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,...
Well I just got finished checking out my "spots".
The spot in my left armpit was getting swollen and making it hard to raise my left arm. So I took the bandage off and was kinda pokin at it, grabbed it at either side and squeezed gently and it let loose..and I mean let loose. Now it is constantly draining. Which is great, it means it won't be just constantly swelling.
The spot on my inner left thigh. Oh boy. I took the bandage off and nothing..but I noticed a clear kinda crust on it so I peeled it off...and the monster started gushing like a geyser! I was completely freaked slap out! I couldn't get TP to it fast enough so now I have to wash the bath rug I was standing on. Eww.
Now I have two holes in my inner left thigh that look like a tarantula bit me there, and it is still draining. Most of what drained at first was old dark blood, and the area still looks bruised as heck, but I have reapplied castor oil bandages to both my thigh and armpit areas and plan on keeping it up to see if I get more than what I just have.
I do know that while I had those bandages in place they kinda were uncomfortable, I kept feeling this kinda burning, pulling sensation. Not quite outright painful mind you, just uncomfortable enough for me to notice.
I did notice after showering after this debacle..that I have a new spot on the right side of my C-section scar (great, wonderful, just peachy) so I am now trying to figure out how to put castor oil bandages there and keep the tape from rolling off. XP (I'm not exactly a skinny gal, after all XD)
Will post more results as they come. I'm hoping that this will at least give me something to use to get them to stay draining. Will cost a bit in bandages..but I learned my lesson about wishing one to close..I got it and it came back to bite me...ouch..won't do that again.
(ps don't know about others areas, but the Walgreen's around here is offering a two pack of paper tape "buy one get one free" for like $5, so that's 4 rolls of paper tape for the price of two..just thought I'd put that out there for those of us who have a nearby Walgreen's)
The spot in my left armpit was getting swollen and making it hard to raise my left arm. So I took the bandage off and was kinda pokin at it, grabbed it at either side and squeezed gently and it let loose..and I mean let loose. Now it is constantly draining. Which is great, it means it won't be just constantly swelling.
The spot on my inner left thigh. Oh boy. I took the bandage off and nothing..but I noticed a clear kinda crust on it so I peeled it off...and the monster started gushing like a geyser! I was completely freaked slap out! I couldn't get TP to it fast enough so now I have to wash the bath rug I was standing on. Eww.
Now I have two holes in my inner left thigh that look like a tarantula bit me there, and it is still draining. Most of what drained at first was old dark blood, and the area still looks bruised as heck, but I have reapplied castor oil bandages to both my thigh and armpit areas and plan on keeping it up to see if I get more than what I just have.
I do know that while I had those bandages in place they kinda were uncomfortable, I kept feeling this kinda burning, pulling sensation. Not quite outright painful mind you, just uncomfortable enough for me to notice.
I did notice after showering after this debacle..that I have a new spot on the right side of my C-section scar (great, wonderful, just peachy) so I am now trying to figure out how to put castor oil bandages there and keep the tape from rolling off. XP (I'm not exactly a skinny gal, after all XD)
Will post more results as they come. I'm hoping that this will at least give me something to use to get them to stay draining. Will cost a bit in bandages..but I learned my lesson about wishing one to close..I got it and it came back to bite me...ouch..won't do that again.
(ps don't know about others areas, but the Walgreen's around here is offering a two pack of paper tape "buy one get one free" for like $5, so that's 4 rolls of paper tape for the price of two..just thought I'd put that out there for those of us who have a nearby Walgreen's)
I can't even believe that HS can do this to someone, knowing that I have HS and then hearing about some horrible things that people have to go through because of HS... really scares the hell out of me.
I feel bad for complaining and feeling so bad about my HS when some people have to go through much worse.
I hope this castor oil keeps helping you drain and hope to help close or heal some of your open sores!
xoEsmee
Well the castor oil seems to be keeping my armpit areas and the "tarantula bite) open and draining..which is a great plus..but..it don't seem to be doing anything for the one on my c-section scar..and it is coming up hard, hot and heavy and causing quite a bit of pain. I am thinking that it is cellulitis. I say that simply because the last time I had a spot like that it came up in much the same way. It is developing far faster than any of my "normal" HS areas, there was never a real bump or lump there really. And not to mention I really feel run down (and bet if I actually took my temperature I would find I am running a fever..more than the low grade junk I deal with in an HS flare) and just feel sick.
And this morning I completely slept through my alarm and all the "snooze" alarms, which made me late for getting my daughter to school, which is not the norm for me unless I am getting sick. Not to mention I have noticed for the past couple of days being really tired and needing to nap more often than normal.
But at least I see my GP today so I can get on some antibiotics and get that kicked in the rear before it causes me some serious problems.
And Esmee..don't feel bad for complaining. Just because yours might not be as bad as others on here does not make your grief any less important and does not make your pain any less either. And just remember that just because you have HS does not mean you will get any worse than you are. The possibility is there of course but you shouldn't keep your eye on the bad. Keep the hope for the good at all times hon. By the way Esmee..I sent you a PM.
The other areas are still draining, and the area of cellulitis has started to drain too. I now have a small hole at the bottom of the area, so I am keeping the area bandaged with castor oil soaked bandages.
My leg is still draining..all though it is not doing so swift right now. Hurts quite a bit, but I think it would help if I would quit messing with it.
Still on Cipro and pain meds, so waiting it out a bit before I say the cipro is working at all.
So I would err on the side of caution and say Yes.
I soak a bandage down with castor oil and place it on the area, then I cover it with dry gauze, then depending upon where the area is, I either use paper tape or an ace bandage style wrap.
With paper tape, I just tape the edges down enough to make sure I can still move a little without having to worry about it coming apart. And I can tell easier if it is draining or not.
With the ace bandage type ( I use it on the alien in my inner left thigh area) I wrap it around my leg like I would if I was wrapping a sprained ankle and secure it with the little thingies with teeth (I know, not helpful, but I don't know what else to call them..LOL) and then put tape over the little bandage securing thingies to keep them from popping off. And sometimes I will put tape around the top of the bandage (the part closest to the trunk) to try to keep it from rolling down cause I don't exactly have skinny thighs ^._^ lol
BUT
1.CAN stain clothing
2. DRY bandage OVER soaked one.
3.Secure with whatever your skin can handle (I know I can't use some kinds of tape)
Hope this was helpful!