POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: Biggums on September 04, 2006, 12:26:38 am
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I need y'all's help.
This evening my honey was in allot of pain when he walked and I asked him what was wrong. About two inches below and to the left of his tailbone there is a large quarter sized lump which is quite red. There is no head on it and it does not appear to be filled with any kind of fluid or puss. It is hard and has just kinda popped up fast over the past two days.
I am worried this may be some kind of staph infection. Has anyone had anything similar happen to them? The Dr. will not be in til Tuesday because of the holiday. Should I take him to the Emergency room?
Please let me know what you think.
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Yeah, i'd say go to the ER.
I had this happen to me last year and it kept me out of work for nearly 3 months. Better to be safe than sorry.
Take care,
John
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Thanks John, was your diagnosis staph? I am calling the hospital here soon. He's in alot of pain.
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If it's staph, it's not something you want to wait on. Could also be a boil, or a cyst. Either are pretty painful, and still, not something you want to wait on.
I'm hoping it turns out good for you guys, and hope you don't spend 6 hours in the waiting room :( I hate the ER for that.
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I had a place pop up on my leg like that, subsequent to a bout of shingles. Very hard and red and quite painful. Mine became ulcerated and had pus in it. I thought it was just a a big shingles spot. Went to the doc and got it cultured - it was growing ORSA, Oxacillin Resistant Staph Aureus - not uncommon for shingles to get infected like that though. Two weeks of Bactrim and it's much better now, though still not completely healed.
Hurt like hell for two weeks.
Best to get it checked out and cultured, though I don't know that I'd put myself through going to the emergency room for it. Maybe wait and go to the doctor's office tomorrow. They can't really know what it is until they can get somthing out of it to culture.
In the meantime, keep it covered with a gauze bandage since if it is staph it is VERY contagious. And wash all clothing/towels/sheets in hot water and dry in a hot dryer.
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Better to play it safe and go to the ER. I hope it's nothing too serious. take care and keep us posted!
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Yes, mine was MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staph aureus. I pissed around for too long before going to the doctor and I ended up needing surgery. Now I have a not-very-pretty 6-inch scar on my thigh from the experience.
I had to pack the wound twice a day for weeks (it went all the way down to the muscle, and it gave me the willies to see my thigh muscle moving around--nasty!).
Hope he is okay!
John
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Thanks for the input folks. They got him on antibodies and tramadol til he can get into the doc tomorrow. I appreiate all the positive thoughts for us. Love ya.