Thanks for your input... I appreciate it. I believe I am going to have the carbuncle lanced. A small "bump" has been in that location on my back for a few years, occasionally getting a head which my wife would then coax quite a bit of pus out of, usually producing some blood along with it.
I cannot convince her, or anyone else in the family (even an RN) to lance it for me AND I have been unsuccessful in trying to have it produce a head even with the soaks. I think I will try the clay poultice as a last ditch effort to bring it to a head when I get home from work. If that does not work, off to the doctor I go tomorrow for a lancing... I have had a few nights of rough sleep; it wakes me up when I am on my back due to the pain.