Posted on 09/29/2006 9:23:30 AM PDT by Froufrou
Help! Almost two years ago, hubs began having an itchy rash. The only thing that calms it is taking steroids, not good. It's been a tossup whether it's a dermatological or an allergy problem. He's seen two dermatologists who've biopsied and found nothing.
Also, full battery of allergy tests and is allergic to a lot, soy in particular. It's said that the rash is possibly a form of psoriasis that lasts 2-5 years. When it's full bore he scratches while asleep and wakes up bleeding.
Any help would be appreciated...thank you...
Did he swim in the ocean at all?
WE all swam in the pool and sat in the hottub.
From past experience, as someone who has struggled with a similar reaction out of the blue 2 years ago, I would also recommend besides doing every medical test known to man, also looking for an excellent Chinese Acupuncturist that was trained in China and that may additionally be an MD. I have found the right sort of holistic treatments have eliminated my need for much topical medication (which really didn't so much , but mitigate the itching and keep it from getting worse.)
For me the issues were not just environmental (air, food, products), but also holistic. I was very stressed emotionally when it began, but also chemically I was breathing in a lot of formaldehyde, which I later discovered I was allergic to. I do my best to not be exposed to the chemical, but when our bodies are healthy, they do not just start reacting to things in our environment. It is when there is something stressing it out and making it react. This is why I recommend a holistic treatment plan on top of regular medical treatment.
I also had to take the focus off what is the reaction coming from at some point--as all other allergy testing was coming back negative. I switched the focus on strengthening my body/mind/soul and especially my immune system overall. So it was better able to handle the stress in the environment, even when challenged with an allergy.
Spiritually, too I needed to realize that this may never go away and I found many Godly people through out history were challenged and even angry at times with God for these 'chronic daily challenges'. So I also used it as an opportunity to strengthen myself spiritually and not blame God, but see it as an opportunity to do daily spiritual discipline, even when part of me was blamed him and was angry for my suffering. I was reminded I don't go to God, because he is Santa Clause, bringing me only the happiest of gifts. I know corny, but it was true. I was pretty much, wondering why he was challenging me and not some jerk that deserved more of it :-). Like I am not jerk at times, myself.
Best of luck to you. I will pray for your husband. I know how frustrating and stressful this can be. I even became depressed for awhile. I couldn't stand this sort of long term pain and not being able to resolve it made me very angry and sad. It really got to me and I have experienced some very tough challenges in my life, so I thought it was silly to be reacting to something so minor. It is not minor it is a major change and upheaval. It effects someone daily, nightly and won't go away. But now I have gotten a much better handle on it and feel mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually stronger. I have had to make some life changes though. But I certainly was not going to become the girl in a bubble either, which for awhile there I almost had to be to stay away from getting worse.
Sorry for the long share, but maybe there is just one thing he can relate to. God knows there is a lot to choose from :-)
May he find a solution!! he is blessed to have your support. I bet he can be a little bit of a bear at times these days, with the frustration. If so, it sounds as though you are being understanding.
But what about the biopsies? How could they have escaped detection?
Allergy tests test for beg bugs. He should be tested for all of this stuff.
good question.
That probably rules out parasites. (One of our church mission teams had a nasty rash caused by parasites they picked up in the ocean off Santo Domingo.)
How about Benadryl,they use that for rashes at the hospital and it also makes the patients drowsy.
Bedbugs hide all over the place. My daughter's friend came back from vacation with them. My daughter had these red rashes and itchy bites on her for weeks without a clue what it was. Finally I said cut a tear in the mattress and they saw the critters all over . It was horrible. They had to toss out the bed, sofa and any stuffed furniture. They had to bomb the apt as the info on the website they looked at says they will hide under picture frames. It cost them a fortune. I truly hope its not bedbugs. ewwwwww
He takes Bendryl and Zantac together and prednisone and Eucerin extra lotion seems best when he's out of Protopic. Maybe stress?
I had almost the same thing 3 years ago. Went to two different dermatologists and was given scripts for two different kinds of ointments. Nothing worked.
Finally went to my local MD and he said I probably had "stress eczema" and to try an OTC product called Skin Zinc. Worked like a charm. Has never reoccurred. I ordered the Skin Zinc off the internet. Get the spray bottle. Much easier to apply.
First, check your bed. Lift up the sheets and check the very corners of the mattress. I'd also make sure to get a blood test specifically for thyroid as well as Lyme disease.
In the interim, try washing with unscented detergents and unscented fabric softeners.
Best wishes, a rash can be very frustrating.
Well, if he wasn't stressed before the rash, he's probably good and stressed ABOUT the rash. Good luck.
DH is something they might overlook:
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/index.htm#10
It won't be long now before we see a vanity like this one: FReeper Help Needed! I've Got A Mosquito Bite On My Ass, Should I Itch It.
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