Apologies, another A&E thread

[chocolatesundae]

Just want to start by saying I’m NOT a troll and MN can verify I’m a longtime poster. I’m going to use some embarrassing words in this post but it’s just body parts the same as arm/leg and I’m trying to describe things accurately to get the best relevant advice possible

I actually have a longer running thread about this where I was getting advice as it was progressing but since this is about going to a&e I thought I would ask in a separate thread

genuinely cannot tell if I’m being ridiculous about this or not, I don’t want to be a timewaster and I’m actually terrified of hospitals so don’t want to go but I’m now also terrified of whatever is going on with my body so don’t know whether I should wait to try and get an appointment with the GP when they reopen next weekend or bite the bullet and just go to hospital and see if they can do something to help sooner

I have psoriasis already and I have had problems with the skin around my vagina. I’ve had a problems with itching, burning and pain for around 6 months and I was treated for UTIs, BV, thrush etc but nothing helped. Around 3 months ago shaved and noticed the burning and discomfort was all coming from a tear/split/cut/open wound which was vertical, about an inch big now and around the clitoris hood area just above the clitoris. It was clearly infected. I’ve been to the GP several times and been told it was psoriasis which has become infected. I’ve tried steroid creams, antibiotics, antibiotic creams etc and nothing has helped. This is on top of the thrush/BV treatments I tried before all this. I posted on here and received unbelievably amazing help (thank you very much again to everyone ❤️) and I’m not certain if it is infected psoriasis, or lichen sclerosis but whatever it is it’s infected atm and not clearing up.

the reason I’m considering biting the bullet and going to a&e tonight is I’ve realised the area now has more cuts. This alone wouldn’t make me go to a&e as it’s probably from dryness or maybe psoriasis or LS or whatever is causing the Lothian problem but the infection from the original cut above the clitoris is still active and has spread to the new cuts. I’ve just realised one of those new cuts is deep, really quite deep. From looking at a labelled diagram i think it’s a tear along the edge of the inner labia, like where the fold in the skin is. Im genuinely scared it will get deeper over the weekend and it will leave part of my labia basically hanging off (although this may be biologically impossible and just me worrying about nothing!)

but it’s a chronic issue, admittedly worse tonight but it’s a chronic problem so would I be better to wait and go to the GP after the weekend? The cuts (including the deep one) are not bleeding but are all visibly infected and I’m just worried especially about the deeper labia one. But I don’t have a temperature and im well otherwise.

Basically I don’t know what to do and because I’ve been struggling with this for a while I’m slightly losing perspective with it all so if anyone could help or advice either way I would be immensely grateful x

I’ve seen your previous threads. You are completely reasonable and I really hope you get the treatment you deserve and need. It sounds horrific.

I thoroughly sympathise but what do you think going to A and E will achieve? It’s not an accident or an emergency. Could you go to a local pharmacy and wait for GP on Monday?

Oh god love you, it’s so painful isn’t it? Flexural psoriasis of the folds / membranes can be agonising.

When’s the last time you saw a dermatologist? This can’t go on.

Have you ever been prescribed calcipotriol like Silkis for your groin area?

I would call 111 as they might get you an out of hrs appt at a walk in clinic. Definitely go see someone if you're worried its infected /getting worse 😔

Oh man you poor poor bastard.

i have no idea about A&E, do you have an urgent treatment centre nearby?

For the long term, do you have a referral to dermatology?

Sorry- I should have included in my OP as I don’t want to waste people’s time helping me, there are no sexual health clinics or GUM clinics that cover our healthboard unfortunately, and there are no pharmacies open either at this time although I’ve been to the pharmacy before and they said they couldn’t help as we had tried everything they could offer. 😞

Also, could it be MRSA? I only ask as I've come about this recently at work (nursing) and the way you describe your issue sounds similar...

Also (sorry me again) have they taken a swab for cultures?

The last time I saw dermatology was a while before this all started, but that was just for my psoriasis on my body which is well controlled and I hadn’t started having the genital problems yet. I called the secretary and asked for another appointment and explained the situation but they said my GP would need to re refer me which they have done but it’s a routine referral and could take up to 18 months 😞

Lol- maybe it was me you saw - hi if it was! 🤣

no, no swabs taken (I don’t think anyway, presumably I would know wouldn’t I? They just looked at it but didn’t test anything x

Honestly you’re right, I don’t know what I’m hoping a&e to do. I think it’s the infection side of it I’m worried about and if whatever is infecting it keeps getting worse and the cut keeps getting deeper 😆

I'd call 111 tonight in the hope of an appointment over the weekend. Then obviously also get back to your gp first thing Monday.

You poor sod.

It’s the Junior Doctor strike if that makes any difference to your decision.

Definitely not you, this was a newborn with a very unusual "nappy rash" at 3 days old (definitely was not nappy rash!)

Did they find no bacteria at all with the swab?

I don't think you're unreasonable to want to be seen before next week. If they're infected then you need to be treated and given steroids or antibiotics or whatever. Leaving something infected could of course lead to sepsis or whatever (obviously not trying to scare you I'm sure you know)

If you do have a minor treatment centre, I would head there. If not, call 111 and see if they can get a nurse or Gp to call you and prescribe. I would then still book an app with the Gp on Monday and get further testing if you can!

I hope it gets better soon op it must be horrendous and painful :(

You poor thing, that must be agony. Call 111 and see if you can get an out of hours appt x

Haven’t seen your other post OP, but how old are you? Could it be peri or menopause? If so has anyone suggested vaginal oestrogen? Look up GSM or vaginal atrophy - it affects all the tender tissues.
If you’re too young, ignore this!

Actually, OP, given what you've said, yes I'd ring 111 and/or head to A&E.

If a bloke came on here and said his penis was splitting open, he'd get told the same.

Sounds very like LS.

Sounds bloody awful, not sure A&E would do much other than prescribe antibiotics though if infected which you say you've had?

I don't know where you are not with the junior Dr stroke I really wouldn't. I would ring 111 and stress is getting a lot worse and you have signs of infection (and that you also have psoriasis).

Unless you have a massive regional hospital is unlikely there'll be derms in over the weekend, my mum was admitted on a Friday evening for an infected surgical wound and had to be kept under orthopaedics until the Monday as three larger London hospital didn't have derms in over the weekend.

I remember your other thread, I have a tenth of what you do(menopause related and thrush) and it's all consuming so you must be going out of your mind.

Do ring though

Can you afford to go private and get seen sooner ? Sounds awful

This is an A&E problem, I'm sure you could of accessed other services during the day rather than attend a very overstretched A&E.

Ring NHS direct and let them signpost you to available resources this evening.

This needs a sensible vulval dermatologist or gynaecologist to look at, and almost certainly steroids and possible MAbs.
This will not happen over a weekend and A&E does not have access to it.
Im guessing you are in Scotland and therefore not affected by the junior doctor strikes from talk of Health Boards.
You need to find somebody who has an interest, the easiest way is probably via an emergency Gynae clinic. Keep asking if you can be seen by whoever runs the local vulval clinic, rather than a generalist. If there is no vulval clinic at your local hospital then consider pitching up to A&E at a hospital which does on the appropriate day (telephone the secretaries and try and get a name and specific clinic your GP can refer you to).
BAD and RCOG have useful information.
RCOG
BAD

I’d have begged my GP for an appointment today if if realised how bad it was but I only realised tonight how deep the new cut is and by then the GP is closed unfortunately, x