vulval abscess... to solid to lance... help!

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Hi. I went to A&E this morning to ask them to lance a vulval abscess which was total agony. It's not the first I've had one and they've always 'gone' on their own after a day or two and have never been as painful or big as this one. Anyway, the gynae doctor said that the lump was too solid to lance and gave me a prescription for Nurofen (no way was that going to even dent the pain) and antibiotics. Then while waiting for the prescription, the thing burst anyway causing much mess, smell and embarrassment in the hospital loo. Does anyone know why an abscess that was 'too solid to lance' could than miraculously burst itself an hour later?

I'm at my wit's end with these. This is roughly my 7th although I've lost count. It was incorrectly diagnosed as a Bartholin's cyst abscess which could have been operated on, but now it's been diagnosed as a vulval abscess, there is no operation to make sure it doesn't recur. I'm not sure I can cope with any more. Does anyone know why they keep coming back?

Thanks for reading.

I agree with Hydrandenitis Supporativa being a possibility here. Here is what I know about it. There can be sinus tracts (tunnels) and there can be several outlets for it, thus giving a person several 'boils' in an area.

Usual sites are dark and warm: underarms, buttocks, groin, under breasts. It happens more often in dark skinned people and often starts around puberty.

Turmeric can help, both as poultices and by taking tablet orally. Please read up on turmeric. People have reported tingling soon after using it!

Doctors, evern dermatologists, often do not know what it is.

I had a few boils in my nethers when I was a frequent gym user.

The thing that cleared it up for me was switching my shower gel for Hibiscrub which I bought off Amazon. It's a bright pink surgical scrub that kills off the staph infection on your skin that can cause it (I think that's what it was called anyhow)

No help but I have hydra (as link above)
I had one in my armpit which was so so painful and they said "not ready to lance". Got home, looked at it and it was blinking ready so I did it myself. Took antibiotics anyway as it was obviously infected (I could tell!)

Ex got (probably still gets) lots of abscesses in his armpits and round his groin because of hydra supp. If you're going to try turmeric, remember that it is also a good dye, and will stain things madly.

I find I get more boils down there when I'm over tired and not getting enough sleep. So if you're a bit sleep-deprived, that can also help. (This obviously means not posting in MN at 1am...)

Just an update... I'm taking the antibiotics! I'm not happy with how things are healing and it just doesn't feel quite right, so have taken the first dose this morning.

I don't think it's Hydra as I only ever get one abscess at a time in exactly the same place. Plus I'm not sure you can get Hydra on that particular area can you? Thanks for the suggestion though. Let's hope I don't get another one for a while.

All these posters saying take the antibiotics

No ! Don't take them - as you've said, it's burst & will heal alone.

May I suggest a soak in a salt bath & what kind of knickers & trousers do you wear ?

I'd be wearing cotton ones, fairly baggy (), trousers with room for air to circulate, no knickers in bed & clean on gym leggings.

Fwiw I use sanex zero shower gel & just give a quick clean with that. Only notice problems if I don't change out of my gym kit soon enough.

I only said about my antibiotics because even though mine burst, they usually burst white and with no smell - the last one was horrific, and the smell indescribable so I was advised to still take them to get rid of any lingering infection
Yes to hibi scrub and salt baths

Tea tree in bath good too

Maybe you should stop using soap or any kind of wash down below? I've never understood the need for products? And have thankfully never had any issues either.