WIBU to attempt surgery on this myself if the GP won't?

[Welshmaenad]

Embarrassing problem alert, do not read it eating breakfast.

I have a really large, very painful abscess type thing on my labia. It’s developed over a few days and even though I am maxing out prescription strength co codamol and naproxen, it is SO painful. It’s maybe 2-2.5 inches along by now, red/purple, solid, warm to touch but no head on it or visible sign of pus.

I’m waiting for the Dr to ring me back to formulate a plan. My sister thinks I’ll have to have it surgically drained, has anyone experienced this? What the he’ll is it and where did it come from? I live with chronic pain and consider myself generally a bit of a tough nut but this has me sobbing when I have to move, and I feel quite sick.

If the dr won't drain it and there's no head, is there anything I can do myself to relieve the pain and pressure?

Additional AIBU - I've logged in for work to try to make it to a meeting I have this morning but after that WIBU to bag work off for the day? I honestly can't concentrate because it hurts, and it's setting off my autoimmune condition and I feel quite dreadful generally.

@QueenCT

Yeah sounds more like just a standard cyst/abscess in that location. I get them v regularly (monthly probably) and they are not the most fun! Keep going with warm flannel compress as they can really help

This sounds very like hidradenitis suppurativa - flare often arrives with a period. Just leaving this here for you or anyone else who suffers. Antibiotics are often prescribed but only deliver short term results, often with with long term complications. If it progresses beyond stage one - a lot can be achieved via diet - although you won't hear that through many but the most open minded, progressive of dermatologists. There's a really good facebook support group - with brilliant info and masses of support called the HS Diet Connection - they gave me my life back.

@UserErrorMessage yes, I was diagnosed age 12

You're all lovely.

Sadly no baths for me, I had mine taken out for a walk in shower because stupid disability. I am however sitting on the sofa in my pants with a hot wheat bag on my minge, the kids scurrying round making me coffee and the OH texting regularly to enquire about my 'poorly puffy fanny'. I double doses my first antibiotics and am munching co codamol and naproxen. I will love to fight another day!

[quote QueenCT]@UserErrorMessage yes, I was diagnosed age 12 [/quote]
An odd thing to say - but you were "lucky" to get an early diagnosis - it took me 12 years, countless GPs, a few Gynaecologists and a Dermatologist to get my diagnosis - and I am so glad I did not let a less than knowledgeable GP with a scalpel anywhere near me, despite her enthusiasm - the results from this kind of "minor surgery" has left many people with massive open wounds for months.
.

@UserErrorMessage yes my mum has it so it wasn't a big shock, they actually only "confirmed" it when I had surgery and they removed some skin but they said when I was 12 it was 99% likely to be and so treated as such
I need the odd op for drainage and then plastic surgery as I can't heal wounds (I have virtually no immune system) but I'm stage 1 groin, stage 2 armpits

[quote QueenCT]@UserErrorMessage yes my mum has it so it wasn't a big shock, they actually only "confirmed" it when I had surgery and they removed some skin but they said when I was 12 it was 99% likely to be and so treated as such
I need the odd op for drainage and then plastic surgery as I can't heal wounds (I have virtually no immune system) but I'm stage 1 groin, stage 2 armpits [/quote]
The armpits must be awful, I was stage 2 groin but occasionally I used to get a small lump in my armpits - and the pain from moving was hideous - at least I could park my butt somewhere. I spent a few years looking for my trigger food and although frustrating I eventually found it - I no longer suffer more than a very tiny pimple now - unless I eat something I shouldn't. I dread passing it on to my dcs - we thought ds had it for a while.

Ooh, I had one of these in 1984!! It was a bugger, the pain was hideous. It made me walk weird as every step hurt like hell! After a couple of painful days (and sleepless nights) it came to a head, and i was able to squeeze it... Aaahh, the relief was immense!! Amazing yellow gunk came out, but it emptied totally, and I’ve never had one since. You have my sympathy, Op, 🌻. all those years later - I still remember the pain!

@Moonmelodies

I burst mine walking round Asda. Using a needle?

Now THAT is what I call multi-tasking!

OP I hope the tablets work and your “poorly puffy fanny” gets better soon!

It was a close fitting seam on my jeans that did it. In the Tv aisle.

Salt baths can help to draw it out
Hugs for the pain I can sympathise

I had a Bartholins cyst when I was 14 and it was so painful! I remember the dr asking me how long I'd had it for and I said a month and she couldn't believe I'd put up with it for so long - actually I was too embarrassed to tell her it had been about 6 months but I didn't want to tell anyone as I thought I was dying. I had to have surgery. Hope you get some relief soon!

Ouch OP. It sounds very much like a Bartholin's Cyst to me too. I've had several of the nasty bastards, and actually had one start to develop yesterday so I'm currently attempting to treat it at home.

As others have said, try lots of hot baths/sitz baths/hot compresses, and apply Magnesium Sulphate paste to the cyst. It'll hopefully burst.

If you start to feel feverish or it seems to be increasing in size/ getting much more painful, call GP asap as you may need it drained. They can turn into abscesses pretty quickly if not sorted out.

So glad you've been seen! Hopefully you've caught it quick enough for antibiotics to kick in 😀

It was a close fitting seam on my jeans that did it. In the Tv aisle.

I had this a few years ago OP. I was on holiday and inadvertently pulled a pubic hair out while trying on a swimming costume. Went swimming, didn't think anything of it until 5 days later when I'd got home and the pain became unbearable. Went to hospital when I was at the stage I couldn't bear to even touch it and they hooked me up to iv antibiotics for couple of hours and booked theatre incase they needed to drain it. It burst itself so thankfully I was sent home with antibiotics and dressings. As you don't have a bath try warm flannels or hot water bottle but also stand in the shower and spray that hot water on there.

Hopefully it's on its way to bursting on its own xx

I’ve had a couple of big ones years ago, and some small pea sized ones now and again still. Nasty horrible things. I’m not recommending you do this, but I put some surgical spirit on a cotton wool ball and pressed it on. Stung like crazy but it seemed to make a head appear the next day, and with bit of (an eye poppingly painful) squeeze it burst. The relief ...... !

I'm back! Dr was LOVELY. She said there's no point sending me to hospital right now as it hasn't 'organised' into a head/collection of pus.

It never occurred to me that things like abscesses were organised or disorganised. This has made my day.

(I hope you're feeling better soon.)

Honestly I’m a ruse and I don’t advise this normally but this sounds horrendous , go to out of hours or A&E Over the weekend and let them know you can my stand the pain anymore and they will treat you .

Nurse not ruse 😂 but you ok u can’t suffer in pain like this .

If you have a large washing up bowl or a smaller arse than mine sitting in salty water as hot as you can stand it really helps. tip, don’t overfill it unless you in shower or on tiles

How are you feeling today? You poor thing, I had one and it was quite painful, but I don't think it is a bartholan that you have as they are usually located right next to the vagina entrance.

If you don't have a bath to do a salt water soak, could you sit in the shower and use a plastic fanny, not penis beaker with the salt water in it?

OP I am literally cringing for you, the pain you poor pet! Try and get it to a head if you can but hopefully the antibiotics help, they never did me.

@QueenCT hidradenitis suppurativa!! Thank you! I have just realised that this is what I have. I have pcos and my gynae kind of brushed off my tendancy to get huge boils under my boobs, armpits, chest and bum. They are linked to my hormones but I never had a name. I had one on my chest lanced, I still have a hole between my boobs that never fully closed. I will have to look into hidradenitis suppurativa and see if diet can help thank you

I'm blaming this thread for the fact I just woke up with one this morning in my groin

@Vandree

OP I am literally cringing for you, the pain you poor pet! Try and get it to a head if you can but hopefully the antibiotics help, they never did me.

@QueenCT hidradenitis suppurativa!! Thank you! I have just realised that this is what I have. I have pcos and my gynae kind of brushed off my tendancy to get huge boils under my boobs, armpits, chest and bum. They are linked to my hormones but I never had a name. I had one on my chest lanced, I still have a hole between my boobs that never fully closed. I will have to look into hidradenitis suppurativa and see if diet can help thank you

Try reading The Hidden Plague by Tara Grant - lots of good info.