What would you do?

[Missbee129]

Should I call 111 win this already on antibiotics have been for 4 days but it’s getting worse. I am now feeling nauseous and shaky also very pale what would you do?

Yeah after 4 days I would especially if it's getting worse

Given that you’re now feeling unwell systemically, yes I would call them. As a total non expert I think that maybe needs draining??

Yeah, that needs to be drained and cleaned. If it's making you feel ill don't wait till tomorrow.

Nurse here. Definitely needs to be pierced and drained (in a sterile way)

When I get whitlows, I run a needle through some vodka/in a flame and stick it in to release the pressure. Once you get the first drain, the throbbing will start to ebb away.

However I'm sure it's not medically advised!

A&E job

My daughter had this. GP advised that I soak her thumb ( hand) in warm water. Leave it until the finger goes a little crinkly, and then gently apply pressure to the area. May take a little while but you can ease the fluid out. It worked and then I soaked her finger in salt water and she continued with her antibiotics. No need for aspiration/ needles.

A&E. It needs draining.
I wouldn't bother calling 111

If you're feeling unwell you need to get seen. Ideally, you would have soaked that in a warm saline solution (1tsp salt to 1 pint water) which would have softened the skin and allowed the pus to drain out. But now that you're feeling really unwell you need to be checked.

Thank you everyone. When I was prescribed the antibiotics the nurse practitioner told me not to drain it and just soak it which I have been but it’s just getting worse

In my experience the pain only goes away once the pus has come out.
my son had this earlier in the year and i did a thread about it at the time. It was similar to your finger and he ended up on antibiotics.
in the end we soaked it in hot water (as hot as he could manage) to soften the skin and then i used a needle which had been soaked in boiling water to break the skin at the side, it didn’t take much and the pus all came out. It was only then that he got any relief the throbbing was awful.
please let us have pics if it bursts 😏

That’s a bad one. My adult son had one similar and went to the local walk-in and they drained it. The GP said they don’t do them at the surgery.

Magnesium sulphate (drawing) paste would sort that but if you’re already feeling unwell antibiotics might be necessary

Soak your finger in hot water - as hot as possible without burning. Then squeeze like mad. If necessary use a clean needle….
it will be very painful, but a huge relief when it starts draining.
unfortunately I once had this and the infection started travelling up my arm, which became an emergency! Suffer the pain and get that puss out!

god I'd love to squeeze that!!!!!

How is your finger OP?