I’ve used Epsom salt in hot water to soak cyst. The salt dries the skin, aiding it to eventually crack and release the pain causing contents.
The other day I wondered if there were any ointments with Epsom salt in it…. My best inanimate friend, Amazon, 😁showed me this. It arrives Monday and I’m hoping and praying it’s a good assist in the ongoing struggle with HS. Perhaps I’ll have something to suggest to other HS warriors after trying it out. We shall see.
Sunday was a great day! I was able to get myself together to go in person to the hall where my sister Lydia goes.
The meeting and fellowship were enjoyable. This was topped off by lunch at her home with she and her husband. That time of conversation, a meal and movie with them left me feeling emotionally full and satisfied 🥰🥰
While there, my sister insisted on painting my toenails, as I had expressed to her in passing how much they needed to be done💜💜…. She’s an awesome lady🥰
It always impresses me how special the simple moments can be when you’re with the people that bring you so much joy.
Started this day at 6:20😫… Didn’t want to, but my PCP arranged for me to have my lab work done at home. As with many services today, they give you a “window of time.” I was told the tech would arrive between 7a.m. and 11a.m….Oy. The possibility of them arriving at 7 meant I had to get up, shower and get ready.😴😴 They made it clear I’d be charged if not available at scheduled time.
Once I prepped sufficiently, I decided to lay down and try to rest until their arrival. Shortly thereafter, contractors began with the clean out of the house next door😏 bang bang, clank clank etc. A call came at 8 letting me know they’d be arriving within a half hour. The tech that came was unapologetically rude and I had to have him wash his hands before beginning… UNBELIEVABLE!
It was after this that I finished readying myself to go out, withdraw funds from the bank and head to retrieve my car from the mechanic.
I’m all too happy and thankful to have this day out of the way. I’m hoping and will pray for a restful night. So glad I don’t have any obligations or places to go tomorrow.🙏🏾
Saturday was a great day! I met my sister Lydia for field service.
After service, she treated me to a hoagie and she, her husband (my brother) and I sat around, talked and laughed. It was a truly great time.
This may sound simple to some, but it actually isn’t. It’s beyond special! Its a deep connection when you can do simple things or even nothing, and enjoy yourself to the fullest.
I returned home with my soul full and a smile in my heart.🥰
Seven years with my first one, now time to break in a new butt pillow. It’s primary purpose is to alleviate the pressure on my right buttock, that being the most damaged and painful side.
I can’t use the standard pillow as is, so you can see how I cave it out to better accommodate my needs.
I went through my phone a couple days ago and consolidated my HS pics into folders. Looking at the ones of my bottom helped me remember how far from normal I am, allowing me to be more realistic and reasonable in my expectations of myself. I typically would take pics with a flare, and therefore hadn’t really looked in a while. The pic I took and looked at the other day served it’s purpose.
When able and even desirous, yes, there are things I’ll do. When unable, I won’t. Jehovah has my entire situation sized up, and that’s all that matters. Mine is in no way a normal situation…I have to remember to remember this.
Huge uptick in Covid right now! Number of people I’m learning about is steadily growing day by day. I had it in June of 2022 and I pray not to get it again!
I’m quite sorry for my family members and friends presently infected. Some like to brush Covid off as “the new cold.” No, it’s a virus that can have lasting, irreparable, neurological, and for persons like myself that can’t get vaccinated as well as elderly, DEADLY consequences!!!
No, we can’t make it go away, and some of us are bound to get sick, however, precautions such as vigilant mask wearing and hand washing can help keep persons like myself from being exposed to this nuisance virus on top of existing physical struggles.
Not giving into the unspoken peer pressure to go maskless at a time like this is key. I pray for myself and loved ones to be wise and safe❣️
Within the past four weeks or so I’ve been moving. Not constantly, but definitely more consistently than usual. My PUSH past HS has included the following:
1. Three in person meetings at the kingdom hall.
2. A visit to my aunt’s house.
3. Taking in all three days of the Regional Convention. (Between the Buckingham and Liacouras locations)
4. In person ministry
5. Having my hair braided
I may be forgetting some things, but these alone are big in my fight to not be conquered and completely put on pause by this disease. While it would be easy to just give in to how I feel, I have to make purposeful decisions to do the things that matter to me and live as fully as this body allows.
In this moment, I feel a bit like I’m in what sometimes feels like the confining brick room, also known as the unending discomfort and limiting effect of HS, but I’m praying my way through and thinking ahead to what things I should put on my calendar of conquest next.🗓️
Still fighting 💪🏽
My sister Lydia said to me today that she feels she talks a lot and has been told as much by others. It literally took time for me to compute that statement in my head because it’s so contrary to what I’ve experienced in our 24yrs of being friends. 🤔
I had to strongly disagree! My sister is expressive and knows how to hold a balanced back and forth dialogue, which is why I literally can talk to her every day and never grow tired or bored with our conversations. She makes me feel heard and understood.
Reflecting on this made me search my mind for people I do think talk a lot and even too much! My conclusion is that people that talk incessantly about themselves, over talk others, fail to listen because of waiting for “their turn” or display other poor listening/conversational skills, are among those that I honestly dread talking to.
In short, it made me realize how fortunate I am to have my sister Lydia in my life. She’s a gem.💎🥰
So, we’re in convention season, and I always break up the three days because it’s too much on me. That’s where this blessing begins!
Instead of doing the three days at the Liacouras, my sister Lori and I decided to catch the Friday program today at Buckingham assembly hall. This has been the plan for some weeks now.
Now, maybe a little over a week ago, I begin feeling sensitivity to the left of my navel 😥… Yes, always an anxiety ridden experience because of the horrible flares I’ve had in the past. I decided to proceed and not get stressed out, but as expected, it begins to take shape..OY!
My prayer to Jehovah was literally that it not develop into anything crazy. So I’ve been keeping an eye on it for the past week or so. I expressed to my therapist Monday that this time had to be different! HS has taken enough from me these past fifteen years and I’ve had it. My plan was to keep the plans I had in place.
Meanwhile, Lori wasn’t onboard with me enduring such a long day in this state. I appreciated her concern, but was determined to get to the convention today. Well, for your reference, the cyst was about the diameter of you touching your thumb to your middle finger with lots of inflammation surrounding it.
Starting yesterday, I applied a concoction of tumeric, two different draw out salves, tea tree oil and the powder from a zinc gluconate capsule. I also did a tumeric and salt hot compress yesterday evening.
That brings us to today. My awesome sister came and got me and we went to Buckingham. During the break, I stood and waited for her while she went to try to assist someone. I wasn’t comfortable and went to touch my stomach. It seemed like I felt moisture, but I took it to be sweat. Wellllllll, when the program ended and we were leaving, I felt my stomach again… This time I knew what had taken place.
I was and am still sooooooooooo thankful to Jehovah for the way, beyond a doubt, he blessed me. For me, it’s literally as if he said, “I saw your effort, struggle and determination. Now I’m going to show you that I appreciate it.” What a sigh of relief.
I’ve had flares that lasted weeks, some even more. When they are on the abdominal area, it makes for very painful bowel movements because of having to use those muscles. My wonderful God and the prayers of some awesome people in my life, spared me that misery.🙏🏽
Thank you for allowing me to share🥰
I did something this weekend I haven’t done in quite a while. I made it out to share in in-person ministry yesterday and turned around and made it in-person to a Sunday public meeting!👏🏽 Whew Weeeee! Lol
A sacrifice isn’t a sacrifice unless it’s a sacrifice. Despite any physical soreness, I feel good that I was able to do this. I’m happy to show Jehovah that I’m still pushing and trying to demonstrate my appreciation for what he has and continues to do for me.
Luke 13:24 says, ‘Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door” I realize that my push will look different depending on the day, week etc, but, my goal is to consistently strive to do more in my service to Jehovah when I can.
I’m thankful for my sister Leah’s invite to join her in spiritual activity this weekend. It’s wind down time now
Hidradenitis Suppurativa 