my dermatology visit

[Guest guest]

You'd think I'd learn by now, doctors don't like to diagnose anything.

I came home determined we all must wear signs that say " we really don't

know what we're talking about, please feel free to assume whatever you

want as it must be the truth " on our foreheads.

First of all, I wasn't happy because neither he nor the nurse asked me

why I was there. I had told the appointment person I wanted an

appointment for a rash. Obviously, the appointment person doesn't write

that down, but you would think *someone* who did care might have asked

me why I was there. Nope, he automatically starts checking me for

suspicious moles, and is chattering so much, it was hard to break in to

tell him what I wanted. He looks at my nice razor rash looking rash

(which did come up from the sun), and says at first that he isn't sure

what it is, but it's not lupus. I explain how someone from this list

had said that's what her rash looked like and it was a lupus rash.

Nope, nope, her rash couldn't look like that if it were lupus. You see,

people with lupus often have translucent skin where you can see the tiny

blood vessels underneath and *that's* probably what she was talking

about. No amount of me saying " this is what a person with lupus said

her rash looked like " got through to the man.

I told him that sun made it appear. By now, he's decided it's

follicular eczema. He then tells me, sun really doesn't make it appear,

it just makes the rash more visible to me when it's really there all

along, after all follicular eczema isn't affected by the sun. I told

him, it definitely *is* affected by the sun. I asked about the red

rash that sometimes appears across my nose and checks. I remind him of

when I came in like 4 years ago, he said he wasn't sure it was rosacea.

I told him how it never had gotten worse when I wasn't using the cream

he gave me, and how when someone from work who had rosacea stopped using

the cream for one day, she'd turn bright red. So I asked him if he

thought it could be the lupus butterfly rash. Nope, he didn't think it

could be because the lupus butterfly rash is *raised*, while mine

isn't. He then couldn't tell me what it was. Later on I looked at, I

think it was the Lupus Foundation's website, and it said the butterfly

rash could be raised or flat.

So then we go back to my body rash. He is sure it's follicular eczema

because lots of people with fibro have weird rashes. Or maybe it's

because I'm growing older (38). He wouldn't take the possibility of

lupus seriously until I mention to him that I did have a positive ANA.

He finally agreed to take a biopsy while muttering all the while " I

can't believe that's lupus, I'd be really surprised if it were " . Maybe

it isn't, but I find it hard to believe it's follicular eczema either.

I went to one of the main websites for eczema, and it said all eczema

itches which is what I thought. Mine doesn't itch, and I told him that

too.

I just feel so frustrated! Why do doctors think we really don't know

what we're talking about? Why can't they accept what we are saying? My

rash isn't better seen after being in the sunlight, it shows up as a

result of sunlight. I had new rash in spots that weren't exposed to the

sun after I sat out in the sun for a half an hour. If it were just that

my skin suddenly changed colors that I could see the rash better, I

shouldn't be able to see " new " rash in an area that wasn't exposed to

the sun. Maybe I don't have lupus, but of all the symptoms people with

fibro complain about, weird rashes isn't one I've seen very often, if at

all. So does anyone with just fibro, and not lupus, have weird,

unexplained rashes? So once again, I was sent away, with either no

diagnoses or a poor diagnoses, and no kind of treatment. If it was

really eczema, why didn't he give me some kind of cream to see if it

would help clear it up? I'm just so frustrated of going to one doctor

after another (for all my problems, not just the rash), and them

basically turning me away with no help.

Darcy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/25/2001 9:52:42 AM Pacific Standard Time,

catstamp@... writes:

> So does anyone with just fibro, and not lupus, have weird,

> unexplained rashes

Hi,

I get rashes from being out in the sun. About two years ago I stupidly

spent about 20 min. in direct sulight. First I came down with red splotches

on my body. Then I ended up with feeling sick to my stomach followed by the

worst pain I have ever had. It was so horrible I couldn't get up. I can't

explain what it felt like. I have had a slightly positive ANA but no one was

concerned.

[Guest guest]

GreenEyez1978@... wrote:

> I get rashes from being out in the sun. About two years ago I stupidly

> spent about 20 min. in direct sulight. First I came down with red splotches

> on my body. Then I ended up with feeling sick to my stomach followed by the

> worst pain I have ever had. It was so horrible I couldn't get up. I can't

> explain what it felt like. I have had a slightly positive ANA but no one was

> concerned.

, this sounded just like me!! Guess this makes you me weird rash,

buddy!! I also have a positive ANA that no one is quite sure what it

means. If you ever get this figured out, let me know, and I'll do the

same. Thanks for letting me know this!

Darcy

[Guest guest]

GreenEyez1978@... wrote:

> I get rashes from being out in the sun. About two years ago I stupidly

> spent about 20 min. in direct sulight. First I came down with red splotches

> on my body. Then I ended up with feeling sick to my stomach followed by the

> worst pain I have ever had. It was so horrible I couldn't get up. I can't

> explain what it felt like. I have had a slightly positive ANA but no one was

> concerned.

, this sounded just like me!! Guess this makes you me weird rash,

buddy!! I also have a positive ANA that no one is quite sure what it

means. If you ever get this figured out, let me know, and I'll do the

same. Thanks for letting me know this!

Darcy

[Guest guest]

GreenEyez1978@... wrote:

> I get rashes from being out in the sun. About two years ago I stupidly

> spent about 20 min. in direct sulight. First I came down with red splotches

> on my body. Then I ended up with feeling sick to my stomach followed by the

> worst pain I have ever had. It was so horrible I couldn't get up. I can't

> explain what it felt like. I have had a slightly positive ANA but no one was

> concerned.

, this sounded just like me!! Guess this makes you me weird rash,

buddy!! I also have a positive ANA that no one is quite sure what it

means. If you ever get this figured out, let me know, and I'll do the

same. Thanks for letting me know this!

Darcy

[Guest guest]

wrote:

> I say,

> trust your instincts. If you have a positive ANA and the symptoms and

> you think that you have LUPUS more than likely you are right.

Dh was more sure than I was, but I'm slowly starting to be convinced.

when I went back to the neurologist, she asked me what the

rheumatologist had said about the one positive test. I was kind of

puzzled why she asked that since the rheumy hadn't even mentioned that

test as anything she was interested in. Then I went on the net and saw

a positive on that test was indicative of several diseases. About the

only one that I could have had was lupus. So I guess when I set off to

find a new rheumy, I'll know enough to ask them about that test.

>And the

> butterfly rash has been flat in almost everyone I know that has

> Lupus.

Thanks for letting me know this.

I wish that these idiot drs that don't want to listen would

> have little warnings on them cautioning about them being such rude

> idiots!!

Love this idea!! Wouldn't that be great? You could stop by an office a

head of time, and read the tag attached to their door " spends more time

chatting with the cute receptionist than going over your records " or

" starts off wonderful, but fades fast, will work if you prod him to " to

see if this would be a doctor you could put up with.

Do you have allergies too hon? Not all people, but a lot of

> people with Lupus have a lot of allergies. Can you possibly go to

> another dermatologist that actually knows what he is talking about?

THere should be other dermatologists listed for our insurance. I

emailed a friend who had said he like his dermatologist, so if he's on

our insurance, I might try him. I also got a recommendation for a

rheumy who is on my insurance, so after the first of the year, I might

try the doctor round again. I do have a lot of allergies, as well as

asthma.

Darcy

[Guest guest]

wrote:

> I say,

> trust your instincts. If you have a positive ANA and the symptoms and

> you think that you have LUPUS more than likely you are right.

Dh was more sure than I was, but I'm slowly starting to be convinced.

when I went back to the neurologist, she asked me what the

rheumatologist had said about the one positive test. I was kind of

puzzled why she asked that since the rheumy hadn't even mentioned that

test as anything she was interested in. Then I went on the net and saw

a positive on that test was indicative of several diseases. About the

only one that I could have had was lupus. So I guess when I set off to

find a new rheumy, I'll know enough to ask them about that test.

>And the

> butterfly rash has been flat in almost everyone I know that has

> Lupus.

Thanks for letting me know this.

I wish that these idiot drs that don't want to listen would

> have little warnings on them cautioning about them being such rude

> idiots!!

Love this idea!! Wouldn't that be great? You could stop by an office a

head of time, and read the tag attached to their door " spends more time

chatting with the cute receptionist than going over your records " or

" starts off wonderful, but fades fast, will work if you prod him to " to

see if this would be a doctor you could put up with.

Do you have allergies too hon? Not all people, but a lot of

> people with Lupus have a lot of allergies. Can you possibly go to

> another dermatologist that actually knows what he is talking about?

THere should be other dermatologists listed for our insurance. I

emailed a friend who had said he like his dermatologist, so if he's on

our insurance, I might try him. I also got a recommendation for a

rheumy who is on my insurance, so after the first of the year, I might

try the doctor round again. I do have a lot of allergies, as well as

asthma.

Darcy

[Guest guest]

Darcy

LMFAO, I love your sign statements lol!! lets see, one for my primary

dr " I run around in my socks and act like the nutty professor(Jerry

lee lewis?? the original nutty professor lol) I forget things, but

I'm caring and understanding " Yep, that about describes him lol. It's

like a comic book coming to life most of the time I see him lol.

I hope that you don't have Lupus, but I want you to find the problem

too. It's hard enough having one disease, but it seems like most of

us have one on top of the other.

I wish you much luck and many prayers about finding a new

dermatologist and rheumy. I'm sorry if my writing is a bit fuzzy. My

meds are kinda messing with my mind, but I need to catch up lol. Take

care of yourself hon, and if ya need anything, just give a holler.

Love and Prayers,