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 ?

Er loud crack ha ha !

@Takethebullbth

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.

😱 I so want to see someone do this! Please OP if you do do this, take a video for us

go to a&e and get the surgical a&e to do it - don't leave it

You do know you can’t just pitch up at a&e and demand a surgeon to lance a boil?

None of us here have seen it. There may be a clinical reason not to lance it. That would be a&e’s decision, not the patients.

Re going to A&E for surgical consult - that was precisely what my GP recommended for my abscess. Hope you get some relief soon OP

Ibruprofen will help with the pain, as well as warm cloths.
Is anyone old enough to remember black ointment? It could draw lava from a volcano. Df used to get boils on his neck and was brewing one, middle of Australian summer, dm wouldn’t go near, with black ointment on it. Left to me to dress it, I said, hang in there’s a bit of lint stuck in it. Boom, it was the core and I was covered in gunk. 🤢

Hmm you can go to a&e in Scotland and they have a surgical emergency team. Of course the relevant professionals would have to advise in a&e.

@MsFannySqueers, I came home from work one day to see that my dog had a massive swelling on his neck. I rang the vet and she said to come straight away.

When I went to put his collar on, said lump burst and squirted what seemed like a pint of pus all down my trouser leg. It stunk to high heaven and I nearly puked.

It was an abscess and had to be drained some more.

@burstthefucker, how is it now???

Oh no! clicked on this by mistake and started to read it...
I was just about to have some lunch - I don't think I can face it now.

I'm not sure whether to be disgusted or jealous of you OP.

My dad used to get boils. My mum used to make a poultice of bread soaked in hot milk, as hot as you can bear and then applied it over the boil with a dressing over the top.
The poultice drew out the pus onto the dressing.
You could try that op.

In your shoes I’d probably go get it lanced by a doctor, who can inject lignocaine first and pack it if it turns out to be deeper than you think.

But if I was desperate and had no medic available I’d apply a hot flannel, sterilise the area with alcohol or iodine, and use a sterile scalpel to lance it. Be prepared for a lot of puss to squirt out! A needle probably won’t work as the hole will be tiny. Don’t squeeze it or you risk pushing the infection deeper. If there’s puss it will drain naturally without pressure. Leave the wound to drain (cover with gauze and a dressing don’t try to close it). And do seek medical advice as you might need different antibiotics or IV antibiotics!

It's not advised I'm sure but I'm terrible for doing things like it myself. I burnt myself a couple of years ago and stuck needles in the blisters.

I did the same when i had a mad attack of pompholyx a couple of years ago. Pics were on spormer’s corner. Tons of blisters that I just kept bursting.

What’s the difference between a boil and an abscess?

My guinea pig had a big neck abscess and my vet showed me how to Lance it and flush it and I had to do it every day for a week. Was amazing. I think the piggie quite enjoyed it.

Personally I’d slice it, squeeze and flush.

Is it @JacobReesMogadishu that an abscess has servers heads? Not sure though.

Never squeeze. Press straight down lightly with thumbs on either side if you must