To think this was poor from the pharmacist?

[Pharmacy1one]

6 weeks or so ago I got two cartilage piercings in my left ear, tragus and helix.

I kept irritating them by turning over in my sleep and my toddler has knocked them a few times too so I was getting those annoying irritation bumps which were tender. I haven't had any pus coming from them, no temperature or discharge, just a bit of clear fluid when i removed them which I know isn't that abnormal.

I went to the chemist and asked to speak to the pharmacist, receptionist asked what the problem was and I briefly explained and said I want to buy something for the inflammation but was hoping the pharmacist could take a look first.

Receptionist relays that to the pharmacist and the pharmacist decided, without looking or even speaking to me at all, that it's infected and I need to go to A&E and get antibiotics and sprays would be no good.

She had her baby with her strapped to her back so I don't think she could have sat down with me in the consultation room in the first place.

I'm a bit miffed as we are routinely encouraged to see a pharmacist for minor ailments to take the strain off of GP's and hospitals, but this is the response I got for trying.

I have PTSD after having sepsis so now I'm scared about an infection that I didn't feel I had in the first place 😔 I can't just rock up to A&E for something like this surely, and there's nobody to have my children anyway.

Do you think I'm being unreasonable for thinking her response was poor?

Oh, look who is feigning concern.

On what grounds?

The receptionist told her I have a sore ear so have removed a piercing, she immediately jumps to A&E.

You are being deliberately provocative because you have read my PP about having sepsis related PTSD, you are a nasty piece of work and it shines through your posts. Please, will you leave the thread?

Those look too small as others have said which will not have helped!

Im slightly baffled at how you are simultaneously being berated both for thinking you should go to A&E (which is not what you have said) and for not going to A&E🙄

Go on Monday or go to one in a different area...

👍

You couldn't make it up could you, they are unhinged.

I'm glad it's not just me who thinks the bars are too small, it's somewhat vindicating actually as I've been annoyed with myself for possibly aggravating them during the night.

Saturday childcare difficult/impossible to arrange or £££ and she feels quite capable of dispensing medicine with the child on her back, but maybe not peering in peoples yukky pussy ears?

Pointing out that Boots pharmacists don't work for the NHS?

I'm going to go into my regular pharmacy on Monday, I'm sure the pharmacist will be happy to take a look. He's very nice.

@Geebray who pays the pharmacist in Boots 🤔!

Attached job description and salary info showing.....surprise surprise it's Boots!

There is no puss thanks. Can't you be bothered to read the OP?

The thing is they should be long enough to allow for the swelling from the odd knock

Yes it's best not to sleep on them at night but they should allow for the risk of you rolling over

I have been going to the same piercer for 3 years and have had 7 piercings with her in that time (3 lobe, 4 cartilage) its only on the last one that she used slightly shorter bars because we know I don't swell much. On the first ones which were lobes she used really long bars just in case and then we have gone from there

I find piercers vary though. I went to one in the Midlands who clearly thought I wasn't "alternative" enough, didn't do a great piercing gave me no aftercare advice. The bar was too small and I had no end of problems until I took it out.

Or if she was the only available pharmacist that day she could have stayed home, shut the pharmacy and waited for the howls of outrage from all and sundry.

They do look short - I had comically long ones for my snug piercings which were changed after 3 days as the expected swelling didn't materialise.

It's also possible to be allergic to the bars if they were cheap. Even titanium comes in different qualities and you need the higher surgical quality but a lot of piercers don't use it.

I am not a health professional but tbh those don't look seriously infected, if you google infected piercing images you'll see the difference. Now you have the bars out they may well feel better quite quickly. If you are worried I'd pop into the nearest piercing studio for advice. They are far better for this than GPs or pharmacists and will tell you if you do need treatment.

they should be long enough to allow for the swelling from the odd knock

Exactly. Yes, you shouldn't sleep on them or knock them, but it's nearly impossible to avoid that completely - especially when you (obviously) still have to sleep, wash your hair and get changed etc.

I've had multiple cartilage piercings over the years and they've all been knocked and swollen and sore during the healing period - the tragus was definitely the worst though. The location means it's a real bugger to heal - it took months and in the end I just took it out lol.

Is this one Jekyll or Hyde?

Really don't see the need to see a Dr or pharmacist. Just keep cleaning them.

Pus

CucumberBagel
Is @Geebray OK? Lot of misplaced anger there.

Pointing out that Boots pharmacists don't work for the NHS?*

Oh, sorry. I see now.

Why are you correcting my spelling?

Yes you asked the professional what to do. You didn't like her answer, fine. But there's no point asking if you're just going to ignore it

No. I didn't ask the professional anything because I didn't get the opportunity to speak to her. I only spoke to the receptionist who passed on a blatant fob off.

That poster has a point. The pharmacist us giving you the advice to seek medical help urgently. You're ignoring it. Yes your ear might be fine but if it's not it needs seeing urgently. That's why they didn't say to wait til Monday.

Who asked the professional

@chocmatcha the pharmacist didn't even look at the ear, that's the whole point, she appeared disinterested and preoccupied.

Surely you just put a bit of Savlon or something on it, or wash with saline. If that doesn't help and it gets swollen and really infected GP.