H.S and Exercise

Skin, nail and hair health
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Most of us suffering from H.S know that being overweight can worsen our condition. I don't need to explain why this is true, for I believe it is common sense. If we have a little extra weight on our legs and they touch while we walk, this can inflame infected areas. For this reason, exercise will also make the condition much worse if an H.S sufferer is already overweight.

Women especially, might find it harder than men to maintain a healthy weight because women in general already struggle with weight far more than men do past a certain age. So what are our options if losing weight can greatly decrease the severity of our condition, if the very act of losing weight itself worsens our condition? Healthy diet alone is not enough. I was always physically active before I was diagnosed with H.S. Since then, my level of physical activity has been greatly reduced due to pain. As a result I have gained weight.

So I recently decided enough is enough and I was determined to lose weight. After a week of walking 2 miles everyday and reducing my calorie intake to 1500 calories a day, I was confident I was going to take control of my life again. I enjoyed getting out and walking while listening to my head phones. I became very excited about my new routine and I was even starting to feel better emontionally.

However, I walked myself right into a bed ridden state by the sixth day. I am currently going through one of the worst outbreaks I have ever experienced and I can barely shower, dress myself, or even walk. The level of pain I have experienced these past few days is almost unbearable. I think this is the first time I am truly facing the reality of this terrible illness.....it is INDEED a life ruiner and will more than likely set each and every one of us up for future health problems outside of our current condition. Exercise is important for everyone, for it greatly reduces the risks of all health problems, including the number one killer---Heart Disease. Even if I can manage to drop weight by dieting alone, I will never be able to exercise without rendering myself immobile. For so many of us, we are suffering greatly. As we slowly watch our quality of life diminish--the very core of our spirits are diminishing as well. With no cure in sight, I ask myself---- how can I learn to live with this for the rest of my life? How can I stay healthy if I can't even walk a mile without my skin ripping apart? Would it be selfish to have kids if I can't run with them in the park? Will I always bounce between jobs because of too many sick days and if so, will I ever be financially stable? I believe H.S is a silent killer. It might not be fatal, but it sure as hell has a way to break you down emotionally and make you feel there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

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Hi I sympathise and emphasise with you.  The truth is no one really knows what causes HS.   They always hit the same corny targets - overweight and smoking.  Ok these are not good for you but there is no proof they affect HS (or not much). 

I have been told that it is more common in acne sufferers of which I am one.  Which leads me to believe it could be something we are born with ie underdeveloped sebacious glands.  

My personal trigger is stress and I have  linked this to various outbreaks.   

I think you had a good idea to try and lose weight and exercise more but maybe you went too far too quickly and compromised your immune system?   

Try and do it a lot more gradually and you might get better results.   I hope you are on antibiotics from the doctor as this does help mine a lot.   I have a couple of very nasty ones on my leg which were just lumps for quite a while then overnight they both turned infectious but taking ab's have stopped this.

I wish medics would take this a lot more seriously and more funds were available for research.   But it it is a low profile disease and not fashionable so it is virtually ignored.   We obviously need a high profile person to suffer before we get any real help.   Take care and I hope you are a lot better soon.   

Bev x   

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Oh I forgot to add that while HS is not normally fatal it can cause blood poisoning which can be specially to those with a compromised immune system due to a chronic illness.   It can be very disabling though.   x

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You broke my heart because I know that exact feeling you have. I'm so sorry you're feeling this way. I had the same problem, I started to go for walks with my sister who tried to encourage me to lose some wieght by walking with me. Unfortunately, even though she had the best intentions, she didnt realize just how bad it is for me. After 2 weeks I had gotten a huge one on my groin, which had not bothered me in years. All of a sudden it blew up so big I couldnt even put underwear on. I think it was from all the sweating and rubbing, even though I made sure to take a shower right away afterwards, it just didnt help.

That aside, it did go away after a few short days and it hasnt come back again. I stopped walking but I am going to try again. That is all we can do really, is try again, and again, and again if need be.

I have kids and there are definitely things I can't always do with them, but that is not selfish, and they are still going to get all the things they need in life. I cant shave my armpits and so I dont wear sleeveless tops and I also have to be very careful when I go swimming to not expose my underarms. I wanted to do swimming lessons with my daughter but, for the reasons jsut metnioned, I couldnt because I was scared about being around other parents in the water and them looking at my un-shaved underarms. I would be so embarrassed. So, the solution was that my daughter waited 2 years until she was old enough to go in non-parent accompanied swim classes, and she loves it. She is no further behind than any other kids and I didnt have to embarass myself to death. That's jsut one example. Fortunately I have my husband who does most of the sports with my kids and they love it. Its a great thing for them to bond with their dad anyways.

For your troubles with work I cant really say because I have been fortunate enough to be a stay at home mom and my husband works his butt off for us. But we have had hard times for sure, jsut like any family. Even families with 2 adults working have troubles and thats all normal. Don't beat your self up about it.

I always try to remind myself that chances are, my HS will go away one day, I just have to get past it when it comes. I have had remissions, especially during my first pregnancy, my flare ups stopped and even my face cleared right up from acne. Of course it all came back about 3 weeks after birth but I did have that time to enjoy. And I am sure that you will have some remissions and you should look forward to them and enjoy them like I do.

I heard this saying once that 'life never gives you more than you can handle' and that is kinda comforting for me because I know that no matter what happens, I can handle it. It's actually supposed to be 'God' never gives you more than he knows you can handle.

I think Hs is caused my a mixture of many things and I think everyone who had it needs to work on all of those factors at the same time such as eating healthy, natural foods, trying at the very least to excersise when possible, staying away from alcohol, drinking your suggested daily water intake (whihc is way more than you think it is-google that lol) and also what I think is way important is to control your stress as much as you can by doing whatever it is that makes you happy, or relaxes you, like yoga or swimming which is an excersise that wil not bother your HS because your in the water. I say all these things al the time but I am also still suffering and I try to do these things for myself.

Somebody told me to cut 'nightshades' out of my diet (cigarets, tomatoes, potatoes,  peppers, parika, cayenne and things like that) because they though that was what caused their HS and they claimed they had cured their HS from doing this but, I tried the fast way and loaded up on those things instead of cutting them out and I didnt even get  flare up so I guess thats not my problem. But maybe it could be yours and I always say you should try everything. It wont hurt to know.

Good Luck and I hope you see the light at the end of the tunnel soon, maybe its jsut a speck right now but hoepfully it will  get brighter for you. I know its so hard btu I am sure tis there in some form or the other, you just got to wait for it and recognize it when it gets there.

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I, too am bedridden with my HS today, and when you are bedridden all those questions do go through your head. I feel so much for you because everything you have written rings so true. I am 51 and have had a beautiful family of 3 daughters and  now 4 beautiful grandchildren. I was only diagnosed 5 years ago but I have had it very badly since I was 29. Even before that from being a child I was always prone to boils, cysts, stys, my tonsils constantly quincied. I am sure there is a link. I am overweight but I am overweight because of HS. so having read a great book written by a sufferer called, the hidden plague I am trying to tackle my weight. I am going to try through juicing. Today you will feel at your lowest, I've been there too, but there will be good times ahead when you are in a remission phase and one day you'll have a wonderful family of kids. I've been so lucky my husband and family are so supportive. Take one day at a time, when you hit rock bottom like this remember there will be better days confused

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Try cutting out nightshades! Worked for me! I have suffered for years and tried every medicine, laser hair removal, my doctor cut my cysts out only to have them form under scar tissue and also shots.  HS is an autoimmune condition and people with autoimmune can be sensitive to nightshades.  Nightshades are potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, any kind of spice made from a pepper, eggplant and tobacco!  After cutting out nightshades I went into remission! I accidentially ate turkey with something on it at thanksgiving and developed 2 cysts by that night! You have to watch ingredients on EVERYTHING! Even shredded cheese has potato starch in it!  

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Try cutting out nightshades! Worked for me! I have suffered for years and tried every medicine, laser hair removal, my doctor cut my cysts out only to have them form under scar tissue and also shots.  HS is an autoimmune condition and people with autoimmune can be sensitive to nightshades.  Nightshades are potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, any kind of spice made from a pepper, eggplant and tobacco!  After cutting out nightshades I went into remission! I accidentially ate turkey with something on it at thanksgiving and developed 2 cysts by that night! You have to watch ingredients on EVERYTHING! Even shredded cheese has potato starch in it!  

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The article I read that made me cut nightshades said it could be due to any food sensitivity.  The blogger ate chicken, lettuce and oil/vinegar until flareups were gone and then slowly added in different food groups.  Nightshades were her problem so I just started with that to see what would happen.  Lucky for me that was it and I didn't have to go through the "hunt" as she did.  I was still in remission since I wrote you last until Thanksgiving when I accidentially ate turkey with some sort of spice on it in my uncle's dim basement.  I had two cysts become inflamed by that night! 

So, try cutting other food groups before you give up.  Autoimmune diseases are crazy stuff!