Can anyone help with advise on an "intimate" abscess?

[Bufferingkisses]

Hi,

I'm really sorry to post but I'm worrying and can't contact my wonderful GP over the weekend!

I have a skin infection around my genitals. I've had a few flare ups but all painless and self resolved so I didn't really think about it. This time though I got an abscess which has made me quite unwell. My wonderful GP diagnosed a skin infection on Thursday and gave me antibiotics. Yesterday it had filled and was excruciating so lovely GP took a scalpel to it and drained it last night - incredible relief! Doubled my antibiotics overnight and told me to go to A&E if anything happened over the weekend.

Today I am gradually feeling unwell again, temp going up, bit of flu like type symptoms but nothing major. The abscess has burst again and I have a lot of foul smelling black/pink pus coming out. I've tried to massage it out but it's not stopping.

Do you think that it coming out is good and I should just keep on with the antibiotics, see how i am tomorrow or should I be going to A&E? I can't decide and I don't want to be wasting their time if I don't need to, they are rammed as it is. However the GP was worried about sepsis as it can develop quickly in infection like this apparently. Obviously the area it is means the wound is exposed to urine although I am washing each visit and it is hard to dress the area.

I could call 111 but I dont think they are really equipped to give proper advise on something like this?

Any thoughts anyone? I'm useless at these decisions!

You need to ring 111. Don't wish to alarm you but sepsis might be a concern.

Go to A&E. Abscesses can get nasty, and your GP told you to go if anything happened over the weekend, which it has.

111 will get a doctor to call you back if they are in any way concerned. But if you’ve been told sepsis is a possibility it’s not something I’d ignore until morning.

I'd definitely be heading to A&E in your situation. Sepsis can progress really quickly and while you may be fine it's better to be safe than sorry.

Thank you for all the quick replies, you're right of course, following the advice of the DR is always the way forward.

I'll ring 111 first, if I'm lucky they may book me in with the out of hours GP (which is based at A&E here) at least then I won't be clogging up the service if I don't need to.

Thank you

Pop some undies and a toothbrush and toothpaste in your handbag in case you beed to be kept in for iv antibiotics

Ah good thinking!

Please go to A&E.

Take the doctors advice and go to A&E. Its not your problem to worry about them being busy. Pack a little bag and go.

Good luck

Your G.P shouldve sent a sample to be lab analysed..it will show what is present..in the meantime head straight to A&E insist you will not leave without treatment-you're a high risk of septis.The fact your absess is draining is great but the immediate reoccurance means further investigation/treatment plan.
Long term low grade antibiotics are a good idea once the major infection has been cleared..say Doxycycline 50mg once a day if no underlying issues. In the future put a comfotably wsrm flannel on the area to draw out,use sanitary towels to absorb fluid&saturate area with betadine/iodine then cover.Always wash anything that has come in contact with the fluid/pus separately.

I'd go to a and e op. Most people are avoiding it right now so should be less busy.
Abscesses should not be messed with and can easily turn into sepsis.
Get well soon.

Please don’t ever think that you’d be clogging up the service. Last time I went to a&e it was deserted, during lockdown, compared with 5 hours wait the year before- so feel free to go in.

If it were me, I’d go in immediately and wouldn’t risk my health.

Sadly our A&E is not one that is quiet it is busier than ever at the moment.

Thanks everyone, I got through to 111 and then spoke to the out of hours GP. They are happy it is draining but concerned that it started again so soon, worried about how deep it is tracking however no CT scans at this time of night. So plan is double the antibiotics I am on, add a broad spectrum as well, watchful waiting overnight and see where we are tomorrow. Which seems sensible to me.

One of the additional complications is that I've had a high temperature which is probably the infection however may mean I have covid as well so I'm waiting for the results of that test. Ideally they want to avoid me going in until I have the all clear tomorrow unless it becomes unavoidable obviously.

Hope everything is ok.

I think seeing a GP was tge right move. Did he/she mention that salt baths/ epsom can help healing while keeping it clean.
Can you try wearing skirts with a light liner, to keep the area cool?

GP advised you to go to A&E over the weekend if anything happened, so that's what I would do. Wouldn't feel a need to ask 111 as GP has already given the advice. I hope it's much better soon - sounds horrible

@Bufferingkisses how are you feeling today?

Well Sunday was fun, felt pretty rough but had that "over the hump" feeling about 7pm still got a big lump so I suspect that may need taking out but that's for another day!

However I am now wide awake being driven potty by a ridiculously itchy set of bumps that have come up down my inner thigh (nothing on or around the actual absces). All white like old stretch marks or something? No heads, no ulcers, just bumps and itching. Hoping they'll settle if I leave them alone

Do you think you could be allergic to one of the ABs you are on? I would phone for advice. Sorry you're not well.

I wondered that but I've had both before and it's odd that the bumps are only in the area adjacent to the problem, I'd have expected an allergic reaction to be more generalised? Anyway, I'm going to bother the poor lovely GP again first thing if it hasn't gone away.

Oh, and I am covid free apparently so that's good!

I hoe you feel better ASAP , I wouldn’t think the temp is COVID but because of the infection, so please don’t let that stop you from actually going to A& E , your own Gp who you trust said to go if anything changed over weekend & it has , Sepsis is so serious & can overwhelm you very quickly 🍀

Cossie9wossie8