Boil/abscess With Read Streaks

[Eve]

I noticed it yesterday. I get quite a few of them and had one surgically removed before but always in the groin area but this one is on my back but over my hip bone about and inch and a half under my waistline.

My GP asked me the other week if I had an abscess on my back when telling her about severe back pain she thinks is sciatica.

I have been keeping an eye on it (not an easy place to see as I can bend very well and have a large chest etc...) and it's got worse since last night and I can see reddish streaks but not sure if they are just stretch marks and not like a definite line straight out of it, even though round it, if that makes sense? Trying to get a pic up.

Are the red streak things only worrying if directly coming out of the boil?


Arghhh, only just off flucloxicillin for another skin infection!

[Eve]

Sorry, that should be red streaks! Need more sleep.

[Mamyalynne]

Eve, given your underlying health conditions - I would go get it looked at. A hard place for you to see and check properly.

[tonyav]

Eve, I would do has mamya suggests if I were you.

[Eve]

I will, hoping to speak to a GP later. It's not that big, feel bigger than it looks though got the pressure pain where it tends to build itself up.

I swear it's all my body's ruse to stop me going swimming! I get my legs waxed, I get a horrible rash, get them waxed again I fall down the stairs then get an infected toe.

Found a place with a tiny quiet pool (esp as can't actually swim properly with my shoulders) and now this. Am unimpressed!

[Mamyalynne]

I am not surprised and not for the first time I will tell you, I think you are amazingly resilient with all that life throws at you. Take good care. x

[tonyav]

Eve, swimming is good for you, see what the doc says though.

[Eve]

I will. Not changing going in a swimming pool if there is any change of anything being infected, not with my crap immune system.

Just moving around in the water would do me so much good though.

Aww Mamya x

[Eve]

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/209/ndy5.jpg/

Bit of a rubbish picture (not an easy place to try and click my phone camera!) and bit blurry but shows some of the red bits. It's more raised round the abscess itself but with the red bit on top.

[tonyav]

Looks like some type of rash around it, to me anyway Eve. Get your self to the docs.

[Eve]

Got an appointment later on today to get it looked at. Might explain why I've been feeling so urgh this week, thought I was coming down with something and have taken a few days leave to rest up with that and my back still acting up, been quite uncomfortable sitting at work.

Will see what the Dr says and whether I can get some better pain relief for my back so I can get some decent rest.

On a brighter note though, the xray I had after bashing my arm just over 4 weeks ago has finally come back and is fine (GP was concerned there might be a fracture or crack or something). Sqad, seems you were right, sorry for the delayed update, they did the xray 4 weeks ago yesterday and only just been returned to GP!) :)

[Sqad]

Eve, thanks for the feedback.

I am convinced, day by day, that your skin condition is due to the methotrexate that you are taking for your R.A.

Talk to your GP about it today.

[Eve]

Hi, only got your post after going in Sqad. Saw a GP I've not seen before but will discuss it with my usual GP - she was asking dermatology for an opinion after the pityriasis rosea thing. I've been having issues with skin infections and boils/abscesses for years, I remember them suggesting it could be something like hydradenitis supperativa back in 2006 when they said I had PCOS too. The rash issues have definitely been an issue since the methotrexate though. I did ask about the anti-inflammatory thing, put a reply on my other thread about it.

GP had a look at abscess and said as it's small to keep an eye on it and gave me a prescription for flucloxocillin (only came off it Monday!) and said to hang on a few days in case it gets better itself though he said something about the antibiotics maybe holding back it coming out - I have had itchy then sharp pins and needles pain round that area though figured it was connected to my back pain issue.

No joy on the back pain front, he thinks it may be mechanical, got physio tomorrow so will ask her.

So glad to be back home, been a long day. Witnessed a nasty accident earlier when a young lad on a bike was hit by a car in front of me and flew up in the air then down. I called an ambulance and stayed with him along with another guy and taking to ambulance control until the police and ambulance arrived, helping keep traffic away and such. Am exhausted now!

[Mamyalynne]

What a hell of a day, hope it clears up Eve.

[Sqad]

Eve...thanks for the input........I am impressed by the "wait and see " approach by the doctor.

Yes, accidents are never pleasant.......but often look worse initially than they really are.

[Eve]

True, looks like he will ok but I'm guessing he is going to be very sore for a while! A fair bit of blood but he was conscious, breathing and talking so all good on that front, especially considering I couldn't see a helmet - lucky boy. Looked like a hell of an impact, poor driver was sobbing.

There was an accident a few years ago though and the cyclist didn't make it, the image of him lying in the road is one I don't think I'll ever forget.

The emergency services do one hell of an amazing job - and of course all the other medical and "behind the scene" staff, telephone operators etc...