NHS Cyst Removal

[hoggetyann]

does anyone have experience of getting a cyst removed on the NHS? On my second infection now with one on my shoulder, it’s right on my bra line so quite uncomfortable. I’m on antibiotics and my GP has referred me but warned that I still
may not qualify for removal as they criteria is strict now. Anyone else managed to get one removed on the NHS or do I need to look at going private?

This is interesting, one on my back got infected and I was told to go to urgent care (London) if it didn’t get better in a few days and urgent care took it straight out in about half an hour.

I did have to have it packed for weeks as it had been infected they couldn’t tell if the whole sack was gone, but I’m really surprised people are being told to wait weeks when they are infected, I thought this would be risky!

I was told they won’t remove them when they’re infected. It’s interesting how different areas seem to do it, mines been infected 3 times now and I’ve been told it’s quite a long waiting list to get it removed, wish it was as quick as others seem to have had it! It’s really uncomfortable and looks unsightly now

Be prepared for a long healing time-my dp had to have his dressed daily for several weeks….

Often when they're infected it ends up being just an incision and drainage to manage an infection that's severe or not responding to oral antibiotics, rather than a cyst removal. When a cyst is inflamed/infected it may not be possible to get the whole thing out and it's more likely to need GA because local doesn't work so well in that scenario. That's why it's often better to try and manage the infection with antibiotics and have the cyst removed at a later date.

Goodness they are one of life’s miserable things - I’ve had 4…one on my back that grew tennis ball sized and then burst and took 9 months and 5 courses of antibiotics to heal over. My back looks like it’s been chewed in that area.

they seem to coincide with me being a bit run down - winter or end of winter is the time they usualy appear.

I’ve only had them offer to operate when they have burst and don’t heal…seem to take ages to heal for no good reason except problematic locations..

It’s also interesting how different departments of the NHS deal with them - the one on my back was removed but was bloody annoying getting it packed for weeks, had another infected one under my armpit which is an automatic breast clinic referral, they very causally drained it with a syringe and I took and antibiotics and it (fingers crossed!) just went away!

Makes me wonder if they had a go at draining more of them how many would be much less problematic - feels like a cost issue…