Excruciating abscess

Hey everyone,

Firstly, thank you so so much for your advice, I feel so lucky to have this place to turn to in these times of need! I don’t know what I’d do without healingwell…

I woke up this morning feeling a little bit better, the pain is not AS intense, still there but not as bad, so I am taking that as a positive sign… I will see my doctor again on Friday as he suggested, because like he said, there could be a fistula there and he will need to check it and probably drain it. So I will see him tomorrow after work, and just hope that it keeps getting better, I guess. It’s still really sore, but not AS sore as before, so I am just trying to think positively and hope that the antibiotics are working. I have taken PB4’s advice and taken probiotics too.

Ha I loved the comment about the scooter! I honestly thought about that yesterday, when walking across the road to get my lunch was agony!

It’s amazing how you take things like walking for granted when you’ve got something like this… I am going to be so relieved when I can walk again normally! I can’t wait for the doc to drain it and get it sorted once and for all! When I first got this thing I was so worried about how he would examine me etc… now I don’t care at all! I just want him to sort it out!

I do think he should have drained it on my first appointment though, because the pain I’ve had to experience since just shouldn’t be put upon anyone! I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy! I will see how things travel today (still hard to walk so I’m not moving much)

I just wanted to express my gratitude to you all, too – you make me feel ‘normal’ when otherwise I’d be feeling like a real alien! Having to tell my boyfriend what’s going on ‘down there’ has been really hard.

The hot baths are definitely the best thing – even if it doesn’t drain it leaves it feeling soothed. I couldn’t find Epsom salts – so used normal salt – I hope this still helps! I will have baths until it clears

If this EVER happens again and I don’t get it drained ASAP, I am taking your advice and going to the E.R and getting it sorted. Like you say, there are a number of complications which could occur, and I don’t want matters getting any worse than they already are!

Phoebe, you mean you are getting this sorted with your *gp*? Call your specialist, Phoebe. He needs to know what's going on.

I'm glad we've been helping.

btw, you might be surprised at how easily people would understand, if you tried to tell them. Many of us have cats and see how sick they get with abscesses, so would have a pretty good idea of how miserable you're feeling. You don't necessarily have to tell them *where* it is; the very mention of an abscess might be enough for most people.

*huge hug*

Ivy.

Yes, call your specialist. He needs to know.

Don't be apologetic when you talk to the receptionist, don't say "I know he can't do anything about it", just tell her what's happening and see what happens. Your specialist may be happy to have it dealt with by the gp; but then, he may not. Either way, I think that because it's his specialty, he should be given the opportunity to deal with it.

GPs are really not well trained to deal with this stuff. Even my gastro (who is a friend of my gp) says that gps are useless.

Anyway, hang in there. Friday's not too far away

I.

PS. Are you still feeling weak and shivery?

And next time don't tell your boss you are "recovered!!" Say you are getting there. That way when you are out again there is less explaining to do.

Ahh thanks for that Fitzy - I should have thought of that, my dad said they used to be used as laxatives - i should have looked there!! I'm stopping by the pharmacy tonight so I might pick some up.

I really am getting addicted to baths, it's a lovely way to unwind after a day at work.

Good luck at the doctors' today, Phoebe. Will you tell us how it goes?

I.

Hi Hope things went good and give us a update. lol gail

I don't really write about these things too well so take it easy on me.

I have found that I seems to be leaking a puss from a second hole somewhere in my anal area. i can feel it but not see anything. the puss/mucus is anywhere from like yesterday a whiteish red to early this morning a med yellow in color. and there is moderate pain when i'm not doing anything to nauseating when i have a BM. it also seems to drain more when I have a BM.

is this the same thing as being discussed above? and is the ER or an Urgent Care place my best bet?

X2 get to the hosp and have them look at it I had a lot of perianal fistulas and they hurt just like you are saying.

Well my abscess has happily returned, I saw my GI yesterday and he has given me ANOTHER course of antibiotics, flagyl this time, it flared up again when I was visiting my parents in NSW, and i had to see a GP to get some antibiotics.... now I'm on another course, with some enemas too, which I've not used before. I unfortunately also lost my job due to the economic crisis, EA games made 600 staff worldwide redundant, and I happened to be one of them. So at the moment I'm looking for work, at a hard time, and struggling again with an abscess. Hard times. I hope you are all well.

P

xx

Hi Phoebe Darn the abcess came back I was hoping you would have gotten rid of it but no such luck eh. Sorry about the job hope there are other ones and you can find one. lol gail

I had an abscess just like yours, which (before it was diagnosed) got more and more painful, until I had to leave work and go see my family physician. He thought it was "the biggest hemorrhoid" he'd ever seen and got me an emergency appointment immediately with a colorectal surgeon. The surgeon lanced it--an unbelievably painful experience, but worth it. You will DEFINITELY need pain medication. Don't be shy about asking for it and taking it.

Please call your doctor. Let him know that the pain is unbelievable. Doctors like to quantify the pain somehow--so tell him where it is on the 1-10 pain scale and give him concrete examples of how much it hurts (they get especially concerned if you say the pain wakes you up when you sleep, but you can also tell him that you can't sit in any position and that using the bathroom is lightning-bolt painful...whatever works).

And just keep taking hot baths, one of the few things that will give you some pain relief.

My heart's with you tonight. You deserve to get sympathetic help--and get it now!