"Moderate Amount of Strep" am I on the right track or second opinion?

**Sadaco** · 03-07-2011 01:47 PM

You know, when I was growing up, my grandma always said - if you ask if you need a second opinion the answer is that you probably do.

But, I am going to ask anyway. I have a "leison on my vulva". It is a raised lump that is purple in appearance and looks like it has a cut on it. I alternate between getting pus from it and getting blood from it. Doctor has put me on Cephalex (?) antibiotic for a week. Didn't clear up. Today she finally called me and told me that the culture came back with a "Moderate amount of strep.... (I can't spell)" and prescribed me a ten day course of Augmentin. It started bleeding again this morning.

Should I take the ten day course and see how it goes or is it time to get a second opinion. I started with the doctor for this the first week in January. This is truly bothering me and I want to know if I am on the right path?

**Seeker_Advice** · 03-07-2011 03:19 PM

Strep is generally treated with an antibiotic. Regardless of the physician, there is a pretty good chance that you will be prescribed an antibiotic.

I'd say, stay the course and take ALL of the medication exactly as prescribed.

**Sadaco** · 03-16-2011 07:02 AM

Ok, so, the ten day course of augmentin is almost over (last dose tonight). I have an appointment to see the OBGYN tomorrow at 3:15 PM. The sore is still there - it is still open. It is still sore. On a side note, I went to the doctor yesterday, apparently, I now have strep throat.

Any advice before I go back to the doctor? Specific things that I should ask about?

**Sadaco** · 03-17-2011 03:09 PM

I go to the doctor today - she says "well, the sore is still open and I can still see feel the lump underneath but it looks to be healing and there is nothing more we can really do because the cultures are back negative (other than the original strep)." I said there has to be a reason that it is causing pain - that I can feel it everytime I go to the bathroom or even cross my legs. She says that if I am having those feelings it is probably something else. She told me to give it time and see what it does and call her if it starts to bleed - it bled yesterday! I feel like total . I have an upper respiratory illness (other doc didn't test for anything because it has to be viral because otherwise augmentin would have cured it - and everything from my knees up hurts. Going to the bathroom makes me want to cry. I tell this to the OBGYN - she pats me on the back and tells me that I've had a hard few months and to have patience. I must have given her a look because she then told me to use Eucalyptis oil (?) and it should help...

**ItsASecret** · 03-17-2011 04:17 PM

Do what she says. The lesion is likely something else if it is causing that much pain but really without a confirmed infection diagnosis the doctor really cannot do anything. That pain is likely coming from inflammation (inflammation does not need to be visible) and the cause could be the start of another infection but again without confirmation in the lab the doctor cannot do anything because prescribing the wrong antibiotic will not help you. The oil is recommended because other people who have had sores or general aches have used it, it is not a guarantee that it will help you out but it could.

**Sadaco** · 08-02-2011 06:52 AM

FYI - If anyone is out there searching - this is what the doctor finally came up with

hidradenitis suppurativa

**Beautiful Disaster** · 08-02-2011 08:06 AM

What exactly is that Sadaco? Thanks for reporting back. Are you feeling any better?

**ItsASecret** · 08-02-2011 08:45 PM

What exactly is that Sadaco?

It is a disease of the sweat glands, from all over the body or only in certain areas like the arm pits. They become irritated and inflamed, cause lesions and welts, infections, and extreme pain when the bumps are in the flare up stages. Doctors often need to drain the nodules that form because the pressure from the spots can be so painful that some patients faint. Not all have the condition really bad though, some just get some rash-like inflammation and do fine without seeing a doctor for treatment.