Should I wait to see GP tomorrow or take action now? *pic included*

[ChorserSaucer]

Spot appeared on neck Friday. Started swelling and being painful last night. Over night it has gotten worse and larger. Im sure it’s a spot and not a bite.

Pharmacist wasn’t much help today and told me to look out for signs of sepsis. A&E waiting time is currently 7hours and to even speak to someone via 111 is over an hour waiting (no idea how much longer it would take to get out of hours GP to phone back after that).

I’m currently thinking of monitoring the size and looking out for sepsis. Paracetamol and ibuprofen and hot compresses too then see GP first thing in the morning.

Can it wait? Or does it look serious enough for a&e?

Also, forgot to add, it’s hot and very tender to touch. Quite firm in the middle. Not the type of spot to pop.

Draw a line around the redness. If it spreads, you need to get someone to look at it.

I'd be worried about cellulitis which needs antibiotics quickly. Have you got an out of hours doctor nearby?

I’ve drawn a line around it. To get out of hours appointment I’d need to go through 111 which has a wait time of over an hour currently.

Call 111 and wait the hour to see if you can get an OOH appointment.

Get it seen today by whatever means.
Have you tried an antihistamine?
Nurse.

Looks like an infected hair follicle to me. Have you tried squeezing the pus out?

On the phone to 111 now.
Thanks for the advice.

I haven’t tried an antihistamine yet no.

Its too tender to squeeze and quite firm so I don’t feel like any puss would actually come out anyway. Just the thought of squeezing it feels painful!

Poor you. I would definitely taje an antihistamine. Reminds me of a bite more than a spot? Hope you managed to get through. Let us know!

if you don’t think it’s a bite then it’s probably a localised infection from an ingrowing hair or spot. If there’s no head to it don’t start squeezing. Warm compresses will help bring it out. If any changes to breathing and swallowing you should get it checked sooner than later. You’ll probably be given some antibiotics do you have an MIU nearby? They usually have lower waiting times or try 111 for an ooh appt.

I would suggest an antihistamine and Sudocreme over it, mark the edge and see if it spreads. I've had similar, not on my neck and it was a bite I think

I’d definitely get yourself in the 111 queue

meanwhile draw around it with a biro, take antihistamine and slap a load of antiseptic on it.

keep an eye on your temperature and pulse.

Hope it eases soon

my gut was telling me it’s an infected hair follicle or ingrown hair.

MIU is currently closed and directing all to a&e at the local hospital.

111 wait time is currently 45 minutes. Still not through yet.

the site hasn’t grown any more since I drew around it thankfully.

thanks for all the replies!

dont put sudocreme on it and antiseptic will do nothing

If it's an infected hair follicle you could get a really hot flannel on it, seems to help draw the pus to the surface. Also take an ibuprofen.

It's in the right place for an infected thyroglossal cyst, have you ever noticed a lump there before? I'd try and see your GP tomorrow, unless things worsen overnight.

Any update OP?

Am i the only one that can see a small head on it? Id be sticking a sterile needle into that. Once its got space to move, id give it a few quick short sharp squeezes, then use hot compresses.

I am NOT a medical professional, but thats what id do. I couldnt leave it.

Update:

It took 1 hour 55 minutes to get through to 111. They had an out of hours GP phone me back who just recommended hot compresses. Said it should all settle down in a day or two if it’s an infected hair follicle.

To be honest, I think it may need antibiotics if it doesn’t improve. I’ll be contacting GP tomorrow (especially if it’s painful as this). Obviously I’ll go to a&e if it worsens / spreads or if I show signs of sepsis.

There is a little crusty head to it but it is far too tender (and firm) to burst it.

I’ve never noticed a lump there before.

im pretty sure it’s an ingrown hair as I often get one thick hair growing in that location every few months. Will check with GP though.

Not just sepsis you need to consider - if you start finding it hard to breathe/swallow/speak you need to go to A&E. The waiting time will not be long! Hope it settles soon.

Update #2

Took myself to a&e 6:30am this morning as it was more swollen and painful. I saw triage nurse, two doctors, had a CT scan, saw a surgeon (twice) then sent to a bigger hospital an hour away to be seen by an ENT specialist doctors.

13 hours after first arriving in a&e I am sent on my merry way with ….. a course of antibiotics!

If only the out of hours gp listened to my request instead of fobbing me off with “we don’t do skin conditions OOH” …

Glad you have treatment for it now.

Wow OP!
Hope you didn’t have plans for the day!

It was initially nice to just sit and do nothing for once! No children requiring attention; no colleagues asking for favours; no lunch or dinner to cook (in fact they didn’t want me to eat at all incase I needed surgery so I went 23hours with no food! That was the worst part!)

Already feeling better and swelling much less painful.

thabks for your help people of MN!