Gross ***** boil

[judir6]

I hope that got your attention. I am new here - my friend Jeni said to come and read some of the stories on boils/saddle sores, and honestly, I can't find all that much.

My boil is 3 months old. It sit on my bikini line. It has gotten bigger and bigger since training for a 12 hour road race this spring/last winter.

I blogged about it here:
http://milesandmadness.blogspot.com/2010/06/sam.html

I am not happy with my DR's at this point. Any advice you can give me would be great.

Judi

[indysteel]

Yikes; I've never had a saddle sore for that long. I've had good luck treating the ones I have had with benzoyl peroxide, otherwise known as zit cream. Just be careful about what you wear against your skin when you're using it. It will bleach fabric.

Out of curiosity, what has your doctor done in terms of treatment?

[kermit]

I had a few of those like little blood blisters until I got my fit right. It helped me to get into a hot bath and pop it. There is blood that you need to get out and then follow up with a good 10% acne cream to dry it out. Hope that helps.

[Crankin]

Look for a thread by Emily in NC; she had a similar issue, which turned out to be something that needed to be surgically removed... she went to a couple of different doctors before she found the right one.

[tulip]

Since you are training for a 12-hour race, I assume you know this already, but there might be people reading this who do not. Do not wear underwear under bike shorts! Bike shorts are meant to be worn commando.

Have you considered your saddle, bike fit, and construction of your shorts? All can lead to nasties.

I hope you get relief soon. Your doctor must not be a cyclist. Perhaps you can find a cycling doctor who can help you out.

[Biciclista]

my husband has something like this. I've known about it ever since we got married. It's on his waistline right near his spine. It flairs up and goes away. drs give him ointment for it but it always comes back. oh, we've been married for 32 years...

[Kiwi Stoker]

I have discovered 3M Nexcare Acne Patches.
They are basically like those water based plastic plasters you use for blisters that absorb fluid.

Gosh they can suck! It pulls fluid (pus etc) out throught the skin into the plaster. I have used it successfully on DH saddle sores- less invasive than pricking or popping them.

Just for everyone's FYI.

[kermit]

That's good info. I am currently saddle sore free but they do pop up quick!

[Chicken Little]

To cut is to heal.
But I'm a surgical nurse. 6 weeks off for a permanent solution is time well spent. You're looking for trouble with repeated rounds of ABX.

[Zen]

To cut is to heal.

Only a surgeon or a hair stylist would say that ;)

[Jolt]

To cut is to heal.
But I'm a surgical nurse. 6 weeks off for a permanent solution is time well spent. You're looking for trouble with repeated rounds of ABX.

Usually I am one to try the least invasive method of treatment first (in other words, "To cut is to heal" is NOT my motto). However, in this case I agree with the above. Things like this just need to be drained. If there's a collection of pus, the antibiotics often don't penetrate enough to kill all the bacteria. Besides, repeated rounds of abx aren't the best thing as Chicken Little said--can create resistance and will throw off your body's natural balance of bacteria (potentially leading to such fun things as diarrhea and yeast infections).

[judir6]

thanks all. you are DEF right about the antibx. I hate taking them. Plus they are so hard on my gut. I'm off the bike for 7 days right now. I want this thing for for CX season! I am also taking tumeric and found this site http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/boils.html#%231%20REMEDY:%20TURMERIC which has some natural remedies. thanks again all of you!

[Bike Chick]

Good luck with that. What a miserable ailment. I've had a couple saddle sores but nothing to that extent. It hurts me to think of it.

[alimey]

Had to find a doctor who was a triathlete before they would do anything. It wasn't very big - but it kept going up & down. He numbed the area & drained it. Unfortunately I didn't have a mirror as I really would have like to see it. I sort of thought I might have stitches & the whole thing. But just a plaster & was back on the bike in about 4 days (gently though). It's never come back & try as I might I can't even see a scar there. I agree - cut, cut cut!! Next time we might try it at home . . .

[judir6]

alimey-

wow. i wonder how i can find a triathlete DR. ive been doing the tumeric 3xs a day and a new antibiotics 3xs a day. i see an improvement, but it still is a lump. more like scar tissue.

[malkin]

Only a surgeon or a hair stylist would say that ;)

Or maybe a mohel.