Guest guest Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 Hi anyone... I had such a severe pain in my back, w small rash, last week I rang my usual dr clinic (there’re about 4 working there) and asked to see anyone. (I was a bit scared b/c the pain was so similar and close in location to T8 vertebrae I had compression wedge fracture 2 yrs ago...). I managed to see one I’ve seen b4 when can’t get to see my usual, and, to my amazement he dx it as shingles. I’ve had this kind of pain before, esp areas of the spine. For nearly a decade I’ve had incr more aggressive rashes, some painful and burning/itching, some are sores which remain a year or more, and leave dark scars. I started a new cycle of rashes again yesterday, now ramping up. (am sitting at puter w an iceblock under armpit, rotating one to the other.. ). There’ve been lots of guesses, and biopsy of sores: Staph, and Candida – those not biopsied, who knows... The large red burning patches, what are they? I’ve had them just about e’where on my body, severe enough that clothing becomes really trying – to find something that doesn’t hurt, aggravate.....underwear is impossible sometimes... I’ve had every cream, lotion and potion, antihistamines, antivirals, steroids etc etc, nothing makes it go away and not come back... Is this what it will be like as I get older, but worse, as my immune system gets weaker and weaker... Is it worth living like this? Enough already, coughing up all day & night for 55 yrs, IBS continually having to be careful.., dental hygiene a constant demand... In pain somewhere most of the time, no dx what/why... I know I’m being self-pitying, that most of you have far worse to deal with b/c bronch is secondary to an even worse condition in most cases. The patronising, condescending response to my questions has really set me off, I want to do something about it, but how? I’ll probably just get more of the same... Sorry guys, I hope you don’t mind, I really need to vent some of this, tho I do want to find a way to make a formal complaint... Sandy, Just want to say thx, the email to Marilyn, helps to keep ‘on track’, to not give up, give in. Am feeling tired and teary, I’m not sure why the response from medhelp has infuriated, enraged almost, to such a degree, I guess it’s just ANOTHER in a trail going back 55 years. I don’t want to suck it in, squash it, pretend it’s ok it doesn’t matter... Something in me snapped. but I will get over it... I’m so grateful for this site, and the people who have become dear friends, thx everyone joy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 have you ever considered psorriasis as the culprit? Never Look Down on SomeoneUnless You're Willing to Help Them UpIt's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money Finance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 Hi Sandie, I truly don’t know, neither do I get any leads from docs, they just say it’s heat rash... Maybe it is, but I didn’t ever think of heat rash as feeling like a burn, the skin swollen red and painful, with sores and blisters. But anyway, this one started yesterday, comes quickly from nothing, and it not not any more. I’ve done scabies & head lice treatments, another dx yrs ago was Lichens simplex chronicus – a fancy name for saying you’ve got a rash b/c of scratching. I don’t scratch - just another patronising way of saying ‘ we haven’t got a clue, but it’s probably your own fault..’ I’m sitting w an ice-block under one arm at a time, I’ll find where my aloe-vera is growing (hope it’s still alive somewhere) tomorrow, it pouring, and too dark to find it tonigh†. I’ll also try getting to a doc to see it while it’s like this. We have one dermatologist for the whole city, and a 10-12 month waiting list...if I can stand it that long... I’ll ask about the psoriasis as a poss if I can get to a doc in time, while it still shows. Thnx for your response, Joy PS when I click to ‘send’ this message it is telling me it must be sent using Unicode – can’t find where I can alter anything, but let me know if you can’t read this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Joy, Can you do a web search for dermatological problems? I did this recently when I had the bruise on my tongue and got a lot of information. Also, when my grand daughter had a red rash (it was Fifth's disease, a common childhood illness). Just type in a description of your rash or dermatology in the search bar and see what you get. Do you have Google? If not, describe it to me and I will try to research. MarilynIt's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money Finance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Hi Marilyn, Yes I have Googled quite a few times, but difficult to be sure of anything b/c have had a number of different rashes – last year at least 2 types were i.d by biopsy – candida, and staph. They were more as isolated clusters of sores that wouldn’t heal. The other rashes : 1) looks similar – very – to zoster, but appears to cross a midline or is atypical in some other way, one of these caused the pain a week ago, around L scapula to L side of neck. 2) largish areas like a burn – looks similar to very bad sunburn, and feels much the same (from memory). First time was L groin, recurred for 2-3 yrs, gradually faded after about 4-5 yrs, but a similar pattern under armpits and sometimes on ribcage below breasts (but not where ‘overhang’ necessarily, so not caused by skin/skin contact). B/c of location were dismissed at heat rash. Last year (in our winter) had same on back of neck, had to cut the fine hair at nape b/c couldn’t bear anything touching, and tied my hear up more severely than normally. December, another outbreak covered my back fully from waist to bra-line, other times in lines close to bra-line – had the elastane in my bras aggravated it, doesn’t usually happen... The u’arm area has spread to cover a much wider surface area, halfway down inner arm and down side of ribs... Maybe I’ll try find a site where I can include all that – usually the search parameters are too narrow, doesn’t really help. I tried the medhelp line and that’s where I got the silly response about no-one else is responsible for making appts to see a specialist – AFTER I’d already stated there were no dermatologists here... Hopefully the biopsy will have some results, but won’t know til next Wed 26th (Easter break slowing things up – presume it’s Easter in US too??) The redness has faded, but still sore - if I’d stood by the road yesterday & lifted my arm I’d have stopped traffic – they would’ve thought I was a red stop light !! Thanks so much for your support – feeling achey, stiff, tired, and fed up - just a little!!! It will pass...... wants to do some bryology searches, so will come back later... Cheers all, smile, now and then ??!! joy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.