So we have gotten to the bottom of it. Two more doctors and $135 in copays later we have what I feel is safe to assume the truth. This morning when I woke up I had a new rash on my right arm, as well as one making a line across my rib cage. I kinda panicked because the rib cage welts looked a hell of a lot like the shingles I had a few months before me wedding. I figured I would call my doc up and let him see this new development. I was only able to get in to see the nurse practitioner, but she was totally freaked out by this mad rash. She said it really didn't look like any kind of poison ivy/oak or sumac that she knew of and she would place money on a bite, but then she had no idea why it was spreading...
She sent me over to an Dermatologist (who tried to give me an appointment on June 16th and the lady was like, OH NO. This CANNOT wait. This girls arm looks TERRIBLE! Soooo...they got me in TODAY. Amazing how they find those appointments when they have too...Anyway, the dermatologist said that it is some contact dermatitis, because that is what would spread like that. She then said that it is not one of the three well known ones. There are other things like those that are more rare, so you don't hear about them, but she thinks I got into something...else. God only knows. She did seem sure and I totally trust her. She could explain all of it, and really, that was all I was looking for.
She gave me a much stronger steroid cream, laughed when I said they gave me Zertec, and she gave me Prednisone. She said it will stop future breakouts and the cream will treat the ones I have. And that my friends, is the end of the arm funk debate. Thanks for sticking with me! I will leave you with a final picture. Lets hope it only gets better from here!
This stuff really isn't photographing well, but I just keep trying!
ok, this look lots worse than the last picture!
ReplyDeletegood thing it isn't shingles! (you can only get that once, right?)
good luck!
wait, you got shingles before your wedding? that sounds like a post all to itself!
ReplyDeleteOh, honey, that looks AWFUL!! A contact dermatitis? Have you figured out what it was? On your tummy must be something on your clothes or new lotion or something like that?? New detergent??
ReplyDeleteOh, my goodness! I am so happy to hear you finally have an accurate diagnosis. I was getting really worried! Hope you are all better soon! :D
ReplyDeleteMy ex-boss (an internist, albeit, not a dermatologist) used to call every skin disorder that came his way either contact dermatitis or urticaria.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I hope the meds work.
um, I have had the same rash before. In the same place. Hope it clears up soon. Love the header, by the way. :)
ReplyDeleteHas no one mentioned hives? That doesn't look fun at all -- I hope it clears up for you ASAP.
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