Hi, just joined the group and was hesitant about posting and introducing myself. After reading several post, I feel comfortable and finding out I am not the only person who suffers. I have read several stories and know how everyone feels. It is so difficult to make someone else understand what all this is about.
So a bit about myself, I am 50 years old and have suffered for years with HS. It started years ago in my armpits and eventually lead to surgery and had the glands removed and have not had any problems in that area since then. I went for a couple years and have had some minor flair-ups on and off but the last 2 years have been horrible. I have been hospitalized on numerous occasions, had out-patient antibiotic IV therapy, (just finished the last one today), have gotten infection in the blood stream from it and also have had encephalitis. I seem to always manage to get infection and cellulitis with it !!
My biggest problem is I am allergic to almost all antibiotics (the normal ones to treat HS) and it has caused quite a problem now. I also have a history of MRSA and it is starting to get scary for me.
It has come to a point now that the doctors are telling me it is tunneling and making networks to other areas, (now how crazy does that sound, who would have thought this could happen. Now I am looking at surgery, unfortunately some extensive surgery. I have it on my forehead, my left breast, and in the groin area. They have told me it would involve plastic surgery and I am a little apprehensive about all of this. Thought it was time to reach out and find others who may suffer from this.
I am just glad to find there are others who suffer and who can understand what its like to go thru all of this. I keep reading each post and all the replies and feel like I have found a place that I need to be. Thanks for letting me join and hope to make many friends along this journey !! Thanks for listening !!