Feeling so down 😭

Same here except for it's the right arm. And I'm right handed and I work as a waitress it's so bad I had to leave work. I'm a waitress and I'm afraid I'm going to end up losing my job because this time it's so bad. I hate this. Not to mention it's embarassing. I have no idea what I'm going to do about work tomoro. This is ruining my life.

Hi there, hang in there, I've read that putting vicks vaporub on them eases the pain and make them pop quicker. I know the feeling, you are not alone. mine is on my belt line and I'm working from home because I cannot wear a tight pants. Luckily my boss understands.

When I had an abscess like yours, I tried topical steriod caled Betnovate-N which is a concoction of betamthasone (steroid) and Neomycin (antibacterial). I applied it for 2 days and the second day it had opened and the pus released putting my life back to normal. I just cleaned it with rubbing alcohol and covered it with gauze for the next couple of days so it doesn't stain my clothes. 

Quit smoking if you do, and cut down on nightshades and heavy dairy products. It has helped me alot. I've noticed that whenever I would eat french fries or pizza, I would have a flare-up the next day. I haven't cut down on dairy completely but no more pizza and potatoes for me. Will try to slowly cut down other nightshades too. Baby steps. 

Also, invest in buying turmeric curcumin supplements which you can get from any Walgreens store if you're in the US. It helps with healing of the wounds a lot and is generally good for the skin. 

Hi, sorry to hear you are experiencing this, I know how it feels.

?Someone else has suggested using Vicks, and I'd like to endorse that. I heard about it very recently from another site user, and it has worked for me. put a big blob on a gauze dressing and apply it to the area. It will help draw it out, it should burst of it's own accord and the gauze should contain the pus.

Good luck honey.

I will be the third one to testify to using Vick's..... it has 2 analgesics to help numb the pain and provides a cooling sensation. I put it on before bed to help me sleep, for maximum benefit I will leave it on until the next afternoon or evening.

There is a bandage called MEPILEX and it is like a second skin so it would be a little more discrete for work.

Hot compress will help bring it to a head (swelling) to which can be beneficial.

Cold/ice compress will help REDUCE swelling and ease pain if it is inflamed and hot.

Both Hot and Cold compresses are an analgesic therapy as well.

Tessa, I'm sorry you're in so much pain Hopefully by now you're feeling better. I definitely can relate to those bad days with my severe HS on the bottom of my stomach. It can be extremely debilitating, especially since you have kids! I don't know what type of doctors you've seen, if any, but you might want to try to get on some long term antibiotics to see if they work for you. Also, there might be a topical cream that could help. See a dermatologist and they obviously could give you more professional advice. Keep your head up, Tessa!

i have HS for years.  Whenever i had a very painful large abcess i would go to the doctor to have it lanced open.  Eventually i had to have surgery to remove them because of all my scar tissue.  Under my right arm they removed all the tissue & did a skin graft, which really helped.  I have been taking Remicade for about 7 years, it has been a miracle for me.  I have had no outbreaks since taking it, it is such a relieft.  You need to have good insurance because it costs about $20,000 an injection & get an injection every 6 weeks. 

I wish you luck, just remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel! 

hey tessa dont be sad! i feel down too actually that i had HS on both of my armpits and both of them kinda serious.. sometimes it swollen like really pain .. after it burst there will be puss coming out and a hole will appear and the hole seem not to easily recover and will continue to release some leakage which smells unpleasantly.. So uncomfortable and you wont be able to wear deodorant or perfume to work! Its so hard to gain confidence with this condition..

This is so sad to read.

I've suffered with HS since I was 6 and I'm 28!

I've only suffered both sides of my groin but the pain is horrendous.

Have you tried paramol? It's really strong.

We're all here for you chin up xx