Crater-like wound on my leg turning black - what the hell is this (see pic)

[Bitworriedtbh]

Just as the title suggests! I got bitten last week, have no idea by what but it was itchy and the first day my leg was swollen and quite hard. Well now it’s turned into a small crater-like wound that feels really deep. It looks like a dark brown/black scab on it but I’ve tried lifting it a little and it’s like stuck in my leg, it looks hard but I’m sure it’s not actually a scab. When I tried to lift it (unsuccessfully) the skin around the wound peeled off. I have never had a bite end up like this! Any thoughts on what this is and whether it’s something that’ll heal on its own? Don’t want to bother the GP if it’s nothing!

Excuse the hairy legs and tattoo :D

It does look nasty, but the inflamed area doesn't look as big as I thought it might be from the earlier pic.

What a pisser that you've got to go to A&E because the sodding pharmacist is shut so early and the scrip has been sent electronically. It hadn't occurred to me that when it's an electronic scrip, you're stuffed if that pharmacy closes early. Boots where I live has started keeping really random pharmacy hours: you can't get anything that needs a pharmacist between 1.30 and 2.30, and last week there was no pharmacist there after 4.30 all week, for some reason.

I hope you don't have to wait too long, and great news about the autism assessment.

Hopefully a&e clean it & give you antibiotics

I’ve just managed to get multiple ulcers to heal on my leg. I had them covered which wasn’t helping. I let the air to them which healed them very quickly. I was told not to use iodine infused dressings on them. I had flaminal ointment, bloody hard to source, meant for leaking wounds. If it’s leaking, a potassium permanganate solution will help to dry it up (powder available on Amazon, often used by pond keepers).

Hope you get seen soon in person and hope you get treatment. Never worry about bothering people. That does not look good and needs attention now. x

I hope you get seen to soon xx

So I’ve been triaged and they did my obs and my blood pressure & oxygen were fine heart rate 133.

they looked at my leg and said in their professional opinion it looks like it’s healing and not necrotic.

then they said the rectal bleeding would be a separate issue.

however they looked at the blood tests I’ve had over the last few months and every one has said I have high inflammation markers and high white blood cells so they’ve told me to wait to be seen and not go because my body is fighting something

Hoping they sort it out in A&E for you.
So glad you went @Bitworriedtbh

If this is a diabetic ulcer - and from very recent experience, that’s what this looks like - that’s terrible advice. There are two types of flaminal ointment - one is meant to dry up leaking wounds, and the other is to liquefy (debride) necrotic tissue/scabs. Neither is appropriate for diabetic ulcers, the current medical advice is that ‘letting the air get to them’ encourages infection and necrosis because the top tissue dries out, locking in the infection. The treatment my partner, who has type 2 diabetes and three ulcers on his foot, is receiving from the diabetic foot clinic and district nurses, is Inadine cut to the size of the ulcer and a dressing on top. The idea is to provide a moist, antiseptic environment where the wound can heal from the inside out, instead of the other way around if left open to the air. Tight control of blood sugar is also essential because high blood glucose interferes with wound healing. The OP has already said that the GP suspects diabetes, so hopefully A&E can provide a glucose test and see where her blood sugar is now.

Hope you get the care you need x

thanks for the update op

Heart rate of 133 is high. Could be you’re stressed - Understandable, or more likely an indication of infection.

My DD always has a high heart rate when in a flare of her Crohn's.

You have some smaller red dots on your leg - not clear from the picture whether they are freckles or the start of other eruptions.

when I was at my heaviest - 22st I began to get boils/ulcers that were very painful. My blood sugar turned out to be very high. Hope they have checked that.

Your gp doesn’t sound very helpful!

I don't see how they can so quickly rule out an IBD flare connection as it looks like it could be pyoderma which can come along with a flare if you are unlucky. Do ask them if they are sure it is not pyoderma. If it doesn't heal with antibiotics then it likely needs immune suppressing like your flare.

I have crohn's disease and this to me looks like pyoderma gangrenosum. You need to be treated for that and your ibd flare. I hope you're feeling better soon.

Tropical ulcer

Calm it, I never claimed to be medically qualified. We all have our own experience and this was mine. The GP told me inadine was absolutely the wrong thing for ulcers, but I had been using it until I saw him. I had lots left over from drying up my feet after all the skin fell off some years ago. (icky pics in Sporners)

The OP has sought medical advice and will be hopefully given the correct treatment.

Glad you’re in A&E OP! Your heart rate is quite high which would indicate you’ve definitely got an infection of some kind. Hope they figure out what it is and how to treat you. Thank you for updating us x

Perfectly calm thank you. I wasn’t trying to be nasty or clever, but I’ve been dealing with diabetic foot ulcers on and off the for the last few years, and given that the OP is already being investigated for diabetes, and that she has recently been bitten, it fits. The the ulcer could have formed from the bite or another injury because diabetics tend to have poor circulation, which together with high blood sugar means it won’t heal until the underlying cause is treated. But the best advice for diabetic foot/leg ulcers at present, is to keep them covered, moist and treated with anti bacterial dressings along with an appropriate antibiotic such as Flucloxacillin for any infection.

That's good that you're not just being given antibiotics and sent out the door. Very pleased its not necrotic.

Hope they find some answers for you.

Really hope you’re ok and get sorted x

Did your GP show any concern about your previous blood tests. You need to bang down their door because it sounds like they are fobbing you off.

How did you get on @Bitworriedtbh ?

Hope you are OK op. I'm awake a stupid am with a uti 😩

Having had various health issues Iver the years I'd say the inflammation markers can just be non serious things like the ibs. Hope you get some answers soon.

And are you a doctor also? Because you seem very sure of your diagnosis.