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Abscesses

Hi I've just joined this forum to get some advice, please any help will be appreciated. I was diagnosed about 5 years ago and have always had 2 abscesses in my groin area, near my bottom(sorry if tmi) one either side. these have recently got worse and whenever they seem to heal another one appears right next to it. They sometimes hurt to walk or sit, and i know this sounds disgusting but they weep liquid which i find highly embarrassing if im with my partner :( I was wondering if anyone else has suffered similar things and what can be done about it?
Thanks
 

KWalker

Moderator
Welcome to the forum! I have been dealing with abscesses myself for a few years now. Back in 2011 I had two surgeries for them within 3 weeks and spent 10 days in the hospital. I ended up with a 7.5" incision that still heals today. Mine was an extreme case though so its likely yours isn't that bad yet. However, if it goes untreated for too long it can definitely get bigger/worse. I ignored mine for a few years until it got so bad I couldn't walk and I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance after my body went into shock.

I would see a doctor for it if you haven't already and my personal first choice would be to get on Cipro and Flagyl because some people do have success with those meds and therefore can avoid surgery. If not, your doctor might need to lance/drain the abscess but this can usually be done as an outpatient procedure with a short recovery time of pain/discomfort. Despite how big my incision was, it was night and day after surgery. I felt a million times better.

Also, don't ever worry about too much information here. The crohns forum is a place to share your stories that you would otherwise be uncomfortable sharing with others. We are all either IBD/IBS sufferers, or supports/parents of somebody with IBD so nothing is gross for us. Actually, the more details provided the easier it is to help.

Best of luck with everything
 
Thank you so much! It's actually something I've been embarrassed about for years and only recently learned they were crohns related, I saw my GP for a routine smear test and she noticed them but only said sort of "oh yeah classic crohns" and didn't really seem surprised, or suggest any treatment (i see a specialist for crohns but haven't got next appointment for about a year and they always seem to cacel so may be waiting 2!!) Since learning they were crohns related ive obviously been researching it, and all I've found is that they need to be treated, whatever way. I'm just unsure who I should see about them and what I should say for them to treat them? Also, I've never heard of those meds, are they for crohns or specifically for abscesses? Thank you so much for your reply I was starting to think I was the only one!
 

KWalker

Moderator
You are definitely not the only one! We have an abscess/fistula subforum on here and you can lots not only lots of information about abscesses, but also lots of stories from people who have, or had them. Unfortunately abscesses are common in crohns patients. The medication I listed is used for a variety of things with crohns, but they are also the most commonly prescribed meds for abscesses. That would be my first choice because there is a possibility that they could save you from needing to get them cut. I don't currently have a specialist myself so I've had clinic doctors prescribe me them.

Another thing that has helped mine is diet (as strange as it sounds) and I know its not feasible for everyone. The diet for me has eased my diarrhea and I now have regular BMs and because of that, the drainage has also stopped as well. When I do have diarrhea, it drains quite a bit.

Just out of curiosity do you suffer from diarrhea as well?
 
Yeah I do, my crohns isn't very well controlled as my appointments keep getting cancelled and my GP doesn't seem to know a thing about it! But diarrhea or not, doesn't seem to make any difference, forgive me if I'm being really stupid but I don't understand how that would help?(not entirely sure what causes the abscesses, I got diagnosed at 18 and didn't care enough back then to ask questions, only now I'm sort of getting to know the disease)
 

KWalker

Moderator
There are a few reasons I think diarrhea can affect abscesses.

1.When we have diarrhea, we are essentially irritating the abscess. As we "go", diarrhea can easily spread and in return get into the abscess instead of allowing it to heal.

2. With abscesses there is always a possibility that we have fistulas as well (tunnels, basically). If we have diarrhea then it is a lot easier for the stool to make its way down to that tunnel and end up at your abscess. With a more solid stool it doesn't have as much room to navigate anything other than the regular path. Does that make sense?

Like I said, I could very well be wrong but in my experience I've noticed a difference with harder BMs. When I was having my very loose, and often watery BMs my doctor told me I needed to take a bath after every time I went poop to make sure the abscess remained clean.
 
Ah I see. Blonde moment lol makes sense now you've said it! I think I'm definitely going to push for an earlier appointment to get some sort of treatment on the go. Thank you so much for your help, don't feel like the only one in the world any more! Xxx
 

KWalker

Moderator
Not a problem! Unfortunately there are too many of us that know exactly what you're going through. Your best bet would be to get into see somebody as soon as possible so it doesn't get out of hand while you're waiting.
 
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