Abscess - Lancing tomorrow!

[monicagellerbing]

Developed a golf ball sized abscess on my bum cheek, have to go tomorrow to get it lanced 😫😫 anyone had this done and can offer any insight into what it’s like and the pain afterwards etc? They haven’t said if it’ll be LA or GA yet.

I’ve heard the packing they do after hurts like hell when they remove it. Any advice appreciated!

It’s so much better once it’s been drained than beforehand.

Yes, having it packed isn’t fun, but it’s better than the abscess.

Biggest recommendation would be making sure it’s mighty clear what the plan is for removing and repacking going forward. The generic ‘phone your GP’ may well be too vague to be functional. You want to know:
when it needs repacking.
what it needs repacking with
where that stuff comes from
what you do if you can’t get through to GP or district nurse or whatever they suggest as plan a.
Dont leave without that being clear.

The relief from lancing it will be enormous and you'll be more comfortable from now on. Just take care it doesn't get infected.

You would have to be fasting if it was a general. I had something similar last year but it wasn't sore with loads of local. Make sure that they pack it well. They didn't do mine properly twice and because I'm on Warfarin I started bleeding and had to go back to get an adrenaline wick put in. That hurt like hell because it was an emergency with no time to give a local. I had it packed a few times afterwardswhich was more uncomfortable than sore.

Put this in Sporner corner and await excellent advice

They’ve told me to fast @Hollyhobbi just incase the surgical team decide to do GA (this was in urgent care today).

Thanks for the excellent advice @ScaryM0nsterill definitely make sure I get those answers then.

does anyone know how long it’ll be before I can sit on it again? I’ve been laying down now for two days, can’t sit up at all 😕

will do @Lefthandedkittyalthough I am concerned about doing a number 2 as it’s right near that area, not sure how wiping etc is going to go. Sorry TMI!

haha too late for them @MsPug

Oh the relief! Is it a pilonidal cyst?

If it’s close enough to be in the ‘wiping zone’ you’ll need a GA.

Good luck for tomorrow! Should be a great relief when done!

I have Hidradenitis Supprativa, so lost count of the number of I&D procedures I have had.

The relief will be instant, but a little tender from the surgery. Before discharge ask for prescriptions of whatever packing material plus dressings you need and some broad antibiotics.

You will have have to see your own nurse at your GP to get it repacked. Not going to lie the 1st one, is painful, so take painkillers before you go, it does get easier after that.

Good luck xx

GA if you have the choice. I've had both and I swore I'd never have a LA again for lancing. Packing is fine. ATA's grit your teeeth but only for a second or two. But trust me, GA.

no chance of a photo so? 😁
I just read that it’s close to a delicate area. A diagram will have to do.

are you in a lot of pain? How long do you have it?
Hope you will be ok x

My husband currently has one of these.eft it for about 3mths to get about the size of an egg and has now been on antibiotics for 2 weeks. I'll partially ruptured internally about a week ago and slightly externally but now it seems to be getting full again.
Is lancing and packing the only solution or can they be managed without?

Poor you. Been there but not on the bum.
You'll need to go to the nurse at your GP surgery every other day to have the packing and dressing changed - for a few weeks if it's a large wound. I was not expecting that..it's quite a lot of disruption if you work or have family responsibilities!
Mine was a LA but I was nil by mouth in case of complications and GA needed but it was fine - I'd imagine yours will be the same - lots of LA. Numb bum!
As others have said, the first dressing change will sting so take painkillers before you go.
Hoping all goes well - I felt nothing - just huge relief to get rid of the throbbing pain! No pain afterwards - just a bit of discomfort during the first dressing change.

Sitting down will depend on how affected the tissue around it is and how long it takes to settle down and how deep it is.

I was about 4 months, but that was after an extensive pilonidal sinus excision. The original abscess was about a fortnight. Kneeling up works.

If the antibiotics work, no need for lancing and drainage. If it's an infected cyst, the infection may recur and they'll likely advise having it surgically removed- and best to do that when it's not infected so they can get it all out. Otherwise the cyst can recur, and so can the infection..

Thanks everyone. It’s not a pilodonial cyst it’s on my bum cheek near the ‘crack’ tmi sorry! Urgent care started me on antibiotics last night and it actually doesn’t feel as bad this morning, but the nurse seemed to think lancing was the only option. Absolutely dreading the packing more than anything. I had it once years ago for a Bartholins cyst and my god the pain was horrendous.

im scared of the GA as im very overweight and keep worrying there’ll be complications. Don’t fancy LA though!

I’m here at the hospital. The nurse said it’s got a head on now but still needs lancing but might not even be today! I’ll be pissed off if not today.

the receptionist has been rude to me and then the nurse asked me if I’ve been on weight loss injections! I said why you asking me that, do they cause abscesses? And she said no, and I said oh you’re asking coz I’m fat, not sure what that’s got to do with why I’m here today. I’m so pissed off and a bit upset now.

Asking about weight loss drugs is in relation to administering anaesthetic, need to know for your safety. It’s probably a standard question now…along with, could you be pregnant.

The emergency operating list is quite a fluid thing…operations are done in order of clinical urgency and that may change depending on what disasters turn up during the day. They should be able to let you drink during the day though if it’s not looking like it’ll happen in the next couple of hours depending a bit on what things are looking like.

its becoming essentially routine to ask people about the mounjaro type drugs whatever size/shape they are because it makes a difference to how we manage the anaesthetic. It is not about judgement but more to do with keeping people safe.

My dh had one a few years ago . Lower back. I second what others have said about a firm plan for cleaning/packing after.
I had to do the packing and cleaning for him in-between doctors appointments as was covid time. And I did get quite good at doing it without causing pain.
My dh said it was nothing compared to the cyst itself . And only hurt whist being done .
I hope you get sorted soon and home in the mend .
Also not sure if helps but they had a go at my dh and said he must sit down to much and thats why got one in the first place.
He has an office job and well not much choice but to sit down .

Those on WLI can have food in their stomach after days of fasting so a different anaesthetic technique is needed. Standard question if you might need a GA.

Ok fair enough re being asked about WLI.

im all done, had it done under LA in the end with gas and air, my god those first two injections until the gas and air kicked in was horrendous. Horrendous.

Just waiting to get my cannula out now and then I’m allowed home. Packing to come out Tuesday and then I’ll just have a dressing on, no more packing.

thanks everyone for your advice and support