New to the forum & Seeking information on abscess

Hello! I've been reading on this forum for quite some time for information and advices from other people and finally just figured I should just finally join this forum.

It's like 6 AM for me right now but I cannot sleep, due to an abscess that formed again. I am in desperate need for some information or advice.

Here's my situation:
On January 1st, I felt some pain and did research and was finally diagnosed with a perianal abscess infection right near my anus on February 11th. I had it drained and was sent home from the hospital 2 days later.

This is what I have been doing to keep it clean and my attempt to heal it correctly (Tell me if I am doing anything wrong, It feels like I am doing everything wrong! ahh!)
- I take sitz baths every 4 hours or so
OR
- After a bowel movement, I would use body soap to clean the area and then take a sitz bath
- Following the sitz bath, I place a sterile dressing in between my buttocks to keep the area dry and clean and also to help drain if it is still draining
I am wondering if I need to keep placing a sterile bandage after every sitz bath even if its not draining anymore? I was told it helps to keep the area clean, but I am not sure if it is necessary?

Anyways, It seemed like it was healing perfectly fine until about late March when I woke up one day and I felt pain, it was reinfected but the abscess was around the wound area and much more tender than the previous infection. I went back on antibiotics and somehow the pressure from sitting down made the surgical wound drain the abscess. Then about 2 weeks ago, it was reinfected AGAIN but the abscess surfaced and popped on its own when I was sitting down. Now, about 3 hours ago, I had a bowel movement and felt pain and noticed swelling and that it was reinfected again.

SO! It seems like the same tender new abscess is not going away, is my cleaning not good enough after it pops? Any advice or information would help greatly. I'm in a terrible position too, I have no more insurance and unemployed. I also come from a very poor background so I do not have the money to access a doctor for another drainage or even a simple diagnosis, especially since I am trying to pay off the previous hospital bill for draining the ridiculously painful abscess.

Looking forward to anything and thanks in advance!

-VisioNz

I too have been wrangling with a stubborn abscess/fistula. Hopefully, now though I think I've turned the corner. My protocol has been Cipro & Flagyl; sitz baths - if you can call them that. I bought the biggest "toddler" tub I could find, fill it with the hottest water I can stand, and add peppermint and chamomile epsom salts (from CVS) and a capful of Tea Tree oil. I think the tea tree really helps because it has some antiseptic and antifungal qualities and the epsom salts help draw out the abscess. I also use he guaze between my cheeks, but I coat the guaze with neosporyin - that seems to help it stay in place, plus the neosporyin sure doesn't hurt anything. As far as no insurance, etc. Cipro and Flagyl usually aren't very expensive, so you should really try to stay on a course of them for awhile to see if things clear up. Good luck to you !

I agree with Chroniemom it sounds like a fistula. I had a perirectal abscess that turned into 2 diffrent fistula surgeries one in Sept last year then December. I found that it would do just fine until I stopped taking the antibiotics then it would infect again and drain. The first surgery was after it drained inside instead of out.. really a dreadful feeling! Honest!
After 3 surgeries a colonoscopy and a pelvic and abdominal ct scan all within 7 months I owe the hospital a bundle even with insurance. I found a really nice little old lady in the billing department who is kind enough to deal with the payments I can make. Plus the girls at the surgeons office have been great about payments. If you are unemployed the hospital has programs to help.
Dont wait to address the issue too long or matters will get worse... I speak from experience there.
Good luck

Wow, thank you all for the replies, I was only expecting one or two, but this is great!

As for state insurance, I am from California and I applied for medical but was denied coverage, are there any other programs or insurance out there that anyone can recommend so I can apply?

Yeah I am aware that they can't deny you treatment but that bill that comes afterwards is a killer! But worst comes to worst, I will go back in and get admitted or drained if it gets that bad. Also, for the procedure I went through to get my initial abscess drained, I was admitted into the hospital and went through a rectal surgeon to get it drained. I went through pelvic and abdominal ct scan, a colonoscopy, and they concluded that it was just an abscess infection. My surgeon told me he did something while the surgery to check see where the infection originated from; however, I do not remember exactly what he said to me because I was still all drugged up, but I do remember him saying it was just an abscess.

But, after the healing process and reinfections, I do believe it is a fistula, because I once had a gum fistula near my upper teeth maulers and it kept popping and draining and kept coming back. The weird thing is, that fistula eventually went away on its own, which is surprising, because my dentist said I needed surgery to get that thing healed.

Other than that, I believe all I can do now is try to take good care of it if it pops and wait for my applications for programs and insurance to go through so I can see some doctors. And @Sala, I will look into and probably try out the Cipro and Flagyl sitz bath procedure! I was actually recommended to use Epsom salt too but I guess I totally forgot about it, thanks!

Oh! One more question, do you guys think I can do intensive cardio and weightlifting without affecting the abscess? I was told to try and not hit the gym while the abscess is healing because sweating makes the area moist and causes bacteria to grow faster, but not working made me gain weight and I think it's making matters worse!

Thanks again for all the information and advice and the warm welcoming, I appreciate every bit and will keep you guys posted when I hear back from my family doctor.

- VisioNz

Thanks Viennaman, it means a lot to me.

EDIT: So, my inflamed abscess that formed, deflated throughout the day and after a sitz bath I noticed tiny bits of blood and so I gently touched around the area and the bubble popped; however, the only thing that gushed out was dark red blood and after a few minutes of draining, it became light red blood. I cleaned it, did a short sitz bath with warm water, and placed a sterile dressing on the area. Anyone have any ideas what just happened or if it was a good idea to do what I just did? Thanks!

- VisioNz

Post Edited (VisioNz) : 4/3/2011 3:51:41 AM (GMT-6)