hossylass
|
|
Score:1400
Posts:718
|
Re:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:20/07/2011 5:17 PM)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidradenitis_suppurativarecomends not just taking it, but also applying it topically. You could try putting honey on it, and a light dressing, as honey has anti-biotic/anti-bacterial properties. It may just penetrate the surface and help the anti-biotics do their job.
usertype:6 tt= 0
|
SunshineMeadows 
|
|
Score:3197
Posts:1647
|
Re:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:21/07/2011 4:03 AM)
The Wiki link Hossy gave mentions icing the affected area, so maybe a bag of frozen peas would help, but be careful of freezer burn. Sorry that you are in pain and uncomfortable hopefully seeing the Doc tomorrow will bring some relief.
~hugs~
usertype:1 tt= 0
|
Ditchdwellers
|
|
Score:963
Posts:496
|
RE:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:21/07/2011 3:46 PM)
Thanks for the tips and the link. The abscess has started to ooze a bit today, and I'm hoping the doc will drain it tomorrow. I'll try the ice pack, and give the turmeric a whirl. I've had an indian takeaway tonight - do you think that counts?  Rachel
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
Hurtyback
|
|
Score:1749
Posts:879
|
Re:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:22/07/2011 1:13 AM)
Good luck at the doc's today!
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
hossylass
|
|
Score:1400
Posts:718
|
Re:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:22/07/2011 3:07 AM)
If its oozing you could try a poultice - I didn't mention it before as I didn't know if it was a surgery job or not.
If you go to a pet shop, or preferably a country store, or horse outlet, then you can buy Animalintex (which you probably know about already) and use that to draw and drain and absorb an abcess.
Costs about £5-£7 but for human use will last for ages.
Good on bruises too!
Contains epsom salts and borax (so you can make your own), and also contains the same absorber as personal wear pads.
It is made to the same standards as human stuff, but this advice is no replacement for professional opinion, though it may help if you cant get to the GP for a few days.
usertype:6 tt= 0
|
fairysparkle
|
|
Score:268
Posts:138
|
Re:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:22/07/2011 3:21 AM)
The honey to look out for is Mannuka honey as it has the antibacterial properties; look around for a cream that has it, which can vary in the amount of active ingredient. Try Holland and Barret for example. Again, if you are taking honey orally, then the Manuka is the one to aim for. It is pricey, but the research is pretty strong behind it's use.
A good zinc supplement might help boost healing, and you could consider colloidal silver in a spray, so you can spray the area.
Turmeric can be taken in capsules - it has anti-inflammatroy properties. A friend taught me how to make turmeric milk. Take about 1/2 a teaspoon of loose turmeric and mix it with a cup of milk and a spoon of honey, and heat in microwave. She swears by it for sore throats. Suspect its a love/hate one regarding taste!
I hadn't heard of this condition, but had a quick read and my Mum had this terribly for years. They think she had a pocket of infection in her teeth for years that was never properly treated and this led to chronic infections. She used to buy magnesium sulphate paste from Boots to act as a poultice. The epsom ones sound great.
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
danslatete
|
|
Score:236
Posts:121
|
RE:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:22/07/2011 4:05 AM)
My mum just had manuka for a wound on her leg that was deep and she has poor circluation. The doctors surgery were trialing it.
It has still taken 4 months to heal but it is very clean and need next to no debriding which is rare for her.
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
Darrowsgirl
|
|
Score:640
Posts:324
|
Re:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:22/07/2011 4:15 AM)
The Greeks and Romans used to use honey for the same thing. It worked for them.
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
Ditchdwellers
|
|
Score:963
Posts:496
|
RE:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:22/07/2011 5:42 AM)
Well, I've just got back from the doctors and what a visit that was. I couldn't see my usual lovely GP and ended up with the doctor from hell. It finished with me in floods of tears, feeling that it's all my fault. I haven't had this sort of response from a doctor for quite a few years, and I had forgotten how awful it is. Basically she told me if I lost weight and exercised more then all my problems would be solved. Comments like 'what's stopping you from walking?', 'you can't just sit around all day', and 'I can't help you if you don't help yourself' really upset me. I felt really defensive, particularly as my lovely GP is trying to help me with my weight, and understands the impact of my conditions on my life. He also knows I certainly don't sit around all day, and I don't go to see him unless I really need to. He never makes me feel as if I'm wasting his time, unlike the nasty woman I saw today who obviously saw me just as an overweight person. I know I need to lose weight, and I know that it would be easier on my joints and ease the pressure on the abscesses. If only it were that simple. I've tried every diet going, and can only lose weight if I restrict myself to 800 calories a day. I feel quite ill on that amount of food a day (and hungry!). Oh for the days when I weighed 9 stone and cycled 15 miles a day to and from work! I felt as if this doctor today thought I wanted and enjoyed being overweight, unable to walk any distance and in constant pain. Well I don't. I hate it. Sorry for the moan folks. At least I got some antibiotics, so hopefully the abscess will start to get better soon. I'll try the turmeric and honey remedies too. Thanks to everyone for your support. Rachel
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
Mabelcat
|
|
Score:340
Posts:176
|
Re:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:22/07/2011 8:16 AM)
Sorry to hear you had such a horrible visit - at least you got the antibiotics.
Some people are so insensitive about weight problems. Sure the science is straightforward, eat less and move more, but in practice it's never that simple especially if you are disabled as well.
All I can offer are some gentle hugs.
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
AndMac
|
|
Score:397
Posts:200
|
Re:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:23/07/2011 1:20 AM)
What a horrible experience Rachel. I'm so sorry. I'm glad you got the antibiotics but you didn't need that carp. Gentle hugs.
I only lose weight if I restrict my intake to around 600 -800 cals a day, which is a real pain. All my family are the same, we all gain weight unless we are tremendously active physically. I'm descended from Eastern European farming families on both sides so I think I'm genetically predisposed to be able to cope with a lot of hard physical work and the body is at a bit of a loss without it.
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
Ditchdwellers
|
|
Score:963
Posts:496
|
RE:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:23/07/2011 1:55 AM)
Thanks for the hugs Andmac & Kate. I'm feeling a bit better this morning and now feel angry rather than upset! Andmac, I'm really interested to hear that you can't lose weight either, unless you are on a very restricted diet. When I tell doctors this, they don't believe me. They seem to think that I am not being honest about the amount I eat. Can I ask how you cope with the hunger? I find it sooo difficult to manage on so few calories  Thanks, Rachel
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
Peter_aka_Sociable
|
|
Score:62
Posts:31
|
Re:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:23/07/2011 4:49 AM)
Just in case they haven't already tried this DW this is the combo that keeps my HS under control most of the time now.
Oilatum bath-oil or shower gel (only recently using the gel since moving and having wet room) then applying Zeazorb anti bacterial talc.
Sounds like yours has started tracking though and realistically the only solution might be full excision of the affected area rather than just draining but only a doc that knows HS well would be able to say for sure and as you know they are few and far between.
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
Ditchdwellers
|
|
Score:963
Posts:496
|
RE:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:23/07/2011 5:07 AM)
Thanks Peter, I'll try some of the talc and shower gel. I'm at that stage that I'll try anything to try to keep it under control. As you say, doctors that understand it are not easy to find, and the one I saw yesterday definitely didn't understand it! Have you had to have any excisions? I'm wondering about asking for a referral to a dermatologist. Do you think it would be worthwhile? How are you getting on in your new home? Your wetroom sounds lovely! Rachel
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
Peter_aka_Sociable
|
|
Score:62
Posts:31
|
RE:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:23/07/2011 5:38 AM)
Wet room is great as is having a fully accessible bungalow with its own private garden and lots n lots of space I'm finally "Home" if that makes sense. Taking a while to get everything in my new kingdom exactly as I want it but almost there now not least as I even have a special "Throne" in my wetroom which I had a very direct hand in designing after the original setup was designed for someone 5 foot tall and 18 inches wide. LOL
Back to the HS though..
Yes on the excision as in my case the tracking eventually led to a connected sinus that ran all the way from the level of my hip at the front of my leg all the way round my groin to behind my back passage (sorry if its TMI) but in effect was an area over a foot long and two inches wide that was affected in a sort of connected honeycome of tunnels that whilst drainable never heald completely in over two years. In the end they removed this whole area i.e. the entire groin on that side so it looked like they had tried to saw my leg off and gave up half way if you can picture what I mean. LOL
And yes a a very big YES on seeing a dematologist and make sure they at least consider surgery as an option given that once a sinus is created it almost always never heals, for those of us with HS, as that means the HS is at least stage two and possibly stage three and so requires different and less conservative treatment especially if it reaches the point the same track/sinus has more than one exit point as healing of such an outbreak without excision is well neigh impossible IMHO.
Hope that helps.
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
Ditchdwellers
|
|
Score:963
Posts:496
|
RE:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:23/07/2011 2:40 PM)
The excisions sound nasty. I guess in your case, it occurred before your EDS diagnosis. Knowing how slowly my own skin heals, I can imagine how painful, sore and lengthy your healing process was. I've seen a dermatologist previously for a dodgy mole removal, and the look on his face as he was stitching me up when I reminded him I have EDS was a picture! He'd forgotten. He rapidly reversed his estimate of the length of time it would take to heal, looked very embarrassed, and shuffled out of the room! Needless to say, 2 years on and I still have a very angry looking scar that is 1/2 cm wide and 2 cms long - so much for him saying it would be invisible! I have to admit that it is the EDS complications that concern me a little regarding excision. I'll push for a referral though, as I am worried that the number, size and frequency of the abscesses is increasing. I love the sound of your 'throne'. I'm in the process of getting a new bathroom and I'm quite excited by it. Despite being married to a plumber for 15 years, this is the first new bathroom I have had, and I'm getting to choose all the fittings myself! Thanks for all your help Peter, and glad you have found a place to call 'home'. Rachel
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
Peter_aka_Sociable
|
|
Score:62
Posts:31
|
Re:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:24/07/2011 3:59 AM)
Yes it was pre EDS diagnosis and took ages to heal but it did eventually and in the end was worth the wait as at least that un-healed wound was clean and not infected and purile the way our HS lesions are so far easier to live with.
From memory it took about a month to six weeks before they could safely reove all the stiches and six months before it didnt look like the operation was only done the week before (i'm sure you will know what I mesan by that) and I have yet another impressive scar to ad to my collection. LOL
Main thing though is since that major outbreak was treated I have only had relatively minor breakouts that the new meds detailed above and occasional antibiotics can keep in check with only one admission for intravenous Anti-B's in 5 years now.
Interesting about the mole removal as I've had a dozen or more "iffy" mole like skin lesions removed using the cryo liquid thingy by my dematologist but never connected that to EDS.
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
AndMac
|
|
Score:397
Posts:200
|
Re:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:24/07/2011 3:14 PM)
I'm glad my comments helped Rachel. Re the hunger and the low cal diet - I eat as much fruit as I can manage without it being disastrous for my digestion. I drink lots of cup-a-soups and ten cal soups too. Celery is good as a filler, as is raw white cabbage. Also my Tramadol makes me feel a little bit nauseous from time to time, which is a definite appetite - killer!
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
fairysparkle
|
|
Score:268
Posts:138
|
Re:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:25/07/2011 6:09 AM)
Hi, no idea if this is helpful or not, but please read my post re Vit D...low levels of vit D and/or calcium can make it harder to lose weight. I also know from experience that food intolerances can cause the body to retain fluid, which makes losing weight difficult too.
My mum, was tall and skinny, and she got the abcesses like described; it's not always one leads to the other.
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
AndMac
|
|
Score:397
Posts:200
|
RE:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:25/07/2011 9:12 AM)
I've just read the post, that's really useful info, thank you fairysparkle. Here's a direct link to it (opens in new window).
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
Ditchdwellers
|
|
Score:963
Posts:496
|
RE:Hidradenitis flare up
(Date Posted:27/07/2011 6:52 PM)
Thanks Fairysparkle, I'll look into the vitamin issue; I've seen quite a bit in the press about this lately too. It seems to be a much bigger problem than widely thought. The hidradenitis started when I was still a slim and fit person (those were the days!), it has got worse with age and I'm sure carrying excess weight is not helping it. I'm just really struggling trying to get rid of it. Andmac, Thanks for the food suggestions! I hadn't thought of cuppa soups. These will be ideal for me, as I have problems eating (chewing), so most of my food needs to be soft. Trying to find soft, healthy, low calorie foods to snack on is tricky! Rachel
usertype:3 tt= 0
|
|
|
Close it
