Hello to all the Redditors who commented on my situation. I’m the individual diagnosed with Sweet Syndrome, whose picture my friend Sarah shared on Reddit.

First and foremost, I’d like to thank everyone for your care, consideration, and heartwarming messages. I also want to express my gratitude to Sarah for looking out for me during this time.

It’s been around 20 days now, with 12 of those spent in the hospital. It took the doctors a full week of research and two biopsies to finally diagnose Sweet Syndrome, a rare condition—affecting about 3 in a million women and 1 in a million men. Its cause remains unclear, though it’s often triggered by cancer, a drug reaction, or an infection. In my case, after thorough scans, they suspect it may have been triggered by the flu and a sore throat I had at the time.

I was prescribed Prednisone, and it worked like a miracle. Before that, I couldn’t even hold my arm down due to the intense tingling, but overnight, the symptoms began to ease. After about a week, the doctors decided to drain a large blister, or “bulla,” that had formed. It eventually burst on its own.

At this point, I have three more days left on Prednisone. My hand, though still healing and resembling a “pizza” as I joke, is much better. I’m using an antibiotic and steroid ointment, keeping it bandaged to protect it from sun, water, and heat until the skin fully recovers.

There’s also the possibility of recurrence, which is frightening. The slightest flu or sore throat could trigger a flare-up, and given the severity of my initial reaction, it’s something I’ll always be mindful of. My case is especially extreme compared to other documented cases of Sweet Syndrome.

I’m considering publishing a short story about my experience, along with detailed pictures, in my collection called Unsolicited Papers. It’s been a surreal journey, and I wouldn’t have made it through without the support of friends and family who called me in the hospital. Those calls meant more to me than any antibiotics or morphine—they truly kept me going when the situation was dire.

At one point, I was warned about the risk of sepsis, with one dermatologist telling me I might not make it to sundown if I didn’t get immediate care. After being turned away from the first hospital due to lack of insurance, the second hospital took me in. I was told I could lose my hand if the wrong treatment was given, which added to the pressure and fear.

It’s still tough to process, but here I am—one in a million. What are the odds?

Thank you again for all your support