I have been sick lately, and wanted to document my progress while the pain medications are working in case I forget to tell the doctors something…

All images are thumbnails, larger images will open when clicked…

Day 1 - Tuesday September 12th AM - went to Gynae Appointment - gave me a dirty blanket to wrap myself in.

Day 1 - Wednesday September 13th PM - try to make docs appointment, no one available. Get home and notice area of redness has grown to approximatly 18 cm wide and still burns of fire. Call emergency doctor. He rings me back and tells me its just a rash, go to chemist. I was interupting his tea apparently, as I could hear him eating as he mustered out the directions and argued with me. How in the hell can someone diagnose over the phone? And a chemist can do NOTHING for an infection without a prescription.

I get infuriated, so turn up at out of hours minor emergency hospital, and hoping I get the same doctor that rang me.

Fortunatly for him, I get a lovely ginger haired soft-spoken gentleman, who first suspects shingles, but after a thourough inspection, we both agree its a carbuncle infested with a Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which is very very serious. He gives me very strong antibiotics, twice the normal dosage, and tells me to continue with the Paracetemol and Ibuprohpen. I go home and get some rest, letting my coworkers know that I wont be in on Thursday, but hopefully by Friday will be feeling better. Dizzy spells and weakness follow.

Day 1 - Thursday September 14th - stay in bed all day, pain is starting to worsen. Become slightly delirious with pain and fever, and sweating profusely. Dizzy spells and weakness continue. Starting to hypervetilate often, and slight hallucinations. Very paranoid about the whole ordeal. The head is forming with a dark black plaque centre and small white pustules all around it.

Day 4 - Friday September 15th - no sleep night before, the pain is too much. I am crying incontrollably - codiene, diazepam, nothing works. Bouts of hyperventilation and hallucinations continue. Make an appointment to see locum GP.

Get to GPs office, and BEG him to cut out the infection. He won’t cut out infection, but gives me stronger NSAID’s - dicloflex. He is very understanding and consoles me and lets me know that the crying and hallucinations are because of the pain and will stop when the pain is controlled.

Wound is starting to ooze a bit.

Day 5 - Saturday September 16th - Painkillers and antibiotics seem to be taking effect. As you can see from the photos, all of the infection seems to have one massive head on it now, which is constantly weeping. I change my dressings every couple of hours and give it a clean with some antibacterial soaps.