Terrible Abscess or Fistula.

Hey guys. I have this terrible abscess and unfortunately I don't have an appointment until the 21st just for consultation I don't really know how to tell the difference between an abscess or a fistula, but I'll tell you it sure does hurt. My whole left butt cheek is starting to hurt. Any suggestions to relieve the pain??

are you serious, you don't have an appt. 'til the 21st????? It'll probably have burst by then. Definitely do hot sitz baths, 2-3x a day, & hope thast it does burst. You may have to wind up in the ER, that's a long time to go with an unresolved abscess.

When my abcess got unbearable I just went to A&E (ER for the yanks :D) and had to get it surgically lanced in the OT. It was worth because the pain was just, OUCH!!

I agree with the others who say it may be a good idea to try to get in to see someone else.

In the meantime, here's something you could try instead of sitz baths:

* get an old cloth (an old pair of underpants wrapped in a tea towel might be good)
* put some salt in the middle of the old cloth and bundle & twist the cloth so the salt is well sealed inside
* pour some really hot (not boiling - you don't want to burn yourself) water over the cloth until the salt is well saturated
* hold it up against the area that is hurting for as long as you can. Do this several times a day

You may be able to prepare the cloth in the shower, say, and apply the heat before you get dressed, or you could prepare it in the wash room, and do the application itself in the toilet cubicle. That way, you'd still have some privacy.

I hope this helps. And remember, hot but not too hot, so you don't burn yourself.

Ivy.

I don't know who to see!! I'm here at Kent State University which is 6 hours away from my family. The only doctor I know is at Cleveland Clinic. The people who schedule the appointments are a bunch of complete morons. They can't get anything before the 21st. It's getting really really bad and I'm starting to panic. It looks wet all the time now and it's getting bigger. What kind of doctors should I look for?? I want this taken care of tomorrow. I don't want blood poisoning!!!

ER sounds like a plan. If you try to treat it at home, like previous posters mentioned, there are alternatives to the bathtub. If you can't purchase the sitz bath pan (which you place over the toilet and then sit into) then you can try to use a plastic pan instead, one that kinda fits in the toilet bowl but doesn't go past the rim. I've done many sitz baths and had a really bad abscess (ouchy!! I feel your pain!) but it had to be fixed in surgery.

Best of luck!

B

I ended up going to Cleveland Clinic ER because I was already on file there and stuff. I'm actually really glad I did that. They took my blood, made me take a urine test. They had a few doctors check me out. Unfortunately they didn't drain it BUT, it started to drain on its own on the way to the clinic. They're trying to schedule me a follow up appointment with the colorectal doctor so I can get the rest of it surgically drained. Man, this abscess sure is a pain in the butt! Literally! As a side, I noticed that I actually have something on my anus now. It's like a little red bump. The doctor didn't say anything about it, but I have no idea what it could be. Any ideas?

It could be one, I'm not too sure though. It stopped bothering me this morning anyway! so that's perfect. The whole ordeal def made me tired though. I couldn't get up for my 10 AM class -___- Oh well, I'm just glad I'm feeling some relief!

I don't have a proper bathtub either, so what I do is.....  I bought a child's tub.  It's perfect, albeit it's pink....  Target and Walmart carry quite a few different ones in various sizes (infant, toddler, etc.).  I just fill it up with hot/warm water and add epson salts, tea tree oil and peppermint oil and soak til it cools off.  Works great !

I have had many problems with absess and fistula's.  I have a surgeon that has hours m-f and will get me in immediatley if i think i have an absess. 

But with that being said, the ER has better pain meds for the surgically drainage part.  I rather have a shot of morpheine or dilauted before they needle it up with novacaine and cut it open.  thats my personally view.  Food for thought.