Is There a Doctor in the House? (picture heavy; kinda gross)

[CritterHill]

Ok, I am not a doctor and all that, but I immediately thought auto-immune condition when I heard it.

Don't think arthritis is just for old folks.

My 5 year old developed rheumatoid arthritis when she was only 3 years old.

Get to a regular (not ER) doctor. Get diagnosed. Get on medication.

If it is autoimmune, your best bet is get medicated NOW before the damage is done. Waiting with that sort of condition always makes it worse.

Good luck.

 

[mangled]

I get a rash exactly like that in the Spring, just when I start to get active outside. The blisters on the hands, and on the elbows.

I've been to several Dermatologists and no one has ever been able to tell me for sure what it is, as I only have it during the first warm part of the year.

Mine is diagnosed as Auto-Immune Dermatitis. I have oral steroids for when they get really bad, and I found out that Elidel cream works wonders on them as well.

The Elidel is an eczema cream, we had it for my little girl, and one desperate day of stiff fingers, I slathered my hands in it, and got relief within an hour of some of the swelling, and doing it 2-3 times a day cleared it up almost completely.

Good luck. Getting benefits and getting to the dermatologist is your best plan of action.

Em

 

[2manyhats]

Quote:
Great idea! I always forget about medical and dental schools as an option.

 

[leslie]

I have had a recent fight with "cat scratch disease" the blisters are very simuliar.
Do yo have any swelling under your arms? swollen lymph nodes is a diagnositc on this matter.
My "rash" was identical to yours except I did not have as many as you have..
there was the "inoculation" sore, where the cat "got me" and then perhaps 10 blistery sore, oozing bloody discharge puss filled sores around it and they would heal up and re appear.
then the lymph nodes swelled and the "feel bad" came around..and the sleepiness and the sight of food was just too much.
very simuliar with mono or epp stein barr disease. do a search on the internet for cat scratch disease and see if it fits this situation. leslie

 

[miss_thenorth]

I'm chiming in on the autoimmune disease. I first got RA when I was 18. I had alot of different symptoms, and that was one of them.

I also have Raynauds phenomena, which sent me to the rheumatologist. Later I was diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disease. A combo of scleroderma and lupus. I also have Sjogrens.

I had those bumps and prednisone was needed to get rid of them. I still get them avery so often, but not like I did when I was 18.

go to a doctor. If you are developing RA, you need to catch it quick. I'm 41 and don't have any crooked joints. My sis waited two years and now her feet are mangled and in need of surgery. She waited so long, b/c her blood test came back a false RA-. Xrays are needed for a complete diagnosis.

Do a search on autoimmune disaeases. That's where I'm putting my money. And keep us posted.