Welcome, New Member Kari Hodgson/ Case History

Posted October 13, 2005 · October 13, 2005

Dear Kari,

On behalf of all our members, welcome to our Erythema Nodosum Group!

Thanks for sending in your Questionnaire. I have added the information

to our " Member Medical History " Files on the Group site and posted it

below.

You now have Full EN Group privileges.

You are receiving EN Group emails, and can also go to the EN Group

site whenever you like:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/erythema_nodosum_Group/

and logging on with your Yahoo ID and secret password.

You do not have to have the group emails delivered to be a member here.

One thing EN has taught me is patience. It may take you several weeks

of bedrest to improve. Don't give up. Many including myself reach

remission with bedrest alone. Be happy! You have a new baby on the way!

Love,

*******

Kari Hodgson's Case History

10/12/05

1. Your name and age: Kari Hodgson... age 32.

2. Your location: Kelowna, BC, Canada

3. Your email address:

kari_hodgson@...

4. Your Yahoo ID: kari_hodgson

5. Describe your erythema nodosum/PG symptoms or, if you do not have

EN or PG, please explain why you wish to join this group.

On Aug 13, 2005 I had a UTI and took a med called MONUREL for it.

Exactly one week later, on Aug 20, I awoke with three large red sore

swollen lumps on my legs. Since then it has only gotten worse. I have

lumps all over my right foot making it difficult to walk and

impossible to drive as my mobility has been restricted by the

inflammation and pain.

6. List any other health conditions.

I also have fibromyalgia and am also pregnant.

7. State what medications or treatments you take for EN, and their

effectiveness: For the first two weeks the doctor thought I had

spider bites and was treating me with antihistamines which were of no

help. Since then I have been elevating my legs and applying cold

compresses. I find this relieves some of the pain some of the time.

Recently I began wearing compression stockings and I am not sure if

they are helping or not. I am not taking any meds due to my

pregnancy. I have been on bedrest for over a week now and don't feel

I am improving at all.

8. When did you first get erythema nodosum or PG? The first time I

ever experienced EN was a few months after I first started taking

birth control pills at about age 13. At that time the doctor put me

on prednisone for a week or two (don't recall for sure) and that

cleared it up. Of course, I gained about 15 pounds and felt horrible

about myself, but the lumps were gone.

I believe I had it again about ten years ago and think that at that

time it may have been triggered by a UTI or the meds I took to clear

it up. I remember the doctor giving me postasium iodide and that

worked pretty good as I recall. Looking back, it seems that I have

had a flare up every 10 years since I was 13.

9. How long have you had erythema nodosum or PG? This time, since Aug

20, 2005. Today it's Oct 12.. that's way too long. Will it ever go away?

10. Do you agree to treat all EN members with respect? Absolutely. I

agree to treat all life forms with respect.

11.Do you agree to post NO advertisements for any products or

services? I absolutely agree.

12. How did you find this Group? (Google, Yahoo, Ask Jeeves Search,

referral from another group or person etc.) Google.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you

soon.

Kari.

Posted October 14, 2005 · October 14, 2005

Hi and all!

Thank you for the warm welcome. I look forward to becoming more informed about what is happening with my body and how I can best take care of myself. As I said, I am on bedrest now and am finding it very challenging as I have 7 year old girl/boy twins. Although they do help me out a lot, it's hard to not be able to care for them the way I truly want to so I really want to recover as quickly as possible.

I do have a couple of questions... first, does anyone have any experience with EN and pregnancy? Or experience with EN with fibromyalgia? Or experience with natural remedies (aside from rest and cold compresses)?

I have taken Potasium Iodide in the past and had good results, but don't know if it's safe to use during pregnancy. When I saw my dermatologist she said to just take ibuprophen 3 times a day, but that was before we knew that I am pregnant. I have not been taking anything at all as I don't want to put the baby(ies?) at risk.

I look forward to hearing back.Good health to you all,Kari. Strecker wrote:

Dear Kari,On behalf of all our members, welcome to our Erythema Nodosum Group!Thanks for sending in your Questionnaire. I have added the informationto our "Member Medical History" Files on the Group site and posted itbelow.You now have Full EN Group privileges.You are receiving EN Group emails, and can also go to the EN Groupsite whenever you like:http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/erythema_nodosum_Group/and logging on with your Yahoo ID and secret password.You do not have to have the group emails delivered to be a member here.One thing EN has taught me is patience. It may take you several weeksof bedrest to improve. Don't give up. Many including myself reachremission with bedrest alone. Be happy! You have a new baby on the

way!Love,*******Kari Hodgson's Case History10/12/051. Your name and age: Kari Hodgson... age 32.2. Your location: Kelowna, BC, Canada3. Your email address: kari_hodgson@...4. Your Yahoo ID: kari_hodgson5. Describe your erythema nodosum/PG symptoms or, if you do not haveEN or PG, please explain why you wish to join this group.On Aug 13, 2005 I had a UTI and took a med called MONUREL for it. Exactly one week later, on Aug 20, I awoke with three large red soreswollen lumps on my legs. Since then it has only gotten worse. I havelumps all over my right foot making it difficult to walk andimpossible to drive as my mobility has been restricted by theinflammation and pain.6. List any other health conditions.I also have fibromyalgia and am also pregnant.7. State what medications or treatments you take for EN, and

theireffectiveness: For the first two weeks the doctor thought I hadspider bites and was treating me with antihistamines which were of nohelp. Since then I have been elevating my legs and applying coldcompresses. I find this relieves some of the pain some of the time. Recently I began wearing compression stockings and I am not sure ifthey are helping or not. I am not taking any meds due to mypregnancy. I have been on bedrest for over a week now and don't feelI am improving at all.8. When did you first get erythema nodosum or PG? The first time Iever experienced EN was a few months after I first started takingbirth control pills at about age 13. At that time the doctor put meon prednisone for a week or two (don't recall for sure) and thatcleared it up. Of course, I gained about 15 pounds and felt horribleabout myself, but the lumps were gone. I believe I had it again about

ten years ago and think that at thattime it may have been triggered by a UTI or the meds I took to clearit up. I remember the doctor giving me postasium iodide and thatworked pretty good as I recall. Looking back, it seems that I havehad a flare up every 10 years since I was 13.9. How long have you had erythema nodosum or PG? This time, since Aug20, 2005. Today it's Oct 12.. that's way too long. Will it ever go away?10. Do you agree to treat all EN members with respect? Absolutely. Iagree to treat all life forms with respect.11.Do you agree to post NO advertisements for any products orservices? I absolutely agree.12. How did you find this Group? (Google, Yahoo, Ask Jeeves Search,referral from another group or person etc.) Google.Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from yousoon.Kari.

Posted October 14, 2005 · October 14, 2005