SSKI Potassium Iodide question

[Guest guest]

Hello! I am going on a six-month long bout of EN and had some questions. My EN is of the "migrans" type I believe...just one spot on one shin that has migrated around. The dermatologist thinks it is from going off of birth control pills, and I am starting to think maybe he is right, as I have noticed a definite decrease in EN intensity immediately after my period. Does anyone else notice this? I am hoping that my body starts to adjust to my own levels of hormones.

I finally got my dermatologist to prescribe SSKI drops in December (potassium iodide), and that helped a lot, healing my EN within a couple of weeks. However, upon going off of the drops, I tried to exercise, and the EN came back IMMEDIATELY (during my long walk). I have ran a marathon and really miss running. How long after a remission do you feel it is safe to try exercising again? , please don't tell me I have to commit to a lifetime of sedentary living! I am a physical therapist and have an exercise science major. This is killing me!

Also, I am wondering how safe long-term use of SSKI is. I seem to be having relapses each time I think it is resolved, so I go back on the drops. I read that SSKI use can possibly affect your thyroid. Should I request regular thyroid function tests if I am taking SSKI over a long period of time?

Also, can you get SSKI over-the-counter? I am thinking you can. Does this require preparation of your own solution?

And finally, has anyone had a case of a tender lump in the armpit while taking SSKI? I had gotten one last week and had read that this can be due to many things (great, another unknown!), but one of them was taking iodide. So I stopped taking the drops, and within a couple of days, my armpit lump was gone. But now my EN is flaring up again. AHHHHHHHHH!!! I guess I am just destined to have one painful lump somewhere on my body at all times!

I think that is all for now. All comments are appreciated. Thanks! Sara