Can you help

Hey Mins, are you going to a wound clinic? I had 16 surgeries on both arms.. it sounds like you are going thru the same problems that I did..

Talk with your Doc about Manuka honey. We use it in the US for amputee patients and burn patients it helps the healing process. It helped heal some of my incisions from HS.

Here is my personal story.  I am not a professional so please discuss everything on here with your medical professional.  Every case is different and I'm just sharing my personal case (which was probably the worst case scenario).

In 2014 I developed what seemed like regular HS flare ups that I've had in the past.  Usually mine will go away after a couple of days to a couple of weeks.  This time my bump became bigger and bigger and started on my other arm as well.  This lasted for MONTHS.  The bumps started right after I got my first and last treatment of Laser Hair Removal, which was suggested for HS patients.  Since shaving was my trigger you would think if I did hair removal treatments I wouldn't have that problem.  WRONG! Don't do it... Laser hair removal gave me the biggest flare ups ever.  So I went to my doctors and he referred me to the Dermatologist and so I went and saw him.  He then referred me to a Plastic Surgeon all in the same day.  I was in so much pain they all got me in the same exact day with the help of the physician calling the offices for me.  I went ahead and spoke to the surgeon who of course agreed with the other doctors that surgery at this point was my only option because of how deep the infection was.  He suggested doing one arm at a time and each arm would heal in 2-3 (took a year and 2 months ) weeks each.  He told me that it wasn't the worst case he has seen just by looking at it.  I knew it was bad because the pressure and pain was almost unbearable but I went ahead and made work arrangements and got in to do my first surgery the following week.  He told me prior to the surgery that he would stitch it back up because it wouldn't be major surgery and it would likely heal on it's own.  Every doctor that I saw told me the same thing so I signed the papers and went on in.

When I woke up, I had pain but the pressure was gone and I had relief on that side (my worst side) finally but I'm not going to lie after the pain medication was gone I was in pain.  The doctor came in to see me and my mom in the recovery area and told me that the surgery was a lot more intense than he anticipated.  He removed the lymph nodes and he said that on the right arm I shouldn't have a problem again once it heals up.  He was right. I've never had an issue with HS on my under arms since surgery.  I went home and took my pain medications as directed which helped with the pain and made me sleep alot.  As directed I changed my gauze three times a day the day after surgery.  I noticed and the doctor on my follow up visit that the incision was opening up and it did completely.  At that point we decided to go back to the OR and try the skin graft.  Did that and it failed.  Tried the wound vac next and even though it helped healing a LITTLE bit.. it still didn't heal.  Meanwhile my left side was still having the pressure and pain so even though the other side wasn't healed I begged him to do the surgery on my left side and he did.  Now I had two arms that I couldn't use.  The left side he just left open and my right side as well.  I was to place / pack gauze and change 3 times a day.  Problem was the gauzes would get stuck to the wound so bad and everytime I had to change the dressing it hurt sooooo bad.. PLUS, I couldn't pack the gauze.. too painful so I would just place them on the wounds.. One time it got stuck so bad I couldn't remove it and I had to go back to the OR.  Quality of life for me sucked!  I was in sooo much pain and nothing was working.  I was soo hopeless and I thought that nothing would help.  16 surgeries later.... 10 months later.... my surgeon referred me to a wound care clinic because he had exhausted all options... and he saw how worn out and tired I was... I cried to him and told him this was no way to live.. my emotional health was down the drain.. I was recommended to see a counselor and I did.. she spoke to me over the phone since I couldn't go anywhere.  Which I would also recommend... if you are depressed or have major anxiety like I did.. it slows the healing process... they put me an anxiety meds which helped.. I took them about 30 minutes before gauze / dressing changes..

Anyway, I started the wound care clinic after researching online for a good location.  Not all clinics are good so do your research and check reviews before choosing a place.  I was sooo scared because I heard of horror stories and honestly.. I was tired of pain.. I couldn't take anymore.  The surgeon would use anesthesia so it scared me to go to a place that wouldn't be able to put me to sleep when they did something "painful."  There I sat in my chair in the wound care clinic.  I was so scared my blood pressure was up.. they even sent the clinic manager, sweet man, to calm me down and speak to me.  I probably sound like a big baby.. but after going thru what I went thru I felt like an injured animal getting cornered.. him talking to me worked a little.. and two nurses came in.. the sweetest nurses I have ever met honestly..  the first thing they did was speak to me about why I was there and my history.. and questions about my wounds and what not.  At this point they were prepping the supplies and told me that they were going to remove my gauze (made me freak out again because it was probably STUCK again). After removing it they explained that they will take pictures and measure.. then clean the area and put Lidocaine gel for 8-10 minutes and the doctor would be in.  As they got ready to remove it I started tearing up.. they calmed me down and told me that they will go my pace and slowly.. They first started by taking the tape off.. I was using regular surgical tape... since I was using tape for so long my skin was so sensitive and would even bleed sometimes because of the tape... they told me not to use that tape anymore and that they would use paper tape which didn't hurt the skin as much and removing was easier.. the tape was so strong and knew it hurt me so they used a swab that was like an adhesive remover... the tape came right off after rubbing it and it didn't hurt!!! I was so happy.. then they took a bunch of saline and dumped it on the gauze... and the gauze came off VERY easily.. hurt a little but not too bad at all! I was so relieved.. they did the other arm as well same process and took pictures and measured.. I couldn't lift very high so that was a problem but they were patient and I did so slowly.  The next step was the lidocaine gel... they would pour a BUNCH of lidocaine gel on a gauze and place it on the wound... IT FELT AWESOME!! It gave me like a cool feeling and it numbed my wounds up pretty good!  I was a lot more relaxed at this point because the worst part was over.. I hoped anyway!  Then the doctor came in and he checked the wounds.. he told me that there was like a sweet smell to it and it was really infected (probably why it wasn't healing!!!).. they rubbed swabs on the wound to send off for testing (didn't hurt... lidocaine ) he also said that they needed to put me on strong antibiotics.. he then told me that he needed to debride the area... I freaked again not gonna lie... but he did and since the lidocaine numbed the area it wasn't bad at all.. he did it quickly.. probably 8-10 seconds on each arm.. I could have taken a break but I didn't need to... he then placed a saline soaked gauze under the arms because you do bleed a little bit... (the wet gauze doesn't stick so that was helpful and the cooling feeling helped) and he told me to come back weekly.. he told the nurse since I had an infection that I needed to try hydrofera blue dressing and then a surgical pad over it.. changing it 3 times a WEEK!  I was soooo excited to hear I didn't have to change it 3 times a day!  I asked the nurse if it would hurt and she said not at all.. you put saline on it and it will come right off.. I couldn't believe it... the hydrofera blue looks like a thin mouse pad.. the soft one.. and it's obviously blue and what it does is it sucks up all the blood and liquid that comes off the wound.. when it gets wet it turns white and thickens up... that's how you know when to change it.. if yours is really white then changing it more often will help it heal quicker.... it's very soft and comfortable on the wound.. it also helps with wounds that are infected.. with the antiobiotic combo would be really helpful the nurse said..  she also told me to clean the area and placing wet saline drenched gauzes would while prepping the other materials cleaned most of it so it was less painful.... she also mentioned that there are vaseline covered thin gauzes that could be put first and then the hydrofera blue and then the abd surgical pad... this way it doesn't get stuck at all.... didn't need to use the vaseline gauzes though for long because honestly the hydrofera doesn't stick much at all... plus it helped the dressing do it's job more because it has direct contact with the wound.. changing my dressings was a breeze.. and I had a home nurse that would come thanks to my insurance.. but honestly wasn't needed.. it was super easy to do.. my husband and mother ended up doing it shortly after because my insurance no long covered the nurses visits..  

I went ahead and did about 4 months of this....

They did change my gauze once my infection was gone to include.. PRISMA, then Hydrofera Blue and then the surgical pad...

and then once the wound was smaller... PRISMA and the ABD surgical pad.

It's cool because they have so many dressings that I didn't even know exhisted and I'm in the health care field myself.. not even my surgeons and doctors know what they are..

After 4 months, which may seem like a lot but it wasn't because I was living a more normal life.. each week seeing major improvements.. after 4 months I was completely healed!

Once I started going to the wound care clinic I went from having NO skin under my underarms.. like the WHOLE underarm... to completely healed..

My only regret in this whole process is not going to the wound care clinic sooner.. I wouldn't of had to have so many surgeries and PAIN and suffering.. Let me put it this way.. a surgeon deals with people under anesthesia.. they aren't gentle!  However, the wound care clinic deals with people who are in a lot of pain and awake.. they are so patient and understanding.. they are gentle and experienced in healing.. it's what they do..

What I feel made the wound heal the quickest.. and the measurements agree with my opinion was the PRISMA and debridements.. the PRISMA btw dissolves on the wound so it doesn't stick and need to be removed... even though there were like two occasions that a little peice in the edge didn't dissolve and they just put saline and it could be picked right off.. Every time they did debridements and used PRISMA it healed quicker and quicker... OH! and there was 3 occasions where they did "carterized" the wound... sounds worse than what it is... it's like a long swab and they rub it softly on the wound.. once you have lidocaine on and it turned the wound like a smokey color.. but I swear it doesn't hurt with Lidocaine.. right after the numbing agent wears off you might feel a little discomfort but not bad at all.. I did notice significant changes when they did that towards the end of the healing process when my wounds reached a plateau of not healing.. at that time they were the size of a quarter or half dollar.. and the following week the size of a bean after not healing at all for 2 weeks.. so that helped a lot..  They also shaved the few areas that hair was growing.. hair by the wound will slow the healing process.. that helped ALOT as well.. if you want to heal quickly.. have them do this after lidocaine and debridement for less pain and they do it quickly while talking to you.. they are done before you know it..

Also don't get discouraged if one week it is bigger by a little or the wound morphs a little... maybe longer but shorter in height.. that happens but it will keep healing if you follow the wound care doctors direction.. that happened to me twice.. I also had one reopen on one side.. but very little the size of a rice grain and it closed up again after a week (carterizing and shaving helped this one I believe).. just be careful and don't lift anything heavy.. you can rip your wound.. reopen.. tear it.. even after you are healed.... take a month or two before lifting because it can reopen if you aren't careful..

each week was basically looking at the wound and seeing where you at and making changes as you go depending on what is needed..

I remember getting discharged and I started bawling crying in happiness... I thought I would never get to that point of healing.. so I get how you are feeling.. I was there but it does get better..

again.. my only regret is not going to the wound clinic sooner... do your research and find one that has the highest reviews and go asap.. maybe write a list.. of something I mentioned because there were times that I had to speak up and tell them about things i found on the internet or say HEY put some lidocaine lol..... and theres nothing wrong with that.. you are the one feeling the pain and not them.. speak up and if something hurts or is uncomfortable they are really good about accomodating you and finding ways to make it more comfortable.. the tape ripping the top layer of my skin (where the surgical pad was taped in place) and the wounds getting stuck was my major thing.. that was easy fixes for them.... adhesive removal swabs.. and changing it to paper tape.. and then using vaseline gauze on the wound helped..

Please let me know if you have any questions.. I know this was long but I wanted to mention EVERYTHING I could think of...

Like I previously said.. I went thru a lot of UNNECESSARY pain.. I try to reach out in as many blogs as I can and tell people what worked for me.. in hopes that it helps them too.... keep in touch.. let me know if you have any questions..