Boil or something else? Please help.

[Drea85]

Hi,

I'm new here. I looked for a recent thread about boils and couldn't find one, so sorry if I'm duplicating.

Anyway. I have what I believed to be boils all over my behind and a couple in the genital area. They are big swollen lumps that are painful to the touch but are not hot or anything like that. All of them used to respond to antibiotics but now only the ones on my behind do. I've had them drain on their own before without a problem, but tonight was different.

I sat down on my break at work and then soon smelled something terrible. I honestly thought someone had soiled themselves. I got up and noticed my pants were soaked and there was blood in my chair and realized the smell was coming from me. I went to the restroom and my underwear was full of blood and pus.

I have never had a boil drain and smell at all, let alone smell like that. That's why I'm wondering if it's something else. I have a GYN appointment next week for the boils in the genital area and will ask her to look at the other boils as well. She is a general practitioner and doesn't have a background in crohn's so I like to go in with some kind of idea of what this may be so I can ask her specifics. I know she's a doctor and knows more about illnesses than I ever will, I'm just trying to be prepared. I'm really just freaking myself out here. Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[DJW]

Hi and welcome.

I'm sorry you're dealing with these things. I know how painful they can be.

It is important for the doctor to find out the cause. I've had them from faliculitis and from fistulas but it could be a number of things.

Try not to stress. Sending you my support.

 

[lgpcarter]

They are probably abscesses. I've had a few and they are not fun! Best advice is to soak in warm/hot (whatever you can stand) bath with epsom salts. If you develop fever, be sure to go to urgent care.

Doc will likely either lance or tell you to wait them out. Cipro has usually worked to shrink mine.

Sad to say, after the abscess went away, I did develop a couple of fistulas, so you might want to read up on that and be prepared.

 

[Drea85]

Thanks guys. I was on cipro a few weeks ago and they went away, but obviously came right back. I have a standing prescription for it from my GI doctor, but I thought I'd hold off on taking any more until my GP looks at it in case she wants to prescribe Flagyl or something else instead.

 

[Sailorluna]

have you seen fecal matter in the drainage? Have you had an MRI or CT scan to rule out abscesses?My experience has been that going to a Colorectal surgeon gives more answers when it comes to this stuff than a GI. I don't usually even see the GI for that stuff anymore although I will call and request that he order a test.

 

[PsychoJane]

It might be something like hidradenitis suppurativa or fistula considering the amount of liquid that good released. I hope they figure it out promptly for you

 

[Drea85]

I haven't seen any fecal matter just blood and pus. I haven't had an MRI or anything like that either. My doctors haven't even looked at the boils. I just tell them I have them and they prescribe antibiotics. I thought that was strange, not to even look to judge the severity. I will make her look at all of them during my appointment Friday. This isn't only painful, its extremely embarrassing and I need a solution.

 

[lgpcarter]

Very odd that they haven't looked at them! Hope you get some answers on Friday. Keep us posted.

 

[Sailorluna]

Good luck. If you dont get an answer you may want to get another opinion. It can be hard to get them. I have had a very tight anal stricture for years. The gyno discovered it first after I had baby #1. I had never told anyone that something was going on because I was too embarrassed and scared. She laughed and called it a "strong muscle ring" and really nothing to worry about or follow up on. I guess my point is that no doc knows everything and you gotta keep pushing. My fingers are crossed for you.

 

[Drea85]

I really appreciate all of the feedback and support. I don't know why I didn't join this site sooner. I've been pretty much going it alone since I was diagnosed 2 years ago. I thought I had a supportive boyfrien to help me through this, but he just left me a couple weeks ago and said he only stayed this long cause he felt bad that I was sick. That's another story for another page though. I'm just trying to say I appreciate the support, I really need it right now.

 

[Drea85]

Went to the doctors today, still no answer. She put me on Flagyl and wants me to go back to the GI to see what he thinks.

 

[Brittany_]

I would go to the er that happened to me and then one day there was pain so bad i couldn't walk, went to the er and had an abscess that was the size of an orange and ended up with a fistula and a that was 10in deep on my butt. they had me in hospital 8 days on iv meds.

 

[Drea85]

My GI put me on Flagyl and Cipro for a month. Im not in pain anymore so that's great. I'm hoping this will take care of things for a while.