Another Armpit Abscess - KLAXON!

[ThrowThoseCurtainsWide]

Anyone remember this thread?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/sporner_corner/3713611-KLAXON-Abscess-in-my-armpit-Warning-May-contain-unshaven-armpit

Well that one all cleared up. This week I've developed new ones, in both pots at the same time!!! Trying to get a GP appointment, but can't call back for one until 2pm when the next lot get released.

Woke up this morning and one of the lumps had started leaking. So I thought I'd film it for you lot!!! Seriously painful. And I can't reach properly to squeeze, there's definitely loads more stuff in there. I am not a happy bunny

vimeo.com/372621783/description

Because they are stained and usually stink.

The surgeons confirmed it was HS. They're going to recommend that my GP refers me to a dermatologist.

That's literally all of my clothes! I can't afford new clothes

I asked for you, but unfortunately they won't film it for me

You don't need to throw away clothes provided they're not stained
Some things that help me
Hibiscrub (dilutes) or dettol soap under arms. You don't want anything vaguely shower gel like, look for something anti bacterial that threatens to kill all germs. I use it on all affected areas, keep it clean and dry
Salicylic acid - the ordinary do one, nip fab pads etc. They can help a bit
Magnesium drawing paste for ones that refuse to burst, or hot compresses
Hair trimmer - for when you want to shave but can't!
Dressings. I don't get on well with adhesive so I use plain pad type ones with micro pore tape but there are some good ones about, chemists usually have a decent selection of waterproof. Helpful if it's leaking so to avoid clothes staining
Dettol laundry liquid is good if something does smell, don't use fabric conditioner as it holds smells in
Zinc - there's a bit of evidence if you google zinc and HS, it's also commonly used for acne. Turmeric capsules also worth a try
Have a rummage for clothes that aren't tight under the arms as anything with distinct seams can really rub
Be careful if you do squeeze anything - mine have a tendency to (sorry!) spray blood 6ft across a room
If wound don't close, don't be afraid to go back and pester. Mine do not close, despite what the doctors tell me so now I have a protocol in place where they will be stitched after so long. They've also used silver nitrate sticks before to try and close them (doesn't work on me)

I can go months without a flare, mine started in my groin and only affects one armpit which started about 4 years ago. I have remained at stage 1 for 23 years now and it's rare I get one that drastically affects every day life

Diet - night shades can affect some people, worth a try cutting them out
Vicks can help if they're painful (I don't know why but it does!)
Be very aware of infection and also sepsis symptoms, ok it is pretty rare but the chance is there and better safe than sorry

Oh, Yes, apologies. I meant if stained throw clothes away.
You'll get used to covering them when they flare.
There is a fb group (by invitation) that manages the disease through diet. My dh hasn't had such bad flare ups since he started it and he's 53 having started at stage 1 in his early twenties.
They offered him an operation to remove his armpits, but he refused as there was a chance he wouldn't be able to lift his arm past shoulder height and career would be over.
There is some research being done now but they are far more advanced in treatment in America, and have never pushed antibiotics as they aren't suitable for that type of bacteria apparently.

I tell you what, I'd jump at the chance of having my armpits removed!!

Thank you for all of the advice. I've gone to have a look at the Facebook groups. Will definitely look into supplements too.

What do you do about deodorant? I sweat profusely and smell by the end of the day if I don't wear any. Are there any natural options I can use?

I can’t comment on deodorant for HS but native eco natural deodorant has been a revelation to me.

www.nativecos.com/products/coconut-vanilla-deo-womens

I just use standard spray ones (I figure stick/roll on aren't great for spreading bacteria)
If I have an abscess then I cover it and spray
The salicylic acid also works to act as a deo

Hi OP, my dh tries to find the simplest type he can, alcohol free.
If he has a flare up he uses lime in kitchen roll, in a plastic bag that he takes on the road with him.
This is only when necessary though, the majority of time it's deodorant and hibi scrub.

He uses tea tree oil when starting to flare, and this sometimes keeps it at bay.
To draw he uses Kaolin poultice under a dressing.
You find ways to manage it depending on your lifestyle. Mine works away a lot and can be under very hot lights. Sometimes he struggles with food as he has a very strict diet that really seems to be working.

I'm out of theatre! Feeling very groggy and a bit sore. But I'm just glad it's done! It's very hot on the ward, but I'm going to try and get some sleep once I've finished my sandwich and cuppa. I think it went well, I guess I'll know more in ward round tomorrow

For some reason these pics just won't post! These are the last ones I took before surgery.

Haven't seen them yet this morning - covered with dressings. So much less pain though which is a relief!

Did you sleep ok?

Amazingly I slept really really well! I got discharged at midday and have been relaxing at a friend's shop ever since.

Left pit (the bigger one) had bled through the dressing this morning, so a ward nurse re-packed it before I left. Right pit was still fine at that point so she said to leave it....

Right pit obviously started bleeding whilst I was at my friend's. I could feel it as I was driving home, but I thought I'd wait until I got there. Took my jumper off and the gauze had bundled itself up underneath the tegaderm sticky film and pulled the packing out with it.

I was given lots of sterile dressing packs, gauze, packing & saline and she sort of showed me what to do earlier, so I've just cleaned and packed my own armpit incision!! No mean feat I tell you! Pic is of before I'd cleaned it up, the incision is massive and also cavernous! I haven't seen the one on the other side, but I'm assuming that ones even bigger 😱

Dear god you are hardcore!
I'm impressed.

Sounds like you are doing brilliantly.

Hope you're still doing ok. That looks impressive. How long do you have to pack it for? I had once that needed packing and it was about a month before it was healed. Have a nice relaxing weekend.

I had a long lie in this morning and feel better for it. About to shower and then head up to the little hospital for a re-dressing. Nothing to report at the moment, but I will try and get some footage of the re-dressing for your enjoyment

Are those red bits above the incision also part of it?

I didn't take pictures of the re-dressing as It would have been a bit awkward, sorry guys!

okki which red bits? I took that pic straight after the dressing came off so there's a bit of dried blood that I hadn't cleaned off. But there's a few more blobs in my right pit, but they seem to be going down with the antibiotics.

Left pit is still minging. There is still pus coming out with the packing. The nurse said it's over an inch deep I'm not sure how long they will need packing for. At the moment she said they need to be done daily, so I guess I turn up daily until I get told otherwise!! She's ordered me a months worth of dressings and packing.

I'm now reacting to the dressings. She's changed to a different type, but I've reacted to these in the past too. Biatain silicone would be best, but they're not going to stick properly in armpits... nightmare!

They are very sore today and I feel a bit bruised. On the sofa with my feet up and gin coz I've decided as I'm moving like a T-Rex I can't do housework.

Ps. I opened the boot of my car earlier... I am short, my car is tall. Imagine stretching to close the boot with slices in your pits...

Oh so familiar! I remember the dressings being more sore than the wound. I ended up using a non adhesive one and micropore tape as the least sore. Also had Manuka honey and silver ones
Here's mine after the op and then post skin flap when I threw a giant strop and said I wasn't living with a hole under my arm for one more day

clientList I really hope mine don't heal as a hole! But yes, today the reaction to the adhesive is far more painful than the incisions. I saw the bottom of the left one today, it's a looooong way in

@herbsmokedchicken - Thanks for sharing your photos; it really does look incredibly sore. How are you feeling today?

Ooops! Apologies @herbsmokedchicken, I meant to tag @ThrowThoseCurtainsWide!

Oh God, you poor darling. That looks so sore! I react like that to dressings - makes it so much harder. I hope it all heals up quickly for you. And to think, this started as a sporn post!

I've just come back to this thread. I've been changed to different dressings and a barrier film, and my skin is coping a bit better with them. The redness went down although I'm starting to react slightly to these ones now too. These are the kindest to skin there are!!

In terms of the abscesses, the one on the right Doesn't need much packing anymore which is good. It's closing nicely. The one on the left is still deep, but not as deep as it was before. Now all I need to do is keep the others at bay. I'm still getting new nodules forming. They look like normal whiteheads, but they go deeper. I've been knocking the top off them so that they can drain, I don't want them filling up again!

They're nowhere near as painful as they were, but still feel bruised and sore. The biggest thing now is the itching. I know that means they're healing, but boy are they itchy!!!

The first two pics are from Thursday, and the other one was taken yesterday of one of the other little nodules.

Hard enough healing the ones you have but I didn't realise new ones would keep forming.

Would it be worth looking at a low carb diet as any sugar will just feed infections.