarkSuitsSadSongs · 08/08/2025 11:26

My IV antibiotics have been started. Temp is normal at 37.3. But the boil is 4cm so they will be looking to surgically drain it this afternoon as its most likely not going to resolve on its own - apparently anything over 3cm normally needs surgical intervention.

OP posts:
istheresomethingishouldsay · 08/08/2025 11:44

Glad you've made it to where you need to be.
Hopefully it will be drained soon and the antibiotics will finish the job.

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