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Itchy, Scratchy Bug - you have all my sympathy, but if you DO use ANYTHING fancy on your face, scalp or body I will have to ask someone in the US to go and really tie your hands behind your back. Just go grimy for a bit. Create a trend.
On the legal/reimbursement side that DC and MissJ have given you lots of good advice on, stick on (hopefully at the end) this sensitivity that will last for months and affects quality of life.
I take it you don't want a girly, purdy chat about make-up just yet then? ;)
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What about stuff like Calamine lotion. That would sooth it. Bentaine iodine solution could be used to mimic a fake tan for a while and kill germs. Bugjune wrote:Well I got the diagnosis! My rash is tied to the whole staph infection scenario. Even now, one month after the staph was treated with Keflex, my body doth protest!
I am my own worst enemy. I put self-tanner on - oh, let's see - FOUR days ago. It took just 24 hours for that lotion to erupt into a rash on my lower back. Then, the donkey put it on AGAIN! And this time, I got spooked when the rash worsened. So I didn't shower the self-tanner off. I just kept putting OTC cortisone on it.
My scalp rash is a similar situation: after weeks of losing hair, post-antibiotic, I went back to using my scalp nourisher, oh, let's see - FOUR days ago. Rash erupted on my scalp on the back of the head same day as on my back.
My doc is ready to tie my hands behind my back and give me a lobotomy so I do NOTHING to my skin for several weeks. The way he explains it, my body is going to be SUPER sensitive to any kind of foreign substance for the next few months. He brought up a good point: it's not just WHAT you put on the body, it's HOW LONG it remains on before being washed off or removed.
So, less is more. I'm to only put Cetaphil or Eucerin lotion on my body, along with OTC cortisone as needed. If my rash isn't gone in a week, I'm to go back to the good doc.
Voodoo doll. Where did I put that ugly little man. I'm going to take a red pen and cover it with little itchy red dots. Especially in the groin. >:-(
Can hardly walk. Need hip replacement.
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How about AVENO colloidal oatmeal powder for the bath. That is skin soothing.
Can hardly walk. Need hip replacement.
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That is very soothing. Ever since I was a kid, I've soaked in that for rashes. I am just dangedly prone to them. Thanks for the suggestions! ==================================== MissJ wrote:How about AVENO colloidal oatmeal powder for the bath. That is skin soothing.
I Bug U
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Thanks Amber! I am mule-ish, but hope I'm learning. I will definitely be keeping tabs on all these "follow-on" appt's for reimbursement - probably months from now. Makeup? I guffaw as I recall what that MixTo doc said at my 1-month follow-up (before the peeling skin, outbreaks on face, neck, chest, blistered lips and mouth, and now this body rash): "Yes! Your skin should be fine for wearing some of the nicer mineral-based makeups next week." I want to SCREAM into a black sack, seal it, mail that to him, and see his hair stand vertical when he opens the sack on his end. AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!! ========================================== Amber wrote:Itchy, Scratchy Bug - you have all my sympathy, but if you DO use ANYTHING fancy on your face, scalp or body I will have to ask someone in the US to go and really tie your hands behind your back. Just go grimy for a bit. Create a trend.
On the legal/reimbursement side that DC and MissJ have given you lots of good advice on, stick on (hopefully at the end) this sensitivity that will last for months and affects quality of life.
I take it you don't want a girly, purdy chat about make-up just yet then? ;)
I Bug U
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If all else fails on the legal front--like the lawyer tells you, you can't hold litigation over his head for settlement and after that he still gives you no money back, THEN write him a letter detailing all the CRAP he put you through and then share the letter with everyone on the net.
Can hardly walk. Need hip replacement.
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Bug, you may want to print and keep this (use link) for your records. I found this passage very interesting: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1120837-overviewQuote:Wound infection
Cutaneous wound infection is most common after laser skin resurfacing, although it is sometimes noted in any laser case in which the epidermis has been damaged. Superficial viral, bacterial, and fungal infections are possible. Herpes simplex virus may be reactivated in a patient during reepithelialization after cutaneous laser treatments, especially hair removal and resurfacing. Antiherpetic prophylaxis is thus recommended for all perioral or full-face laser resurfacing procedures. Bacterial infections are typically caused by staphylococcal or pseudomonal species and have been shown to appear more often in patients who have used occlusive wound dressings for a prolonged period after surgery. Similarly, candidal infections may occur. One case of parapharyngeal abscess formation after laser resurfacing has been reported. And this for your current situation: Quote:Contact dermatitis to topical postoperative medications
Allergic contact dermatitis or irritant contact dermatitis can develop after any type of laser procedure, most commonly to a topical antibiotic. Because of the difficulty in distinguishing contact dermatitis from infection in patients who have had laser resurfacing, many practitioners avoid the use of topical antibiotics in such patients.
DCNGA has left the board and is no longer taking PMs. She requests that if you wish to e-mail her to use her direct e-mail address which is: laserandiplsupport@gmail.com
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Yes, DCNGA - that was an informative read about lasers and the "collateral damage" that patients never seem to be informed about! While I think that the paragraph on "contact dermatitis" refers to gels like Bacitracin (which I have actually NEVER been allergic to, and use all the time), I think my GP doc also nailed it: my entire skin (even non-lasered areas) is just going to be super sensitive to anything put on it for several months. That's what surprises me! Like WHEN will it be OVER? And the question still has no answer. I did get some Benadryl spray today - and it is a GODSEND on my rash. Overnight, that rash has actually spread, so now it's bad on my back, scalp and thighs, but is also all over my arms, torso, shins and calves. I think it's even in my ears and nostrils, but I would simply jump off a bridge if I see it there. I am throwing every particle of my energy into hammering this latest condition down by Friday. So I will take a 25mg Benadryl pill at night and use the spray 2-3 times a day, too. That spray seems to do WAY more and instant relief than OTC cortisone. Plus, it just gives me the freakin' willies to touch this rash - I'm wondering if I'm spreading it by even gently applying anything to it with my hands. If I had a nickel for every cuss word I've invented over this entire MixTo disaster, I'd be rich enough to fly to Cleveland and have Dr. G put everything right with a whole new facelift. But, I must stay positive! :-)
I Bug U
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Yes. And here's what it'd read if I wrote it today: #$#$%$^^ $%$^7! ^%4##@^&* %^(*&&^ #@!$$ (If I've left out any key cuss words, please let me know.) MissJ wrote:If all else fails on the legal front--like the lawyer tells you, you can't hold litigation over his head for settlement and after that he still gives you no money back, THEN write him a letter detailing all the CRAP he put you through and then share the letter with everyone on the net.
I Bug U
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Bugjune wrote:I did get some Benadryl spray today - and it is a GODSEND on my rash. Overnight, that rash has actually spread, so now it's bad on my back, scalp and thighs, but is also all over my arms, torso, shins and calves. I think it's even in my ears and nostrils, but I would simply jump off a bridge if I see it there. concerned for you here. may be worthwhile to see someone (whether internist, medical derm, or id doc) who specializes in staph. one of the links provided somewhere in one of these threads said that toxic shock can include hair loss and can recur months down the line, so maybe that is what it is, but it didn't say anything about continual symptoms, just recurrence. with new rashes forming and you feeling like it might be in your nose and ears (if you were serious about that, couldn't tell if you wee just kidding), seeing someone that knows about this may help. if you have no skin blemishes to culture, they can sometimes culture the inside of your nose to check that way to see if you are still dealing with a type of staph that requires further antibiotic treatment. hope you feel better soon.
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Make sure you take pics of this rash, Bug, at its worst. Document pictorially *every* symptom/problem/sequelae.
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I know you just went to your doc but I agree with Surfgirl. MUCH better to be safe, just in case. Not trying to scare you, but recurrence rate is 30-40% for toxic shock!!: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1053526-overview
DCNGA has left the board and is no longer taking PMs. She requests that if you wish to e-mail her to use her direct e-mail address which is: laserandiplsupport@gmail.com
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I agree with surfgirl, too. How ever great your GP is, the G stands for General (doesn't it?), not specialist.
And the odds are much greater that your hair loss is toxic shock related, rather than a short course of antibiotics related.
Bugjune wrote:
"after weeks of losing hair, post-antibiotic"
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Agree, I'd see an Infectious Disease physician just to be safe.
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I THINK that sort of specialty is found in a doctor who specializes in Infectious Diseases. EVen if it's not really infectious to another, that kind of doctor should also be conversant in all the different microbes that do 'bad stuff'. surfgirl wrote:
concerned for you here. may be worthwhile to see someone (whether internist, medical derm, or id doc) who specializes in staph.
one of the links provided somewhere in one of these threads said that toxic shock can include hair loss and can recur months down the line, so maybe that is what it is, but it didn't say anything about continual symptoms, just recurrence.
with new rashes forming and you feeling like it might be in your nose and ears (if you were serious about that, couldn't tell if you wee just kidding), seeing someone that knows about this may help. if you have no skin blemishes to culture, they can sometimes culture the inside of your nose to check that way to see if you are still dealing with a type of staph that requires further antibiotic treatment. hope you feel better soon.
Can hardly walk. Need hip replacement.
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In the emedicine artice that DCNGA gave a link to it says:
Consultations
* Infectious disease specialist - To determine appropriate antibiotic coverage
* Critical care specialist - To evaluate and treat potential complications
* Dermatologist
You may need some specialist bloods too, as it also said:
“failure to generate anti-TSST-1 antibody after an episode of toxic shock syndrome predisposes patients to recurrent episodes”
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I am taking all your suggestions to HEART right now! I really appreciate all of your input here. Yes, I'd read about the recurrence of Toxic Shock (losing hair and nails at 2-3 mo post, recurrence at 4-6 mo post). My GP did say one thing that made sense: Toxic Shock Syndrome would've put my body into a state of medical shock, which I honestly don't think I had, despite my fever of 103.7 F and blood pressure of 110/60. Here are the common causes of medical shock: http://www.medicinenet.com/shock/article.htm. I didn't have most of the signs and symptoms (thank GOD), and even my blood pressure was still within the norms. That said ... I'm giving this rash till FRIDAY to vamoose. I am going to do some inquiring around about specialists. I live in a tiny town - no bigger than Virginia City, where the Cartwrights lived! And my good ol' doc is all I have here. I will have hubby take my DAILY picture for posterity. My god, tell me: WHEN DO MARTIANS LAND?
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