To perform minor surgery on myself?

[AlannaPartridge]

Serious question.

I have a sebaceous cyst on my earlobe. It's been there about two years and is the size of a pea. It's not sore or painful, but it's quite obvious & I feel self conscious about it.

I also want to get my ears pierced (finally!) but can't while it's there.

The doctor won't do anything because it's purely cosmetic & causing me no problems at all.

So....I'm thinking.....what if I clean the area really well with antiseptic wipes, sterilise a craft scalpel, make a small cut over the top and squeeze the bugger out (making sure the sack comes too)?

I am a sporner and feel quite excited at the thought of squeezing it out () but obviously don't want to do myself a serious mischief.

What do you think?

[fenellafudgetunnel]

I had one in my ear earlier in the year and was conscious it was growing and sore. I obviously prodded it a bit to see what was going on but it was just sore and hard until I sneezed and about a teaspoon full of goo came out and splatted down my face. Ewwww. Has gone now though (I quite miss it now it's gone).

OP either leave it alone or wait till it's a sufficient size to paint a face on it and call it Susan. Then you can register it as a new patient at the practice and get it dealt with.

[Alohomora]

I was so excited to find there is a name for such people as myself, I emailed hubby (who thinks it's sick and is also quite a baby about it) to tell him I'm a sporner.

Only he got the wrong end of the stick, thought it had to do with spores and wrote back: "That means you're pregnant, right?"

Oh dear... I had to set him straight, he wasn't amused.

[AlannaPartridge]

Fenella

[MrsOakenshield]

oh, I'm definitely one, I almost like getting an ingrown hair on the rare occasions I get a bikini wax just for the pleasure of squeezing it out. And I love grooming DH.

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

at fenella and the Susan-ectomy.

[BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability]

marking place

[TSSDNCOP]

The ear blackheads were ossum.

Come on OP. pull your fucking finger out

[Ezio]

I get ear spots from earphone use, i get a sick pleasure at hearing them pop.

I blame my mother and her loving of squeezing shit.

[MutantAndProud]

Anyoneforturps thank you for your sensible and correct post.

The GP isn't being a jobs worth, or rude or a quack. He's doing his job.

The NHS as we all know does not infinite resources. Therefore certain procedures are classed as 'procedures of low clinical priority' ie: cosmetic procedures that are not affecting patient physical and/or psychological health. Removing a cyst from an ear is miles different than removing one from a thigh etc. like someone above mentioned, keloid scars are an issue etc.

Removing a cyst just because you want an earring is a waste of NHS money. Fixing the botch job you may potentially make of it is also a waste of NHS money. People get infections from clinical procedures done in clinics/hospital so of course the risk of infection for an untrained layperson with a 'sterilised' craft knife is higher!

Use some common sense. Please. Enquire with your GP if they have access to minor surgery for crying out loud!!!!!

And this is from a GP Sporner.

[guiltyconscience]

I pick and pick the skin tags on my neck and they come off very readily. Think you could have a fine old time with the seb cyst corr my mouth is watering at the very thought !lol

[AlannaPartridge]

Use some common sense. Please. Enquire with your GP if they have access to minor surgery for crying out loud!!!!!

I hear you! Honestly! Your post it why I haven't been boiling up needles & scalpels today!!

But you've missed the part where I said that I have asked the GP AND the practice nurse - and it was a "definitely not" both times. Presumably because they agree that it's a waste of funds for something that's cosmetic. And I get that. I don't actually want to go to another surgery 'cos I like this one!

Do you quite like popping boils & stuff then, Mutant? Bet you've seen some amazing ones :)

[MutantAndProud]

Oh I absolutely adore minor surgery. Nothing more satisfying! My favourite thing is to incise and drain an abcess and also putting stitches in makes me happy too. I'm very weird!

That sucks that there isn't any other minor surgery facilities available. I've worked in practices before where they haven't got it available but they've always referred to other local surgeries who provide it for the region.

Sorry if I seemed all het up, it's been a longggg day xxx

[Panzee]

Why did I not see this thread till now?

I have rotten dyshidrosis eczema at the moment. It itches, it hurts, it flakes.

However it also has easily-poppable blisters. That bit is ace. :o

[FreudiansSlipper]

i really think you need some sort of professional to do this for you

you are in luck am that very person i used to be a professional pimple popper

and i am happy to be filmed and shall not charge

[PedantMarina]

Ahhh, Alanna, you have a good son, you do.

Clearly the solution to your own problem is to get together with mutantandproud for some mutual satisfaction (and get it on tape for the rest of us).

[AlannaPartridge]

He's my plan for now - going in to see our exceptionally lovely practice nurse with DS about something else on Tuesday, so I shall raise the matter with her again then. If it's still a definite no, then I'm taking out bugger - pics, vids and everything!

(Sorry, Mutant. Don't be toooooooooo cross).

[SauvignonBlanche]

I've seen all these links, apart from the OP's.

[BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability]

If you really want it done by a pro, and the docs here don't want to help otr, how about asking a vet?

[samlamb]

m.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=E-tDJ6LBn-4

Wow!

[AlannaPartridge]

SAM

OMG
OMG
OMG

!!!

That is the worst I have ever seen

[AmberLeaf]

Don't do it seriously.

I am a sporner, but if you get a staph infection [quite possible] you will regret it.

[Ezio]

Sam, thats so vile, but i cant stop watching.

[Ezio]

That must have been so painful.

[Footface]

Sam, it's like a puss udder