So, I Go To The Doctor For A *Simple* Rash...

[Christine]

...and it's not so simple.

For YEARS, I have had some facial flushing and my chest will flush. I am fair skin with a lot of "red" in me and I flush easily. Things that bring it on are sun, heat, and anxiety.

Yesterday, after I got out the shower, I noticed my usual "flushing" but somehow it seemed worse and a bigger area (this is the chest area). It was very splotchy. Almost hive-like, but not quite. It was also a tad itchy. This morning, I noticed the same thing.

When I got to work, I called to make an appointment with a dermotologist. Just my like, the physician's assistant had an opening at 2:00 p.m.

I figured that I was going to get the lecture on allergies, soaps etc. But no, he was very perplexed. He thought that it was probably due to the way I am "vascularized" and past sun exposure/damage, but he called "The Big Guy" in anyway.

The Big Guy examined me. Also thought that I just "vascularized" too much in that area, that we were *probably* looking at just "flushing". He continues to exam me and says "Well, I know you do have dermatographia." Apparently, anytime I am touch with enough pressure, I get a red mark. This is caused by histamine release in the skin. There is nothing to be done about it but could be part of the explanation.

He then says "You have two very suspicious looking moles on your back and I want to biopsy them." I tell him "I have a lot of moles." He says "Yeah, but these are very dark and you are very white--not so good." So they took those off.

Then I'm told that if I don't show improvement with all the antihistamines they've loaded me up with, that I will have to be tested for LUPUS!!!! OMG.

I am so "bleepin'" depressed right now.

There are just days that I really think I can't take it anymore. It just never, ever stops. Wasn't thyroid cancer enough? Weren't the four (thank god benign) breast lumps with surgeries enough?

So, now I've got the possibility of skin cancer and lupus? Oh, and my mammogram is next month. Great.

And, after 4 weeks, I'm still hacking up mucous. Not a great way to start a weekend is it?

Please come to my pity party.

 

[disneygals]

 

[luvwinnie]

Do you have rosacea?

Do you have symptoms of systemic lupus or only skin involvement?

Hoping they get to the bottom of this and it's all as benign as possible!

 

[ADisneygirl]

Please follow through and get this checked out thoroughly. See your regular doctor too. Many things can mask themselves as "rashes".

 

[llij]

Sending warm wishes your way......

 

[zipDdoodah]

I too have dermatographia. It sucks! Pretty much all the doctors have offered me is antihistamines, which help take the itching away, but the redness is always there. Anyway, hang in there! At least know that you aren't alone.

 

[MinnieM3]

Nothing is simple anymore these days, is it?

 

[Aurora63]

Hope it all turns out okay.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I hope that everything will be OK.

 

[disykat]

 

[CathrynRose]

...

Please come to my pity party.

I will come to your pity party.

And since Im invited - I felt I should remind you that Doctors make a LOT of money doing tests, that quite frankly, are fluff. Granted - the moles should maybe be looked at, and for whatever reason, theyve decided to check for lupus. But - odds (I think) are in your favor.

I'm 32 - went to the doc when my mom was in ICU for some XANAX cuz (as you can imagine) I was FLIPPING OUT. All I wanted was Xanax - because I was FLIPPING OUT he ran an EKG, blood tests, urine tests - yada yada yada. And because I was FLIPPING OUT I didnt say "Absolutely not" and let him run his gammets....

I was fine. He said my ketones were high. (why in the heck is he cheaking for ketones!!!) Well yeah - cuz I hadnt been eating. I got my Xanax and went on my merry way, with a $540 Doctor bill that my insurance didnt cover, considering I went in for Xanax.

So, take it with a grain of salt. I think youre fine. Signed - Dr Cathryn

 

[Ness2289]

 

[Christine]

Thanks everyone.

luvwinnie--Yes, I think I do have rosacea which is what I always thought was what was going on with my chest area. I "flush" easily when in sunlight, under stress, or if I eat spicy foods.

As for lupus, the only noticeable symptoms I have (besides the skin stuff), is that I do have a lot of a fatigue. But I also have a very busy life. My skin redness is not in the "typical" butterfly pattern but I guess with lupus, it doesn't have to be.

zipdDoodah--can you tell me more about your dermatographia? How does it present itself on you. I turn red very easily when touch. If I have anything on my chest or neck, it will get read very easy. When my doctor does a thyroid neck exam on me, it looks like he tried to strangle me afterwards. I get read very easy on certain areas of my body, but not so much on others.

CathrynRose--I hear you on the tests. So far they haven't done the lupus test on me yet--they want to wait 4-6 weeks to see if I improve on antihistamines. Sorry you had some much trouble getting Xanax. I have truckloads of it here at my house. In fact, I popped one when I got home but it's not working.

 

[Chip n Dale]

Christine,
I have the whole red face thing that you have and when ever I am in the sun, work out, get excited I get super duper red. And also the red marks after I get scratched even the slightest bit hard or touched real hard. What my dermotologist said it was, was Permanent hives basically.. So I will always have them with me and they will always be there. I feel for you.. And as far as the moles go.. I am sorry to hear that and I Hope your test results come back that they are nothing! Good Luck and take care..

Signed,

A fellow red flushed face and hive having person!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Christine, I'll join you for the pity party! Do you want me to bring wine or cake?

I hope you get some good answers soon--you've been through a lot.

I know that some days I feel that I'm just falling apart with the headaches and other assorted issues.

Hang in there!

 

[snappy]

Can I crash the pity party too? I'll bring the bear sowe can cry into it.

Seriously, hope the moles check out benign.

 

[zipDdoodah]

As far as the dermatographia goes, from everything I've read and heard about it, they aren't totally sure what causes it (possibly nerves or allergies), and there is no cure for it, but thankfully it's not a deadly disease or anything, just annoying. Supposedly it can get better on its own (mine never seems to) or sometimes get worse. It's pretty much like a mystery disease. Anywhere on my body can get red very easily. My kids think it's a hoot because I write their names on my arm by gently drawing with my fingernail...then a minute or so later the message shows up and lasts for about an hour. Allergy meds will help with the itching but not the redness.

 

[Deb in IA]

I'm sorry you are not feeling well, but I'm glad your doctors are being careful and thorough.

 

[Christine]

Christine, I'll join you for the pity party! Do you want me to bring wine or cake?

Cake. The wine makes me "flush." Geez, I can't even get wasted.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Cake. The wine makes me "flush." Geez, I can't even get wasted.

I can't get wasted, either. As much as I'd like to sometimes. Gives me...you guessed it...migraines (what doesn't?)! I know, it's not funny, but sometimes a person has a choice--do you laugh or do you cry, so this very minute I'm choosing to laugh.