Hidradenitis Suppurativa Support Group
Hidradenitis suppurativa (hi-drad-uh-NIE-tis sup-yoo-ruh-TIE-vuh) is rare, long-term skin condition that features small, painful lumps under the skin. The disease manifests as clusters of chronic abscesses or boils, sometimes as large as baseballs, that are extremely painful to the touch and may persist for years with occasional to frequent periods of inflammation,...
Hi Everyone,
I have been suffering from Stage 2 HS (in my groin and rear end) for about 2 years now and it seems I am finally making some headway with a rotational diet after having an ALCAT test to diagnose food intolerances. Today marks 1 month (5 more months until reintroduction) of being gluten, dairy, soy, nut, pork, avocado, coconut, cabbage, and tuna-free. (Weird list, I know.) I'm definitely feeling way better--a lot less inflammation and pain and more range of motion and energy.
Also, temptation to eat offending foods is all but gone. If someone walked up to me with a piece of bacon, I'd sooner punch them than eat it knowing it has contributed to years of discomfort, embarrassment and shame. It's a very empowering feeling!
However, the itching in my anal region and all around my lady parts is maddening!! I remember this feeling when I attempted a gluten-free diet in the past and saw improvement. It almost seems like the more you heal, the more you itch. Has anyone else experienced this? What has helped? Creams? Antiseptics? Prescriptions? I've read a lot of compelling feedback about bleach baths.
Any input would be outstanding! It's so awkward when an itch sneaks up on me at work, and most nights I wake up either because of the itch or because I'm already scratching it.
Thanks!
Corey
I have been suffering from Stage 2 HS (in my groin and rear end) for about 2 years now and it seems I am finally making some headway with a rotational diet after having an ALCAT test to diagnose food intolerances. Today marks 1 month (5 more months until reintroduction) of being gluten, dairy, soy, nut, pork, avocado, coconut, cabbage, and tuna-free. (Weird list, I know.) I'm definitely feeling way better--a lot less inflammation and pain and more range of motion and energy.
Also, temptation to eat offending foods is all but gone. If someone walked up to me with a piece of bacon, I'd sooner punch them than eat it knowing it has contributed to years of discomfort, embarrassment and shame. It's a very empowering feeling!
However, the itching in my anal region and all around my lady parts is maddening!! I remember this feeling when I attempted a gluten-free diet in the past and saw improvement. It almost seems like the more you heal, the more you itch. Has anyone else experienced this? What has helped? Creams? Antiseptics? Prescriptions? I've read a lot of compelling feedback about bleach baths.
Any input would be outstanding! It's so awkward when an itch sneaks up on me at work, and most nights I wake up either because of the itch or because I'm already scratching it.
Thanks!
Corey
I don't know what happened that one day it seemed like my parts just suddenly decided that this treatment was offensive and decided to get worse when I used them, because before that I had months and months of blessed relief with witch hazel preparations like these.
(That's sort of the story of my HS, though - it's taken an eventual disliking to a number of obvious preparations from peroxides to calamine lotion, so I'm always on the lookout for Plans B, C, and D). :-)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3140336
But ideally it might helpful if they can sort out HS from PA?
That article discusses antihistamines which is something I can only recall seeing even suggested once in any other literature on HS. Maybe a doctor might be (more) willing to try something like that on PA than on HS?
Also I'm not sure what it might mean to anyone's symptoms or to getting treatment, but several possible causes of PA in that article (Staphylococcus, Streptococcus) seem to be frequently implicated in HS also.
Also, I plan on seeing a dermatologist after I see a little more improvement (hoping for help with scarring, etc...) So I'll post if I get any insight.