Can I lance an infected cyst at home?

[TitsalinaBumSquash]

I have a very infected cyst under my armpit, on day 3 of antibiotics and I'm in so much pain, I've tried hot flannels pressed on it and pain killers are doing nothing. GP won't touch it because it's infected and she couldn't be 100% sure it's not a lymph node, i discovered it many years ago when it was dried pea sized and the GP then said it was a cyst and she was happy to leave it there as there was no risk of it becoming sinister.

So. If I drink a large shot of whiskey can I safely stick a needle or something in it to try and relieve the pain? I think I know the answer will be no but it's soooooo sore! 😫

Oh thank goodness you're being seen! Update when you can and ask a surgeon to video if you need surgery

OP - the sure fire solution - I promise you as a world record holder of cysts in many areas (and I mean many areas - some I have not been able to walk).

Go straight to your pharmacy and buy gauze (not cotton wool), plasters to hold the gauze on and soak in Magnesium Sulphate - this is a paste that you can buy from any pharmacy and is a 'drawing solution' - it will burst by itself in two days or so and will 'numb' the area.

Believe me, it really works and have used Magnesium Sulphate for many years - it does not hurt whatsoever when applied - just apply quite an amount on the gauze then place over the cyst.

If you need any further help/questions - PM me.

I now see that you are medically intervening. Hopefully, they will drain with a simple needle/syringe extraction usually placed in first with lidocaine (local anaesthesia) then with needle in place, the cyst material is withdrawn.

Apparently it needs a GA in theatre. It seems a bit of an overkill. I'm sure a local and a scalpel would be fine.

Thought so, they can't numb the infected bits so it's pain wise really and they'll give it a good clean out

This was mine

Omg , that's like an alien

Bad luck OP, I'm sure they know what they're doing, they don't do GA unless necessary. Hope you're feeling better soon x

It's actually a scar under that arm that was indented so you can see how much it swelled, the redness and heat was unreal! Surgery was effective but I did need a further op to close the wound with plastics under local

Bloody hell, you poor thing!

Op pleased to hear your getting seen to

I had a few nasty abscesses in my armpits over the years. I can confirm that local anaesthetic does fuck all nothing to relieve pain. Although it is of course a glorious relief when it pops and the pressure goes. GA all the way, OP. Good luck!

I don't normally frequent this neck of the woods. How do you even get these things? Crikey.

I have hidradenitis supprativa since I was 12 which is a condition that causes abscesses. Never had any problems before but my armpit started with the disease about four years ago.

Snap ollivander, my two sisters and I both have it. Luckily i haven't had any symptoms since I was a teenager.

Op I hope you get some relief soon

Glad you are getting it properly seen to. Hope it's sorted quickly and without too much pain.

And for the love of God, get it away from the elephant playmat I spy in the background of your first pic. It's too lovely to cover in grossness

Get well soon. And remember kids, if even the Sporners on MN don't advise DIY lancing, seek help!

Very true!

I had one of these in my groin recently - I also said it looked like I'd grown a penis

I used magnesium sulphate paste with the hydrocolloid plasters (you have to leave them on until they come off naturally.) it dries the skin and then I scraped the skin with a disenfected pair of scissors until it drained.

Oh and I had 14 days of 4x500mg fluclox. Gp prescribed that much from the off and it took over a week before I saw any improvement.

Glad you've had it seen to. And yep, NHS don't do GA unless necessary.

Hope it goes well and is properly sorted PDQ.

I'm so pleased they're sorting it properly.

I awake and omg the relief is glorious. 😊

Hooray!

Brilliant

Video?....

Thank goodness.