How to home treat an abscess

[yorkshirelass]

Went to the Doctor on friday with abscess in groin area. Prescribed Flucloxacillin and told to squeeze the abscess until it clears. Have been doing this for 2 days, the abscess seems to be getting bigger not smaller. Am using linen handkerchiefs as a dressing and washing them several times a day in TCP , also using germolene on the skin surrounding the "exit hole" which is red and inflamed. Am I doing the right thing and / or should I finish the course of antibiotics

[Sqad]

york

<<<<the abscess seems to be getting bigger<<<<

That says it all.......go back to your GP as it sounds as though it may mean surgical drainage.

[milly143]

Listen to Sqad. Not wishing to scare you but I had one that wasn't treated properly and then kept returning. 4 years and 5 operations after the initial abscess, I had no choice but to have some pretty painful corrective surgery on the area and am left with a rather large and ugly scar. Luckily, it's in a very easy to hide place.

[Trishy]

Always finish a course of antibiotics unless your doctor tells you otherwise

[LoftyLottie]

I was always told not to squeeze an abscess. Is that wrong then? Surely squeezing it would be dicey and make it more sore and inflamed.

[Dris]

Yikes -poor you:(
Even although the Antis havent had much of a chance to kick in they should have enough to stall the abscess' hold -got to GP like wot Sqad says.

[Sqad]

lofty.....depends where it is....the only place NOT to squeeze an abscess is between the upper lip and the nose.

[Dris]

Why's that Sqad? Only ask as I really do take an interest in medical matters.

[Sqad]

Dris....bit complicated as it is all to do with Cavernous sinus in the brain and the connecting blood vessels in a particular part of the face.

Google.........Dangerous Triangle.

[LoftyLottie]

Thanks Squad.

[Dris]

Sqad -genuinely thought that.I once had my nose pierced and rapidly took it out when I realised just how close the ensuing infection was to my brain....also prone to Sinusitus-thanks for clarifying that for me.Now duly noted and filed in my medical file in my brain lol

[Sqad]

Dris......of course......there will be a small.........fee;-)

[Dris]

haha -is it medically related ? lol

[Sqad]

Dris.....let´s say it could be anatomically related ;-)

[yorkshirelass]

Thanks to all of you for your replies. I have made an appointment to see my GP tomorrow. It's hard to designate any one as the best answer as they are all relevant. Thanks again.

[Eve]

I get them quite often and have to say I never squeeze them. Some sorted on their own, some have shifted with antibiotics and the last one I suffered with for 2 months before it was surgically removed after two rounds of antibiotics including their "domestos" version wouldn't shift it and they were worried about the infection spreading into my blood stream and making me really ill.

I'd be worried about spreading the infection by squeezing.

I'd definitely go with back to your GP if it's red, warm and growing, if anyone is going to try and drain or remove it I'd rather it done under sterile conditions to minimise any risk of the infection spreading.

I had mine removed by a very nice surgeon under a general up the hospital (my GP surgery doesn't deal with that kind of thing) and it was so quick and painless once the numbing had been done and a very neat little scar.

If you do have it removed, it is likely to need packing and draining and redressing by a professional at least every other day until the packing is no longer needed. It's worth asking about aftercare services as I ran into problems with it as my GP surgery doesn't deal with that kind of thing either and was quite a trying time trying to find out where I could go to see a nurse at such short notice and then they told me I should have had a prescription to get dressings and packing to bring with me. Worth bearing in mind if you do need that doing.

[Eve]

Sorry, that should have read under a local rather than a general...it's been a long day!