So the funny thing is that I have symptoms that to a "normal" person would sound weird, but to me there almost always there so they are no longer weird or unusual. I think , "Oh that's back. Hmmm." Then I go on about my day. Then there are symptoms that even I go, "okay that's weird."
I'd show you a picture except it's really impossible to get great pictures of "rashes" or "bumps." Co-incidentally about 10 minutes after taking my first new supplement that's supposed to Detox -- but really .. 10 minutes, I highly doubt they are related -- anywhoo -- what was I saying? Oh yeah, I got into bed and realized that my back was itching.
I've learned that when I itch that it is better to kind of "rub" the itches rather than to "scratch" the itches because when I scratch it leaves red welts on my skin which makes skin irritations look worse than they are so that when I finally look at whatever is itching that I'm surprised by the red raised mess that's there.
Where was I? Oh yeah, so I get into bed and realize my back is itching. I rub my right shoulder to ease the itching and feel tiny bumps. I rub my left shoulder and feel bumps. I ask my husband to get up and check my back and surely enough there is a rash on my back. I thought that was weird. The next morning the rash itself looked to be gone, but it was still a little bumpy by feel. I can't really feel it today.
So today I woke and my throat was hurting. This isn't all entirely unusual for me. Sometimes I wake up and it hurts for about 5 minutes and I'm good to go. I continue about my day and while we're out eating I get this kind of "clogged throat" feeling. It is a feeling I used to get all the time and I can't describe it anymore than I feel like my throat is closing up, but it's actually not swelling at all.
I think that maybe a little piece of food was stuck on the roof of my mouth so I start messing around up there with my tongue and feel a little bump. I get in the vehicle later and look and there are a bunch of little bumps towards the back of my throat including one little white one. *great*
So it's one of a few things that I think is going on.
A: I have some kind of virus that just has to pass.
B: I'm detoxing some kind of awful producing these toxins to release into my skin (and mouth).
C: The Yeast Overgrowth on the inside of my body has come out to play on the outside of my body.
D: A combination of any of the above.
For the record, I haven't had a fever. I don't think it's strep. Also, it's what I get for going out in public with a whole bunch of people yesterday! Should have known, but I had fun! Who can blame a girl for wanting to have fun?
Pretty awesome day even through all the weird symptoms.
Showing posts with label rash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rash. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Rash part 3
So last night I did the whole Benedryl, cream, Diflucan combo and it seems to be working. I slept for 12 hours straight! I woke up this morning and the 4th dose of Diflucan must be the magic number b/c the rash is slowly fading and the itch is pretty much non-existant. In fact, I didn't even use the cream this morning. Tonight, I will do the Diflucan and Cream only b/c Benedryl knocks me out for too long. It's like a Benedryl Coma and I have to work in the morning.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
update on rash
**** New Layout for the New Year **** I may change it back to where it was before, but I think I like it. It's nice and relaxing.
Back to your regularly scheduled posting:
I still itch and it's like water torture. I got an email from my doctor this morning (yes on a Saturday) to come on by the office to have my face and arm checked out.
First things first:
My arm looked great. We changed the dressing and there were no blisters or rash under the dressing. That is a blessing because every time I get infected with yeast my picc line goes haywire.
Seconds: My nurse is almost positive it's just a yeast overgrowth. So I'm to continue the Diflucan. Last night at a moment of brilliance, I took some Benedryl. I don't know if it stopped the itching all night or if it just put me in a Benedryl coma. Either way, I got some much needed sleep. We also picked up some Benedryl Cream to see if that might help with the itching to not put me in a coma during the day. I have in the past used an over the counter anti-fungal cream to reduce the itching to a minimum, but in this particular situation that antifungal isn't reducing the itching enough. I want to share a picture, but the rash doesn't show up well on camera.
If the itching and rash isn't reduced significantly by Monday, I am to call up to the office again. They will either prescribe another antifungal medication or get me something. I dunno what they'll do. She said the option is that I could have something viral that gave me the rash. Hopefully between the Diflucan and the Benedryl cream, I will be feeling back to my normal self soon.
Back to your regularly scheduled posting:
I still itch and it's like water torture. I got an email from my doctor this morning (yes on a Saturday) to come on by the office to have my face and arm checked out.
First things first:
My arm looked great. We changed the dressing and there were no blisters or rash under the dressing. That is a blessing because every time I get infected with yeast my picc line goes haywire.
Seconds: My nurse is almost positive it's just a yeast overgrowth. So I'm to continue the Diflucan. Last night at a moment of brilliance, I took some Benedryl. I don't know if it stopped the itching all night or if it just put me in a Benedryl coma. Either way, I got some much needed sleep. We also picked up some Benedryl Cream to see if that might help with the itching to not put me in a coma during the day. I have in the past used an over the counter anti-fungal cream to reduce the itching to a minimum, but in this particular situation that antifungal isn't reducing the itching enough. I want to share a picture, but the rash doesn't show up well on camera.
If the itching and rash isn't reduced significantly by Monday, I am to call up to the office again. They will either prescribe another antifungal medication or get me something. I dunno what they'll do. She said the option is that I could have something viral that gave me the rash. Hopefully between the Diflucan and the Benedryl cream, I will be feeling back to my normal self soon.
Friday, January 2, 2009
I promise
The Christmas ornaments will be uploaded soon. I just haven't had the time to get them on the computer from my camera yet. Maybe I'll do that today or tomorrow.
The rash is ever growing! I could just shoot myself for not starting the fungal therapy sooner. Oh well, I'm sure the rash will be a faded memory in the near future. In the mean time, it itches like a --- well I'd prefer not to use profanity on my blog!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful 2009 so far.
The rash is ever growing! I could just shoot myself for not starting the fungal therapy sooner. Oh well, I'm sure the rash will be a faded memory in the near future. In the mean time, it itches like a --- well I'd prefer not to use profanity on my blog!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful 2009 so far.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
October Plans
September was a busy month and was full of joyous occasions. I went to the Outer Banks and climbed two lighthouses. I saw Tricia and Nathan again while walking for Cystic Fibrosis. It was also a weird health month with the yeast rash and the wrist sprain. It was a better Lyme month for regular Lyme symptoms though. I am thankful for that.
What's up with me for October 2008? One Friday night, I think I am going to my former high school Football game. Oh, but it's not for the football. It's for the MARCHING BAND. :) Halloween night, there will be a long drive to my other alma mater Western Carolina University. It's annual Alumni Band time. That is always so exciting and it's the one thing I look forward to every year. The first year I marched. I got on the football field and marched for the first time since 1995. I enjoyed myself so much. I did not realize I was getting sick. The second year, I had really bad arthritis. I could barely climb the bleachers so marching was out of the question. The third year (last year) I also was having a lot of troubles with my joints so I did not march again. This year I had really hoped to march, but I have my doubts with the probable picc line.
Healthwise: I'll have 31 heparin shots, possibly up to 6 saline shots, 4 dressing changes, 1 bone specialist appointment, 1 -- possibly 2 Lyme antimicrobial treatment, 2 Glutathione infusions, 2 home IV's and any other weird thing that always comes up because my life is never just that simple. Not to mention 31 days of supplements including yeast killers and an MSA test somewhere in there along with a blood test that I should have already had completed. The wrist sprain kind of threw that blood work off course ... I really need to set that up.
On top of all of that, there is a professional development day at work and a fall festival and an open house and so much other stuff. It's going to be a busy month. I look forward to every day ... good, bad or the ugly.
Have a great October everybody. :)
What's up with me for October 2008? One Friday night, I think I am going to my former high school Football game. Oh, but it's not for the football. It's for the MARCHING BAND. :) Halloween night, there will be a long drive to my other alma mater Western Carolina University. It's annual Alumni Band time. That is always so exciting and it's the one thing I look forward to every year. The first year I marched. I got on the football field and marched for the first time since 1995. I enjoyed myself so much. I did not realize I was getting sick. The second year, I had really bad arthritis. I could barely climb the bleachers so marching was out of the question. The third year (last year) I also was having a lot of troubles with my joints so I did not march again. This year I had really hoped to march, but I have my doubts with the probable picc line.
Healthwise: I'll have 31 heparin shots, possibly up to 6 saline shots, 4 dressing changes, 1 bone specialist appointment, 1 -- possibly 2 Lyme antimicrobial treatment, 2 Glutathione infusions, 2 home IV's and any other weird thing that always comes up because my life is never just that simple. Not to mention 31 days of supplements including yeast killers and an MSA test somewhere in there along with a blood test that I should have already had completed. The wrist sprain kind of threw that blood work off course ... I really need to set that up.
On top of all of that, there is a professional development day at work and a fall festival and an open house and so much other stuff. It's going to be a busy month. I look forward to every day ... good, bad or the ugly.
Have a great October everybody. :)
Monday, September 22, 2008
Itching to death
On Friday morning, I decided to give myself a little test. I used the regular anti-itch cream on the right side of my belly (where a ferocious rash had appeared) and on the left side of my belly I used an anti-fungal cream. For some reason, I thought of yeast. I thought maybe Yeast was an issue and if so that the anti-fungal cream might help. In the middle of the morning I realized that part of my belly wasn't itching. So that evening, we used the antifungal all over. I continued this and I realized today that my belly rash is disappearing.
My physician's office is open a couple Saturday's a month so when I went on Saturday we discussed the rash. We pretty much determined that it was a systemic yeast issue and I picked up my prescription for Diflucan in order to rid my body of the yeast. I was ordered to continue the anti fungal regiment until it was no longer needed.
Then our suspicions were confirmed when I saw the microscope doctor later that day and she saw yeast on my blood slides.
P.S. I believe I have the best two doctors ever. One of them called me at home twice on a Sunday and the other emailed me a couple of times on a Sunday. :) I love my doctors. They rock.
My physician's office is open a couple Saturday's a month so when I went on Saturday we discussed the rash. We pretty much determined that it was a systemic yeast issue and I picked up my prescription for Diflucan in order to rid my body of the yeast. I was ordered to continue the anti fungal regiment until it was no longer needed.
Then our suspicions were confirmed when I saw the microscope doctor later that day and she saw yeast on my blood slides.
P.S. I believe I have the best two doctors ever. One of them called me at home twice on a Sunday and the other emailed me a couple of times on a Sunday. :) I love my doctors. They rock.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Grey's: PICC Line Style
Summary: Jennifer gets massive rash all over arm and winds up at the hospital for an evaluation. McJeff reprives his role as Funny PICC line guy along with McHotty for a technician and McMuscles as doctor. :)
Episode: On Thursday, Jennifer arrives very late at her doctor's office hoping that someone is there to assist with a new dressing on the PICC line. Fortunately though it was late, Nurse J was there. She spent 3 hours on the phone with Rex Hospital, Dr. J, Dr. W. and Nurse M. She also wrote notes out for the hospital staff, and changed the oozy drippy PICC line dressing. On Friday, Jennifer arrives at the Rex Medical Building at 3:01 to begin the waiting for registration and for seeing Doctor McMuscles, Techie McHotty, and PICC line guru McJeff.
After moving from the registration waiting room and arriving at the radiology waiting room, Jennifer arrives at the vascular radiology waiting room. Upon waiting in the third and final room, she helps a man when he asks where they are. "Uh the hospital." That was a lot of help she was sure, but apparently he needed more answers. "Uh the waiting room?" Apparently that wasn't good enough either. :) So Jennifer provided a more detailed way to get there. "Tell them to go the radiology main desk or radiology registration and a volunteer will bring them to the radiology waiting room." Jennifer pondered whether it appeared she was the leading expert in hospital waits since they chose to ask her instead of the 10 other people in the cramped waiting room.
Finally McGuyshethinksisthetech appears in the door way. "Mrs. A?" McGuyshethinksisthetech called. Jennifer grabbed her belongings which included 4 pages of notes, a purse, saran wrap and quickly scrambled to the doorway hoping McGuyshethinksisthetech didn't notice her drooling when she was dozing off. "Mrs. A I just wanted to let you know that we have another patient in x-ray right now. It will be a few more minutes. We just didn't want you to think we had forgotten about you." She felt dejected that she had to go back to the uncomfortable waiting room chair watching the other 12 folks in the waiting rooms either dozing in the chairs or on their cell phones. Finally after 10 more minutes, Jennifer gets called to the doorway by technie McHotty.
"How are you doing?" McHotty said.
"I'm here aren't I? I can't be doing so hot." Jennifer said.
McHotty laughed and said "let's see if we can see what's causing the problems."
Jennifer notices a huge sign that says "proper attire required beyond this door" and says "HEY I'm not wearing proper attire."
McHotty says "that's for the staff" and he laughs.
Jennifer thinks to herself that she at least got a humorous tech.
First McHotty looked at Jennifer's arm and then removed the dressing so he could see the insertion point. He grabbed Doctor McMuscles to come in to look. After looking at it for a few minutes, he said that he did not think the actual catheter was compromised. He took into consideration that Jennifer was still being able to infuse a treatment on the 3rd with no problems and still got good blood return with her heparin syringe on the 4th late at night. McMuscles believes that Jennifer is having a serious allergic reaction to something that Nurse M & J are using, but of course doesn't know what. McMuscles determined that Nurse M and Jennifer should figure out on their own how to clean it the best way without leaving an itchy, blistery oozy mess in future dressing changes.
Shortly afterwards, PICC line guru McJeff waltzed in to help change the dressing with McHotty and when he saw Jennifer uttered the phrase "OOoo not you again." He winked at her and McHotty said 'you know her?' and McJeff said "of course, she's my favorite nervous, but oh so hilarious patient." As they were changing the dressing, they all were cracking up. At one point, he was taking off the stat lock (which had deteriorated from all the yelllow ooze) and he said "what's this yellow stuff?" Jennifer said "my bodily fluids, shouldn't you be wearing gloves or something?" and he said "Oooo now you tell me" and winked at her.
McJeff and McHotty began to change the bandage quickly as Jennifer says, "How many techs does it take to change a dressing?" She would have continued with the rederick of "1 to hold the PICC line, 1 to cut the bandage, 1 to push it back in a bit, 1 to write the codes for insurance, 1 to find the doctor, 1 to apply the new dressing, 1 to calm the patient, 1 to ....," but they were finding all the necessary supplies for this delicate "operation."
The new dressing for Jennifer consisted of a sterile 2x2 gauze and a hypoallergenic dressing. Upon beginning the dressing change, McJeff winked and handed her two huge rolls of the stuff and said "this is between you, me, and that guy over there" while pointing to McHotty. He said that the hypoallergenic stuff would help it breathe a lot better and have a little more protection than gauze and paper tape. He laughed and said "Don't do that again," all while pointing at the dressing that was removed that was covered in yellow ooze. Jennifer laughed and told him that Nurse J had been instructed to cover the PICC line in that manor over the phone by a doctor at the hospital.
To try to figure out the underlying problem, McJeff (and no JEFF .. this isn't you .. the guy's real name is JEFF. ) asked how it was being cleaned. He showed Jennifer a variety of supplies and finally she pointed out out two she recognized. One looked like a condom on a stick and the other looked like a vial of blood. McJeff suggested it was the blood vial looking one that caused all the blisters and begin cleaning the site with the condom looking one. It immediately caused burning and a heat that Jennifer has never felt before during a dressing change.
She calmly stated "ooo that burns quite a bit" and speculates that it is because the skin is so sensitive with the oozing blisters of fun that is causing the burning sensation. McJeff said "I've heard that one before" and winked. (Jennifer is beginning to think that maybe she should suggest to McJeff that he has Lyme Disease. After all, twitching is a symptom). He stopped cleaning and mentioned that he didn't like to torture his favorite patients though it might be a little fun. He recommended that Nurse M might not want to use the condom one from now on.
As soon as he applied the new dressing, Jennifer's arm felt warm and itchy. She was thinking at the time that the dressing either ain't gonnna work or that the condom cleanser would cause another reaction. McJeff helped Jennifer put on her Lime Green Jacket and she said "You always help me put on my clothes. At least this time, you didn't have to put on my shirt."
McJeff said "I always help a lady put on her clothes after I've finished my business with her." They laughed hysterically and Jennifer thought to herself that this could be a sexual harrassment suit just waiting to happen with all the winking and statements that McJeff is using. :)
Jennifer arrived home in the pouring rain and immediately took 50mg of benedryl for the itching and to help dry out the blisters that were still there in all their glory.
Jennifer's arm is itching worse Friday than it did Thursday. The bumps outside the dressing are smaller, but there is more of them. Sooooo in order to prove or disprove that this new type of dressing is or is not causing the problem; Jennifer is going to conduct an experiment on herself. She is going to place a piece on her belly or my leg or my other arm or something. She already did this with the tegaderm type of dressing that she has by Nexcare and no rash showed up on her belly after 24 hours. Jennifer's McHusband bedadined the spot and also alcoholed the spot before applying the dressing. She also placed paper tape on her belly as well. She discovered no rash or redness appeared at either site.
Stay tuned as Jennifer goes through the weekend with itchy skin and dreams of McHotty, McMuscle and McJeff and hopefully has no more leakage of the blisters.
Episode: On Thursday, Jennifer arrives very late at her doctor's office hoping that someone is there to assist with a new dressing on the PICC line. Fortunately though it was late, Nurse J was there. She spent 3 hours on the phone with Rex Hospital, Dr. J, Dr. W. and Nurse M. She also wrote notes out for the hospital staff, and changed the oozy drippy PICC line dressing. On Friday, Jennifer arrives at the Rex Medical Building at 3:01 to begin the waiting for registration and for seeing Doctor McMuscles, Techie McHotty, and PICC line guru McJeff.
After moving from the registration waiting room and arriving at the radiology waiting room, Jennifer arrives at the vascular radiology waiting room. Upon waiting in the third and final room, she helps a man when he asks where they are. "Uh the hospital." That was a lot of help she was sure, but apparently he needed more answers. "Uh the waiting room?" Apparently that wasn't good enough either. :) So Jennifer provided a more detailed way to get there. "Tell them to go the radiology main desk or radiology registration and a volunteer will bring them to the radiology waiting room." Jennifer pondered whether it appeared she was the leading expert in hospital waits since they chose to ask her instead of the 10 other people in the cramped waiting room.
Finally McGuyshethinksisthetech appears in the door way. "Mrs. A?" McGuyshethinksisthetech called. Jennifer grabbed her belongings which included 4 pages of notes, a purse, saran wrap and quickly scrambled to the doorway hoping McGuyshethinksisthetech didn't notice her drooling when she was dozing off. "Mrs. A I just wanted to let you know that we have another patient in x-ray right now. It will be a few more minutes. We just didn't want you to think we had forgotten about you." She felt dejected that she had to go back to the uncomfortable waiting room chair watching the other 12 folks in the waiting rooms either dozing in the chairs or on their cell phones. Finally after 10 more minutes, Jennifer gets called to the doorway by technie McHotty.
"How are you doing?" McHotty said.
"I'm here aren't I? I can't be doing so hot." Jennifer said.
McHotty laughed and said "let's see if we can see what's causing the problems."
Jennifer notices a huge sign that says "proper attire required beyond this door" and says "HEY I'm not wearing proper attire."
McHotty says "that's for the staff" and he laughs.
Jennifer thinks to herself that she at least got a humorous tech.
First McHotty looked at Jennifer's arm and then removed the dressing so he could see the insertion point. He grabbed Doctor McMuscles to come in to look. After looking at it for a few minutes, he said that he did not think the actual catheter was compromised. He took into consideration that Jennifer was still being able to infuse a treatment on the 3rd with no problems and still got good blood return with her heparin syringe on the 4th late at night. McMuscles believes that Jennifer is having a serious allergic reaction to something that Nurse M & J are using, but of course doesn't know what. McMuscles determined that Nurse M and Jennifer should figure out on their own how to clean it the best way without leaving an itchy, blistery oozy mess in future dressing changes.
Shortly afterwards, PICC line guru McJeff waltzed in to help change the dressing with McHotty and when he saw Jennifer uttered the phrase "OOoo not you again." He winked at her and McHotty said 'you know her?' and McJeff said "of course, she's my favorite nervous, but oh so hilarious patient." As they were changing the dressing, they all were cracking up. At one point, he was taking off the stat lock (which had deteriorated from all the yelllow ooze) and he said "what's this yellow stuff?" Jennifer said "my bodily fluids, shouldn't you be wearing gloves or something?" and he said "Oooo now you tell me" and winked at her.
McJeff and McHotty began to change the bandage quickly as Jennifer says, "How many techs does it take to change a dressing?" She would have continued with the rederick of "1 to hold the PICC line, 1 to cut the bandage, 1 to push it back in a bit, 1 to write the codes for insurance, 1 to find the doctor, 1 to apply the new dressing, 1 to calm the patient, 1 to ....," but they were finding all the necessary supplies for this delicate "operation."
The new dressing for Jennifer consisted of a sterile 2x2 gauze and a hypoallergenic dressing. Upon beginning the dressing change, McJeff winked and handed her two huge rolls of the stuff and said "this is between you, me, and that guy over there" while pointing to McHotty. He said that the hypoallergenic stuff would help it breathe a lot better and have a little more protection than gauze and paper tape. He laughed and said "Don't do that again," all while pointing at the dressing that was removed that was covered in yellow ooze. Jennifer laughed and told him that Nurse J had been instructed to cover the PICC line in that manor over the phone by a doctor at the hospital.
To try to figure out the underlying problem, McJeff (and no JEFF .. this isn't you .. the guy's real name is JEFF. ) asked how it was being cleaned. He showed Jennifer a variety of supplies and finally she pointed out out two she recognized. One looked like a condom on a stick and the other looked like a vial of blood. McJeff suggested it was the blood vial looking one that caused all the blisters and begin cleaning the site with the condom looking one. It immediately caused burning and a heat that Jennifer has never felt before during a dressing change.
She calmly stated "ooo that burns quite a bit" and speculates that it is because the skin is so sensitive with the oozing blisters of fun that is causing the burning sensation. McJeff said "I've heard that one before" and winked. (Jennifer is beginning to think that maybe she should suggest to McJeff that he has Lyme Disease. After all, twitching is a symptom). He stopped cleaning and mentioned that he didn't like to torture his favorite patients though it might be a little fun. He recommended that Nurse M might not want to use the condom one from now on.
As soon as he applied the new dressing, Jennifer's arm felt warm and itchy. She was thinking at the time that the dressing either ain't gonnna work or that the condom cleanser would cause another reaction. McJeff helped Jennifer put on her Lime Green Jacket and she said "You always help me put on my clothes. At least this time, you didn't have to put on my shirt."
McJeff said "I always help a lady put on her clothes after I've finished my business with her." They laughed hysterically and Jennifer thought to herself that this could be a sexual harrassment suit just waiting to happen with all the winking and statements that McJeff is using. :)
Jennifer arrived home in the pouring rain and immediately took 50mg of benedryl for the itching and to help dry out the blisters that were still there in all their glory.
Jennifer's arm is itching worse Friday than it did Thursday. The bumps outside the dressing are smaller, but there is more of them. Sooooo in order to prove or disprove that this new type of dressing is or is not causing the problem; Jennifer is going to conduct an experiment on herself. She is going to place a piece on her belly or my leg or my other arm or something. She already did this with the tegaderm type of dressing that she has by Nexcare and no rash showed up on her belly after 24 hours. Jennifer's McHusband bedadined the spot and also alcoholed the spot before applying the dressing. She also placed paper tape on her belly as well. She discovered no rash or redness appeared at either site.
Stay tuned as Jennifer goes through the weekend with itchy skin and dreams of McHotty, McMuscle and McJeff and hopefully has no more leakage of the blisters.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Itching to death
This post is not going to sound coherent for a couple of reasons. First it won't be coherent because I'm itching to death. Second reason is that I haven't slept a full night in 2 months. I believe I've had 6 full nights of sleep in 60. The reasoning for this has varied, but this past week and currently it's because I have this "something" that has caused a rash to appear on my belly adn now on my arms and even some on my legs and other spots. I can't get rid of the rash or the itching. I've tried just about every home remedy there is and almost every single antiitch thing on the market (if not everything).
I'm exhausted on top of not getting my normal 10 hours of sleep per night, but also b/c i've been taking benedryl. I could buy some serious stockage with teh amount of money I've spent on Benedryl int eh last two months.
Give me a break from the itching please. sheesh.
I'm exhausted on top of not getting my normal 10 hours of sleep per night, but also b/c i've been taking benedryl. I could buy some serious stockage with teh amount of money I've spent on Benedryl int eh last two months.
Give me a break from the itching please. sheesh.
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