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Nobody has been able to help me

Posted , 5 users are following.

emily00666
emily00666

I'm a 23 year old female medical student and my life is slowly being ruined by repeated abscesses. Over the last 12 months I've had almost 20 abscesses in places ranging from my knee, to my jaw, lower abdomen and under arms. It all started when I got back from 5 weeks travelling round south East Asia though doctors have said that is a coincidence. Every time I'm in masses of pain, am unable to attend teaching at university so damaging my education, and complete a course of flucloxacillin, I often Lance them myself with a sterilised needle to relieve the pressure, the doctors refuse to Lance them for me, apart from one I had one surgically lanced and drained under general anaesthetic. Each abscess leaves a scar. All the doctors have done is test me for diabetes which was negative and give me antibiotics nobody is willing to do anything else for me and these things are debilitating and depressing and I'm struggling to cope sad I'm an other wise healthy 23 year old woman, I exercise fairly regularly (unless I have an abscess) I have a healthy bmi of 22 and a varied and healthy diet. I don't smoke I only drink occasionally. I'm doing everything right but these things just keep happening. I don't know how much longer I can cope and I don't know what else to do.

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • gill09
    gill09 emily00666

    Posted

    Poor you that sounds terrible! Are these all pilonoidal sinuses?
  • tulip78
    tulip78 emily00666

    Posted

    That sounds awful! I've had two abcesses.I had surgery for the drainage of an abscess. It was a large abscess which was extremely painful. I was admitted to hospital as an emergency and had surgery to drain the abscess. The wound was left open to heal and I have been attending the hospital on a daily basis to have the wound packed and the dressing changed.

    I have a healthy BMI , don't smoke or drinking and do lots of exercise and like you say , I don't know why they are happening, no explanation from docs either. Just say to me'' could be ingrown hair, hereditary or 'just one of those things'.

  • seth16
    seth16 emily00666

    Posted

    Hi Emily,

    Where you able to find a cure for this as i see u posted on the forum 9 months ago?

    I am so fed up i have my tenth one now, each time the Warrington NHS hospital have only drained it and not offered and investigation to why it is happening!!

    Very frustrating, and strugglign to cope with the horrendous problem

    Thanks

    • tulip78
      tulip78 seth16

      Posted

      i feel for you... i've had two abcesses, think i have a third. Like you am fit, healthy bmi of 20, lots of running and keep fit.. eat healthy don't smoke don't have much alcohol at all.  I want to cry. it's horrible. No advice from NHS or what causes them..

    • gill09
      gill09 tulip78

      Posted

      Are they pilonoidal sinuses that you have had?
    • tulip78
      tulip78 gill09

      Posted

      I had perianal abscesses one that was drained and packed everyday, then I had to have it done again as it healed on the outside before the inside, I had it packed everyday  for almost 6 weeks...
    • gill09
      gill09 tulip78

      Posted

      My son had pilonoidal sinuses with abscesses for 6 years so u have my complete sympathy, not sure if they are the same thing? He had like tunnels inside his body that developed due to infection. Last op just over a year ago, amazing surgeon, it was healed by April, much quicker than first two ops.
  • laura01462
    laura01462 emily00666

    Posted

    Hi Emily that sounds so awful, I've suffered from this problem also and my only tip is that ibuprofen cream helps to alleviate the pain. A doctor recently recommended it to me when I was beginning to get an abcess before a long flight, obviously it won't get rid of it but it helped the pain before the antibiotics kicked in. You can buy it over the counter and I would recommend getting the strongest one. My only other tips are to take baths regularly and put some table salt in (I take one every day). Hope your problem improves I know how awful they are xx

  • laura01462
    laura01462 emily00666

    Posted

    I've also found the best antibiotics to be amoxicillin and metronidazole (take together)

  • gill09
    gill09 emily00666

    Posted

    You poor thing!! How are things now ? Are you still suffering? My son had terrible trouble so we both sympathise
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