Hs advice?

[Lavender14]

So I've been having ongoing issues with hidderadentis suppurativa for a number of years now but since I gave birth to ds 17 months ago I've just been in near constant flare up. I've seen open wound in my groin that I've had 15 courses of antibiotics now to try and heal including a 3 month course. Each time the infection goes and the wound closes and I have a couple of weeks where it's fine but then it inevitably becomes inflamed, reopens and is infected again. It stinks, its really affecting my sex life and I've also started to feel ill each time it flares up with sickness, loose bowels, headaches and fever meaning I'm starting to need to take time off work with it. I do my best to keep it all really clean but I'm starting to feel like the gp isn't doing enough and the last few times I've been in I've mentioned about a referral to dermatology and they keep saying there is no point, waiting lists are long (which I understand) and that the only thing that can be done for me is more antibiotics to manage it. But if I'm having to take off work sick every few weeks I wouldn't describe it as managed. I'm also breastfeeding still and I'm worried about the amount of antibiotics my little boy is getting through my milk.

Does anyone have any advice?

Hopeful bump

I've never heard of this so I looked it up. I'm assuming you are doing everything that's advised on the NHS website? I noticed it said in rare cases it may be linked to Crohn's disease, it's just that when you mentioned feeling sick and bowel issues I wondered if there was any connection - any family history of Crohn's? More likely I suppose is all the antibiotics causing the digestive issues. Hopefully someone else will come along who has experience of this. Don't be fobbed off by your Dr, let them know exactly how badly this is affecting you and that you need a referral.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/hidradenitis-suppurativa/

Thanks, no history of ibs or chrons. It's more a case that when it's infected I start to feel feverish and ill and its starting to cause upset stomach too. Gp has said that's all a result of my body reacting to the infection. I'm on a good probiotic tablet to try and counteract the over use of antibiotics but obviously still worried about the impact they're having.

Where are you?

Dr Murphy in Sheffield is a specialist in this and practices locally as a private doctor too. I think you need to go private.

I'm in N Ireland. I'm starting to think this but with nursery fees as high as they are here I wouldn't be able to afford private healthcare and most healthcare plans seem to take 6 months before they'll kick in.