skin problems

[Mari]

Hi,

The skin on the tops/backs of my hands and wrists are red and scaly and burning. I am going to call the skin doc. Maybe I should stay awake until 9:00 am so I can put a call into her office in case the office is open.

M

[waves]

Yikes Mari,

I agree, and if you can't get the skin doc, try your own doc, or your pdoc... or go to an urgent care.

It could simply be a stress reaction, or an allergic reaction to something you touched or ate.

However, it could also be a reaction to the increased gabapentin - rarely even Steven-Johnson's syndrome is possible so i would like you to see a doctor.

I don't want to scare you but better safe than sorry.

i hope it is "nothing." Please keep us posted.

~ waves ~

[waves]

hmmm. doing arithmetic on your post time and realizing you posted at 5 am ish.

i'd say if you can get a nap - in any way shape or form, do. deal with this when you wake up. hopefully the skin doc is open if not... go down the line trying other docs... there is always urgent care.

you were describing things that sound like derealization in the earlier post and you sounded profoundly sleep deprived. nap on the couch if you can't sleep in your bed... whatever works at this point.

~ waves ~

[Mari]

Originally Posted by waves

Yikes Mari,


However, it could also be a reaction to the increased gabapentin - rarely even Steven-Johnson's syndrome is possible so i would like you to see a doctor.

I had not considered that. Thanks.

[Mari]

Hi, Waves,

I could not reach an MD or office staff because I called too late in the day.
Over the phone, the pharmacist . . .
Pharmacist looked up
1 Gabapentin side effects
2 my med record.

She asked a couple of questions, . . . seemed most interested in whether I have a fever or not, (no fever, temp is 97.3)

I explained that my prescribed dose in her computer of 500 mgs is not what I am taking. I was guesstimating . . . . that under doctor's instructions, I had been taking 300 mgs and then raised the dose to 500 over the past two weeks or so.
She told me to go back to 300 tonight and tomorrow and then reach the doctor on Wednesday. If the rash does not go away or lesson before I see the doctor, then stop the med.

======


M

[waves]

Dear Mari,

thanks for checking back in. sorry you couldn't see a doc but sounds like the pharmacist was thorough and helpful. i would definitely follow her advice.

the only additional thing i can suggest is to take pictures of the rash if you can. if the rash changes (better, worse, different) or appears on other areas of the body, take more pix. i would definitely see the dermatologist on wednesday, even if the rash has vanished by then. bring the pictures as they could help with diagnosis, particularly if the rash changed or disappeared.

if it is "just" contact dermatitis or a stress-related erythema, the rash could disappear very quickly, and only coincidentally to your reduction of gabapentin. it would be a pity to have to d/c your med permanently after all your hard work with it, and its positive effects and possible benefits for pain. the doc may be able to determine whether the erythema is serious and whether or not it is gabapentin-related. the doc may give you an all-clear to resume the drug.

take care of the whole of you meanwhile. do things you find soothing. wear soothing clothes and pick colors you find comforting in the moment. seek relaxation in as many ways possible. sleep, meditation, tv-reruns, walking barefoot on the grass, glass of wine, having hubby drive you to the beach. whatever works to help you reduce your stress level a notch or six.

i am sending you soothing vibes.

have a good evening breaking in the new year, if you do that. (we did, but quite frankly it sucked this year.)

~ waves ~ from 2013 ... off to a grumpy start.

[katmae]

Originally Posted by Mari

Hi,

The skin on the tops/backs of my hands and wrists are red and scaly and burning. I am going to call the skin doc. Maybe I should stay awake until 9:00 am so I can put a call into her office in case the office is open.

M

Mari,try not to put store lotions on most of them contain acahols or perfumes this will more then likely make your hands burn and more sore,this may sound silly but try a rubbing a little bit of crisco vegateble shorting on your hands this will help put some moisture back in your hands,untill you can get to a doc.

[waves]

Mari,

i know you don't use a lot of products so i didn't figure you'd put anything on your hands, but i might as well mention at this point, that i would probably avoid putting ANYTHING on the rash - even plain oils - until you've been seen, because really it could be anything. it could even be a chemical inflammation and putting oils on those is not necessarily a good thing.

the only thing that doesn't clog pores, if anything would be 100% PURE vitamin E but most folks don't have it. (oral gelcaps are not pure vit E). and all the same, i think in your place, i'd probably not put anything on it at all, and try to limit (within reason) how much i wet my hands. (when you do have to wet or wash your hands, dab the area dry, do not rub). good thing it's the backs of your hands and not the palms.

~ waves ~

[Dmom3005]

Hoping its not itchy or too much of a pain.

Hoping its feeling better tonight.

Donna

[butterfly11]

I hope your hands and wrists are getting better Mari. I hope they are so much better that you won't have to go to the doctor after New Year's.