How to deal with a boil

[kitsonkittykat]

Dh has a really nasty boil come up in his groin. I tried to squeeze it, but only watery blood came out and couldnt really give it a good go, as he kept grabbing my hands awayand screaming! It is now bright purple and absolutely mountainous. He is refusing to go to the doctors, so what do I do with it now?!

Not much if he won't see a health care professional. He may well need antibiotics.

In the meantime get him to have a warm/hot bath and apply a hot flannel - that may be enough to cause it to pop with slight pressure (get him to do it himself so he can control the pain!). If it does pop then apply a clean dry dressing (fabric elastoplast should do) and maybe get it checked by your practice nurse tomorrow.

Ooh Sidge - a professional

I think you really need to post some photos so we can have a good look.

I was actually thinking about photos while I was squeezing but how can you ask a dh if they mind you taking photos of their groin and putting them online?!!

Go in sideways at the base of the boil with the needle, then give it a squeeze? It might be an idea. He is clearly very uncomfortable right now and might go for it.

He wont go for the doctor option unless bits of him are falling off. I tried hot flannels, but he is moaning pathetically if I go anywhere near it with heat. Honestly, good job he wasnt the one having the babies!

It is now puce and very hot, about the size of a 50p piece.

It's totally anonymous and anyway Sidge is paid to squeeze boils for a living so it's practically a consultation. He can keep his pants on

you could tell him the story of my dp who had a boil in the groin area. it's very common actually, from ingrown hairs

anyway, dp did nothing. then it grew into a giant abcess. then one night it burst and he had to go to a&e where they drained, cleaned and packed it.
then he had the nurse in every morning for about a week to clean and repack it.

apparently that really, really hurts even when you're on tramadol!!

fast forward about 3 years and it still hadn't properly healed (see, he doesn't like going to the doctor) and i eventually forced him back and he had to go in for surgery to get it opened up, cleaned out again and then left to heal.

so your DH would really be better off posting pics for us here so we can help him before it gets that bad!

How about an antiseptic or antibiotic cream and dressing over it, that should relieve it and if it doesn't he prob needs antibiotics. Bleurg thisisyesterday that sounds exciting and drool inducing disgusting.

He needs to see an HCP. My dh recently had a very nasty boil experience, and I wouldn't recommend the whole traumatic trip to A&E and having it packed daily ofr 3 weeks tbh

Sideways? I did not know that.

The bottle method.

KLAXON for those who missed it

Is this going to be the time we actually get the bottle trick to work? :o

Evenin all. Anyone mentioned the bottle vacuum method or mag sulf yet?

ah now, a groinal one ought to be Seen by a Specialist

PHOTO PUHRLEASE

Sounds painful. Poor DH.

It's my birthday tomorrow, so you should put pics on just for me. Go on, go on, go on.

Ouch. Definitely let us lot have a look at it.

Please?

I had a couple of boils recently, tried leaving them - causing much agony and pain. Both times went to the docs and the antibiotics cleared them in no time. Also less chance of cross infection with the antibiotics.

He should go to the docs the silly boy.

I thought you weren't supposed to pop boils (or needle them). I had one on my arm (multi-headed, so really a CARBUNCLE) that lasted for weeks. It subsided with Sudocrem etc., but came up again several times. I Googled it (naturally). I think it was MRSA.

Oh I tried the hot bottle on my arm. It was interesting, but didn't achieve much.

''I thought you weren't supposed to pop boils (or needle them).''

Who gave you this misinformation?

Poor dh is refusing to let me near his groinal area with the camera, even in the name of medical science.

I did try and have another go with a hot flannel, but nothing came out of it. He won't let me apply any real pressure, to be honest. It is so huge, Im not sure want to apply any pressure, tbh.

When he is a little less upset and traumatised I will tell him the groinal boil horror stories. He never lets me near his spots, so it must be bad for him to ask for my help! I will also ask again nicely if I can have a photo, since people are being kind enough to help. He is very shy though, so Im unlikely to succeed, Im afraid.

Dh's boil started off like a spot, even with a yellow head, which he wouldnt let me pop, its now transformed into a monsterous large boil.

He really does need to go to the doc's but is one of those silly people who refuse to go in unless bits of them are falling off.