And today you are in for a real treat folks, the cascading story of my ordeal and the lovely tale of a follicle gone rogue.
I must warn you, if you have a weak stomach or are completely against females revealing personal details, look away!
You should not be here. (Best you go back to that Facebook video displaying the many traits of a rising movie star)
Hmmmm…
I guess you did not pay heed to my warning. Well then, let’s get into it. Shall we?
Once upon a time, a young, beautiful maiden, with raven flocks and dark circles decided to confess her true feelings towards the timeless adornment that is a skinny jeans. She simply could not resist its charm and wished never to part ways. Little did she know, destiny will forever steer them away, and time shall remember this as a tale of horrors and eternal plague.
You obviously have no idea what I am talking about and by now you’re considering closing this tab. Well that is totally your choice but come on; you made the effort to open this link, did you not? Give it some time. A tale of such epic proportions deserves a little patience and precision.
Well, where were we?
Yes, it all started on a humid, Saturday night in August, 2015, when I decided to reach out for my book and get cosy under the blanket. And yes the air conditioning was on but I do not support ACs at all. All of a sudden, a ripple in my tummy and my infancy-years’ potty training made me rush to my washroom (Is it a washroom, a bathroom or a toilet? This question has haunted me for years). I prefer to call it a ladies room but let’s get real, here I am, sitting and talking about excretion, can’t get fancy can I?) So, anyways, 10 minutes down the line, I came out all sweaty and disgusted, I was suffering from extreme diarrhea and not the nice brown one. Take my word for it. I came to the realization that I also had fever. Now, normally, I am a strong, big-girl, but diarrhea is a little scary to me. Owing to the fact that the last time I had diarrhea, my father was in the hospital. (We all have absurd and illogical fears, just admit it).
I approached my Mom, and told her about my condition. She gave me plain biscuits, a glass of juice (I think it was Orange) and a tablet. My fever was not helping either and Mom told me I am not supposed to sleep in my bedroom tonight. I slept with her in her room, she was being you know a typical Mom, so she could check up on me during the night.
In the morning, I felt surprisingly better, my fever had subsided and my diarrhea was much more in control (Get it? In control? Hahaha. Hmmm. I thought it was funny – moving on).
My Sunday passed, relatively normal and I just had to use the facilities a few times. Monday morning dawned and owing to my routine, I dressed up for work. Put on black jeans, apple green top, a messy-bun, minimal jewellery, my signature kohl eyes and my promise-bracele,t and I was off to a day of hard-core athlete and sports management. (Actually that day, I remember only figuring out where my Boss spent the last transaction he made =P).
Around lunchtime when I used the facilities, yet again, I felt a burning sensation around my thigh.
Well, what I found was a small red bump, around my inner, right thigh. It was soar to touch and the bump had a teeny-tiny opening at the center. Thankfully to my 5 years in medicine (And no, I am not a doctor, I am a Biotechnologist by qualification), I at once, recognized, the pain in my ass (pardon my language).
In spite of my most cherished belief, I fired up my laptop, went online and Googled, an ingrown follicle, or commonly known as ‘Munn Turr Baal’ in Urdu. Owing to my symptoms, I confirmed my earlier diagnosis and also learned that diarrhea and fever are its onset indicators. I did not notify my Mom about it, she already has a million things on her plate, and that my friend was my first mistake.
I reached out for my trusty, ‘Hum-Dard Marham’ and applied a generous amount to the bump and its surrounding area. I convinced myself that this will heal itself in a few days and like always my handy-balm will take care of it. Sadly, I was badly mistaken. The next day, I wore another of my skinny pants to work and that was my second mistake.
Over the next 3 days, the bump got redder, bigger and more painful. And my tight fitting clothes were adding to the problem. I finally told my Mom and obviously got a scolding of a lifetime. The bump now was covered with a thin film containing cream-colored pus indicating that I had angered it.
Next came the home-remedies just after I applied for my first ever leave from work in over five and a half years. Imagine explaining your boss that you cannot come to work because you have a skin condition that does not permit appropriate office attire!
My Nani (great-grandmother) made this special covering for me, with basil seeds soaked in water and lined on a thin muslin cloth, cut in a circle with a whole in the middle. It was to soak the bump’s pus and then burst. And for your information that is how an ingrown hair or folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles) heals, it is supposed to burst! Well the basil seeds did not help although it did for a cousin of mine. I also took worthy advice of a doctor-friend of mine and coated the bump with an antibiotic cream, Fucidin of Leo Pharmaceuticals. And it helped with the redness immediately.
Two days later when the pain was unbearable, and even the slightest of touch led me to scream, I finally gave up on my retaliation against seeing a doctor. I went to an ER of a hospital in my vicinity, upon checking the doctor prescribed a dose of the antibiotic – Augmentin (GlaxoSmithKline) which is basically a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium for 5 days and then a small surgery (incision and drainage) to remove the pus and bacteria. I weeped like a baby upon hearing the word ‘operate’.
I spent the next 5 days, lying in bed, murmuring in pain and hoping to Almighty that He forgives me of my sins. I walked around like a Penguin, (a fat-penguin to be exact according to my baby brother) and barely ate. The antibiotics added to my diarrhea problem, coating my mouth with a smelly film that would just not go away! The doctor also asked me to apply Polyfax of GlaxoSmithKline to the infected area. But honestly, it did not good for me, I continued with Fucidin application.
After 5 days, I returned to the hospital and the doctors asked me to come the next day during OPD hours and the operation will take place at 11:00 AM. I couldn’t help but cry right in the middle of the ER. As we all know, mother knows best, my Mom was just not convinced with the verdict and she forced me to another hospital in the city, a rather expensive but known to be trusted widely. There in the ER, a doctor looked at my thigh, slightly pressed it and said this did not need surgery. I smiled like a toothless baby upon seeing its feeding bottle. She was very nice and explained me that it no longer needs any kind of operation but you have been give the wrong medicine and the wrong measures to accelerate the healing.
She prescribed me a week-long of steroids, 4 pills, every 4 hours and periodic cleaning of the area with regular soap and water. No alcohol preps. No fancy, anti-bacterial cleaning agents. My relief knew no bounds. I spent the next week almost, filling my body with steroids and praying against a hormonal-imbalance. It came with extreme diarrhea but with the Grace of Almighty Allah, my bump seemed to agree with the dosage and I noticed betterment in my condition. I tried pressing the bump, as per the doctor’s advice, each time I cleaned it and every time, cream-coloured pus coupled with blood oozed out and left me light-headed. Keeping the infected area open and dry was definitely my true saviour. But sadly, mine never burst but may be that makes me all the more special. 😉 And my trips to the office wearing Hawaiian skirts was definitely an experience to remember.
Today marks one month to my ordeal, the bump has reduced, pus has cleared out but a tiny elevation remains which will probably leave a purple scar for good. I am no longer on antibiotics or steroids however my diarrhea has not ceased to exist. A month-long of Delhi-belly has left me weak and stunned. I am now completing a course of Flagyl (metronidazole) of Sanofi-Aventis Pakistan Limited and hoping for this torment to end already.
You are probably wondering, I wasted the last 15 minutes of your life by posting this mundane encounter online with no religious, social or political significance! The reason, I penned my tale is to a) create awareness against this ingrown hair phenomenon and b) to elucidate the importance of proper diagnosis in any kind of medical situation.
I lost my father to late-diagnosis from a money-making and scheming team of doctors.
I lost one of my brothers to improper diagnosis upon his accident.
So you see how personally, I feel about this issue.
If you see a bump, anywhere on your body; for the Love of God do not ignore it. Tell your parents, spouse or a friend immediately. Go see a doctor. Take a second opinion. And follow it thoroughly. Look what a scanty piece of hair did to me! I am seriously scared of wearing pants now.
If you are reading this then I forward you my gratitude for your valuable time. And I request you to say a prayer for the well-being of every living being on earth!
