Forum Discussion
Infected boil after chemo
On Day 13 of cycle 1 of AC/Pax, I developed a huge boil on my outer vulva; it quickly became infected and responded to no topical treatment. Easter weekend. I should have immediately called ambulance, but didn't (my temp didn't hit 38 deg). Silly me. Saw GP on the Tuesday; he put me on antibiotics. It started to respond, but two days later, flared up again. Ambulance to hospital. Emergency dept - blood tests, swabs, IV antibiotics. Neutropenic with white cell count of 0.42 (minimum healthy is 4.0). 16.5 hrs in emergency before being transferred to an oncology ward. Four days in hospital, diarrhoea caused by the IV ABs, and risk that I couldn't have chemo on the Monday. I was so distressed by that. Finally at the last minute the oncologist gave the green light. However, she forgot to prescribe the G-CSF injection, which should have been done because I'd had a neutropenic incident. Fortunately, the superb chemo nurse picked up on that and got it corrected. I've learned a lot through this incident. For one thing, apparently our skin and hair always harbour bacteria which are usually dealt with by our white cells; but because they were so low, thanks to chemo, that didn't happen. It seems this can be quite common.The chemo nurse recommended an additional measure to minimise risk of a similar event, by having a warm saline sitz-bath a couple of times a day (huge new kitty litter tray on upturned milk crate in bathtub, because my dodgy knee prevents me from getting in and out of bath ! hilarious.) Now at Day 10 of cycle 2 and fingers crossed. And I've learned (and been instructed now) to call ambulance at ANY time if I'm concerned that things are not right.
31 Replies
- Hi there @Flaneuse hopefully you are on the mend now. I’ll text you later. And definately look into the chair. As a nurse that’s so unsafe!! Speak with your breast care nurse about the OT referal for it. You can hire them through the many medical equipment hire shops too love they are adjustable in height also which makes them so much safer! I have this image of you now perched over the cst litter tray filling a bag with bird seed!! OMFG!!! Big hug. Margie xx
- @Flaneuse My friend got a giant boil on her vulva as well during chemo. Apparently it's quite common and was my major concern going into chemo.
I'm sorry you had to go thru it too. It's the last thing you want to be dealing with what with mouth ulcers and hair loss and aching fingers and toes. - @Flaneuse poor you! How horrible , at least you can see the funny side of it. Thanks for sharing. It's hard for me to imagine to get such an infection so quickly so it's great you share as it keeps me and others on our toes. I don't want to compromise my chemo either. Take care xxxx
- Ow!!! Big hugs xoxo. I have had Neulasta injections for my 2 chemo doses so far and apart from the bone pain have been ok.
- Wow! That must have been fascinating for them, a real eye opener. Good on her for sharing.
- @kmakm My ex-sister-in-law rang me last week and she's not long home from having a knee replacement. The surgeon arrived with four students, having researched her medical history in the hospital and noting that she had a mastectomy 62 years ago. The students had questions to ask about what it was like back then. No prostheses offered in those days. She told them how she started off with cotton wool, then a bag of birdseed, until she finally found a lingerie shop that did a clumsy sort of prosthetic bra. A slice of history.
- Bit like giving birth in a teaching hospital. Every man and his dog wanders through and cops a gander at your clacker. A veritable passing parade.
- @Riki_BCNA @Zoffiel @kmakm Thank you, ladies, for the thoughts and suggestions. Yes, hiking the nightie - over those four days, eight different gynaes came to look, as well as oncologists, multiple nurses and various interns ! And oooh yes the glamour keeps us going - working the Simone de Beauvoir turbans and the long earrings !
Boils on your bits! No! Typical, that something like this happens not on your thigh or somewhere else moderately accessible without half the planet wanting to hike your nightie up to have a look at it.
It's the glamour of the whole business that keeps us going. Sheesh. Soaking your fanny in a kitty litter tray. A for innovation, A+ for seeing the ridiculous in it. Marg xx
- You poor love! That sounds frightful, and I'm SO glad to hear you're feeling better. Fingers crossed for no repeats. Big hug, K xox
