I will answer your questions as best as I am able....
1. I was first diagnosed with cysts--they were lanced and packed (ouch!)
2. I am a sometime smoker now. I used to smoke about a pack a day. I used to drink pretty heavy when i was in my early 20's, now im in my early 50's and have drank about 5 drinks a year. I am now on a medication that i cannot drink any alcohol at all.
3. I have had some sores that were slow to heal, however, they were blamed on diabetes.
4. MRSA, TB, metabolic panels, G-6-PD, reticulocyte counts, thyroid, potassium, urine, vit D, magnesium, parathyroid, CBC, Uric Acid, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, double stranded antibodies, antinuclear antibody screen, compliment c4, c3, ena antibody, sed rate, skin cultures, biopsies....
5. after surgery, the samples contained enterococcus, staphylococcus--"normal skin issues"
6. I am lacking a bit here too. its tough to keep up this boring routine for me. I haven't heard about the relationship between oral hygiene and skin conditions. but i have heard a connection between oral hygiene and heart conditions.
7. I used to bite my nails all the time. Now i put fingernail polish on them and they are not as appetizing as they used to be. LOL. I don't like rough edges either-they drive me crazy. might be part of my adhd/add combined or a tad bit ocd.
8. I have diabetes type 2 insulin dependent. I have had a fusion in my neck, and still have 2 herniated discs in my neck. i have a pinch in my L4-L5 in my back and have had several low back issues. i experience a lot of fatigue, have had a triple heart bypass and now am being treated for Latent TB. I have had ankle surgery, knee surgery, foot surgery, gall bladder/appendix removal, hysterectomy, depression, anxiety, adhd/add, insomnia in the worst way.
9. I am not aware of anyone else in my family with HS. As I told my dr, its not like we go to family reunions and talk about the gross bloody, nasty drainage coming out of our neck or groin. LOL I don't have any clue about my dad's side either!

Not sure if this will help you or not....but here is my story! great questions! <3

After you mostly stopped biting your nails have you seen an new spots develop? For question 4 did the results of tests come out normal or an anomially?

I have twenty years with this disease I have been told just about everything as you have as well, let me say this, I have had doctors ask "do you smoke? Do you drink? do you use street drugs?" the answer is no. These questions are nothing more than what I call looking for the excuse, now cigarettes, alcohol or street drugs might make H.S flare up and with vengeances although i am 99 percent sure it caused by wheat and or yeast. leaky gut syndrome, that would be the reason antibiotics won't stop or cure the lesions, most antibiotics are related to yeast (oh so the burnt out light in my head just lit up!) Bingo! Now I know not everyone is the same and different people have different lifestyles and I am no doctor I just suggest people pay close attention to what they eat it can make a difference in keeping the flares manageable. I have just finished a book about my journey with this (scooby doo mystery disease) and I pour it all out in it. I don't use this to advertise books I am here to help people avoid the mistakes i have made. I hope you feel better, take care

It is definitely an autoimmune disorder. Read the book "The Hidden Plague" by Tara Grant available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Following her AIP diet has been the only relief I have found in 14 years. IT WORKS

1.What was original diagnose before an HS diagnosed? Deep pore acne and Staph infections
my daughter in law diagnosed my granddaughter after researching a lot. but the doctors have verified that my downs syndrome granddaughter has HS. I thought it was a staff infection.

2. Drug usage. Even smoking and drinking? I smoked pot in high school as well as smoked cigs and drank. Sores went crazy after I stopped smoking pot. Within a year of quiting more sores popped up. Only drink occassionaly now. Be that I mean once every 2 weeks or so. Still smoke about a pack a day.
my grand daughter does not smoke or drink at all.

3. Any wounds prior to HS break out that refused to heal? I got stabbed by 2 tree branches in right shin that refused to heal for at least a year or 2. It was checked out multiple times and no reason was found to why it wasn't healing. this is where you and my grand daughter are similar. she has a really hard time healing when she gets a sore of any kind. which causes her to bother it and then it gets infected.

4. What tests have you had done? (Do your best to remember)I've had blood tests done to make sure its not MRSA, but they have never checked my vitamin or hormone levels. A colonoscopy....not sure what they were looking for but it can back all clear. Thyroids were checked all seem to be normal, not sure if test included androgen levels. Biopsey done on infected skin to make sure it wasn't cancerous. No cancer. And Allergy testing....zero allergies
<My granddaughter has had every kind of tests known to man as she had open heart surgery at 4 months of age. she hates doctors with a passion.

5. If they collecred a sample what was found in the grossness? I had a couple types of Staph and Strep. Also Anaboligious organisms. The sample was the same as if taken from an ingrown hair or a swab was done anywhere else on noninfected skin. <I will have to ask her mom about this one.

6. Oral hygene? I am slacking in this department bad. I just gave up when I couldn't afford dentist visits. A doctor told me there is a connection between this and skin problems.
I know for a fact that your doctor is exactly correct. I had terrible teeth until I was 13 years old and then i got dentures. my face cleared right up. my grand daughter has the condition that i had in my mouth. i am sure this is not helping her at all.

7. Are you a finger nail biter? Yes I have tried so many things to stop to no avail. Only thing that was remotely close was carrying mail file with me all the time. Not sure if its an anxiety thing, a boredom thing or what. If I feel an edge that bugs me I have to get rid of it...no idea way. <she is also a nail biter and has always been one.

8. An other health problems?Scoliosis in lower back that messes with my hips and legs. Beginning signs of Rhuematoid Arthritis in my fingers. Other then HS I'm healthy. <she has arthritis as well - not RA - but arthritis.

9. Anyone else in your family have HS? I'm the only one at least on my mom's side. No idea about my Dad's side. no one else that we know of.

When I smoked pot...a lot of pot...I only had scar tissue that would drain and smell bad and an occassional sore in armpit that would go away and come back again. When I stopped the condition went crazy. So I'm not sure if there is a realation there or not.

I just finished my book,
https://www.amazon.com/Hidradenitis-Suppurativa-Have-Left-Story-ebook/dp/B071LHD5VN/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1495198951&sr=1-2&keywords=hidradenitis+suppurativa

1. About 10 years ago I had a doc tell me that it was an infection of the sweat glands. And to "keep clean and wear deodorant down there to help". (Totally useless info in my opinion just made me feel worse.) I just recently was diagnosed by a dermatologist who told me it was an autoimmune condition and he didn't recommend surgery as your body would attack itself even more.,

2. No drugs but I smoke a few cigarettes a day.

3. Yes, I had a weird sore/wound on my big toe that took a whole year to heal. I was in college and never had it checked out, so I don't know what that was about.,

4. I've had loads of tests but it wasn't until last week that I asked my doc to run a full thyroid panel. The results came back high (in the 500s) for thyroid antibodies. I just had testing done with a rheumatologist a few days ago for everything under the sun but those results aren't back yet.

5. Nothing found in the yucky stuff- just confirmed it was infected.,

6. My oral hygiene is pretty good,

7. Nope

8. OMG, as of right now, everything. Arthritis (I'm only 36), thyroid problems, ulcers, torn and herniated disk in my lower back a few years ago, headaches, exhaustion, and just recently I am having a hard time eating anything without bloating and pain. I've been doing the Paleo diet and removed all breads, gluten, legumes and dairy from my diet and I'm also trying the canidia diet as well. I hope to post my results on here soon.,

9. My sister did but after she had gastric bypass surgery it went away. (Which makes sense because I truely believe that HS has everything to do with your gut)

From all my research it seems to have multiple sources that can trigger it. While doctors are looking at it as the flu or common cold. That explains why(even more then every body is different) somethings work and others don't. Like acne can be triggered by simple stress. I know if a persons BMI is in the obese side people get sores similar to HS but are probably closer related to small bed sores. What causes my infections is all the common resistant type stuff that would be on someone's hand after opening a door. HS is more common and spreads more easily to multiple body areas in women. I just somehow Jedi mind tricked a doctor into ordering a hormone and multiple vitamin blood tests.