I am a 48 year old, black woman. I’ve been having flare ups since I was 20. I just had one a few weeks ago and it was, as usual, horrid. It finally burst on it’s own although I have also in the past had them lanced.
I know that the smell when they burst or are lanced is awful but to me, that is the most beautiful smell in the world because it means an end to the agony. With this last one, I did go to the doctor but he said he would not lance it until I had antibiotics in my system. So he gave me a prescription and sent me on my way. Not even anything for pain!
I was prepared to go to a different hospital the next day and literally BEG someone to lance it, but it burst on its own. A few weeks later, my daughter developed one! Her first one. She is 17. I took her to the hospital and they did lance hers. I hate this horrid condition. I really hate it. And what really gets me is that: 1) It’s supposed to be most common in young white males. Me = OLD BLACK WOMAN. 2) It’s supposed to kind of “burn out” and stop happening after age 45. It’s supposed to be rare after age 45. Me = ALMOST 50 SO WHAT THE HECK?!
I’m so sad and sorry that now I seem to have passed this nightmare on to my daughter.