Enormous underarm boil... does this need a doctor?

[lemonsandgingerbeer]

Apologies for the stubble

This has come up over the last 4 days and it's super-annoying. Magnesium sulphate hasn't done much, nor have hot compresses (although it has grown pretty big pretty fast).

Should I get to the docs to have it drained?

I'd phone a gp about it. I had one - they prescribed antibiotics over the phone after I sent photos. Mine eventually burst - it was a group of ingrown hairs. I tried mag sulphate too.

Does yours offer econsult? Send that photo through, chances are they will prescribe antibiotics and can send the prescription to a pharmacy directly. No having to mess around then.

@Mojitofairy I don't live in the UK, so I doubt it...

I have a weird numb feeling in my arm when I try to lift it above my head - feels ever so strange.

That looks nasty! GP pronto!

Ouch - that looks sore. Definitely get a photo when it starts to burst or a video get some medical advice.

Time to see a doctor about that, it looks sore and infected.

And very importantly, we must see photographic evidence of the progress rubs hands

Ouch, that looks painful, op! Definitely worth a gp visit i think

I’m normally the first to shout needle it but that looks like a GP job! Keep us updated nonetheless

Yes you need to book an appointment with a doctor. My mam had a lump like that and it turned out to be a cyst not a boil. At first the doctor prescribed antibiotics (for a week) and when they didn't work she had to go to hospital to have it drained. When she got to hospital the doctor said it was too infected to have drained and it had to be cut out instead. It's better to get it checked as soon as possible.

I’m normally the first to shout needle

Aren't we all - that's why we are on the sporner board....

Thanks all... went to the docs and got prescribed antibiotics and alternating hot and cold compresses.

We'll see how things go... and will try to capture the moment of truth for you

I am glad lemons. My GP must be a secret sporner as she pronounced it 'fluctuant' from the photos and my description and suggested using a sterilised needle on it ! Thankfully it popped of its own accord producing 8 circular ingrown hairs that came out like barbed wire. I was secretly very impressed 😁

Ooh congratulations! Hope you get a spectacular eruption (makes the pain worthwhile).
Hope you feel better soon.

woooah, EIGHT hairs, @halfhope! Epic.

I have a silly question... All the advice out there says to leave a hot compress on the area for 10-20 minutes - but my little towel goes cold after 5 and by then the bowl of water has lost its heat.

Do I just sit in the bathroom wetting the towel over and over again for 20 minutes to keep it warm?

They were curled into a circle and looked like jet black barbed wire. I teased them apart and counted eight hairs. Was too shy to post the picture on here. And my lump was smaller than yours so you may yet produce something more epic 😁

Yeah I'd just wet the compress over and over to keep it hot. I waited a week before going to the Dr but it wasn't going down or bursting despite the Epsom salt baths.

That,OP, is a thing of beauty.

Okay, I’m placemarking.

Got any nappies in the house? If you put just boiled water on them they keep the heat amazingly (discovered this as a mastitis trick)

Or a hot water bottle or a heat pack you warm in the microwave would work.

That looks insanely painful. Hope the antibiotics are kicking in.

👀

I love your boil ... so much!! 🤣

Good luck with the boil OP!

Just marking my place for the gunk

Ouch!

Head's starting to appear....