Abscess...?

So, late yesterday afternoon a bump flared up next to my bung rather quickly. It became pretty uncomfortable. Last night I pressed on it and lots of puss and some blood came out. After that, it felt quite a bit better. Today it seems much smaller and barely bothers me. I had my first and only hemi this summer, but I don't think it's that. I'm hoping it's just an incovenient zit, but fear it might be an abscess. I just read up on abscesses and was alarmed by how serious they seem to be, and that surgery is basically the only treatment. I'm on the fence whether I should call my doctor. Would my gastro handle this, or do I need to see a proctologist? Do abscesses ever just go away? I also had a minor fever (about 99F) last night, but not today.

Ouch. Yes, time to call the doctor, I think.

I'd also be inclined to keep soaking it in salt baths until you can get some help.

Thanks for the advise. This disease just keeps giving and giving and giving... grumble...

[RANT]
That's the thing that gets me about this darned disease. It almost never presents the same way twice. My hubby has had some form of IBD since 2003, and in the past 8 years, every flare up has been different. Something new crops up that you've never seen before, just to keep you on your toes. Just when you think you're getting the hang of how to deal with crohn's disease and you feel like you're now an experienced veteran of having the disease, something crops up to knock you on the head and throw you for a loop.

[/RANT]

Sorry for the rant. I just couldn't keep it in.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I hope it's just an abscess (or better yet, just a zit), and clears up soon.

((Hugs))
PV

PV said...
[RANT]
That's the thing that gets me about this darned disease. It almost never presents the same way twice. My hubby has had some form of IBD since 2003, and in the past 8 years, every flare up has been different. Something new crops up that you've never seen before, just to keep you on your toes. Just when you think you're getting the hang of how to deal with crohn's disease and you feel like you're now an experienced veteran of having the disease, something crops up to knock you on the head and throw you for a loop.[/RANT]

Boy, I totally hear ya! My first flare was really bad, but it was knocked into remission quickly by pred. So I figure no big deal with future flares, just get on it early. Well, wrong, this time around it's taken many, many months and now I'm on a biologic indefinitely. And now new stuff crops up. F this disease!

As for my zit/abscess, I got more puss out of it last night, but it wasn't much. Same today. It seems pretty inflamed around it (about quarter-sized), but not squishy like it's filled with puss. Fair amount of dull pain. Fever was up to 99.4F last night, but normal today. I guess abscesses start out as zits/clogs, then grow. Better call the doc. I've been busy today with other stuff. Reading up on abscesses it definitely seems better to be safe than sorry.

tsitodawg: Has yours pretty much healed up though?

Call your GI. I had an abcess for three months in 1991 and 1992. It bled every day. It was drained twice. I had to have intravenous drugs. Best to you.

Anyone besides me use hot sitz baths to help these things?

Well, my gastro is closed today. It doesn't look like urgent care clinics treat abscesses. I guess the only option over the long weekend is the ER? My bump is about the same today, but no fever yesterday or today. I think I'll leave a message with my gastro and wait it out.

BTW, what do you put in sitz baths? Do you add epsom salt?

Ah, thanks, I was wondering what I could put down there to try to prevent these in the future. It sounds like they start as clogged glands then grow from there. I've been using medicated wipes, but I'm not sure if they have antibiotic properties.

I called my gastro again and they only accept emergency calls when they're closed and it doesn't seem serious enough to bother the on-call doc. Should be okay until Monday but just won't be able to ride my bike, LOL.

Reading up on abscesses, this is pretty alarming:

Somebody said...
Keep in mind that a simple perianal abscess is very, very rare. The overwhelming likelihood, when one considers the diagnosis of perianal abscess, is that the provider is only observing the point of a perirectal abscess.

emedicine.medscape.com/article/776031-followup

I don't have answers for these questions as I had insurance when I was having these troubles. I'm glad you are taking care of it though. What would I do without your far out articles that you share with us. Good luck tomorrow