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Original poster

Infected cyst/Abscess/packed wound

24 replies

Fairygirl1986 · 01/02/2021 20:34

Hi!

I’ve always had a small cyst on the middle of my upper back. A few weeks ago it decided to get infected. I went to the doctors and was given a course of antibiotics which didn’t work, it just got worse. Eventually it was well over 10x the size, swollen/purple and had inflammation in the skin surrounding it.

Covid made it so hard to see the doctor. When it got really bad I had a telephone appointment and sent a photo, the doctor said it was fine and to leave it.

The next morning I was in so much pain I went to A&E. I eventually got through to a surgical ward. They couldn’t believe the GP said to leave it. They said I had a 5x3cm infected abscess and that I could choose to have it drained Under local or general anaesthetic.

I had it done under local and came home. I’m now left with an open wound that is being packed daily, I’ve just moved on to ever other day. Op was 11 days ago. Packing was soooo painful to begin with but I think I’m getting used to it now! Honestly the whole experience of having it and not being able to get the doctors to listen/then having a mini op all of a sudden and having a packed wound wasn’t nice.

Just wondered if anyone had anything similar and how long you had to have yours packed for? I have asked but they said it is different for everyone so I’m just interested.

Thank you in advance!xx

OP posts:

pumpkinbump · 02/02/2021 00:44

I've suffered with bartholins cysts for years. Haven't had one since 2015 luckily. At one point I was having them three times a year. It was awfully painful as I imagine yours was. They packed mine but didn't need to repeat, but the packing coming out was so painful so last few times, I begged them not to and they didn't. I imagine it is different when it is on your back though. Have they also given you antibiotics?

Longdistance · 02/02/2021 01:03

My dm had an open wound that was being packed every day. It was behind her knee and the scar was quite big. They packed it for quite a while in hospital and then, when home, every other day a district nurse would come. This went on for almost a month. Eventually they took her in as the skin wasn’t fusing so they stitched her up. It was in an awkward place behind her knee, the bit on her calf healed, but the crease area behind her knee didn’t.
Bear in mind my dm is nearly 80, not particularly mobile because of arthritis, had a double heart bypass two years ago and she had radiotherapy last year, so she’s not in the best nick

Original poster

Fairygirl1986 · 02/02/2021 10:20

Pumpkin bump, The packing is awful isn’t it. I’m almost getting used to it now though, I just hope it heals and I can forget all about it soon. I’m they gave me a strong course of antibiotics when they did the op just in case x

OP posts:

Original poster

Fairygirl1986 · 02/02/2021 10:22

Long distance that sounds so horrible for your Dm, that must have been so painful. I hope she is doing better now x

OP posts:

flightless55 · 02/02/2021 10:31

I had exactly this around 5 years ago on top of my leg

GP gave me antibiotics and it happened over Xmas so 5 days later
I collapsed at work, ended up in A&E with beginnings of blood poisoning as it was tracking from the abscess

Had surgery then packed for five weeks

It was horrendous the pain at first but, like you said, did get slowly better and now I'm left with a big scar and some numbness at the site

Still get cysts over my body and they make me nervous every time

Original poster

Fairygirl1986 · 05/02/2021 08:28

Fightless55 that sounds awful and familiar! I think if I hadn’t have made the decision to take myself to A&E I’d have ended up poorly with it.

5 weeks is a long time isn’t it. I’m at two weeks now and mine is still taking half a length of packing so I’m guessing it will be similar. She said my wound also tunnels which is why it will take longer to heal. It feels like it will never ever end.

I’ve attached a photo, was yours similar to it?

I dread ever getting another cyst. I think I’d be terrified x

OP posts:

thebestnamehere · 05/02/2021 08:33

Ouch!!!!

needadvice54321 · 05/02/2021 08:56

Ouch!!

flightless55 · 05/02/2021 09:32

Yes, I had a bit more redness but that was due to it tracking - the cyst was around the same size

It look so painful, I'm glad you're getting help for that

I have had cysts since, but never anything as bad.

Wouldn't wish it on anyone, the packing is such an intense pain

Original poster

Fairygirl1986 · 05/02/2021 09:42

Absolutely vile isn’t it. I cried like a baby the first time I had the packing changed. I’ve learnt now to take paracetamol and ibruprofen an hour before and grit my teeth.

Did you have to go every other day for the full 5 weeks or did they start to space it out a bit more? And did you have any problems during the healing process? I’m at every other day now but it still bleeds a lot in the days between (only blood which they say is fine), so I think it will be a while before I can leave it any longer.

Sorry for the multiple questions, it’s just nice to speak to somebody who understands. I’ve tried explaining to family how horrible it was but I don’t think they get it. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy x

OP posts:

pumpkinbump · 05/02/2021 10:24

That does look very sore, but it sounds like you are slowly on the mend with it. The packing dried in mine the first time and wouldn't come out. I had to get in the hospital bath to try to soften it and pull it out which didn't work, until a nurse came in and yanked it out, my mother heard the scream from on the ward, I'm not one for screaming like that. It was horrific.

Original poster

Fairygirl1986 · 05/02/2021 10:33

Pumpkinbump That sounds absolutely horrendous! The pain of having it pulled out when it comes out easily was bad enough. I can’t even imagine how painful that was! Poor you x

OP posts:

Mindymomo · 05/02/2021 10:37

I’ve had 2 in my bikini area, but nowhere the size of yours. The first time the practice nurse burst it and it didn’t need packing, she just saw me every other day for 2 weeks until it healed over. She said the worst were the ones on the back and that she was covered in gunk from the abscess. The second time I got one, I went to the walk in clinic who said to go straight to A&E, who cut it out and packed it. I saw nurse every day for a week, then every other day for another week. It was only 1 cm, so cannot imagine how long yours will take to heal. A friends husband had one on his back, but my friend cleaned and packed it every day until it healed. Good luck with it, they are nasty.

flightless55 · 05/02/2021 19:14

Don't mind questions - I'd never heard of it happening before it happened to me

The packing after 2-3 weeks went down to every other day

I'm left with a good inch wide scar and some numbness where the nerves haven't recovered

Original poster

Fairygirl1986 · 05/02/2021 19:40

Thanks fightless55. You’re the first person I’ve found who has had the same kind of thing with packing.

I’ll be so glad when it’s healed and done with. I don’t mind a scar as long as it heals properly (plus it’s on my back so I can’t really see it!).

Fingers crossed another month and I might be able to forget about it. Thank you x

OP posts:

User0ne · 05/02/2021 20:31

I had a pilonidal sinus abscess that took 12 weeks of packing before it finally healed up. 5 weeks would have been lovely

Original poster

Fairygirl1986 · 05/02/2021 20:37

Oh wow 12 weeks. Cysts are a really big deal aren’t they! I’ll never underestimate one again.

I just googled pilonidal cysts; Ouch!! X

OP posts:

halfhope · 05/02/2021 21:13

That looks sore OP and I've had a bandage stitched in place after a pilonidal sinus operation.

emmskie03 · 06/02/2021 00:54

Oh, you have my sympathies.

Other half had a cyst 6cm by 6cm on his neck. Had been given antibiotics a week before, called half way through week to say it was larger, told to finish the course of antibiotics in the phone only for the GP to panic when he saw it!

Think yourself lucky they gave you a local - they didn't bother with anything for DH. Drained and then drained again the next day.

He had it repacked every day for a month and then for a couple of weeks I think it was every other.

He paid to have the cyst properly removed privately. It had been a boring lump for about 10 years before going nasty and I did not want it to happen again especially on the neck. Big scar but it hasn't returned.

Original poster

Fairygirl1986 · 10/02/2021 09:53

Emmskie03. Wow, I can’t imagine how painful that was for him! Honestly that makes me feel funny just thinking about it. Having it done with local was bad enough.

Did your husbands bleed? The nurse says that mine is looking really good and it’s clean, but the dressing on my back always shows the blood seeping through the dressing. When I had it changed yesterday it really bled, but the nurse and doctor said it was fine.

Can’t help but constantly worry about it, drive myself mad
X

OP posts:

Original poster

Fairygirl1986 · 10/02/2021 09:53

halfhope. Ouch, sounds horrible!x

OP posts:

emmskie03 · 10/02/2021 12:19

@Fairygirl1986

Emmskie03. Wow, I can’t imagine how painful that was for him! Honestly that makes me feel funny just thinking about it. Having it done with local was bad enough.

Can’t help but constantly worry about it, drive myself mad
X

It was grim. He took a week of work before it was drained as he was too embarrassed to go. It was huge and oozing! His was lots of little chambers so it would self drain a little but to no real effect. It was glorious when it was drained (not for him though!). The nurse practitioner who drained it used the end of a swab to break them up, it was painful.

There wasn't much blood but I think a bit is to be expected. I think if you are getting it regularly packed and you feel well then any issues would be identified quickly. I would be reassured that they identified it needs cleaning and repackaging regularly.

The hospital didn't actually request it be packed each day, the nurse in the GP practice was not impressed. Leaving it to close over would not of been a good idea.

Hope you feel better soon!

Ellieb98 · 21/05/2021 22:51

I had a polinidal cyst on my bum. The pain was awfullll. Gp tried to give me antibiotics which I knew wouldn't help. Called 111 same day had to go straight to hospital as I was vomitting, had a temp and headaches, had to get put to sleep as it was too big. That was yesterday and had my first packing and changed dressing today it hurt soo bad. How long will I have to get it dressed for. The hospital said daily and my cyst was 3x5cm

Fozzleyplum · 21/05/2021 23:11

DS had a pilonidal abcess earlier this year which was 7cm across. It was drained under general anaesthetic and he had to have it packed for just over 2 weeks. The first change of packing was painful, but he said it became less painful each time.

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