I'm in utter agony.. Please help me identify what this is..

[Inagony234]

Small lump started about a week ago, each day goes by it progresses.. Today its red raw where my thighs have rubbed together the skin has broken down. I've lathered it magnesium sulphate and hot compress... I can see a very tiny head coming up.
My god the agony is unreal.. Also don't feel myself at all. Not feverish or anything. Just feel really terrible.
What is this? Boil? Abscess??

The white stuff is magnesium sulphate BTW

@vampirethriller

If you don't feel well, maybe you should go to the walk in centre in case you need antibiotics?

Boiling water! WTF!!

Please don’t OP.

Sorry I tagged the wrong post.

IncessantNameChanger

I had the same thing back when I did cycle racing. An abcess went from nothing to golf ball size in a week. The doctor came to see me at home and immediately arranged for me to go to hospital I had a GA operation, overnight stay. They had put a dressing on and told me to change it in two days time. I couldn't believe the size of the hole, and yes, nearly two metres of packing had been crammed in there.
Definitely not DIY surgery with these things.

I think she meant pour boiling water over the needle before using it to pop the boil @SirGawain

@colouringaddict @swiftt commiserations 😭 it's a horrible, horrible thing! Mine are in my groin too, was diagnosed age 20 and basically given no advice whatsoever. They were chronic throughout my twenties and made my life a misery. Mine disappeared in pregnancy too, and although I get the odd one now they are much less severe. Never had one as big as a golf ball 😱 I really feel for you!

@colouringaddict @swiftt have just realised you both said TENNIS ball 😱 that must have been insanely painful.

I’m glad the pain has eased and hope antibiotics work soon.

Whenever I use magnesium sulphate I’ve always been under the impression you apply it then cover it with a plaster or dressing then just leave it, not just put it on open kind of thing (it says to cover on the tub). I always cover and leave it about 24 hours to do its magic.

But yes, I had a boil like this that needed antibiotics on my thigh quite high up and it got infected and redness spread all down my thigh and it’s left a little sticky out scar now, still like that a few years later.

Great news that it’s a little more bearable. Hope the antibiotics kick in quickly

You can get poultices that draw them out...... well, for horses....
I 'm not much use, as I cannot remember if we also used a product - but Animalintex were the poultices, made by Robinsons Helathcare, so maybe there is a human equivalent?

I had one in a very sensitive zone that required an in-patent treatment/surgery. Never as bad again even though riding horses daily, which of course involves friction and possibility for trapped skin that might trigger such things. Now I am on a bike amost days - and the correct underwear (seamless boyshorts) and saddle make a massive difference. First sign, I am off the bike and on the phone to GP for ABs.

(My grandmother would always have advocated for a hot bath, salt water and a sterilised needle.... Make sure you see blood.... Ugh. Very oldschool, of course.)

After the hospital stay, I had a District Nurse visit, and she said that they are a sign you are run-down, so take good care. She also suggested Liver Salts for "cleansing the blood". Not sure I agree with them nowadays as they just seem to increase peeing.

OP - feel free to take NO notice of what I am suggesting, but you have my greatest sympathies, and I hope you can get it all sorted out.

OP, the antibiotics should help. I had one very similar on my inside thigh last year. I put sudocream and a large plaster over it, and also used heat to try and draw it out.

It did just shrink back down again with the antibiotics, but I do keep an eye on the area in case it comes back.

It was very painful, so I feel your pain! Fingers crossed that it heals quickly for you.

[quote BigBadBoom]**@colouringaddict* @swiftt* have just realised you both said TENNIS ball 😱 that must have been insanely painful.[/quote]
It is and will be probably for the rest of my life. There isn’t a part of my life that isn’t affected by this disease. Countless surgeries including a vulvectomy and a lot of antibiotics which aren’t great for your digestive system.

Hopefully the antibiotics kick in fast for you, but when you use Magnesium Sulphate you have to cover it completely to allow it to do it’s job. Another helpful painkiller is Vicks rubbed on and covered.

Feel better soon

Picked my antibiotics up and taken the first dose. It's a 4 times a day for 7 days jobbie. Wish me luck 😊

Good luck @inagony234 😊

I'm so sorry @colouringaddict 💐 I really wish more was known about this condition, it's so debilitating, humiliating and painful.

@BigBadBoom

Good luck *@inagony234* 😊

I'm so sorry @colouringaddict 💐 I really wish more was known about this condition, it's so debilitating, humiliating and painful.

Even the leading expert for the Country wasn’t much help. Gave me meds that have been proven to alter mood, dry everything up to the point just blinking splits skin, she was totally surprised when I refused to take them any more.

Apparently only 1% of the population suffer with it, but as this thread has proven, people are more likely to treat it at home than see a medical professional because the areas this disease attacks are all quite personal.

I hope today is a relatively pain free day for you BigBadBoom x

Had one of at the the beginning of this year. I took antibiotics, but two days in was no better - ended up being booked in for excision and drainage under GA. Was in and out in a day. Recovery was a bit of nuisance, the wound after needed packing for about four weeks after, done by nurses at GP surgery, then by my partner when the end was in sight.

Fingers crossed the antibiotics do the trick! Mine appeared and got infected very quickly, so they didn't kick in soon enough. You'll know yourself if it's getting better or not. Definitely keep an eye on it, and if bursts, ring 111 to be on the safe side. It's alright for people to say "just put a pin in it", but like you've previously mentioned, I wouldn't risk further infection.

All the best, I know how awful it is!

@Inagony234

Picked my antibiotics up and taken the first dose. It's a 4 times a day for 7 days jobbie. Wish me luck 😊

Good luck 👍🏻🤞🏻

Good luck! I’m glad you stuck with it and got through to someone. Remember to drink loads of water and eat live yoghurt (well that’s what I was told) as the antibiotics can be harsh on your system.

I’m glad you got the antibiotics OP! Hopefully the pain will go soon!

Feeling a bit more myself today, it's still raw but the pain has subsided a lot.. Just can't wait for the bloody thing to go.. Have forgone exercise today as well just due to the fact I don't want to exacerbate it with sweat.. Just want to get back to my day to day stuff.

That’s good news. Just make sure you finish the course and keep an eye on it (and go back to the doctor if it’s not completely healed).

Glad you’re starting to feel better. It looked very painful.

Feeling MUCH better today everyone, thanks for the support and guidance. I can't feel it as much, it's still there but nowhere near as painful as Saturday, there is a tiny head on it now but the actual boil has gone down significantly.
Will finish the course of antibiotics, this is what makes me proud that we have the NHS, although I had to chase up, after the second call I received an immediate call back and was prescribed he antibiotics straight away :) feel quite proud to work in the NHS.
Hopefully my boil friend won't be back any time soon!

That’s great news.

Glad to hear it

Hi all.
I'm on day 4 of antibiotics and it's reared it's ugly head again. I can see a head forming under the damaged skin.. And it's hurting and throbbing again. Does this mean it's going to pop? It's been present but doorman since Monday now today it's sore and full again.
It's so hideous.