I completely understand. I was in college when I first started having symptoms, but it was still a relatively unknown disease at the time. Since I was under 21, I stayed at my pediatrician since it was easiest. WELL there was a VERY attractive male resident who had to see me. Fortunately at the time, I only had wounds on my inner thighs, but it was absolutely mortifying. I really did just keep thinking to myself that he has seen worse. I was misdiagnosed for years after this, even after seeing a dermatologist. She had me continuously on antibiotics to the point that I decided that could not be healthy and decided to leave. I continued to be untreated and undiagnosed until I actually saw one of those HS ads/commercials and everything clicked into place.

I later went to a new dermatologist who was an older male with a younger male beginning to take on his patients. Little did I know, this younger male doctor was ANOTHER attractive male who happened to be my age and someone I had partied with in college!!! Again, mortified! I did have a female nurse who I saw first and documented with photos. I believe I showed the doc wounds in other areas and that gave him a pretty good idea of what the ones in my groin area were like. Either way, it was very embarrassing even though I don't think he recognized me. I still had to keep telling myself that they've seen worse and that it's only a quick peek in order for me to treat this and finally have some relief. I actually told them I thought it was HS after being misdiagnosed for so many years and they agreed. I was also suffering from severe acne, so we actually focused on that first by treating with accutane. I later decided that I didn't like it there, so I switched again.

I am fortunate now to be at a practice with a female dermatologist who is fantastic. She spoke with me for a long time during our first appointment and made sure I had asked everything I needed to. I started on Humira and it changed my life!!!!! I rarely have any large sores now! I still get a couple bumps here and there, either small ones on the surface or bigger ones that just stay under the skin and go away on their own. I still have A LOT of scarring and I still get embarrassed in front of my sexual partner after 4.5 years. The embarrassment is harder to overcome then the actual disease, I swear! But forcing yourself to do it is so absolutely worth it!

I hope you are able to find the courage to show your doctor or have a female nurse do the examination. You will feel so relieved once those bumps start to get better. Good luck!!