Boil in armpit. [blush]

[diddl]

So, have a boil in armpit caused by a blocked sweat gland.

This I know as I went to docs on Fri.

He gave me some salve.
I expected that it would have "come to a head" and burst/drained by now.

Am I being impatient, or is it time to visit Drs again?

has he given you bactroban

He put some stuff on in the surgery & "decanted" some for me to use.

It´s black/green and smells revolting.

Like tar!!

sounds a bit weird.the normal stuff is bactroban anti biotic ointment. Hope his treatment works!!!!!!!!!

I think it´s supposed to draw out the infection.

Ichthammol ointment.

Perhaps it´s just a long process.

wow...thats incredibly old fashioned stuff that is very occasionally used for eczema type conditions. It is only mildy antiseptic. Bactroban ointment would have cleared it up within the week as it is antibiotic. Is he an elderly doc or just trying to keep costs down. Hope it works for you

Feeling your pain. I had one on my fanny while on holiday in Spain two years ago. Bloody agonising and mortifying having your legs akimbo while a rather handsome young man pricks it. Not as embarassing as having it packed in a clinic by another young man and the doors to the treatment room opening to reveal another young man. Bed was orientated toward door and the handsome young senors were like russian dolls.
Have you tried putting some hot flannels or a bread poultice on to bring it to a head?

Looks like I need to go back for something stronger.

I´ll try hot flannels as well.

alypaly
not elderly.
or keeping costs down-well, only for me as I haven´t paid for the stuff.
But will need to pay for anything on prescription.

Magnesium sulphate paste, which you can buy over the counter and put on a bandage. Ask asssistant to tell you how to use it or come vback to me. It will draw out some of the infection especially if you can prick it but the prescription cream does works well

warm compresses also work. Or... get a mug or bowl of boiling water, a flannel or muslin and a wooden spoon. Wrap the flannel or muslin round the wooden spoon, dip it in the very hot water, and hold it close to the boil. Hold it there for a few seconds, then dip and repeat until the water's not hot any more. Do this hourly if you can, it'll bring it to a head and then you can lance it with a sterilised needle.

Just an update.

Really painful last night so phoned GP this morning.
He was ill, but receptionist referred me to another doc in town who is also a surgeon.

Can you see where I´m going with this?

Local anaesthetic & cut the bügger out!
(Thought it might have been bad enough to need a general!)

Next time I´ll go sooner.

see a good gp to start off with and get proper antibiotic ointment when it first starts... then you wont have to go through this again

Yes, I don´t know what went wrong.
Never had probs before, and he usually refers on immediately if he´s not sure.

Once when youngest had some spots he sent us straight to dermatologist who was about to close-phoned ahead to tell them to wait for us!