What to do with an infected cyst? **PHOTO**

[GobbledySnoop]

Young adult DS has a nasty cyst at base of his spine. It's about the size of a 5p coin and can be a bit leaky. Usually a sticky clear fluid, sometimes bloody, but currently yellowy white.
Dr prescribed antibiotics last Friday via text message, and said they'd book him in to see about having it removed. I chased up today, to be told that might not be until September.
So what can we do in the meantime? It's generally not painful unless prodded, or he sits back too harshly.

This is insane. Go to your GP office and refuse to leave until it has been seen by a Dr!

Is it a pilonidal sinus rather than a cyst? They are v common there. I wouldn't have thought (given the state of the NHS) that 8 ish weeks was too bad for non emergency treatment, but if it gets worse, obviously go back to the GP.

I did wonder if it was pilonidal. It's not in the cleft, but he is quite hairy and the right age bracket (according to Dr Google)

I came for the photo....but i can't see one.

He can hot compress. But better for now letting the antibiotics clear up the infection first.

Can you get in to see a pharmacist? Or see if you can get into a walk in centre? Having to wait till September with that isn’t great.

I had a cyst behind my ear for months. I wear a headset for work and it was agony I put vinegar on it directly with a soaked cotton wool pad for 2 days and it magically disappeared. I used brown vinegar.

I have one which has been operated on twice and I’m on the waiting list for a third attempt. They are reluctant to operate when it’s infected and generally it has to be clear if infection for 8 weeks before surgery. That said, they can drain it under emergency surgery to try and get some of the bacteria out.

Hopefully photo is now approved!
That photo was taken Friday, before antibiotics. It looking slightly less inflamed but has been leaking a lot.

That's not too bad a wait , September is ok.

My dh had one in the same place in his 20s. He got anti bs but it got worse . He ended up in so much pain. And had to go to walk in centre who thankfully realised how bad it had gotten and he had a mini operation same day to basically cut it out. He had a decent size hole that took several weeks to heal. They can get very nasty.
I agree with others I would get a second opinion

If the antibiotics treat the infection, then September is fine to wait for removal. It honestly doesn't even look infected tbh. It looks more like a wart.