It’s a while since I’ve been on here, but I would very much like your help and advice. Since August 2020, I’ve got an abscess on the right side of my abdomen. It’s approximately two inch circle of red , purple inflamed skin, it’s also painful. It’s swollen underneath the skin. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a head. I’m starting my third course of antibiotics. My GP advised if a head forms he’ll send me to hospital to have it drained, but as I’ve mentioned this has not materialized. I’m type 1 diabetic, I’m also a coeliac. Please I would appreciate your views.
-
Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »
Abscess
- Thread starter Violet 3
- Start Date
lucylocket61
Expert
Have you tried compresses with hot water and a little salt dissolved in the water, to try to draw a head? When I had an abscess then they drained it even though it didn't come to a head. I am puzzled as to why your GP wont, or doesnt send you to hospital to have it drained.
JoKalsbeek
Expert
- Messages
- 6,726
- Location
- The Netherlands
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Had a modest golfball sized abcess recently that popped/gushed on its own after a few days of warm compresses, but still had a week of cold fever and 10 days of sickening antibiotics. And I thought that took forever! Can't imagine walking around with it for months!
Ask your gp to refer you to a dermatologist if they won't lance & drain it. They can't expect you to hurt like this without an end in sight. Besides, your blood sugars won't be happy with the status quo either, I'd guess... Get help.
Good luck,
Jo
- Messages
- 14,295
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Violet, thankfully, I haven't had too many of these things, but I did have one at the top of a leg that just felt like a and angry, hot golf ball. What did it for me was taking a warm bath (not too hot for obvious reasons, and after a bit of a soak, just "see how it's doing". After a few it burst and drained itself.
Of course, it wasn't the best to have the puss in the bath water, but I just had a quick shower afterwards to ensure there could be none left on me.
Just be gentle with anything you try though, as you want it to point outwards, not inwardly.
Four months is a very long time to have a brewing infection. Have all your antibiotics been the same or have you have a blast of Metronidazole along the way?
Hello , thankyou for your response. Unfortunately, what you had at the top of your leg doesn’t sound like my problem. I’ve been prescribed Flucloxcacillin each time. Is there any difference between that and Metronidazole ? When this course of antibiotics ends, I’m going back to my GP. I’ve also recently been for my Annual review at Diabetic Centre , a doctor there looked at my abdomen and prescribed another course of Flucloxcacillin, stating that if it doesn’t clear up to see my GP.
Thankyou for your response. I haven’t tried compresses etc as it’s quite a large area, and as I’ve said it’s got no definite head. It now looks like 2 to 3 squashed purple grapes on my abdomen I’m on another course of Flucloxcacillin, when that ends, I’ll be in touch with my GP again.
ert
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,607
- Location
- Oxfordshire
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
- Dislikes
- diabetes
fasting
I had an abscess on my back that had to be drained. I did not respond to antibiotics and I ended up with symptoms of sepsis within seven days of starting the antibiotic course. It enlarged from 2 cm x 2 cm to 10cm x 10 cm before I ended up in A&E at the Plastics clinic. It was slow to heal after the first surgery, even with a drain, and I had to return to the hospital for a second scaping, and twice a week for hospital dressings for 8 weeks.
lucylocket61
Expert
Is it responding to the antibiotics at all, is it still growing? How long have you been talking this course of antibiotics?
It's very important to get in touch with medical advice quickly if it gets worse or doesn't respond quickly. I ended up with blood poisoning and IV antibiotics. Things can change quickly.
Has anyone examined you?
- Messages
- 14,295
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Metronidazole just tends to deal with a different sort of bug to Flucloxacillin.
Quite often Metronidazole is prescribed with another general antibiotic. It isn't a particularly pleasant drug to take, and certainly the person should not drink alcohol whilst taking it.
If there is any seepage from the abscess, a swab could be taken for lab analysis, which could then inform a really targeted treatment.
Edited to clarify; alcohol should not be drunk whilst taking Metronidazole/Flagyl.
Last edited:
lucylocket61
Expert
did you mean to say 'shouldnt' ?
Hello, there is no seepage, it’s dry flaky skin, looks like 3 squashed purple grapes, looks very angry. Have you any idea what causes this ? Unfortunately, I have in the past used the same needle twice, also probably the same injection sight.
Hello, I saw a GP in August, she prescribed an antibiotic cream, which was no help. I went back and saw a different GP who prescribed antibiotic tablets. Since then I’ve had telephone consultations and sent him photos of abdomen, each time Flucloxcacillin was prescribed. I think I’m on my 4th course. It’s purple, flaky skin and lumpy underneath.
lucylocket61
Expert
Is your GP sure its an abscess? I recommend a second opinion from a different GP or nurse. I was on 500mg fluxloxacillin and 500mg broad spectrum antibiotic 4 times a day for 10 days for mine, to clear it and prevent further blood poisoning, then it was lanced and dress daily. It seems strange they are doing nothing actively now the first antibiotics havent worked.
JoKalsbeek
Expert
- Messages
- 6,726
- Location
- The Netherlands
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Photo's might not cut it. Please try to see someone in person, and do let them know you've been re-using needles. That might change their approach to the problem.
- Messages
- 14,295
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Thanks Lucy - You are absolutely right. I have amended my post.
- Messages
- 14,295
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Violet - Nobody here can diagnose anything.
As far as reusing needles is concerned; I am sure you know that isn't advised, however, I'm sure you aren't the only person who has done this for whatever reason.
What I would say is if you have an infection in your body, it probably makes sense to double down on your etiquette. No reusing needles, lancets or anything else, and it would make sense to avoid injecting anywhere close to this probably infected site.
I would think it would be sensible to have a face-to-face appointment with you Doctor. I know they are trying to minimise on the fact to face stuff for the benefit of us all, but after several courses of antibiotics, in your shoes, I would think it time.
If you explained how long you have been dealing with this, and how many courses on antibiotics you have had, that might help.
Good luck with it all.
Thankyou for your help. I’ll try and get to see a doctor before Xmas holidays.
