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Help newly diagnosed with HS with questions my GP hasnt asnwered

Posted , 3 users are following.

dynamiz
dynamiz

well ive recently been diagnosed with HS ... after suffering the symptoms for over 3 years ..  im mainly affected on the vaginal,bikini and groin areas i currently have an open abscess/wound which isnt showing signs of improvement on my usual antibiotics ( flucloxacillin and co amoxiclav) i have had it now for 5 days and its getting bigger and more painfull despite it seeping s have made another app wth my gp .... so question time ..

1. when i have an open wound is it best to cover it with a dressing if so what sort did you find the best ? 

2. what is best to clean an open wound? ive been using cotton wool balls and boiled water left to cool until warm 

3. how will i know what (hurleys) stage i am in as i dont understand what tunneling is or what to look out for ? .. all i know it its agonizing 

4.my GP is new to the surgery do i ask to be referred to a dermtologist of the sort? 

Thank you in advance im sure i will have more questions soon x

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • kaymate
    kaymate dynamiz

    Posted

    Hi dynamiz. Sorry to hear you're suffering at the moment, you have my sympathy. I wish there was some anesthetising topical ointment to apply to kill the pain, but despite asking many times the professionals I've seen tell me they wouldn't do any good because the abscess is too deep. I take paracetamol for the pain, it helps a little. 

    If the abscess is in an awkward place where it's rubbing, then I would try to cover it, as the friction will make it more painful. Finding a suitable dressing will take a bit of ingenuity.  Sticky dressings aren't suitable because they stick to any hair in the surrounding area. So it's best to have a plain gauze dressing and use tape to stick it down on hairless skin. 

    If it's not rubbing, I wouldn't use a dressing, just leave it open and keep clean.  I shower with hibiscrub and then use cotton wool and dermol which I have  on prescription. 

    Just ask ask to be referred to a dermatologist, but don't expect a cure, sadly there doesn't appear to be one. 

    Just one one more thing, someone on here suggested avoiding nightshade vegetables eg tomatoes, potatoes etc. I've done this, along with dieting and I think it might be working. Only had a couple of tiny ones

    • dynamiz
      dynamiz kaymate

      Posted

      Hi kaymate thanks for replying I've had some joy today with the nurse at my gp surgery she is going to leave a pile of dressings with the pharmacy for me to try as well as gauze and tape unfortunately for me it is right on the crease of my bikini line spread between both sides of the crease sad awkward or what !!! As it's in bikini line there's no such thing as a hairless area for me sad this is the worst one I've had so far pain wise and the only one that's still not responding to antibiotics the skin around it is very tender and red raw from swelling and changing dressings every day sad  and I'm not holding out for a cure with the dermatologist just hoping they can give me a better knowledge about the condition than my gp as I'm the first in our surgery to be diagnosed x
  • Dottipants
    Dottipants dynamiz

    Posted

    tunnelling is a later stage and is under the skin, it causes very long abscesses and lots in a row, sometimes called tracks as well, it's basically a long infected gland that never properly drains without surgery, keep going to dermatologists as they will be able to tell you if you need treatment for this. Sorry to hear you're struggling and whilst the symptoms don't necessarily get better you will find ways of coping and things that work for ou and it will get easier
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