A woman has shared her harrowing journey after being diagnosed with a rare skin condition where boil-like spots have formed on her body – which has put her life on hold.
When Selina Ferragamo noticed painful red bumps popping up around her groin and pubic area, she assumed her complications with acne had spread to other parts of her body.
The 28-year-old found herself confused and embarrassed, where she chose to avoid wearing underwear to help ease the pain, instead of seeking out medical advice.
Soon, the condition had spread under her armpits, limiting her ability to move around without feeling excruciating discomfort.
She was diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa, an inflammatory skin disease, which has caused her life to be put on hold.
“I didn’t know my condition was going to be a forever thing and my armpits had gotten so bad that it hurt to walk,” the librarian told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
“Each step sent a sharp, shooting pain into my armpits, where I struggled to bend over and I really couldn’t do anything.”
While the root cause is unknown, with no cure in sight, Selina has chosen to switch up her diet, where she now avoids dairy and alcohol products.
Since then, she’s also had three further surgeries to remove any infection from the glands and reconstruct her armpits.
Although she’s had the support of her family and friends, cruel trolls often make comments, such as saying she has “herpes” or “skin mites.”
Selina, from New York, US, said: “I’ve gotten the wackiest comments, such as I must have an STD or it’s because I’m overweight.
“It’s taken a major toll on my mental health, where some days, I feel like a burden and others, I’m anxious for eating something that could cause a flare up.
“I get depressed that I can’t walk sometimes or if I have to cancel plans with friends.
“I want to be like other people who can ride a bike or go for a walk, but it’s just a constant stress for me.”
Selina, who also suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome, which causes irregular periods, facial hair and acne, thought the “boil-like” bumps were related.
However, as it became harder to sit and walk due to the “unbearable” pain, she started questioning the exact diagnosis.
She said: “I remember being sat in school and there was a day where my underwear was right on top of the bumps, which hurt so bad – I couldn’t concentrate on anything but the pain.
“It was like nothing I had ever experienced before, because it was in such an awkward placement and was very tender.”
In 2014, after the aforementioned large bump started to form under her armpit, her mum took her into a walk-in medical clinic, where they removed and drained the abscess.
She claims that as they didn’t numb the area enough, the procedure was “agonising” and one of the “most painful” experiences of her life.
Sadly, this wasn’t the end of her harrowing ordeal and over the next few years, her condition proceeded to get worse.
Luckily, her boyfriend, Mike, 33, has made her journey much more “bearable” with his understanding and support.
She said: “I feel very grateful I’ve been with my boyfriend for so long, as we’ve been together since school and he’s very understanding of my condition.
“It’s very hard to be open about a disease that can be so gruesome and unpleasant, where some people might not have the best reaction towards it.
“I’m very lucky to be with someone that takes care of me and doesn’t see it as a hindrance.
“It’s all about communication and being as open about how you’re feeling as possible though – you can’t keep anything hidden.”
Currently, she’s taking hormonal balancing medication to help with the flare ups and claims her skin is now in the “best” place – but has been left with permanent scarring.
Now, she’s hoping to raise awareness about the rare condition and to help other sufferers feel less alone in their battle.
Selina added: “It’s not your fault, remember that, as this is an uncontrollable disease.
“You are never alone and all your feelings are valid – it’s okay not to be okay and you need to take time for yourself.
“It might take trial and error, but it’s very common for it to take years for a diagnosis.
“If a doctor dismisses you, then go to another one – we all deserve to feel good on a daily basis and not live with a debilitating disease.
“I’ve been out of work, couldn’t move, couldn’t wear anything tight and basically lived in bed the whole time.
“It was so isolating, but I’m grateful to my friends, family and boyfriend that they were there the whole time and tried to make me feel better.
“I make memes to help me cope living with this, as laughter is the best medicine.
“Everybody is different and everybody is going to have different root causes – there isn’t just one.
“And those that mind, don’t matter, and the people that matter, don’t mind.”
