A big boil, perhaps? With crappy pic

[Dustyblue]

I've never posted on this part of MN but thought I might find some new friends and advice! 😃

I'm growing something on the back of my thigh. Thinking I'll be calling the GP clinic for an appointment tomorrow. Ow!

Background- I had a little lump/zit type thing in the same spot months ago, like a small pea under the skin, and I squeezed it. A satisfying amount of white/pasty stuff came out.

Last week it reappeared and I thought oh goody! This time it would squeeze out.

A week later this is the result. Have been using mag sulfate paste but it's not forming a head. Just growing. It's hot and painful, but not agonising.

I think the white lines/circles you can see in the picture are from the dressing I'd just removed. But you can see the 'head' is just purple.

NEVER had one this size! Approx 8cm diameter.

Please tell me I won't end up having surgery on this bastard?

no idea but you know the rules - we need to be updated regularly and/or when anything significant happens, with a fresh photo every time.

May be worth drawing round it with a biro (and date/time) so we you can see if it’s growing.

I gave up on drawing a circle around it days ago!

The indicator now is it's about the outgrow the dressings I've been putting the mag sulfate on. Not sure whether to be impressed or scared.

I will get DH to take a better pic later when I take today's dressing off.

If it's hot and painful it sounds infected- I'd see a nurse at a minimum tomorrow and get to pharmacist today....

Erm, one for the GP I’d say as it’s a growing infection.

If that was on me I'd stick a needle in it and see what happens and then ring the GP tomorrow.

Today's pic. The bastard isn't forming a head.

Appointment with GP on Fri, soonest I could get in.

Thinking I'll give up on the dressings and mag sulfate paste? It doesn't seem to be achieving anything.

Might have to let it be free, to live its own life until Fri. And sit carefully. Ow.

Ow indeed. I'm not sure it's a good idea to wait that long. Did you emphasise the rate of growth to the receptionist?

There's a hint of a head there though, isn't there?

Have you done the hot compress?

HP here.. don't wait til Friday..

Thanks all for the help and hand-holding!

I sent the pic to my friend (a senior nurse) and she said I need antibiotics asap. "It can get into your bloodstream, don't wait for that to happen".

Managed to get an appointment with another GP for tomorrow.

Thanks for encouraging me not to wait. I would have!

Doc said it's an abcess. Started a 5-day course of antibiotics to try and bring it down a bit. Then back next week for incision and drainage.

He said at the moment it's all mooshy- "Imagine it's a big grape under the skin. I want to scoop out the whole grape, not mushed up pieces of grape". Makes sense I suppose?

Interestingly, he said mag sulfate paste does nothing for such things. "They don't teach us that at med school, it's not Western medicine". And the doc is Chinese. Fascinating!

Very good! Hope it settles down quickly for you!

Good luck op.

Hope the antibiotics help you op. Tell the Dr next time you see him to look it up in his BNF, it’s clearly listed for application to boils or carbuncles. It’s also part of the nurse prescribers formulary, so he’s clearly not at all up on sporning! (Unlike most nurses😬🤣)

At the first sign of something like that I use a hot compress. It softens it and stops it getting to the antibiotic stage

Hope its better soon.

Update, for your viewing pleasure.

I saw the doc again today, after 5 days of antibiotics. He took this pic for me.
Conversation went like this:

Dr: It has shrunk nicely, is it painful?
Me: No it's much better, but it started bleeding last night
Dr: I would like to drain it. And basically, squeeze the crap out of it. But I will need to make a cross cut, and you'll need a few local anaesthetic needles, to make it more comfortable for you.
Me: Ok, my pain tolerance is pretty high. Go forth.

Minutes later, lying on my belly on the bed:

Dr: You are tolerating the procedure well
Me: You must have a strong stomach
Dr: It's not rocket science
Dr: And you just messed up my wall, sploosh!
Me: Really? Let me see!!! (trying to turn head backwards)

Sure enough, awesome splatter of white/yellow/orange/red on the wall. I felt bad and offered to clean it up.

Now I'm on another 5 days of antibiotics, and dressings. "We want it to ooze to get all the crap out".

I might possibly be in love with my 20-something year old doctor.

Lovely, I bet that feels better! 🙂
(No pics of the wall.......? 🤔☺️)

Your doctor sounds amazing. I don't blame you for falling in love with him. 😁

No, was dying for pics of the wall! But remember I was lying on my front, skirt around hips, was grateful I could twist my head enough to see it.

Was like a Jackson Pollock painting, heavy on the orange.

I will never forget this Dr saying "I would like to give you anaesthetic to make it more comfortable for you. Then I want to squeeze the crap out of it"

Ahh, swooning.

Oh wow! Happy ending

Jackson Pollock sporn, it could be a thing 😁

Ahhhh what a satisfying update, thanks OP!

Love the technical term "squeeze the crap out".
I'd love to know which medical school he attended.