Angel on Battling Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Thyroid Cancer

Podcast guest Angel, who discusses hidradenitis suppurativa and thyroid cancer on this episode of Major Pain.

In this episode of Major Pain, we continue our talks with people dealing with hidradenitis suppurativa. Today we talk to Angel, a mother of five who has had multiple health challenges. A self described “homestead mom”, Angel loves to grow vegetables in the garden and make her own food like butter whenever she is able. She stays busy homeschooling her autistic son while raising her other four children, including a fifteen month old. She hopes someday to get a small acreage and have a few animals and live the country life.

At thirty years old, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had to have multiple surgeries to drain and remove the liquid filled tumor, and eventually her entire thyroid. After the surgeries and radiation treatment, she still struggles with getting the right supplements to replace her thyroid hormones, properly absorb nutrition and avoiding fluctuations in weight.

After the birth of her son, the skin symptoms that had been an undiagnosed since she was a teenager became much worse. She had struggled with doctors telling her that she had contact rashes or allergies to certain fabrics or personal care products like deodorant. Finally, at thirty three years old she got the diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa. While finally being diagnosed was a relief, it was also the beginning of a long road looking for treatments. She tried Humera but experienced minimal relief with a lot of side effects. Cosentyx had worked fairly well for her until she became pregnant with her youngest child. Now she is attempting to get back on a new medication but has struggled with insurance for approval for a year. On this podcast episode she talks us through her journey so far, and discusses her public advocacy as @hsqueen96.

Watch the episode on YouTube or Spotify, listen here on our website or on your favorite podcast platform.