The Skinny on my Skin

My hives/rash/skin has been getting progressively worse over the past few weeks.  I'm taking Hydroxyzine full dose every 4 hours (snooze!) and my skin just hurts like a crazy bad sunburn.  It's literally taking over my life.

Last week I thought: what would I do if this were an engineering problem?  I would write out my knowns, unknows, equations, free body diagrams, figure out the safety factor, and approximate the solution.  While not all of those things apply, I decided to take the same approach and write down everything.  I was seriously tempted to break out the engineering paper but decided to type it instead.  I outlined my medications, symptoms, treatment history, possible causes, test results and steps for moving forward.  I had a LOT of internet research that I compiled as well as copies of all my prescriptions and lab results.  I tried to make it as concise and direct as possible. It ended up being 3 pages (plus the lab results).  I love technical writing cause it's very to-the-point.

While I was reviewing the last 6 months of skin symptoms (rash review) I realized that the Allergist has reached a dead end.  Either I use a chemotherapy drug or spend all my money on shots that might not even help.  I would pay for the Xolair shots if there was a guarantee that it would help, but if all these histamine medications aren't helping then why would another histamine medication help?  I'm just not convinced.  I found out this week that I qualify for the shots for free for one year through a foundation!  Wonderful!  But like I said, I'm not even sure they would help.  So I haven't moved forward with the foundation - I thought I would wait til I saw my family doctor.

I decided that I needed a fresh set of eyes on my rash and treatment plan.  So this past Tues I went to my family doctor who I LOVE.  She's just awesome.  She came in the room and asked me to catch her up on what was going on, I pulled out my report, she was super impressed!  We went through it together.  A few times she would ask a question and I would flip to the answer in a different section.  She was stumped.  I've tried everything that she would use.  She said that I need to see a dermatologist to have them biopsy the skin.  Then, moving forward, if they can't figure it out we will go to the University of Michigan where they take crazy medical cases.  She also gave me an anti-anxiety medication for bedtime if I'm feeling extra stressed over this.  Plus I'm starting metformin again for my PCOS.  I told her about all the homeopathic things I am trying right now (thank you to all my wonderful friends and family who have sent me stuff in the mail and lots of ideas to try - I've been doing them all!)  She also mentioned NAET, even though her medical science mind doesn't make sense of it, it really seems to work for lots of people.  I have heard of this before from Carolyn, I think I need to really investigate this for the future.

I saw the dermatologist today.  When I made the appt the receptionist told me they don't usually do a skin biopsy on the first visit.  I was thinking about that today and thought that once they see me they will probably do one today - so last minute I dropped Scarlett off at the Sawayas (didn't think she should see all those needles in her mommy).  Good thing I did cause I was right!  And the last time I got my blood drawn she put her face really close to the needle in my arm and said "oh, poor mommy."

The twins were asleep for most of the appointment and when they woke up they were adorable.  They drew lots of attention... I'm grateful people where staring at them and not looking at my hideous face.  This is how I woke up today - the worst it's been on my face.  With swollen eyelids.  I woke up at 4 am to take more meds for the itching.  I sent Jake and email right then (he always checks his email in the morning) and asked him to give me a blessing.  He woke me up before he left for work to fulfill my request - even if I was all drugged up and loopy.  Thank you sweetie!

The PA came in and looked me over.  She said she thinks she knows what it is, but wanted the doctor to look it over.  They both looked me over and asked me lots of questions.  Apparently not an open and shut case.  I have eczema and hives on my arms and body, but the red/purple/hot/awful rash they think is Atopic Dermatitis.  Basically an allergic reaction.  He said it looks like it is my shampoo and the rash is where the soap rinses down my body in the shower.  What the what?!?!?!??!  YOU MEAN I'M DOING THIS TO MYSELF?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  If I was a crier, I would have burst into tears at that moment.  Unfortunately I am a robot, so you will have to imagine how frustrated I am by all the exclamation marks!!!

I told them I haven't changed products, I use the same stuff I've always used.  Regardless, my body has undergone a hormone shift after pregnancy which could have triggered a new allergy.  We originally thought this could be the case months ago, but ruled it out cause I haven't tried anything new.  In fact, Jake even bleached our shower head trying to solve the problem.

Why haven't the histamines helped?  Basically cause I'm exposing myself to the allergen everyday.  I'm a serial showerer.  I would rather leave the house looking like a wet dog then skip my shower and put makeup on.  I have to shower.  Every day.  That includes washing my hair.  So even if the meds were helping, I was re-infecting myself before my body had a chance to recover.  Just a downward spiral that also explains why it's getting progressively worse.

So what's the plan?

Skin Biopsy: They did a skin biopsy on the back of my neck (where the rash is always the worst) to verify the diagnosis or determine a new diagnosis.  The nurse numbed me up first then the PA did some stuff.  I couldn't see what was going on but she told me after that I'll need to come back in 2 weeks so she can remove the stitch.  Scarlett saw my neck later that night and said "Mommy! You have a hole!"

Steroids: They gave me a prednisone shot in my bum to help get on top of this reaction as well as topical steroids (which were way more expensive then I was expecting, but worth it if they help).

New soaps: The biggest thing will be avoiding all my regular soaps/lotions/creams.  I use a lot of products on my skin.  I am a delicate ecosystem and I have a very specific regime every morning and every night.  Instead of using my regular stuff they gave me a bunch of samples of Vanicream products.  They are super duper hypo-allergenic.  I asked if I could even wash the babies in the tub or if my hubby needed to do that.  He said I could wear gloves.  I laughed and said that Jake will probably have to take that over (which he does normally anyways).  The doctor chuckled and said he was just trying to get my husband out from doing that chore.  haha!

Patch Test: In 2 weeks I go back to the office to check everything and make sure I'm healing.  Then I have to go off of all my antihistamines.  Then the next week, when I'm off everything, they will bring me in for a Patch Test.  They will put a bunch of stickers all over my back.  Each sticker contains a different ingredient that is found in soaps/lotions/cleaners that are known to cause allergies.  They will check the stickers on Wednesday and Friday.  For 5 days I can't get my back wet.  This will be a problem (remember: serial showerer).  I'm already freaking out about it.  Luckily Dr. King already gave me the anti-anxiety pills cause I'm positive I will need them that week!  Part of me wonders if I'm allergic to Lanolin.  The rash used to be on my chest really bad (back when I was nursing) and I could only use Lanolin on my nipples.  And right now I have been using Aquaphor on the rash every night - which I hardly used before.  Luckily with the Patch Test I won't have to wonder.  Once they find out the cause they will be able to print a list of soaps and lotions that are safe for me to use.

I told the Dr. that my little brother was getting married on April 30.  He said "don't worry, we'll get you looking beautiful for the wedding."  So............ I'm not looking beautiful now?  heehee ;-)

I really hope this is the end of my itchy nightmare.  Thank you all who have been praying for me and supporting me through this.  Even though I'm causing this allergic reaction, it has been difficult for the doctors to diagnose and to cure.  So I don't feel like a complete idiot (just a little).  But it is so wonderful to know we have family and friends who are there for us through our trials - even the self-inflicted ones!  Is there a 12 step program for serial showerers?