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Original poster

abscess which won't go away and looks like it's spreading

154 replies

willow1995 · 05/08/2021 13:46

hello everyone.

I'm looking for some advice and also if any of you have been in the same situation as me.
I have an abscess near my tailbone for around 2 years. it came up after I gave birth. it was 5cm deep and 8cm wide. I had an operation to have it out and things were fine until 3 months later it started coming back. since then every few weeks it fills up quite large and then disperses apart from this time. it's been dispersing gunk for about a week and a half and now it's turning a slight purple around the edges, also there seems to be purple looking veins coming away from it and growing larger every day. I am on antibiotics which I have been on for over a week and a half. but now I also have a lump on my spine as well which could also be a abscess.

I keep going to my GP but they just keep telling me to rest and that's it.

I don't have a temperature but my back is painful and I feel dizzy. no headache but my head feels achy and my neck feels achy too.
I'm getting concerned but unsure what to do. I do have an operation in the next 3 months to get rid of the abscess again but they haven't given me a date yet.

I'm concerned about the purplish veins coming away from the abscess.

if anyone has been in the same situation as me then can you tell me what happened to you and what you did?
also any advice would be great. thanks.

OP posts:
BiscuitDrama · 05/08/2021 15:42

[quote willow1995]@BiscuitDrama I can send them to you. they are embarrassing photos but at this point I don't care anymore 🤷.

I would go to a n e but I'm worried that I would be waisting their time. my doctor was quite abrupt about my condition so it's kind of thrown me off a bit.
he did check my heart, temp, blood pressure and said it was all fine apart from temp being a little higher than normal. he did say my pulse is slightly jittery as well. but told me to rest and that was literally it. and got quite annoyed when I rang a few days later and said I was still feeling the same and again told me to rest.[/quote]
Do, and I can put them up here? I think it might be easier to take opinions from people who have had a look.

DogsSausages · 05/08/2021 15:45

Seriously, the only people who need to see this are the hospital nurse and doctor. If you want to send photos to anyone then send them to 111, not a poster here.

DonLewis · 05/08/2021 15:46

Ok, you're poorly. There's a risk it could get nastier, fast. The last few times you've tried to be seen, they weren't helpful. Things have changed since then. You're dizzy, your neck aches, you've got an obvious infection, very close to your spinal cord. It's really serious. I don't think you'll be turned away again. And if they try to, tell them you're going to PALS.

It's so difficult to advocate for yourself when you're Ill. I don't think you're thinking straight, in the nicest possible way.

Can you look at bright lights?

I really hope you'll go to A&E sooner rather than later.

albertsquirrelnuts · 05/08/2021 15:46

Some A&E departments have a minor injuries attached where you can call ahead. They can assess and refer you on for drainage if needed. I work in a lab and we get quite a few pilonidal abscess samples from A&E so they won't think you're waisting their time. Sounds like and A&E job to me.

Guiltypleasures001 · 05/08/2021 15:51

I've had one of these op they can be nasty, go to A&E and say sepsis the gp isn't listening

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 05/08/2021 15:59

Tracking from a bite or wound indicates it's getting worse. You MUST go to A and E.

pickingdaisies · 05/08/2021 16:23

Please, my lovely, just go to a&e. Go now. Tell them you are sick and dizzy. That you have an abscess which isn't responding to treatment and which is now tracking. Write it down on paper first it may help. Don't tell them it doesn't really hurt because that's not the point and it may stop them from listening to what is actually wrong - tell them it's making you feel dizzy and your head and back are aching.
This is where the NHS is failing - each provider is trying to push you onto someone else. You have to insist someone sees you. Like a pp said, say sepsis. Keep saying it.

LeonoraFlorence · 05/08/2021 16:27

Definitely go to A&E. You’re feeling unwell and need to be seen.

stellaisabella · 05/08/2021 16:30

Go to hospital NOW. Those lines sound like tracking lines, and your symptoms are extremely worrying. Please go right now.

espressomartiniftw · 05/08/2021 16:30

You could end up with sepsis. Sorry to sound melodramatic but an infection that isn't clearing up can start to poison your blood.

Please go to A&E, you aren't wasting anyone's time

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Crabsy · 05/08/2021 16:34

My DH had a skin abscess that wasn’t clearing up with antibiotics and he started to feel quite unwell. He eventually gave in to my pestering and went back to the doctors, they swabbed the gunk that was coming out of it and it turned out to be MRSA. He had to take a couple of very strong antibiotics and both of us had to also undertake a 5 day regimen of washing with a special soap and putting gel up our noses every day to get rid of it (also had to wash all the towels and bed linens etc on 90 degree wash, even stuff that was already clean, it was a bloody nightmare). Without all that the doctors said he could have become very poorly indeed

FUCKLONGCOVID · 05/08/2021 17:01

Haven't RTFT because I'm making dinner but I would definitely go to A&E. With a slight temp it could be cause for concern.

This will out but I don't care as this is so important and cba changing names but my husband ended up with sepsis from an abscess last year that didn't even seem too bad at the time.

I don't want to scare you. He's had them recurring since and has been on about 10 courses of antibiotics in a little over a year. The GP referred him to a general surgeon who diagnosed hydradenitis superlative and he's had a dermatology referral as well.

Obviously I know you've only had the one but as it's recurring it's worth getting checked before it gets worse.

You're absolutely not wastinf their time. They should be able to get you in front of a surgeon to assess and take appropriate action.

Good luck!

FUCKLONGCOVID · 05/08/2021 17:03

Just realised my post is a bit redundant as others have mentioned it too.

Either way.... Glad a lot of us agree.

Please let us know how you get on Flowers

Original poster
willow1995 · 05/08/2021 17:18

thank you everyone for replying. I am on my way to ane and hopefully something will be sorted. I'll keep you updated.

I just hate feeling like this and my back is so achy. normally with thus abscess it fills up and then drains but this time it is different. I think my body is just fed up of trying to fight this infection.
but hopefully this ane will do something about it.
is there any of symptoms that I should look out for for infection?
and can oral antibiotics mask the symptoms of sepsis?

OP posts:
Caffeinefirst · 05/08/2021 17:21

I had a pilonidal sinus when I was 17. I had it for quite a long time before I told anyone as I was so embarrassed. In the end I told my mum, we saw a GP that day and I was in hospital having surgery the next day. I know other people who weren’t given the surgery and it kept recurring which was awful.

I only realise now that I could have ended up with septicaemia.

I would go to A&E

itsgettingwierd · 05/08/2021 17:22

Glad you're on your way.

I currently have an abscess that is doing the same re filling and draining.

I'm on antibiotics and seeing nurse again Monday and will have it drained it still not healing.

I've been told if any of the symptoms you have then GP or 111 immediately.

I've also been swabbed for PVL infection - worth asking about this.

Good luck.

Newchallenge · 05/08/2021 17:26

ICU nurse here. Go to A+E, please.

pickingdaisies · 05/08/2021 17:26

Never been so relieved to read an update! Good luck x

DonLewis · 05/08/2021 17:29

Ditto @pickingdaisies.

Are you on your own? Be firm.

Hope you get sorted. Flowers

PomegranateQueen · 05/08/2021 17:34

I'm so glad you are on the way to A and E OP. Your GP sounds shockingly bad. Hope you feel better soon Flowers

DeathMetalMum · 05/08/2021 17:44

So glad to hear you are on the way to A&E. MIL was extremely ill a few years ago from complications from an abscess. I hope you get it sorted soon.

Notavegan · 05/08/2021 17:51

I was posting as a non medical person above, but just mentioned this to DH who is a colorectal surgeon and he agreed straight to hospital. Try and be convenient advocating for yourself.

whatagloriousthingtobe · 05/08/2021 18:19

I had a pilondial sinus so I really feel for you they're bloody awful. I also had the op to remove and left with an open wound to pack it was really nasty. Mine luckily so far has never come back.
But yours sounds terrible! Please go get it checked as others said things like this can lead to sepsis

WantStickyBean · 05/08/2021 18:27

Really pleased to hear you're on your way to A&E, that sounds really worrying. Make sure you mention that you're feeling systemically unwell.

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