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If you want to see spot squeezing, popping or videos showing the removal of blackheads - this is the place for you.

Original poster

Help me - infected cyst

54 replies

YoSofi · 22/10/2022 08:00

Hello sporners, my first time posting in here!

I’ve had a tiny little lump in my armpit for as long as I can remember. It’s never bothered me until I woke up Thursday morning in agony and it had swelled to the size of a golf ball.

I went to my local walk in centre who confirmed the cyst is infected and prescribed antibiotics but it’s getting bigger and more painful.

I’ve been using a warm compress, is there anything more I can do? Should I go back up and ask them to lance it? Should I try and pop it?

Picture attached for your enjoyment.

OP posts:
Original poster
YoSofi · 22/10/2022 08:07

The swelling you can see around the redness is all part of it, it really is huge!

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 22/10/2022 08:08

Go back to the walk in centre as it's got worse after anti biotics, keep up with warm compresses and use Savlon and keep in covered with non lint dressing. It might be that the antibiotics have brought it all to the surface and it just needs to drain now. They don't tend to like draining them unless it's absolutely necessary.

Original poster
YoSofi · 22/10/2022 08:13

Thank you, I was planning on going back tomorrow if it hadn't eased as that would be my fourth day of the antibiotic course, maybe I’ll go back today instead I’m in agony!

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 22/10/2022 08:17

Are you still on the antibiotics? Can you have a warm salt bath and really ramp up the compresses to see if that draws it out? It might be that the antibiotics are just doing their job.

girlmom21 · 22/10/2022 08:18

I'd 100% pop it but that's bad advice

Vapeyvapevape · 22/10/2022 08:19

Mag sulphate and compresses as hot as you can bear , it looks so sore and such an awkward place .

Rabidturnip · 22/10/2022 08:20

Ouch OP, that looks v painful. I wouldn’t mess with it. Maybe give it another 24 hrs with the abx and see how it is tomorrow?

Original poster
YoSofi · 22/10/2022 08:22

Yes still on antibiotics, it’s a 7 day course of flucloxacillin, Thursday was my first full day on them but it was nowhere near this size then.

@girlmom21 it is taking all my willpower not to! Although the pain if I even hover my finger over it is unbearable so I’m not sure I could touch it anyway

OP posts:
Original poster
YoSofi · 22/10/2022 08:23

Rabidturnip · 22/10/2022 08:20

Ouch OP, that looks v painful. I wouldn’t mess with it. Maybe give it another 24 hrs with the abx and see how it is tomorrow?

I think I might do this, continue with them today and go up tomorrow.

I can’t really lift my arm to do much so need it sorting before I’m in work on Monday really.

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 22/10/2022 09:23

I think you need to prepare for the fact it might not 'get sorted' by Monday, it might just be a case of waiting for it to heal. People always go on about things being lanced properly on MN but they do it IME as a last resort as I said earlier. Keep up with salt water compresses!

Original poster
YoSofi · 22/10/2022 09:25

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 22/10/2022 09:23

I think you need to prepare for the fact it might not 'get sorted' by Monday, it might just be a case of waiting for it to heal. People always go on about things being lanced properly on MN but they do it IME as a last resort as I said earlier. Keep up with salt water compresses!

I’ll do that, thank you.

I just found a photo from when it started on Thursday and I went up, hope it stops growing soon!

OP posts:
rosangelanne · 22/10/2022 09:33

Warm bath with Epsom salts.

TokenGinger · 22/10/2022 09:35

Shamelessly place-marking. Please, Sporner Gods, let there be a camera on record when this beauty pops 🙏🏼

Original poster
YoSofi · 22/10/2022 09:37

TokenGinger · 22/10/2022 09:35

Shamelessly place-marking. Please, Sporner Gods, let there be a camera on record when this beauty pops 🙏🏼

Oh I will DEFINITELY be recording don’t worry 😀

OP posts:
Underscore21 · 22/10/2022 09:46

Do you feel ok in yourself? Other than the pain, that is? Are you running a high temp or is your pulse high for example?

Original poster
YoSofi · 22/10/2022 10:03

Underscore21 · 22/10/2022 09:46

Do you feel ok in yourself? Other than the pain, that is? Are you running a high temp or is your pulse high for example?

I do feel ok, just tired but that’s just because I haven’t slept well with it the last two night.

Temperature and pulse both seem fine but I will keep an eye on them

OP posts:
PrettyMuchBollocks · 22/10/2022 12:41

That looks a lot redder and more swollen than Thursday, I think I’d get that looked at again today op, they might need to try a different/additional antibiotic, or lance it.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 22/10/2022 19:20

That needs to start draining tonight or go and see urgent care, it's much redder now.

picklemewalnuts · 22/10/2022 19:26

I'd have to stab that little head. Sorry. I couldn't bear it.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 22/10/2022 19:52

picklemewalnuts · 22/10/2022 19:26

I'd have to stab that little head. Sorry. I couldn't bear it.

I'd have a prod at the very least!

picklemewalnuts · 22/10/2022 20:34

I don't think I'd squeeze, given the inflammation, but I'd just nick that head open to relieve some of the pressure. Just a tiny superficial scratch of a sterile needle or nail scissors.

TinaYouFatLard · 22/10/2022 20:36

Oooh. I’ve had these a couple of times. Bath as hot as you can tolerate. Hopefully it will start to ooze soon.

Original poster
YoSofi · 22/10/2022 21:09

UPDATE

Its just started to go on it’s own, got undressed for my bath and felt a bit of pain and then could smell it 🤢

I squeezed as gently as I could until it became painful and there was a fair bit of dark green thick liquid streaked with blood that came out, there appears to be around 4 “heads” starting to show but the others weren’t ready.

In the bath now with a warm flannel on again, so hopefully either tonight or tomorrow morning it will be fully ready to go!

OP posts:
TheOnlyAletheia · 22/10/2022 21:18

Omfg that sounds marvellous. Pictures needed immediately!

HairyKitty · 22/10/2022 21:19

Depending how bad it is it may take several days to drain. Mine was bigger, started to
look less inflamed after about 4/5 days of antibiotics, was draining for quite a few days after that.

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