Sneaky, push for the referral now! Get as much documented on this problem as you can. If your medical will even consider covering you for a tummy tuck later, you will need all that documentation to prove it's medically necessary.

Good luck!

Val

{{{Sneaky}}}

I am so sorry you have to deal with this!!

I had problems in 1994 from a boil gone bad - in my case it was a fistula (a deep boil with a small channel leading to the surface of my skin). It wasn't located in the areas we've been discussing (it was in an even more private area, you get the idea. ), and was related not only to infection but childhood injury. I had a 'simple' surgery to repair it and ended up with 4 more within a month, literally dying on the operating table twice. Very traumatic, and the reason why it's gotta be life threatening before I'd go under the knife again!

First, talk to your doctor again about your plan for self care before you try anything. No matter how good my intentions are to help you, a suggestion I make might be the exact bad thing for your situation.

I have many questions for you ... what is the name of your disorder? Does Hidradentitis Suppurativa sound familiar? It's the inflammation and infection of sweat glands, especially under the breasts and groin area. Have you had your blood drawn to see if there are signs of infection in your blood (like a raised white blood cell count)? Are you using a warm compress on sore areas as they're healing and leaking pus (this will help the process and ease pain)?

First, do *not* use deodorant or powder - especially not antiperspirant - on your bumps. My guess is that they will further clog your pores and make the situations worse. I would recommend using an iodine based soap like Betadine. It's antibacterial and will help keep more bugs from getting involved.

I'm not usually a big supplement nut, I take my multi-vitamin/mineral and a calcium, but in your case, I'd look into taking extra antioxidents like C and E. They help with fighting infection.

Also consider getting plenty of aerobic activity - you want to keep oxygen flowing in your blood as much as possible to help clear away infection and bring fresh blood to help heal your injuries. Exercising a few times each day might be more helpful than one long session. Check out rebounding, it's really good for your lymphatic system. [The link is to an article, but the site is commercial, just FYI.]

Another thing, get lots of air to your bumps. As much as you can. Lay naked on the bed and lift that belly and breast out of the way so they can breathe. (I use a fan and 'air out' during the summer months when I sweat more.) Wear cotton clothes, like Marie suggested, and consider using a cotton pad to cushion the boil area so it's not flesh against flesh.

And water, lots of water. (As if you've never read that on a low carb forum! ) It's another thing that helps flush waste from your system.

Okay ... that's all I could yank from my brain this morning! I really feel for you because I can relate a tiny bit to what you're going through. I hope you find a plan of action that really helps you.

{{Take care and best of luck to you!}}

YES! That is the name of it. No I did not get blood taken. Dr never mentioned that, he would always give me antibiotics. I haven't used anything on them before. He said to not use any soaps with dyes or scents, laundry detergents, etc. I've been using antibacterial soaps and I can say that it hasn't gotten any better since switching all soaps. Hasn't gotten any worse either.
Once the pus has drained they are ok and don't hurt so I didn't use warm compresses. Nothing I've tried really works for this.
I will definitely try the things you said, extra water, extra antioxidents.
There's a few areas I'm confused about however.
Exercise would oxygenate the blood, helping to heal but I was told about limiting the sweat? And boy do I sweat when exercising!!
Also, I was told not to wear a bra, maybe even underwear because of them being against the infected areas?
Oh, BTW, thanks so much for your posts!!

Hi sneaky,

Push for the referral

I was seeing the same doctor for many years and she would give me antibotics when things got very very bad. They would help to clear the ones I had then but didn't stop new ones or stop those from filling up again a few weeks later.
New doctor said it could be Hidradentitis Suppurativa but thought i should see a specialist. to find out why.
The specialist a general physican took many blood tests etc and found that I had hyperinsulimia and told me to follow a low carb diet.
The boils have improved greatly and are now small and not very frequent. It took about 3 months for a big improvement to happen.
In the last few months I have fallen off the low carb diet and In the last two days have got a new boil. Must stop eating chocolate and do the low carb properly.
I find that I will get away with one or two cheats but more than that and the carb cravings start again and I'm back at the begining again.

my problem isnt really the apron thing ( my belly roll sits high up under my boobs ) but my main problem is my thighs are sooo huge that they now are becoming a room for "boils" and body acne.... and they have gotten so big that it take extra time to dry my "crease between my thigh and groin" b/c i know that if i dont it will be nasty and stinky... hmm thanks for the head and shoulders thing.. wonder if it would kill the junk on my inner thighs?

What kind of antipersperant do y'all use. Stick or spray? Do they both work equally well? There sure has been great information and reading in this question. Thanks all!!!

Jeeze, I never knew there were such disorders! I feel for you guys, I had something very simular this weekend (if not the same thing?)in a awful place right in the crease of the leg where your underwear go on my backside. OUCH, it is just clearing and I hope I never get another! As far as the deoderant, I used stick, it was easier to control where it goes, although I also started using the FDS Womans Deoderant Spray I really like that, but it is a bit expensive here, but since it is made for women I feel a bit better using it. I will see how it works in the long run.

Hi Sneaky

First, consider having a second opinion. IMO, your doctor should have monitored your bloodwork, especially when the outbreaks were bad enough to warrant antibiotics. The reason I say this is because the infection can travel to your blood and make you really sick ... one thing you can do for yourself if you've got a particularly bad outbreak is monitor your temperature and if it goes over 100.5, call your doctor immediately.

Antibacterial soaps won't do as well as Betadine. It's antibacterial / antifungal / antimicrobial - clean on a whole different level.

Now, maybe because Hidradentitis Suppurativa is a specific disorder affecting sweat glands, I can see why your doctor would recommend limiting sweaty-ness. But is it the generation of sweat or the actual sweat left on your skin? If it's perspiration on the skin, you could shower right after exercising. If it's the act of sweating, you could do things like walking, water aerobics or my fave, rebounding. They're all gentle types of movement that are light on sweat and still great for increasing oxygen and pumping that lymph system.

I also understand why constricting clothing (underwear / bra) would be bad since it compresses the wound, limiting air and blood circulation. The thing is, when it's a skin on skin situation (like under the apron or breasts), the same condition applies. I belive most physicians don't think of how our larger bodies lay ... I don't know about you, but it's not like there is a lot of air naturally floating around under my breasts or belly! A cotton pad (that you changed often) would give you just a bit more breathing room.

If I were you, I would follow your doctor's instructions to the letter, but next time you see him, ask about some of the stuff I mentioned. I've only had a few years training as a nurse, that's nothing compared to the expertise of a physician - but it can't hurt to ask about some of these things that might help.

luddybelle ~ Definitely try the Head & Shoulders. I use it on all my creases ( ) to good effect. Like I said early, no problems at all since I started!

Marie ~ Have you tried Triple Antibiotic Ointment, like Neosporin on the crease when it's bad? It helps healing and the lidocaine numbs the area, which is really painful, isn't it? Hope you are feeling much better!


Okay ... I've got one more suggestion for the boil problem, but it's non-traditional. I gather my own chickweed and use it in a number of ways to treat any type of boil. A poultice of Chickweed is a sure remedy for a carbuncle or an external abscess. This is a weed herb that grows everywhere, most of you can find it in your yard. You can also buy it at a HFS or online. In addition to using it as a poultice, I make an ointment by slowly steeping it in olive oil, add vitamin E as a preservative, then thicken with beeswax. It's an all around healer that I use for many things ...

I have made a salve by taking Vaseline and heating it slowly then pushing the chickweed down in. After a short time you squish it through cheese cloth and put back in the Vaseline container for storage. It works well on many areas and things. Wonderful healing properties! One persons weed is another person’s herb. Dandelions are a miraculous herb as well and really cleanses the blood when taken internally and we just think of them as a bother.

Very interesting! I never knew a weed could actually be used as a healing agent. And talk about cost effective! I think if I ever get one of those things I will use the salve. Thank you AntiM I am better thanks to the Lanicane, but expensive!

Thanks to all of you for the helpful suggestions! I have been fighting the rash under my apron for a year, since developing diabetes. lcing helps keep it down to a dull roar, but with all your helpful ideas I think I can get it down to nothing! Thanks again!

Laree

What I am hoping with my apron as it becomes bigger due to loss, is whatever I am left with after exercising I understand that if you doctor states it is for medical reasons you can have a tummy tuck done.? But I have a long long way to go yet.

Is everyone still out there? Hope all your 4ths were great ones!

Hello, everyone. I had been browsing the net to find out more about these boils and hidradentitis, and how to prevent them and was lucky enough to have come across this site and see all of you, and your posts. I found that everyone one is interesting and imformative and encouraging, so glad to be here. And it's nice to meet you all. I wanted to tell you all my own experience with hidradentitis, that it must also be hereditary, and i've heard its more common in very fine haired people. I also have the "flap" and so does one of my sisters, but the other sister has always been skinny, and also my brother, and they all get these boils. My heavier sister has been the one who's had to go through the misfortune of trying to find a doctor that knows what they're talking about. She's had them tell her everything from it's a hygenic problem to her being overweight as the cause. But finally she recieved the proper diagnoses, and given a prescription. I can't remember what it is, but also my other sister's doctor gave her a prescription too, in pill form, and also an ointment. I just recently talked with my brother and he said he also gets these places in his groin area and behind his ears and has had several places lanced. I use to have them more frequently, but have not had the occurences for several years until recently. And I was just trying to remember about it. I wasn't even sure that the place under my armpit was the same thing, because it was very different. It just grew larger for nearly a year, and and was painful in a different way. It never formed the thin skin over the top, and eeeeks when it busted it drenched the entire side of my shirt and onto my pants. Sorry for the graphic description... I had been seeing a doctor that wanted to lance it, but I didn't do it because my husband insisted i get a biopsy first. It would seem to go away and come back, but was never the same intense pain as those in the groin area, but more like a bruise, and pressure. So i was wondering if it is the same thing. Does anyone have any idea about that?

Sorry, I am new to posts of any kind, so I'm not sure how to backtrack and reply to someone specifically yet, and I know that last one was long, but I just had to reply to the lady whom a child asked if she were pregnant. I was just asked that today! lol and it wasn't malacious. I was standing and relaxing with it all shoved out, and I'm pretty fit and tall, and very muscular, except for my middle area. And I have always been this way even before being pregnant. Even when I was much thinner as a child i had a big wide waist and hips, and flabby tummy, that always seems to stick out. I told her no, its all me to which replied ahhhh good eatin' Yes that is what it is, too good. And so many times i think there is no way to get rid of it but to cut if off, and dream about that. I would go under the knife even, if i could afford it. Does low carbs really work, and would it work for me? The skin is so stretched and softer from the stretchmarks it seems impossible. I agree with all of u there should be a cleaner way to do it and cut it out cleanly. But anyway, thanks to all of you, I feel motivated to actually get on an exercise program again. It did work before, and thankfully I never had to have a c-section... well should have, but that's another story... ok another long one, sorry