SUPA'S FIGHT WITH STEVENS JOHNSON SYNDROME

Hi my name is Tarique, but all my friends call me Supa or SupaDupaHumble.

On Thursday, November 9th my life changed for the worse. It all started with itchy, watery, red eyes which I honestly thought was just a mild case of pink eye. Shortly after, I started feeling slight tingling in my lips that got progressively worse by the minute. Within a few hours, my lips were burning and swollen with blisters all over. I decided to sign up for the K Health app for some help. I told them my symptoms and they prescribed some eye drops and recommended over the counter Claritin. To them, it just seemed like an allergic reaction. Despite feeling extremely weak and distraught, I managed to walk to my near by phamarcy to fill the prescription. The drops soothed my eyes but my other symptoms only got worse!

Fast forward to Friday evening, 11/11/23 - I ordered an Uber to the Emergency Room. I told them my symptoms and they too thought it was an allergic reaction. Gave me an Epi shot and some anti inflammatory steroids to ease the pain/ swelling in my throat. By now, my lips are HUGE, eyes are almost crusted shut and there are huge red/black/purple ulcers all over my lips, inner mouth and THROAT. The ER doctor was extremely concerned because he’s never seen anything like this in his life… as a matter of fact, before discharging me he ordered an HIV TEST because it was the only thing he could think of! Can you imagine? I WAS SHOOK! But of course, the blood work ruled out all of that stuff. Shortly after, I was discharged for the night, continued to take the prescribed eye drops/ Claritin and even took some Benadryl which did absolutely NOTHING. I spent the next 7 hours, tossing and turning, scared as shit because what is happening to me? I literally felt like I was dying. I probably got up to look in the mirror every hour and finally decided to revisit the emergency again Saturday morning 11/12/23 and boom! The doctor walks in and diagnosed me with STEVENS JOHNSON SYNDROME‼️ He then proceeds to tell me that I need to be RUSHED BY AMBULANCE to the ICU at another hospital an HOUR AWAY! SJS?? Never heard of this shit a day in my life. He continues to explain that Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a LIFE THREATENING medical condition where the body turns against itself, causing the skin to blister and peel away in sheets, resembling gruesome third degree burns just without fire. This fatal disorder is often triggered by common medications, transforming the body's defense into a merciless attacker, leaving victims in agonizing pain and facing the risk of organ failure or even DEATH⚰️‼️ How did I get here you may ask? Bro, I had a lil groin pain that I finally decided to check out. My primary doctor referred me to a Urologist to make sure everything was ok… I had an appointment 10/27/23 and the Urologist told me I had prostatitis which is just benign inflammation of the prostate gland. It can be very painful and distressing, but will often get better eventually… AKA I could’ve just did nothing and would’ve avoided FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE. He assured me that everything will be fine and I only had to take Bactrim aka sulfamethoxazole 800/trimeth 160mg twice per day for 2 weeks. I proceeded to take the medicine that very same day - I took it for about 10 days until my health started to deteriorate.

I’ve been in the ICU SUFFERING WITH SJS FOR 12 DAYS NOW and never in my life thought I’d be here, especially not on THANKSGIVING away from my family. Words can’t accurately explain what I’m currently going through and what my recovery will be like. It’s going to be extremely difficult but I got this! Don’t give up on your boy. I started a Go Fund Me because only God knows what’s to come. I appreciate all of you, y’all supported me from day 1 and just know it never went unnoticed. Love! ♥️