Massive Boil

[millmoo]

I’ve had a really big boil all week that is so so so painful.
Went to doc’s yesterday and got antibiotics oral and cream.
have now been taking antibiotics for over 24 hours and it hasn’t made much difference at all!!!

i am in so much pain 😭😭 does anyone know that if i go to urgent care after work will they pop it for me or should i just keep going with the antibiotics.
the doctor I saw told me not pop it as this can make things worse.
help!!!!

I'm probably telling you something you already know or are doing, but have you tried soaking in warm water?

Hot wet flannel worked a treat draining mine. A few drops of tea tree on the wet flannel beforehand, or soak it in hot salty water if you don't have any TT oil.

Have it as hot as you can cope with without burning you. Hopefully that'll drain it.

Oh and a picture would be appreciated!

Bring it to a head, otherwise you might spread the infection. You want a lovely volcano to erupt .... hot flannels. Mag sulfate paste. I've resorted to hot spoons before. At a pinch toothpaste seems to have drawing ointment properties ...

You have my sympathies! I know how horrible they are, I get them every now and again. I've got lots of good tips from MN which have helped calm me down (!). You can make a paste of witch hazel, calamine cream and tea tree oil (it's got a woman's name but I can't remember it). I put a good dollop on a cotton wool pad or plaster and keep it on the boil. Check it through the day and absolutely keep it clean etc. Mine generally pop unexpectedly in the shower or when I sit down and the relief is incredible! It's not nice, is it? The pain and throbbing makes it hard for me to get comfortable in bed and for sitting/sleeping. It's miserable. I hope you feel better soon, OP.

I think I'd give the antibiotics a bit longer to work, but in the meantime try Mag sulphur and hot, hot water.

Thanks everyone 😀
I’ve tried the hot flannel and hot bath and so I’ve been to boots and got the magnesium paste. I’ve put some on.
it’s so so so painful - I can hardly walk, stand or sit.
I said to my DD that it’s the same type of pain as labour pains..
im going to see how I go tomorrow and if no change I will go back to urgent care.

Have you tried taking ibuprofen for the pain?

Where abouts is it?

keep on with the antibiotics, and you can keep on doing the hot flannels. You can take painkillers to ease the discomfort, Avoid the urge to pop it, tempting as it is.

Oh God @millmoo that sounds miserable. I hope it pops soon and you feel better.

@Internaut yes I’ve been taking nurofen and paracetamol combined and it works for an hours or so then wears off.

@Muchtoomuchtodo it’s at the bottom of my bum -hard to explain but where my legs meets my bum and right on my knickerline.
so my knickers are rubbing it as I walk. I tried to dress it but it just made it worse. That’s why sitting is so incredibly painful.

@Pubgarden it really is 😥 I’ve never had it before and I never ever want it again.

the nurse said it’s probably because I’m really run down, work in education and so ready for a break!!

Mine was right there OP. The pain was disproportionate to the size of the ruddy thing. It eventually popped in a hot, salt bath.....ohhhh the relief.

You poor thing @millmoo . Hot bath (can you slide down a bit so there’s no pressure on it?) and as many hot flannels as you can manage. All being well it’ll pop soon and the AB’s will kick in. Keep an eye on your temperature and heart rate. If they go up, definitely call 111 for advice

I had one on the top of my foot, maybe a bite that got infected on a plane as I scratched it.

Went to hospital as same as you was agony and couldn't bear weight, doctor said if oral antibiotics didnt start working I would need to have then via IV .

Anyway I popped it with a sterilised needle, immediate relief and next day was fine.
Not suggesting you do this btw!

Stagger ibruprofen and paracetamol so you're topping up on pain meds every 2 hours, rather than 4.

Agree re the bath etc. If the mag paste doesn't work, I found Lion ointment (you can get it on Amazon) really effective at bringing them to a head.

I find a really thick slather of cream on gauze over the boil causes them to come up and burst quicker, as the skin is constantly moist and more likely to rupture.

You have my sympathy. I sometimes get them when I'm low and it's really miserable.x.

Really salty hot water can help them pop

I hate admitting this but I’m recovering from an abscess down there…..I thought it was a boil but it was a full on abscess and I had to have emergency surgery on it. Get to a&e, I went to the out of hours GP who said I needed to be admitted but I had to go through A&E and still had to wait a ridiculous amount of time so I wish I’d just gone straight there. It has been the worst pain of my life, and I’ve had cancer! Be prepared for a hospital stay

I assume it’s not as straight forward as squeezing a spot? Disclaimer: I have zero medical knowledge

I too used to get these when I was run down, realised I was actually anaemic and boils are quite common in low iron- ever since I got my iron up never had one again- might be something to check??

I had one this week as well. Got a tiny bit of puss out but then it just bled. (Yes I know you shouldn’t squeeze them) it was like a volcano!

Thanks everyone for your well wishes and support ❤️
I’ve woken up this morning and it’s definitely smaller and less sore!! Still there, but forming more into a volcano and point on it.
going to keep going with the magnesium paste,antibiotics and I’m going to have a really hot bath with Epsom salts and have a chilled day at home.
hopefully it will pop tonight! If still the same tomorrow I will probably go to out of hours then but it does feel like there is some improvement.
Thanks again for all your messages -really hope this is my one and only time of having one as it is truly horrendous.
to those that suffer regularly I really feel for you, as these have been the worst few days ever ❤️❤️

When you say you've tried a hot wash cloth,are you applying it 3 or 4 times a day,plus a couple of baths plus covering it with Savlon ? You really need to treat it like a full time job 😂

Really hope you're over the worst soon,sounds like the meds are kicking in. Stagger the pain killers ,don't take them together.