To lance my own boil? (Disgusting, sorry)

[burstthefucker]

Have a huge boil - about the size of a plum . Been prescribed antibiotics for a week now as had associated cellulitis . GP hasn’t actually seen the boil or size, all diagnosed over the phone .

This morning it’s angry again and giving off fishy smelling pus ... Never smelt anything like it . It’s absolutely awful .

WIBU to get a sterile needle or something and just dig at a bit? Health centre said a nurse will ring later to discuss but surely if I can drain it that’s the problem solved ?

Do you have a picture? I am sure those in Sporner's Corner would be happy to help.
(PLEASE post a picture

Magnesium sulphate paste. Google it. It will draw all the gunk out. Worked pharmacy for years and pharmacist always recommended this for boils

My DM had one on her stomach which started from a rubbing waistband. She was putting hot spoons on it and magnesium sulphate pasteto draw it out . It got nasty, was an abscess and surgery and packing with dressing followed. She even got daily nurse visits to change the dressing. This was the 80s, bet that’s all stopped!

I don't understand why we've got so squeamish about lancing. It was standard practice, surely. Certainly was when I was growing up. I've done whitlows, boils, pus between the toes (what was that about!?!). Never had anything get worse, it's always got better. Better out than in, as they say!

A doctor lancing, yes. Not picking about at home

And use lots of hot face cloths to encourage it to drain

Oooh. No way could I have resisted poking it by now! However to be responsible maybe you’d better let a doctor look at it. Especially if it smells so bad.

Boiling water with detol, bathe with cottonwool pads as hot as you can bear. It will soon pop.

I'd be in a hot bath followed by hot flannels praying for a puss filled explosion. With a video for Sporner Corner. How can you resist?

God someone doesn't know the rules...

Photos ffs

DON’T dig 😆 Get some Magna Plasm from a pharmacy, apply to boil & leave covered (with bandage pad & plaster) for 24 hrs. This draws the pus into a concentrated area.

You need a tiny bottle (along the lines of miniature spirit bottle). Boil the kettle fill bottle with boiling water, tip out & quickly place mouth of the bottle over the boil. The steam creates a suction, drawing the pus into the bottle. Keep repeating until no more pus is evident. You will probably see one or more cores. Looks like a tiny bit of dental floss sticking out. You can use a pair of tweezers to gently pull it out (like a thread) more pus will probably release.

A flat mate did this for me years ago when I had one & it worked really well.

WHY IS THERE NO PICTURE??

The size of plum?!

Leave it alone and wait for the nurse to advise you.

I would have definitely had a poke by now!

We need a photo.

Please don't do this. If your boil is as large as you say it it then this should be done by a trained professional using an aseptic technique.
You could spread the infection when you burst it yourself it will need a dressing done aseptically.
If not done properly by a HCP could lead to sepsis which is very bad news and avoidable.

Sounds like you need a small operation on it op.

Wow, size of a plum? IM a committed sporner but I doubt whether I’d tackle something that big myself!
Wait for the nurse to advise.... but whatever you do post some pics for us in sporner corner!

Doesn't anybody use a bread poultice these days?

That sounds big. Have never had a boil. But I’d wait for advice tbh.

Following in hopes of an update and pictures

@afaloren

Following in hopes of an update and pictures

Me too but had to put something on half intelligence.

eek OP you have cellulitis that has failed to respond to antibiotics

That's genuinely a medical emergency and you need urgent medical care, please ring your GP/111 asap, you may need IV antibiotics

(coming from someone who loves popping things and all the grossness)

I’m a nurse and need pictures, if it was me I would do it. And in true nurse style I’m reading this eating my lunch.

Please don't mess with needles, ridiculous, you don't even know it's a boil.
Try magnesium sulphate with gauze over the top. Or Kaolin does the trick, but we have to get ours online.
Bread poultices are good too, as is tea tree oil, neat.
Or you could even try sugar and soap.
All of these will draw it together into a nice big head that will burst of it's own accord.
You can make it much worse by draining it yourself.