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Hi, All. Sorry I’m not up to posting much - I crashed and burned 9 hours ago, so just now waking up.

Spent the morning and afternoon finding a doc/clinic, then going to the closest open one (taxi fare one-way was $7.77 - took that as a *good sign!*), then waiting a long time in my wool-gloves-over-white-cotton-gloves-over-gauzewrap in very warm weather, then getting some bad news *before* I saw the doctor, then seeing the doctor, who gave me good news!

She kept holding and looking at my hands over and over, saying “this is NOT bacterial,” “this is NOT bacterial.” Then she pointed out all the ways it *wasn’t* bacterial, lol. (After all the stuff I’ve put on it, there probably isn’t a speck of *good bacteria* on the rash, either.)

She felt it was an allergy. I explained the progression of the rash, the pumpkin-scraping that may have left micro-abrasions that were later invaded by mites, so on and so forth, including all my treatments. She asked how long it is between outbreaks and I explained it never really goes away, but is sometimes dormant for 2-3 months, but the last time was 6 weeks and when it came back, it was the worst it has ever been.

She still felt it looked like an allergy. I explained that I’d had poison ivy rash before and have a metal allergy that breaks out the same way, but these were all “contact” dermatitis which eventually disappeared - and this thing on the tops of my hands couldn’t have come from any contact, as they aren’t in “contact” with any allergens on a regular basis.

OK. I told her about the “year of the bad pumpkin fungus” and she decided it was possible there was a fungus that caused this (after I brought that up and commented that I wasn’t sure a plant/vegetable fungus could be transferred to a human being), so she was writing a prescription for a steroid cream, then adding that there is one that is both steroid and fungicide, so that’s what I got.

She *said* this redness is mostly an irritation caused by all the “treatments” I did to it and I was probably allergic to one of those. I even pointed out to her that it’s really deep in two places, like to the bone - at least it feels that way. She just nodded.

As relieved as I was that it was NOT a flesh-eating bug, I was also feeling foolish that I had joined the ranks of the “worried well” by trying so hard to fix it. At any rate, it’s still there and still hurts and won’t be going away any time soon - but at least now, it has a better chance of doing so.

I’m not even supposed to wash my hands unless I absolutely have to (like in the shower, lol) and I just put the ointment on twice a day. Have only used it once now, so don’t know if it will work. Ack, she also gave me a sample of a cream to try on a small patch - just in case I’m allergic to this new prescription! (Gee, thanks for putting *that* notion in my head, doc!)

There was much worse news than this from the visit, as I said there would be, and I am still trying to absorb the info before I deal with it. I am depressed about it because of what it will cost me, but at least the doctor let me postpone *some* of it for later.

Thanks for all your prayers, everyone. It means the world to me. LOL, I even told the pharm at Walg’s that I had prayer warriors working on helping their store get an in-store clinic (just for me, lol!) - and whaddayaknow? They’re next on the list for one in the coming year. Yea!

I know you’re sick of hearing about this, so I’ll try to shut up and get back to the list, when I can. Bad hand is still bad, but now there’s hope that the pumpkin finger can be cured.

{{{Thanks and hugggsss to All of You}}}}

P.S. I went to the clinic expecting to pay $300-500 from what they told me on the phone, as far as bloodwork and antibiotic shots, etc.

I raided my little hurricane fund and took that with me, every penny I have. Luckily, it was only $50 for the visit, plus $47 for my prescriptions, most of which cost is not related to the rash.

Oh, and I treated myself to a walk over to Tuesday Morning and purchase of a new $14 pillow, badly needed for my sleeping, while waiting for my ‘scripts to be filled. So, all in all, with the two taxi trips at $7.77 each (the return trip came to the same amount, too!) and tips, it was under $150 total - and I probably made that much in the oil market today. Yea!

*Thou anointest my head with oil - and my hands with ointment! My cup runneth over! Praise the Lord!*