possibly tmi: painful ?boil? on inner thigh - update

lstheo

Hello ladies,
Just curious if any of you have ever had a very painful cyst or boil or ingrown hair on the inner part of your thigh? I have had one about the length of an inch and width of half and inch. It's been there the last two days. There was no sign of one forming the day before... Just woke up with a large painful lump on my inner left thigh.
I've tried using hot compresses and I can squeeze and get a tiny bit of puss out but that's about it.
I've also used the search function and have gone back several pages with no luck. I've looked online and can't find any answers that match what I have. If it doesn't go down in size by Tuesday (first day I'm off work) I'll call the doctor. Just wondering if anyone has ever experienced these: also I tend to get ingrown hairs or very small boils on my panty line regularly (once every couple months) that fill with puss, drain, and go away on their own mostly.
This one is very different than ones I've had in the past: larger and on my thigh not panty line. This one hurts when anything rubs against it and when I walk but obviously it's a manageable pain. It's just extremely tender.

Any help is appreciated. Sorry for the tmi...

charissafroese

I've had this same thing many times! Usually it ends up going away on its own if I don't squeeze all the puss out first (I've never been to the doctor for one of these, but I'm sure other people will tell you to let a doctor deal with it instead of squeezing it).
It can be super painful, especially when your pants rub against it.. But mine are usually gone within 2 weeks.

lstheo

Thanks!! I've just never had one on my inner thigh or one so big. Freaked me out a little. And usually I can tell when I'm about to get one. This one appeared over night.

blackw15

As long as the symptoms are localized, I wouldn't be concerned. Continue to apply warm compresses and take Tylenol as needed for pain.
However: if the redness and pain spread outside of that area, and/or if you develop a fever or flu-like symptoms, you really need to be seen immediately. This signifies that the infection has spread, and you don't wanna mess around with that, especially when pregnant.

ash413

If it stay localized to that area not a big deal. If the redness or in duration spreads, or you notice a fever you need to see your doctor.

BostonBaby1

Actually, I'm thinking that it could be something called impetigo. Which is highly contagious virus that is passed through toilet seats. Do you work out of school around children? Do you have children of your own and have you checked their thighs and buttocks? I would definitely go into the doctor for a boil the size of an inch. But that's just me perhaps I'm in alarmist. Hope you feel better!

lstheo

This is my first child and I don't work around children or with a large group of people. But it's good info to know. Thank you!

BostonBaby1

I would Google it anyhow and just see if that's what it is. If it is I'm sure that they have some home remedies that might help alleviate the irritation until you get to see the doctor

ash413

BostonBaby1 said:

Actually, I'm thinking that it could be something called impetigo. Which is highly contagious virus that is passed through toilet seats. Do you work out of school around children? Do you have children of your own and have you checked their thighs and buttocks? I would definitely go into the doctor for a boil the size of an inch. But that's just me perhaps I'm in alarmist. Hope you feel better!

Impetigo is almost exclusivly an issue found in young children, it is not passed through toilet seats. It is also not a virus it is generally caused by staph infection, and does not present as a single boil.

What the op is describing is almost certainly a small abscess Often caused by an ingrown hair. This may also be a staph infection, however, not cause for concern unless the abscess increases insize, increased redness/ induration, or fever.

susiaustin

I've had these for multiple years, epson salt in a warm bath, soak for about 20 minutes, don't go too hot as you shouldn't raise your core temperature.(added benefit helps with sore muscles) Baking soda and water will also help it drain, I've had some surgically removed, and had cultures for them, but those were bigger than this. I've gotten rid of one that was over 2 inches long (it was a line) that I've had drained in the past, pregnancy made the sac fill up again. But the baths will help, mine drained almost immediately after the first one, keep doing 1-2 times a day for a week.

tinydove

I think all the previous posters covered it (just a boil, it's common). I just wanted to say I get them, and something that helps if your clothing keep rubbing it is to throw a bandaid over it. You can take it off at night to air out or whatever, but if you're walking around places or at work that trick helps to keep it from rubbing. They typically don't last more than a few days/about a week, but of course if you're having symptoms and the area feels very hot, seek medical attention.

BrOwNh2211

I get them commonly too warm baths with salt def help and warm compresses every hour or so leave them off for the sAme amount of time. Also make sure u cover it since it is exposed now. Plus the bandaids also help decrease the pain from things rubbing it and the less that it is exposed to the faster it goes away. Hope you feel better!! )

BostonBaby1

ash413 said:

BostonBaby1 said:

Actually, I'm thinking that it could be something called impetigo. Which is highly contagious virus that is passed through toilet seats. Do you work out of school around children? Do you have children of your own and have you checked their thighs and buttocks? I would definitely go into the doctor for a boil the size of an inch. But that's just me perhaps I'm in alarmist. Hope you feel better!

Impetigo is almost exclusivly an issue found in young children, it is not passed through toilet seats. It is also not a virus it is generally caused by staph infection, and does not present as a single boil.

What the op is describing is almost certainly a small abscess Often caused by an ingrown hair. This may also be a staph infection, however, not cause for concern unless the abscess increases insize, increased redness/ induration, or fever.

You're right that impetigo is spread by staph instead of being a virus... I didn't look that up, I just assumed that incorrectly. It is common mostly amongst young children (which is why I asked her if she had close contact with children or is a teacher,) but can also spread by adults that are in close contact with infected children. Most certainly can be spread via a toilet seat. It can be spread not only through toys, but also through other household items such as towels. If it was the beginning of an infection it could certainly present itself as a single boil.

In either case, it's six of one half a dozen of the other. She has a boil and it needs to be treated. A boil that is 1 inch long and 1/2 inch wide should be checked out by a doctor whether or not it is impetigo or related to an ingrown hair. It can cause an infection and that can be harmful to her LO.

You may not agree with me, but that's my two cents.

jrm2149

I have a really gross story that relates so... Right before I found out that I was pregnant, I had an ingrown hair in my armpit (no big deal right?). Within a week it became the size of half a golf ball. Turns out it was a staph infection and (after tests) it turned out to be MRSA. I would totally recommend going to the DR ASAP. It is probably nothing but its better to be safe.

lstheo

You ladies are so awesome! Thanks for all the responses, I will be calling my doctor tomorrow. I'm used to ingrown hairs/bumps along my panty line that have gotten to the size of a dime but they fill, pop and go away. This one just surprised me and it was just much bigger than I'm used to. Thanks again all! I am so glad I'm not he only one that gets these or similar types of these. I've asked my sister and mom and they think I'm weird cause they never get them.

Thanks again so much!!!

Marchmellow2

I get them sometimes too. Google : Hydradenititis Supprativa. Go to walgreens and ask them to help you find drawing salve. It will draw out the puss. And also get boil pain reliever. It's numbing agent. Good luck!!!

lstheo

Update: couldn't get an appointment with my doctor on Tuesday or anytime remotely soon. So I went to ER (navy medical) for a fast track appointment. I had to get the boil lanced and drained. It hurt like a b****. They had to stick a needle in to numb the area and that was the most painful part. Didn't feel the incision or drainage.

Now I have a huge bandage and gauze on top of it. Cleaning it twice a day and redressing it. The wound has been kept open. It still hurts but I am thankfully on the mend

adecembermom2015

OUCH!!!! Sounds awful. Speedy healing to you.

BostonBaby1

Feel better soon!

beccabootiful

Oh my god! Whatever you do, DO NOT do a google image search for Hydradenititis Supprativa!! You may wonder why I would do such a thing...well, I've been known to get these bumps/boils along my panty line in the past, and I was curious if it was what you were talking about. Holy $#!+!!!!! Granted, I think those pictures were EXTREME cases, but my goodness.

Marchmellow2

beccabootiful said:

Oh my god! Whatever you do, DO NOT do a google image search for Hydradenititis Supprativa!! You may wonder why I would do such a thing...well, I've been known to get these bumps/boils along my panty line in the past, and I was curious if it was what you were talking about. Holy $#!+!!!!! Granted, I think those pictures were EXTREME cases, but my goodness.

Those are most def extreme cases!! Sorry I mentioned HS!! I have a mild case of it and it's very sad and debilitating when I have a break out. I have permanent scars in my armpits. (Not like the pics you saw) but the scars suck! I can't wear tank tops because of HS. It's a very debilitating and embarrassing disease.

Heads up though, There might be other HS sufferers on this board and it would probably make them feel way worse about themselves if they heard other people talking about the disease as gross or whatever so let's be careful how we talk on here.

thegingeravenger

I have issues with the lovely little staph infection fairy visiting me from time to time. I just want to recommend iodine for getting them to heal faster. It burns like a mofo, but it definitely reduces my recovery time whenever my body decides to send me something obnoxious like that.

lstheo

I have always had ingrown hairs/small (dime sized) bumps near my bikini line. They went away on their own - popped and drained. But this is slightly below my panty line and more on my inner thigh. It was much bigger and wouldn't pop after lots of warm compresses and baths.
I had my second visit to the dr this morning. The abscess cut looks good and is on the mend. Thankfully and I hope this goes away soon because putting gauze and tape on my thigh is annoying. The tape is making my skin raw.
The dr I saw thinks I do have a chronic condition but I don't remember what it's called. She just recommended coming in after this pregnancy if the bumps I get persist so I can get the correct medication.

BostonBaby1

Marchmellow2 said:

beccabootiful said:

Oh my god! Whatever you do, DO NOT do a google image search for Hydradenititis Supprativa!! You may wonder why I would do such a thing...well, I've been known to get these bumps/boils along my panty line in the past, and I was curious if it was what you were talking about. Holy $#!+!!!!! Granted, I think those pictures were EXTREME cases, but my goodness.

Those are most def extreme cases!! Sorry I mentioned HS!! I have a mild case of it and it's very sad and debilitating when I have a break out. I have permanent scars in my armpits. (Not like the pics you saw) but the scars suck! I can't wear tank tops because of HS. It's a very debilitating and embarrassing disease.

Heads up though, There might be other HS sufferers on this board and it would probably make them feel way worse about themselves if they heard other people talking about the disease as gross or whatever so let's be careful how we talk on here.

Absolutely agree! Let's not put labels

beccabootiful

Sincerely not trying to put labels on anyone or hurt anyone's feelings. If I did I apologize. Truly.