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?

Pharmacist sounds shit op of course she should have taken a quick look at the cat (😬) in your ear.

If its a chain pharmacy its worth feeding this back to head office.

I'm not aware of the existence of two types of pharmacy - as far as I am aware they are all privately owned businesses who are paid by the NHS for the various NHS services they are contracted to provide.

Maybe she had a cat allergy 😉

Maybe she had a cat allergy 😉

Groan 😄😄

I was wondering the same. As soon as a health care professional examines someone and makes a recommendation, they are taking responsibility. The pharmacist maybe didn’t feel comfortable with her knowledge of piercing problems to do that. Usually, the person who does the piercing provides the aftercare advice, including what to do to help calm things down if inflammation occurs etc. The baby strapped to her back is very odd though, never seen that before.

Paid for by the NHS. As I said.

This first port of call would be the piercer. I have many ear piercings and I always speak to my piercer about issues.

Also get a neck pillow and sleep with your ear in the hole part. That’s how I sleep when I have fresh or irritated piercings.

For piercing bumps I used BPA piercing oil. Always works for me but you have to apply regularly.

I'm not in any pain now, there is tenderness when I clean the piercing holes but I'm not suffering otherwise. I'm just relieved that they're out.

I've no idea why she had her baby with her, it's only a small pharmacy. She might be the owner.

I am wondering whether she felt a bit snowed under and didn't want to commit to more 'jobs', I think she was in the process of doing prescriptions at the time.

This.

Yes, and if I’ve understood correctly, the piercing shop is closed on weekends (as is the other pharmacy where she could have accessed help). However, she used the weekend closure as a reason not to be able to get there … BUT she could attend the piercing session during the week?

@TheresAPrayerInEveryLieYouTold oh give over!

The majority of A&E visits are accidents, due to people making choices

Playing sports and getting hurt
Wearing heels and falling over
Driving too fast and crashing
Over stretching whilst on a ladder and should've moved it closer

Etc etc

Unless you're perfect, wind your neck in!

Um...I was agreeing with someone else. Chill out.

@TheresAPrayerInEveryLieYouTold god are you five years old? I didn't say it Miss it was Lucy over there!

At least stand by your ridiculous convictions and not blame someone else!

Not sure I'd want meds off a pharmacist with a baby strapped to their back! They're not supposed to be interrupted when dispensing are they?

Of course not, such a distraction! Very unprofessional and dangerous!

This is the most people I've had thanking me ever on here, for anything 😆

Sorry I hadn’t heard any other name for it.

Cartilage piercings, if infected, require IV antibiotics as cartilage has poor blood supply, hence very slow healing. I suspect your pharmacist did not feel competent to be able to differentiate between infection and inflammation (which can be difficult - and you do not need to have a temperature to have a localised infection) and so gave you the safest advice.

More info (medical language but I hope it's comprehensible) here: https://entsho.com/pinna-perichondritis-cellulitis

Actually that link probably reads like gobbledegook. Try this one https://patient.info/news-and-features/how-to-treat-an-infected-piercing

That speaks volumes really doesn't it? People only pay attention to you when you're being horrible to somebody. Enjoy your little win, what a sad little life Jane 😉

No worries just thought I'd let you know :)

Who's Jane

Thank you, I'll have a read now.

Appreciate it.

Your mate over there.