Does anyone know about skin infections?

[bochikawowwow]

I have a growth on my stomach that has become infected. I spoke to a GP yesterday and he asked me to send over pics of it. He returned my call and said it's infected. Asked how I was feeling and I felt ok but overnight I've started to feel unwell and the area that's infected and swollen isn't any worse but an area a little lower down near my groin hurts and is red and swollen.
I have to go to collect a prescription today for antibiotics and have called the GP again for another phone consultation. I have anxiety and I'm panicking that it's something worse. Is it normal for another area to become swollen and painful?

Can you upload a pic? Is this growth new? I imagine it must be hot and red if it’s infected. Has it come to a head?

If it’s new I would ask if you has been bitten by anything, but could be anything - folliculitis, boil etc.

I imagine you’ll get an rx for Flucloxacillin unless you have a penicillin allergy.

The growth isn't new. It started growing years ago and has got bigger. It's called a cherry angioma. It's unsightly to look at. I will try to upload a pic but it isn't pretty.

Sorry in the delay in replying. I'm feeling slightly better but now feel nauseous but I'm wondering if thats the flucloxacillin. The area is still quite sore and really red around it.

I'm fact pic that was a few days ago. This is it now

The redness around it, has that changed overnight? Looks sore

The antibiotics should start to improve things within around 24 hours. If you don't get an urgent GP call back, call 111 or go to A&E to get it checked out to be on the safe side. I'm prone to skin infections and the NHS is usually good at treating it quickly.

I think my underwear has irritated it and I've been laid in a way overnight thats our pressure on it. I took 1 antibiotics on Friday. I had 3 yesterday so I haven't probably had a good enough dosage for the Antibiotics to kick in yet.

Draw a line around the infection and then over a few hours u can see if it is spreading past the line or receding . The anti bios should start to work and you will see a reduction , but if it gets worse I would speak to gp ASAP , it looks sore and infected around the growth on the surface of your stomach too

The redness has definitely spread but I will draw a line around it and see what happens during today. I think I possibly haven't had enough antibiotics in my system for it to take much effect yet. But it definitely wasn't as red on friday/Saturday around that area.
I've only had 5 antibiotics out of the 20 I have been prescribed.
I'll see how it goes and if it's no better by tomorrow or worse I'll call the out of hours GP.

This is also kicking off my anxiety big time as I've googled and panicked myself as I have a huge phobia of hospitals etc.

Don’t google ! It makes anyone anxious
See how antis go , give them time to do their stuff . Keep an eye on it and seek medical advice if unsure

@Cooltalkin Thankyou for reassuring me. I've dug out a felt pen and drawn a rather wobbly line around the red area. I think the pic I took this morning looks worse due to the way I'd been laid and clothing rubbing against it.

@bochikawowwow
How are you getting on ? Is the redness and heat reducing ?

The redness has subsided a little and it hasn't gone past the line I drew around it. I think the way I've been sitting has put pressure on that area and aggravated it. It's in such an awkward place I'm struggling to not to catch it. And wearing clothes that don't rub against it is near I'm impossible.

I think I'm going to ring my gp tomorrow, I either need a longer course of antibiotics or different antibiotics because I don't think the flucloxacillin is working well enough.

The redness has settled down slightly but around the growth it is still really red and sore. The growth is weeping slightly too. I still feel a bit grotty but I don't know if it is just the antibiotics making me feel crap.

Worth getting checked out again
I had an infected mosquito bite that I ended up having lanced and dressed and mega amount of antibiotics, even after that it took ages to clear totally
Don’t leave it , be sure that it is fully healed or is in its way to healing

@Cooltalkin

Worth getting checked out again I had an infected mosquito bite that I ended up having lanced and dressed and mega amount of antibiotics, even after that it took ages to clear totally Don’t leave it , be sure that it is fully healed or is in its way to healing

I will get it checked out again for sure. Think it needs something else. GP did say I'd been referred to plastics for having it removed but who knows how long that would take?

It's Slightly less red and sore this morning. I was going to call the GP but I'm not sure I need to now. I'll call tomorrow if it's worse again. Hopefully it will carry on getting better. I've two more days worth of antibiotics to take.

If you're catching it on clothing and that's causing some issue could you cover it?

You can buy some skin coloured large soft dressings or even the hydrocolic op site plasters.

You definitely need to keep an eye on redness spreading and I'm glad you're doing that.

But I'm wondering if catching it may make it harder to heal and you'll end up in a vicious cycle.

I had a cyst behind my ear once. It got infected. After that the chat continuously cause me issues until it was removed.

Clothing is definitely irritating it with it being on my waist area. I'm glad for some sun and warmth today. Means I can wear a dress and not have that area irritated.
The redness is definitely subsiding but it almost has a bruised look to that area now.

I'm just waiting on a call back from a GP. I've just had a massive panic that is something worse with the area looking bruised now. Even though I'm feeling a little better. Panic is setting in and I feel sick with anxiety.

The bruising maybe that it's bleeding under skin?

Hopefully GP can help

Spoke to the GP. Sent more pics of the are. He says antibiotics are working and to see how it goes. If it's no better at the end of the course then I'm to give them another call. Or if I become unwell with a temp etc. He suggested getting a dressing from the pharmacy to cover it to stop irritation.
Hospital won't remove it unless it gets re infected or causes me pain!

Infection is slowly going. I still think I need more antibiotics. I have my last ones to take today. I'm feeling really tired all the time though and a little queasy and have an upset stomach.

If it’s not totally cleared then yes you need to speak to your go again
Don’t forget your body is fighting ( the infection ) so you will feel tired . Be kind to yourself rest if u can

Spoke to GP and have been prescribed another 5 days of antibiotics. I've asked for a different antibiotic though as the flucloxacilin made me feel sick.
The infection seems to be clearing but very slowly. It's still very red on the skin around the growth and I'm still feeling nauseous and tired.