I'm Freaking Out Here... Please Help!?!
Question: Ok... a few more questions regarding boils. My doc mentioned glands, and cluster when talking. I was so upset I didn't hear it clearly... but I want to know, how can you tell if it's a carbuncle boil? Right now it just looks like a red bump about the size of a quarter. Also, it is really hurting me right now, feels very feverish... and I have a warm wet compress that has epsom salt in it. I don't see a head on it at all and it isn't seeping... so what is going on? Is it going to pop? This is so gross, so painful and sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo stressful. I can't think streight. I have antibiotics but since i have never taken this one before sulfa something.... I don't want to start until tomorrow... when I have a full stomache and can move around rather than lie down for bed. So, how can you tell a cluster vs single boil, and why is it hurting so much right now?
Answers: Ok... a few more questions regarding boils. My doc mentioned glands, and cluster when talking. I was so upset I didn't hear it clearly... but I want to know, how can you tell if it's a carbuncle boil? Right now it just looks like a red bump about the size of a quarter. Also, it is really hurting me right now, feels very feverish... and I have a warm wet compress that has epsom salt in it. I don't see a head on it at all and it isn't seeping... so what is going on? Is it going to pop? This is so gross, so painful and sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo stressful. I can't think streight. I have antibiotics but since i have never taken this one before sulfa something.... I don't want to start until tomorrow... when I have a full stomache and can move around rather than lie down for bed. So, how can you tell a cluster vs single boil, and why is it hurting so much right now?
Instead of freaking out, why not do some research and set your mind at ease? The "gland" you are so upset about, is a sebaceous gland. Your skin is full of them, you call them sweat glands. Every sweat gland has a pore, a little tiny opening in the surface of the skin with a tube that connects the gland to the top. Sometimes, that tube (or pore) will get blocked- dirt, bacteria, makeup, you name it. The sweat gland doesn't know that, and it continues to crank out sweat. In your case, it's evidently gotten infected, staph is the usual culprit in most cases. It's fine on the skin, but in the skin it causes trouble. A carbuncle is just another name for a boil, abcess is another one that can be used. As it gets larger, the body naturally walls it off, and it becomes a little round bubble of gunk under the skin. Sometimes it can break under the skin, and several smaller ones will form. It can also happen if you try to force things and rupture it beneath the skin. Yes, they are painful. They get extremely painful right before they open and drain. You don't need to use epsom salt. Plain old hot water is all you need. It can take a day or so to convince one to form a white head and drain, the more often you put the hot compress on it the sooner that will happen. It won't exactly pop, it will simply start to drain the goo inside. Prepare yourself for a lot of nasty foul smelling, thick white goop to come out when it does. It hurts because you have a big lump of something in a spot it doesn't belong in and there is no room for it. Your body currently has it under attack, so it will feel hot and tender. It will drain when it is ready, and not before. If you mess with it, I promise it can get worse. Your skin and immune system know what to do and how to do it best, and you just have to trust that it does. Your part is just to keep applying heat to the surface. The antibiotic will help you fight off anything else hanging around waiting to move in, and will let your body do what it needs to do. It really doesn't matter if it's one or two or more at the moment, they will all drain as soon as they are ready. I imagine what you have is one gigantic one. They are nasty, painful things. When you notice it has formed a head, and looks like the worst zit you ever laid eyes on, it will be close to ready to drain. As soon as you see it start, press downward on the sides and it should give up the ghost. It will hurt incredibly bad at that point, but as soon as it drains the pressure will be released and you will have a lot of relief- I promise. Keep it covered with a bandage unless you have a compress on it. Once it starts draining, keep it covered all the time. Change the bandage when it needs it, at least once or twice a day, do it with fresh washed hands. After changing the bandage, wash your hands again. Don't touch other skin after messing with the boil, you can spread the infection to other skin. Don't poke, prod or squeeze it. Just keep applying heat- hot as you can stand, often as you can stand it. That is really all you can or need to do. Hang in there. It can take a day or two for this to happen, but it will happen.
Keep with the warm compresses, and for the love......take the antibiotics! Don't wait until tomorrow- the sooner you take it, the quicker it can heal. It hurts because it is a bunch of bacteria and puss sitting in your tissue, and it is inflamed. Try laying on your side, and maybe take some ibuprophen, and don't wait on the antibiotics.