Hidradenitis suppurativa (boil/cyst in armpit or groin) - Page 15

Eva37 · 06-11-2008, 01:14 PM

sara - glad you are having a quieter time with your hs.
eva

SandV · 06-11-2008, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBLayzod

This is a strange PCOS symptom I have. It's not mentioned in most books, so I thought I would bring it up here. Dr. Thatcher in PCOS: The Hidden Epidemic describes it in this way:

Hidradenitis suppurativa is severe chronic inflammation of the aporine glands of the armipt (axilla) and groin region. Mild cases of hidradenitis are relatively common and appear much like several small "boils" that are reddened, hardened and contain pus. They may appear much like an infected hair follicle, which in reality is close to the truth. Applications of warm wet compresses can offer some relief. Because this disorder is hormone-related, oral contraceptives and anti-androgens may be used with some success. The severe infections, which sometimes occur, are very difficult to treat and surgical excision may be necessary.

I've haven't gotten any since I started taking Metformin (knock on wood). I just thought I would share the information.

I just saw this post. I had these in my armpits for a couple months. These were terribly painful. Ironically, I never had them until I had taken Met for 2 months. They came the month I stopped taking the Met. At first I thought they were an allergic reaction to the deodorant I was using.

Thanks for this info.

Sue

Jess1216 · 06-11-2008, 01:43 PM

Ok ladies...who has had some of these exsized (spelling?) I have one that's been bothering me BAD. I'm waiting on a call back to schedule the actual appointment but they want me to have it exsized.

What do they do?! Do they at least numb the area before slicing in? Or do they drain it with a needle or something? I'm guessing it's not a needle since my doc is sending me to a general surgeon...I'm guessing they're going in....

Eva37 · 06-11-2008, 04:53 PM

ive had lots removed surgically. A massive one from under my arm - done under general anaesthetic. Then ive had 6 removed with local anaesthetic from on my head.

eva

soulfulqween · 06-11-2008, 04:59 PM

eva that sounds so painful...dang HS

Jess1216 · 06-11-2008, 05:16 PM

Dang HS is right! As if we don't already feel gross enough for having this it's even worse when MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS look grossed out!! When I went in today the nurse was doing her job & taking vitals & whatnot and was trying to get some background info. I explained it in a sugarcoated way at first...boil in the groin, painful...need doc to look at it. Then she asked me if I shave there. Sorry but it was hard for me not to laugh when she asked that! Cause we all know what she was thinking...ingrown hair/folliculitis! I was like, no I don't, expecially when I have bumps where they are now. She kept asking questions & I answered them but you could just tell by the many looks on her face she was horrified & extatic it wasn't her dealing with it. Although...I guess I can't really blame her...I don't want to be dealing with it either!

Anyway...they set me up for Monday which feels like an eternity. I'll just be a little gimpy until then.

The lady on the phone recommended that I have someone drive me just in case (it's in my groin, right where the thight meets the girlie parts & is making walking really painful at the moment). Well I don't have anyone here but DH. We haven't lived here for very long and he's military AND he happens to have duty on Monday. I'm really hoping the command lets him take me.

soulfulqween · 06-11-2008, 05:31 PM

Jess...I hope it all goes well. I know how painful they can be maybe a warm compress til Monday...Hope Monday comes quickly for you.

lralex · 06-12-2008, 01:16 PM

First off let me tell all of you I really appreciate you sharing your experiences and giving all the advice you do. You ladies have dried my tears and calmed my fears many days. I wish so much I had found you years ago!!!! Anywho, I had laproscopic surgery to have my entire left ovary and fallopian tube emoved due to a mass (a Sertoli-Leydig tumor) detected via ultrasound and confirmed via MRI. I was a little afraid because me being me always thinks the worst at the last minute before something. I just knew that the doctor was going to go in and find something else, but she didn't. I was at the hospital at 11 a.m. and back home by 5 p.m yesterday. I will most likely be going back to work next week. I know this won't be a cure all for my PCO, but I know it's a start to relieving me of the pain I've been having due to this mass. I've already set a pattern for eating healthier and in several weeks I will be able to exercise and sooner or later the pounds will start to fall off and then I will be on the road to tame this PCO creature. Please continue to keep me in your prayers and I will continue to pray for you my cysters.

Eva37 · 06-12-2008, 02:15 PM

jess - all the best for Mon. Will be thinking of you..............

i know what you mean about hs. When i had one surgically removed (it was massive), when the District Nurse came to change the dressing, she brought a trainee nurse. Anyway, he nearly fainted when he saw the state of my arm

eva

sgordon · 06-13-2008, 03:43 PM

In 2005 I started getting clusters of painful lumps in my armpits. At first, because it was early summer, I thought I had irritated the area by shaving. They would last for about a week and then go away. They came back month after month and it was October before I realized that I was getting them right before my period started. I started to worry that I had a glandular problem and worked up the courage to go to a clinic to see a doctor about it.

I told the doctor what was happening, he examined the area and said "oh, you shave there". I said "Yeah....." and he follows up with "You should stop that". He practically rolled his eyes at me for wasting his time. He asked me why I went to the clinic for that and I told him I was concerned it was something glandular. He chuckled and said "No, if it was something to be concerned about, you would be in pain". I looked at him strangely and said "But I told you it was very painful...I am in pain". He gave me a look that said "okay, run along now little girl" and walked away.

I was so upset, I went home and cried to my husband. He didn't really understand what the big deal was...to him, if a doctor says you're fine, you're fine, no matter what you know about yourself. I switched soaps for a little while and my lumpy armpits went away. However, as soon as they disappeared, I started getting cystic acne on my face. I had never had acne before....ever. It was like the painful cysts migrated from my underarms to my chin.

I've been treating my hormone imbalance with a naturopath for the past 3 months. She has me taking vitex, among other things. Three days ago, for the first time since 2005, my armpit starting killing me in a very familiar way. I searched around, and sure enough, I found a lump. This one is closer to my breast than any of the other ones I had, and it is singular, not a cluster. I believe it is also smaller than the others. I just wonder, why now? Why after I'm finally treating myself? In 2005, my lumps were the first sign that something was wrong with me. I was perfectly normal before that. The lumps came before the acne, before the yeast infections, before the excess hair growth. I'm very confused as to what is going on with me now. I should be starting to see improvement. Instead, I'm having flashbacks from 2 years ago and I fear the cycle is about to begin all over again!

PBLayzod · 06-13-2008, 04:29 PM

Well, I've only had 1 since the baby was born. It was small and easily taken care of. I think they just pop up some times regardless of what your are doing. Try not to assume that 1 means the whole cycle is starting over again. Easier said than done, I know.

Jess1216 · 06-14-2008, 06:42 PM

Thanks Eva! I'm so nervous...I've never had one removed before...I've always just dealt with them until they go away or break open.

Actually...I went to the doc on Wed. (as mentioned before) and it was bad but still within the realm of what I was used to. After I left her office (at which point she already pulled some strings to get me in for Monday) things got SO MUCH WORSE. I just want to hug all of you that have had these worse than what I've been used to. This one is BY FAR the most horrific one I've had. It grew rapidly in size and I was in so much pain. I cried just trying to get out of bed....I look like I'm 80 yrs old trying to sit, stand or walk...I could barely even wipe myself after I went to the bathroom because it was that big and painful.

I called the doctor Thursday morning and ended up crying when I was trying to talk to the nurse! I told them I really appreciated everything they did for me getting me in for Monday but if there wasn't anything they could do to get me in sooner I was really considering going to the ER. I couldn't take it anymore. They had me come in & gave me a shot of Toradol. Man was that NICE. I've NEVER taken pain meds (nother more than Advil anyway) before so it had to be bad for me to take meds for it. The shot took the edge off tremendously & they also gave me Percocet. Since yesterday this thing has been draining and it's the most disgusting one I've ever had. It just keeps draining, and draining and draining. I'm disgusted and fascinated at the same time! I talked to my mother in law about it (she's got her PhD in nursing) and she said even though it's draining on it's own I absolutely need to go in on Monday still (I honestly wasn't sure). So....I'll report back on Monday! At least I've gotten quite a bit of relief since it's draining...a lot of the built up pressure is gone.

Sorry I know that's all gross.

On a better note though--I helped someone the other day with regards to HS. HS is not something I'll readily talk about with people because I feel so self concious about having it. Well on another board I belong to a woman was asking about bumps in her armpit. The original poster didn't quite match the HS description but I put a little info out there about it anyway. Another member of the board stumbled on her post & sent me a PM asking all sorts of questions saying she truly believes she has the same thing. She couldn't believe there was a name for it! She actually had to have emergency surgery on one of hers. I feel bad for her that she has it but I also felt really good that I could help her. I know what a relief it was to know all of you go through this too.

Eva37 · 06-15-2008, 07:35 AM

aww, jess

all the best for tomorrow!! pm me if you want
eva

im_just_jaq · 06-16-2008, 11:45 AM

I think I have the same thing. Its like, down there. And they seem to take forever to go away, and leave little things kind of like holes, but not really? Sometimes they HURT!

meilani · 06-16-2008, 12:19 PM

For a quick background, since 16 I've had these under my breasts & my inner thighs. Within the past year, my breasts haven't been as serious but now I'm gettin a few in my armpits. Disgusting & sore definitely. This blog is completely awesome!!
I was wondering, has NEbody had a high white blood cell count? I recently had some blood work done & my white blood cell count is @ 25 when the highest it should be is 10. I don't feel sick @ all. I don't think I'm havin a major flare up right now or when I was tested either. I go to my general doc this Wed to see what's what, my gyno, who's movin away conveniently of course, has me goin to this new general doc b/c I've already selected my new gyno which I won't see til next month. I'm currently on YAZ, which I think has helped with fewer & less serious flareups, & 1000 (soon to be 1500)mg of Metformin.