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?!

I just googled the bottle vacuum method and will try it as soon as dh can tolerate it. Has anyone had any luck getting it to pop that way?

Practically everywhere I looked - squeezing to pop means pushing the infection into surrounding tissue. Needling risks allowing other infections to enter.

www.ehow.com/how_5459414_rid-boil-bottle.html

This method is supposed to pop the boil without any squeezing. Presume the vacuum reduces risk of new infections entering.

I agree with Sidge and as we trained together I know she knows what she is talking about (I'm non practising now)

Definitely see a HCP as risk of spreading infection or having a cavity that needs surgery is higher. He does sound like he needs ABs as well

I had similar, I was away camping and we came home early as I could hardly walk went to out of hours Dr and it "popped" in the waking room - still had ABs to clear infection.

THREE PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED BOIL EXPERTS IN ONE THREAD!!!!

I am going to show dh this thread when I can get his attention for a few moments, and bully persuade him to go to see a doctor. Im a bit worried now, hearing about all these "cavities" and non healing carbuncles not healing up! I hope I havent done him any harm giving it a squeeze!

Im feeling guilty now!

I am a professional spot squeezer. [Grin] This may require a formal incision and drainage. The treatment of a boil or abscess is to allow the pus to escape and then keep the cavity dry while it heals from the base upwards. Antibiotics only treat cellulitis (redness in the skin) - once a spot or boil is fluctuant is needs incising or popping with minimal pressure to the surrounding tissues.if he won't go to the doctors spray the area with antiseptic, sterilise a needle with boiling water vodka and lance the boil in the top of the most fluctuant point. Weash hands Then press gently with a cotton wool pad around the boil, hop in a warm salty bath and apply antiseptic cream and a padded non adherent dressing. Change dressing twice daily.

should have NC'd for this really, but I have a series of small boils (TMI now) where my butt cheeks meet. Each one is about the size of a 5p. I've also been getting them in other places on my body, my boobs and my tummy being the worst affected.

They take about a month to develop, they pop a bit, then they go all hard under the skin, and painful. It can then be about 3 months before each goes down.

I am putting off going to the doctors because I know I need AB's for it, but I have serious issues with AB's.

I go into anaphylaxis with penicillin and amoxicillin. I have a bad reaction (itchy hives all over me to the point of steroid injection) with erythmoricin. I can't take any quino AB's because I have epilepsy and they make my seizures worse.

I nearly died when I had pneumonia because they struggled to find an AB they could treat me with.

There is one that I can take, but it forsn't work on everything - metronidazole? I think. Would it work to clear these boils up? It's getting ridiculously painful to walk, as I have about 6/7 of them in my groin right now.

Right, I've suitably embarrassed myself now. any advice from you professional pus porners?

(like a good popping session myself!)

Sorry that should say boiling water or vodka

finds new hero in chocolatehobnobs

Thanks,hopenglory. Couthymow the problem between your buttocks is called pilomidal sinus complicated by abscess formation. Prevent by meticulous personal hygiene, cotton underwear, avoid too much time sitting if poss. If your bottom is very hairy shave the hair. Your GP needs to check you are not diabetic and you would probably need low dose daily antibiotics. Metonidazole won't help unfortunately - different bugs to that commonly found in skin.if severe you can have surgery to remove the strip of hair between the buttocks that is continually getting abscessesm

Couthymow, you may have pilonidal cyst or you may have Hydradenitis Supportiva. HS occurs under arms, under breasts, in groin area, and other places too. Sinus tracts, which are tunnels, can connect between boils. Turmeric can help, both orally and as a poultice, please read up on it. Some doctors do not know about HS, but you can google it and gain much knowledge.

Why would I need a diabetes check? (Have other issues that I have often wondered whether I have been misdiagnosed on, epilepsy but 'drop attacks' that come on with no warning, go dizzy and lightheaded if I miss a meal)

Also, I would be fucking SCREWED if I have diabetes, I have quite severe reactions to saccharine and aspartame, throwing up, massive hives, struggling for breath etc, if I inadvertently take even a sip of a diet drink, or eat one mouthful of anything with those two artificial sweeteners in... I am severely allergic to sweeteners, how would you manage diabetes if you can't replace the sugar in your diet with sweeteners?

It's why despite having suspicions for a few years, I still haven't asked for a diabetes check...

Chocolate hobnobs - what AB's would they be able to give me for this then? I can't take anything penicillin derived, can't take erythmoricin, can't take quino AB's?

Genuinely perplexed as to what they could give me, and if they can't give me anything to treat it, would they just leave me like this for ever?

CouthyMow people with diabetes are more prone to infections, including skin infections that present as boils, cysts and spots.

Also nowadays a diabetic "diet" isn't really about cutting out all sugar, it's about managing carbohydrate/starch portions and intake.