It’s Complicated! Comorbidities and Hidradenitis SuppurativaI lead an incredibly complex life for someone who is a stay-at-home patient. I’m not a mom of children nor of fur babies. 'My medical conditions are my children' is...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
HS Awareness Week 2023: It Takes All KindsWelcome to Hidradenitis Suppurativa Awareness Week 2023! While HS warriors work tirelessly to support one another and bring awareness to this condition all year round, we believe it’s especially important...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
You Are Not AloneYou have hidradenitis suppurativa You have an uncontrollable illness You have a disease that you were born with You have a condition that isn’t your fault You have to live...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Patient Assistance Programs - How You Might Still Be Able to Afford Biologics for HS (Part 1)Maybe it feels like you had to trudge through some swamps and fight off airplane-sized mosquitos to finally get what you have been waiting for to treat your hidradenitis suppurativa:...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Dilemma and ResolutionAfter we were married, my husband and I moved to Africa on a work permit visa. It was my first time abroad and I was eager to explore the inner...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Talk: Disclosing HS in RelationshipsTalking about our condition can be embarrassing and often we avoid it like the bubonic plague. Often I wonder when the right time is to bring up the fact I...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
15 Years with Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)As 2023 approached, I realized this marked 15 years since my HS introduced itself like the most unwelcome of visitors. I first started having HS symptoms when I was 13...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
How Selfless Service Saved Me From Drowning Into Self-PityDuring my formative years, I was told that donating a part of our savings to someone in need is considered a good deed. Every year, my mother would contribute a...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Maintaining a Social AttitudeI don’t know if anyone remembers that show, “The Love Boat,” but in my late 20s and early 30s I earned the nickname of Julie the Cruise Director. I used...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Childhood TraumaI was 11 years old and unsure what was going on with me. I would get these painful lumps seemingly everywhere. It would be days, sometimes weeks, before the pain...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
How Food Became My Enemy (Part 2)In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this series! To make a long story short, by eliminating foods like pork, beef, chicken, and dairy from my diet...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Let's Talk About Sex, BabyLet’s be honest, starting a relationship with hidradenitis suppurativa can be hard, but having sex with hidradenitis suppurativa can be painful and embarrassing. Let’s set the stage, it's sexy time...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Racial Disparities in HealthcareThe term "racial disparities" refers to the ways that different racial groups are treated differently or have different outcomes. Racial disparities in healthcare are differences in care that harm certain...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Why Me? (Food Edition)Lately, I've found myself grieving my past life reminiscing over what was from food to relationships to a sense of comfort in my own body. The food restrictions I've decided...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Confidence To Say Yes To Your Dreams (Part 1)Following your dreams while living with hidradenitis suppurativa is complicated. What we plan to do today differs from what we can do tomorrow. Each day presents new challenges, which means...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Self-Care for Hidradenitis SuppurativaIt’s really hard to feel good when you’re having a hidradenitis suppurativa flare. You feel emotionally and physically drained and in so much pain. That’s why self-care is so important...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Learning To Love Myself With HS (Part 4)In case you missed it, check out Parts 1, 2, and 3 of this series! This one has been a little hard. As someone who used to wear sweaters and...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
I'm Not Angry, I Just Have Boundaries (Part 2)In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this series! When it comes to my family, I’ve found that setting boundaries can mean different things. Sure, there have...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
How COVID-19 Affected My HSCOVID-19 has changed our world. I was ordered to work from home in 2020 and I had a huge fear of catching COVID-19. I knew it could jeopardize my health...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Recipe for Art: Bugle Bead Sun CatchersSometimes during a flare or especially painful lesions, those of us with HS are stuck in a loop of depression and inactivity. Art can help us to process our feelings...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments