Should i Drain abscess myself?

[cam129]

Hey,

So I have an abscess on my bottom, near the crack of the bottom.

I told my consultant about it when I saw him, around 3-4 weeks ago, the abscess was just over 1/2"-3/4" or 1cm-1.5cm in diameter.

I was given antibiotics 500mg Metronidazole and 500mg ciprofloxacin, I had to stop medication I was taking for the Crohn's which was Humira and Methotrexate.

I took the antibiotics for 2 weeks the returned to the Doc, the wasn't hardly any change, so I was told it would probably need draining.

But I was given more antibiotics and to return to the Doc in another 2 weeks which will be this coming Friday.

Now the abscess is around 1 1/4"-1 1/2" or 3cm-4cm diameter, it was painful the first time I told my Dr about it but now it is very painful.

I can sit in a certain position which it isn't as painful but when I stand up or walk it is very painful. Plus my Crohn's symptoms are getting worse everyday as I am unable to take the medication.

So I am not having a good time. Especially when I have all my Christmas shopping to do. Also when I go back to the Dr on Friday, I have a strong suspicion that he will arrange for an MRI scan first before any surgery so it won't be drained until sometime after Christmas.

As the pain is quite bad, I am having trouble sleeping because of it, due to rolling during sleep ect..

I was thinking about draining it myself. I thought I would take some pain killers, get a sharp knife, sterilize the knife and around the abscess.

Then make a small insertion myself, have a bath, and put a dressing over the wound with some antiseptic cream.

I just wanted any thoughts on doing this.

Thanks,

Cam

 

[lgpcarter]

I wouldn't do it myself. Partly because I can imagine that it would be very painful, but also because I would worry that I would cause additional damage and complications. If you are that desperate, I would do to an urgent care center or ER and get them to do it.

 

[cam129]

Yes I too would imagine it to be very painful, the pain I could deal with though. It is just the constant pain which is just so annoying.

The thing about me is I don't like making any kind of fuss, so that is why I am very hesitant of going to ER, to the extent of I would rather do it myself.

 

[cam129]

I forgot to mention, yes the main thing that worries me about doing it myself is any complications.

Such as infection, although I would sterilise the knife.

 

[lgpcarter]

I think it is tougher to cut through skin than one might imagine and not a simple procedure - especially on your own ass! It will be a worse fuss if you do it and it goes sideways! I don't like the fuss or the ER either, but I really think you should leave the cutting to the professionals!

And you probably should get more antibiotics too!

 

[cam129]

Your right.

It's just the Doc's seemed to have dragged it out, it's like they forget how much pain it causes.

Anyway thanks for replying, and making me come to my senses

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Please don't do that. You risk pain and worse an infection that can be detrimental or life threatening. Please discuss drainage with a colorectal surgeon. If antibiotics are not working, an incision and drainage is a simple and same day operation. Sometimes superficial absecesses can even be taken care of without putting you to sleep.

 

[QPhenic]

Definitely get a doctor to drain , although they sometimes break through the skin themselves ( many sitz baths ). The pain is a killer , mine got so bad I could barely move, let alone stand . Hope you get better , also ointment w/ lidocaine can help some , take care.

 

[QPhenic]

Definitely get a doctor to drain , although they sometimes break through the skin themselves ( many sitz baths ). The pain is a killer , mine got so bad I could barely move .Hope this gets better , also ointment w/ lidocaine can help some , take care.

 

[enumeras]

Hey cam,

I just went through this. Ive had an abscess for a while and tried treating it with antibiotics as they've worked quite well for my abscesses in the past. It ended up not working out the way i planned and decided to go to the ER finally on sunday. The nurse said they would have to do a ct scan. I told them that there was no way i could afford that and they threw me out cryin in pain. I went to another ER later that night where the nurses were more caring. She said she could drain it but with it being so sensitive, the more humane approach would be to go under anesthesia. I went to the colorectal surgeon the next day and he performed it outpatient that night. Go to your surgeon asap. He'll incise it immediately after seeing the pain youre in. Btw, i put off goin to the surgeon in fear that he would also want to do the ct scan. I considered doing it myself since i couldnt take the pain anymore. But every single way i tried to rationalize failed. Good luck.

 

[ronroush7]

I wouldn't do it myself. Partly because I can imagine that it would be very painful, but also because I would worry that I would cause additional damage and complications. If you are that desperate, I would do to an urgent care center or ER and get them to do it.

I agree

2

 

[Rocking on]

Oh god please do to do this yourself. Flagyl helps greatly with mine.

 

[lisamary21966]

I had an abscess a few years back basically in the same location as you do. A fistula to be exact. I would sit in the bathtub with Epson salt. It actually drained itself after several days of multiple Epson salt baths. By the time my appointment with the surgeon came around to have it drained, all he had to do was clean it and put a drain and pack it. Prior to it draining, I was not able to have a bowel movement because of the blockage, and it felt as if someone had rubbed me raw with sandpaper and stuck a golf ball into it afterwards.

 

[enumeras]

ER and urgent care centers will not perform drainage of perianal abscesses for liability issues.

 

[lgpcarter]

That depends where you are, enumeras. I am in Ontario and my GI advised that if mine got unbearable and the antibiotics weren't doing the job to go to the ER and they would get general surgeon on call to drain.

How are you doing Cam?

 

[Sailorluna]

I have gone to er for these before and generally am put in a room for a day or two before a colorectal surgeon can get in and take care of it. i would be very nervous to let a general surgeon in that areal.

As mentioned above heat can draw out the infection but if what you have is a fistula that will never be enough.

 

[cam129]

Hey,

So I had an appointment on Friday with the consultant, he told me to make another appointment to see his again in 2 weeks.

I have been on the two antibiotics for 4 weeks now and they don't seem to have done anything, now they may have prevented the abscess from growing.

They have put me on the list for a MRI scan, I think they want me to have the scan before surgery, but god knows when I will receive an appointment for it. It will most defiantly be after Christmas now though.

It is quite annoying as they don't seem to rush at all. they have done this type of thing on a few occasions, made me wait a long time in pain I mean.

I am in the UK, so I don't have to worry about the cost of any scans or treatment.

Now like I said I don't like making a fuss and I can handle pain to a degree, also I am good at putting on a brave face, I may be in agony but I don't really show it. If I went in to an appointment crying then they would proberbly see to me a lot faster, which I think is wrong they should take in account people like me that don't like making a fuss, that don't show the pain there in.

I do tell them I am in pain but it's like they think, well if your not crying how much pain can you really be in.

to give you an idea I have not cried well, I can't remember the last time I cried, and I have scolded my leg, broke my wrist and broke my collar bone.

They should be able to just base it on symptoms, how painfull it looks rather than basing it on, how much a person cries or how much they complain.

Now I am not knocking anyone who complains or cries not at all, I am knocking the way Dr deal with patients, as I know people respond differently to pain.

Some people cry, some people like me, especially who are quite nervous and introverted people don't like making a fuss at all.

Anyway just wanted to give an update and thank everyone for 1. talking me out of what could have been a very stupid, rash decision and 2. for the support, just to be able to talk about this stuff.

Thanks,

Cam