Just checking in -- how are you? Did you get in or still waiting for Tuesday? I've had several infections over my journey through ileostomy, from bags to j pouch and now k pouch. I would most definitely say these are major signs of infection... also of one that seams to have spread and could be serious. I too have drained and "hot-compressed" what I figured was an infected stitch or simple one site problem without issue. But this kind of thing should probably be medically treated sooner rather than later. I've had multiple experiences of nurses telling me I couldn't have an infection because I wasn't running a fever -- only to complain of major pain and complications to the doctor, who then poked around and found a serious infection. Take care!