Stomach issues after eating... it's hitting me hard.

Probably what everyone was venting about tonight:

The ER was a total mess. Someone messed up, and there wasn't even a doctor in the exam room to check you out. Some woman at the front desk thought it was ridiculous to make people wait hours just because someone had a splinter. She told her to just come back later. Then, when she actually shows up the second time, they suddenly realize you need a referral.
They much prefer it when you have a referral.

I completely blanked on asking this, but I’m assuming it’s probably smarter to go in while the power is off? Or is it actually the exact opposite... 🤷

Angela Kelly11 said:I totally forgot to ask—is it better to go when the flare-up isn't active? Or is it actually better to go while it's flaring? 🤷

The doctors told me to show up during the first or second day of the flare. I mean, if nothing is flared up, there’s basically nothing for them to even look at. But then again, it really depends on how bad the flare is. For me, they checked my groin area first to see if my lymph nodes were swollen, and once they saw everything looked normal there, they gave me the green light to go ahead with the surgery.

Sarah Edwards38 said:They told me they’d wait until the first or second day of the flare-up. I mean, if there isn't any active inflammation, there isn't much for them to actually work with... though I suppose it really just depends on how bad the flare is. They started by checking my groin area to see if my lymph nodes were swollen, and once they confirmed everything looked normal there, they gave me the green light to go ahead with the incision.

Alright, thanks

I see everyone’s getting all worked up over this whole referral thing... honestly, when you walk into an ER in a place like Chicago, if the lady at the intake desk asks for a referral, she’s usually talking about that initial triage note from the urgent care clinic—you know, the one where they decide where you actually need to go—rather than the red slip your primary doctor writes out. Maybe that’s just what your receptionist was looking for.🤷

gentlesailor13 said:It seems everyone is getting worked up over this whole referral issue... when you walk into an ER in a major US city like Chicago, if the clerk at the desk asks for a referral, they aren't talking about some red slip from your family doctor; they mean that internal triage paperwork that determines where you actually need to go after first aid assessment. Maybe that’s just what your local clinic worker was looking for.🤷

I honestly have no clue, and frankly, I don't care to find out what she was actually thinking anymore. At this point, I'm just going to try and track it down because... whether it was actually necessary or not...

Angela Kelly11 said:I totally blanked on asking this, but I'm guessing it’s probably better to go when things aren't flared up? Or maybe it's actually the opposite? 🤷

One more thing from my side... if there's an actual inflammatory process going on, you don't really want to be doing anything aggressive; you just need antibiotics. So, I guess the first step is just seeing a primary care doctor—just show them what's happening so they can see it clearly. Best, 🙂

I’ve been dealing with what people call cysts—basically just those annoying little bumps under the skin—since I was twenty years old. Now I’m thirty-six. The weird thing is, they never all show up at once; it’s rarely just one, usually it’s two or three popping up at a time. I have spent an absolute fortune seeing every top-tier dermatologist out there because, obviously, this is their specialty, but honestly? It felt like throwing money down the drain. I did a three-month stint on penicillin, had my blood drawn for every test imaginable, and after all that drama, the doctor basically looked me in the eye and said, "I honestly have no clue." At least the dermatologist was upfront about being stumped. One thing I have noticed is that they tend to flare up more during the fall and autumn months. Honestly, the best way to handle them is to just squeeze them when they’re ripe, preferably while you’re still in the shower because the warm water really helps everything along. Don't stress too much, it isn't the end of the world. 🙂

It is the fundamental responsibility of a primary care physician to conduct an examination, establish a diagnosis, and provide initial treatment. Only when they reach the limits of their expertise should a referral to a specialist be made. These family doctors hold advanced certifications for a reason, even if they act as though they are the sole authority in their practice. Consider the alternative: if you lived in a rural area, would you expect a surgeon to perform basic procedures for pennies? In this instance, the surgeon simply did what was necessary; if the CDC guidelines cannot address a specific issue, a referral is required. How else could they justify the procedure from a billing standpoint? Treating a groin abscess isn't within a gynecologist's scope, much like you wouldn't visit a dentist for an issue on your forehead. It seems these practitioners have lost sight of their primary roles, leaving surgeons to deal with minor issues that don't belong in their OR. Furthermore, there is the matter of the nurse; her training is quite extensive and costly, and she should have been able to assess and explain the situation. That falls squarely within her job description, regardless of whether her training is associate's or bachelor's level. If she lacks the composure to explain things without shouting for someone to get out, then it's clear which medical board she should report to.
You have options: switch doctors, file a formal complaint with the medical board, or remain silent.

I just realized I haven't actually updated anyone on whether I ever sorted this mess out... 😲 Well, here's the deal... I finally booked an appointment to get some professional answers, but then my doctor had to head out on a last-minute business trip, so that plan went straight down the drain. In a moment of pure desperation, I just grabbed a needle, grit my teeth, and did it myself. A little bit of pus, a tiny bit of blood, and that was the end of it. That was about a month or so ago, and honestly, everything has been perfectly fine since—knock on wood... If it ever decides to show up again, though, I am definitely going to the doctor properly...

shadowtinker21 said:😕
so, about two weeks ago, I developed this bump right on my mons pubis—specifically right where my bra strap sits—and it’s driving me crazy. I’ve been using a bandage because walking normally is basically impossible right now. Now, as it seems to be clearing up, it starts oozing stuff—probably pus, or maybe blood—then nothing happens, and then it just swells right back up again. It feels really hard and painful. What could this be? More importantly, how do I make it go away?! It’s seriously starting to ruin my life. My gynecologist can't even see me until April 25th. Could it just be an ingrown hair or something...? 🤷 oh man...

Hmm, when that happened to me—twice in my life—it didn't really ooze since it was probably too deep under the skin, and it just cleared up on its own within a month or two. In my opinion, the best thing is to leave it alone, especially don't try to squeeze it, otherwise it just swells up more, hurts worse, and you end up making a total mess.

shadowtinker21 said:😕
So, about two weeks ago, this bump showed up right on my pelvic line—exactly where my underwear edge sits—and it just won't go away. I've been wearing a bandage over it because walking is becoming a total nightmare. Now that it’s starting to clear, it keeps leaking fluid... probably pus, or maybe blood, then nothing, then it just swells right back up again. It feels incredibly hard and painful. What could this be? More importantly, how do I make it stop?! It's seriously starting to ruin my life. My gynecologist can't even see me until April 25th. Could it just be an ingrown hair or... hm...🤷 Oh boy...

One of three glands that can show up in the groin, under the armpits, or behind the ear...
Signs of inflammation. Weak immune system...
One must refrain from touching the piglets...
In most cases, it's harmless... but you should definitely see a doctor anyway...

It’s most likely just an ingrown hair...

And honestly, once you manage to get that little thing pulled out, the pimple shouldn't keep flaring back up on you.

Just don't be shocked when you see it; sometimes those things can be surprisingly long.

shadowtinker21 said:I just realized I never actually updated everyone on whether I fixed this thing or not... 😲 so, here’s the deal... I made an appointment to ask my doctor, but he had to go on a business trip at the last minute, so that was a bust. Then, I just grabbed a needle, grit my teeth, and popped it myself. A little pus, a tiny bit of blood—and that was it. That was about a month or a month and a half ago, and everything is totally fine now—knock on wood! But if it ever comes back, I am definitely going to the doctor next time...

Girl, don't listen to them—or rather, don't even read those comments. Honestly, it's probably just an ingrown hair.
But what you're describing could also be Hidradenitis Suppurativa—it's a rare, poorly understood, and incredibly uncomfortable chronic condition. http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic892.htm
Take a look at that link and see if you fall into the high-risk groups or if your symptoms match up...
In the US, most doctors won't even recognize it. They usually just brush it off as boils or ingrown hairs at first. It's only when the old ones keep coming back and new ones start popping up that things get serious.

How old are you?

A Bartolin cyst????
Maybe it's just inflamed 🤷

A few months back, I popped this weird lump right on the outer edge of my bottom lip... showed up literally a day after I'd waxed the area. It started hurting like crazy, and when I felt it, it was this huge, hard knot. Honestly? I panicked. I usually follow this unwritten rule: give it three days, and if there’s no improvement, call a doctor. Well, Friday passed, Saturday came, then Sunday, and nothing changed. By Monday, I finally decided I had to do something or call someone. But then, weirdly enough, once I really looked into it, the pain just... vanished. The lump was still there, just painless. So I played it cool for another two days, dabbing on some Nivea and aloe vera, keeping a gauze pad over it so nothing would irritate it. Fast forward to day seven—the swelling went down, the pain was gone, and eventually, it just disappeared. Total stroke of luck. I’d already been mentally bracing myself for the nightmare of seeing a specialist and whatever procedures they might throw at me.
I once dealt with an ingrown hair in my groin area that lingered forever because I just ignored it. Eventually, I told my mom and sister, and they gave me some little cream to rub on the spot. Within a couple of days, it was gone.

Honestly, the best way to deal with those bumps is to slather on some Black Mast (that 10% ammonium sulfogirodalate stuff)... it really helps draw all that pus to the surface so you can squeeze it out much easier. Just do that maybe two or three times and you're pretty much good to go...
As for me, I actually had to get my underarm lump surgically removed... ended up at the ER at Mayo Clinic with a referral 🙂

Rebecca Palmer60 said:you should just slather that black salve (that 10% ammonium sulfogirodalate stuff) on the sores. It pulls the pus right to the surface so you can squeeze it out easier... do it two or three times and you're done...
but yeah, I actually had to get my ugly pit lesion surgically removed... at an ER, in a busy city hospital... with a formal referral 🙂

exactly.. I used that stuff too.. but I didn't even have to squeeze anything.. it just flattened out and went away.. and the best part? the hair just popped right out! 🙂 since then, I haven't had any inflammation in that spot. honestly, none in my groin area either.. pure luck!!!!!🙏

I went through something pretty similar... I ended up with a scar that lingered for a few months. And now, out of nowhere, a new one has popped up in a completely different spot. I honestly have no clue what I'm dealing with here. For the first two weeks, the pain is just absolutely maddening, and even after things start to settle down, the slightest touch or any kind of pressure sends me right back into a world of hurt.

You guys really ought to try some genuine, homemade St. John’s Wort oil—you know, the old-fashioned kind. I dealt with a painful boil right in that most inconvenient spot imaginable, and nothing seemed to work; it was hard as a little marble, and I was fairly certain there were one or more ingrown hairs deep in there. Since I couldn't make it out to grab some Black Salve at the pharmacy, I just used some homemade St. John’s Wort oil my grandmother had made (which is also great for drawing out boils). And honestly? It pulled everything right out. A few years back, I had this massive boil on the outside of my lower lip, and—in a moment of pure stupidity—I decided to mess with it. It became absolutely horrific; the inflammation was intense, and it turned every shade of the rainbow. It grew to nearly the size of a walnut. I won't even begin to describe the chaos it caused down there. I couldn't sit comfortably, period. Even walking was painful—I actually had to switch to loose skirts and cotton underwear without any elastic just to cope. It was a total nightmare. At one point, I seriously considered having it surgically drained, but I decided to try something else instead: I soaked some sterile gauze thoroughly in the St. John’s Wort oil, placed it against the area, and kept it there for a few hours. I was changing the dressing about 3 or 4 times a day. Every single time I went to swap the gauze and reapply the oil, the area would be a complete mess—it was constantly pulling the pus out. After doing that for a few days (maybe 4 or 5), the whole thing just drained away. There wasn't even a scar or lingering inflammation afterward, let alone any complications. Everything cleared up perfectly, and it hasn't come back since. 😁