[Azalysa]

I'd been feeling achy with slight chills for about a week. My mother was feeling about the same and I had last seen her the weekend before this feeling. (About 2 weeks ago.)

The last several days my back on right side has been hurting and sleeping very uncomfortable when I turn over. I made the decision to resign my job and at the same time fearful to tell my supervisor PLUS not feeling well, so I hadn't taken a shower in a couple of days.

Last night as I was undressing for a shower, I found a rash on my body in the exact places that were sore: under my right armpit is the biggest cluster, then it extends back in smaller clusters to mid-upper back. There are various clusters there.

I called GP (pdoc is hard to get into and GP is much closer) and have an appointment this afternoon. I'm in a panic and have searched the web for the last two hours (probably not a good thing for me since I catastrophize).

A couple of points:

**I began Lamictal 11/29/05 at 25 mg and titrated up to 100 mg where I have been for approximately a month. Between the whole job thing and forgetting to call in my script, etc. I have been off Lamictal for about 5 days. (I've always read that if a rash appears while on Lamictal to go off immediately, but does that happen in reverse? If one goes off Lamictal suddenly can a rash appear?)

**I'm getting really scared of being on all the meds I'm on and don't see my pdoc until 4/14/06. So, I thought I would try to wean off at least one med slowly and chose Wellbutrin. Am prescribed 300mg SR daily taken in two doses. With each dose I've taken 3/4 the amount. This has been for about 1 week.

**The night after I called in to company and resigned, I was doing the "what ifs" and aggitated in general. I was out of Seroquel, my prescribed sleeping med, so took my alloted amount of Ativan (2 mg/day) since that usually makes me sleepy. It didn't so I ended up taking 10. (I know, that was horrible. I felt drunk for about a day...still didn't sleep all that well.)

So, now I'm sitting here waiting to get into GP to see what this rash is all about. I'm praying it's something an anti-biotic can address. And this is further reason for me to want to get off all, if not most of my meds. If my pdoc won't take me off them, I've got to find a tapering plan on my own.

Mainly writing to give my mind to do....searching the web has scared me. Anyone have any kind of situation like this before?

Thanks so much!!

[Azalysa]

I'd been feeling achy with slight chills for about a week. My mother was feeling about the same and I had last seen her the weekend before this feeling. (About 2 weeks ago.)

The last several days my back on right side has been hurting and sleeping very uncomfortable when I turn over. I made the decision to resign my job and at the same time fearful to tell my supervisor PLUS not feeling well, so I hadn't taken a shower in a couple of days.

Last night as I was undressing for a shower, I found a rash on my body in the exact places that were sore: under my right armpit is the biggest cluster, then it extends back in smaller clusters to mid-upper back. There are various clusters there.

I called GP (pdoc is hard to get into and GP is much closer) and have an appointment this afternoon. I'm in a panic and have searched the web for the last two hours (probably not a good thing for me since I catastrophize).

A couple of points:

**I began Lamictal 11/29/05 at 25 mg and titrated up to 100 mg where I have been for approximately a month. Between the whole job thing and forgetting to call in my script, etc. I have been off Lamictal for about 5 days. (I've always read that if a rash appears while on Lamictal to go off immediately, but does that happen in reverse? If one goes off Lamictal suddenly can a rash appear?)

**I'm getting really scared of being on all the meds I'm on and don't see my pdoc until 4/14/06. So, I thought I would try to wean off at least one med slowly and chose Wellbutrin. Am prescribed 300mg SR daily taken in two doses. With each dose I've taken 3/4 the amount. This has been for about 1 week.

**The night after I called in to company and resigned, I was doing the "what ifs" and aggitated in general. I was out of Seroquel, my prescribed sleeping med, so took my alloted amount of Ativan (2 mg/day) since that usually makes me sleepy. It didn't so I ended up taking 10. (I know, that was horrible. I felt drunk for about a day...still didn't sleep all that well.)

So, now I'm sitting here waiting to get into GP to see what this rash is all about. I'm praying it's something an anti-biotic can address. And this is further reason for me to want to get off all, if not most of my meds. If my pdoc won't take me off them, I've got to find a tapering plan on my own.

Mainly writing to give my mind to do....searching the web has scared me. Anyone have any kind of situation like this before?

Thanks so much!!

[darkeyes]

I'm so sorry to hear this, it may be some insect bite, hubby years ago got nailed by brown recluse (doc assumed)and strange stuff happened, he has a dark round scar on his butt (thank God, not the face)from the bite. The weird thing, he didn't even feel anything, but felt a wet feeling,the bite was oozing, he still had no recollection of a sting or bite. He was treated with antibiotics,etc.
Where we live now and before, has a high rate of Lyme disease, so on occasion our doc will add that on our bloodwork, if we are feeling lousy and have symptoms.
Okay, enough of my added info. of what are other possiblities causing the rash,etc.
I wish you wouldn't or are not going to mess with your meds.,as you said you would find "your own plan", you may not realize, but it just may cause you further problems.
Work with your pdoc on that,if you aren't getting satisfaction with him or her, please,I urge you to find a new one. I know that is a difficult thing,but would hate to see you have to suffer and/or deal with more complications.
I say this cause you are a sweet person, and I am concerned.
Let us know how things go, and do know, you can PM me anytime.

Sincerely,
Roe

((((((((((((( Azalysa )))))))))))))

BTW
Sometimes I go on the health sites, and end up causing myself more anxiety. It's good to have resources, but then there are times to just wait and see what the 3D doc(s) say.
Lots of love and luck to you.

[darkeyes]

I'm so sorry to hear this, it may be some insect bite, hubby years ago got nailed by brown recluse (doc assumed)and strange stuff happened, he has a dark round scar on his butt (thank God, not the face)from the bite. The weird thing, he didn't even feel anything, but felt a wet feeling,the bite was oozing, he still had no recollection of a sting or bite. He was treated with antibiotics,etc.
Where we live now and before, has a high rate of Lyme disease, so on occasion our doc will add that on our bloodwork, if we are feeling lousy and have symptoms.
Okay, enough of my added info. of what are other possiblities causing the rash,etc.
I wish you wouldn't or are not going to mess with your meds.,as you said you would find "your own plan", you may not realize, but it just may cause you further problems.
Work with your pdoc on that,if you aren't getting satisfaction with him or her, please,I urge you to find a new one. I know that is a difficult thing,but would hate to see you have to suffer and/or deal with more complications.
I say this cause you are a sweet person, and I am concerned.
Let us know how things go, and do know, you can PM me anytime.

Sincerely,
Roe

((((((((((((( Azalysa )))))))))))))

BTW
Sometimes I go on the health sites, and end up causing myself more anxiety. It's good to have resources, but then there are times to just wait and see what the 3D doc(s) say.
Lots of love and luck to you.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
I wish you wouldn't or are not going to mess with your meds.,as you said you would find "your own plan", you may not realize, but it just may cause you further problems.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

[Azalysa]

{{{{{{DE, Petunia}}}}}}}

Thank you both for your caring feedback.

You're right, going off meds my way is not a good idea. I will be seeing pdoc on 4/14/06 and am asking him to begin weaning me down then, but thought I'd get a "jump start" on one of the meds (Wellbutrin) a tiny bit at a time. That's probably not even a good idea.

The thing that I've wondered about is that when one is on, let's say for example 500 mg Depakote, then wants to get off, there is a slow weaning process. But (in my case) if pdoc increases the dose, he doesn't go up slowly just throws in another 500 mg. I wonder if going up in dose isn't the same as going down.

2 more hours til I see GP. Can't wait to see him!!

[Azalysa]

{{{{{{DE, Petunia}}}}}}}

Thank you both for your caring feedback.

You're right, going off meds my way is not a good idea. I will be seeing pdoc on 4/14/06 and am asking him to begin weaning me down then, but thought I'd get a "jump start" on one of the meds (Wellbutrin) a tiny bit at a time. That's probably not even a good idea.

The thing that I've wondered about is that when one is on, let's say for example 500 mg Depakote, then wants to get off, there is a slow weaning process. But (in my case) if pdoc increases the dose, he doesn't go up slowly just throws in another 500 mg. I wonder if going up in dose isn't the same as going down.

2 more hours til I see GP. Can't wait to see him!!

[Azalysa]

Ok, this is interesting...I was searching the web (I know, I know, DE ) and did a google on "rashes that are sore." This one doesn't itch but it is sore and painful and I'm feeling more "flu-like" by the second, accompanied by little "shooting pains" on my right side.

Wellllllll (not saying this is it, but looks VERY likely) - what I came up with was shingles. I mentioned that to my mother the other night since I'd had a mild case of shingles before, but was so fixated on it "having" to be from my psych meds that I just breezed by that idea.

All my symptoms from A-Z relate to shingles, plus the photos posted look exactly like my rash.

Oh, joy!

Going to try to pull myself together to get to Dr.

(Since we're on the subject - and I know how "interesting" this is ) - When I was early 20's, I got this weird rash that began as a tiny rash on my palms, wrists and stomach. In about 2 hours I was scratching to beat the band!!

The next day the little rash had morphed into a large rash, each approximately the size of a quarter - covered my entire body, including the soles of my feet. As the day went on I became very ill and my eyes were very swollen.

My mother kept taking my temperature, which was sky-rocketing. (Now that I look back on this, I'm wondering why we didn't go to the ER. My stepfather is very allergic to all kinds of things so he was convinced it was an allergy of some sort. Went to his allergist who told us to see GP.)

By this time I felt like I was going to die and couldn't even sit up on the way to the Dr. - the same GP I had gone to as a teenager.

GP said it could be a number of things but was going to prescribe for what he thought it was and wrote a script for some type of "horse pills" that we got filled and I took a dose of on our way home and even before arriving I felt 100% better. We called GP to see what the skin rash had been. He called it "pyrodermia" - and the reason I was so ill was that the welts on the outside of my body were also on my internal organs.

He said it's a virus that is in everyone's body and in 1 in a billion (exagerating there) people, it activates. Once having had it, a person is no more likely to have it again. I found out later one of my cousins had a bout of it.

My Dr. said he would have normally put me in the hospital to diagnose it for sure...the reason he didn't:

This was 1 week before my wedding. Did I "really" have pyrodermia and if so, could the anxiety have caused it?

Truth is stranger than fiction

[Azalysa]

Ok, this is interesting...I was searching the web (I know, I know, DE ) and did a google on "rashes that are sore." This one doesn't itch but it is sore and painful and I'm feeling more "flu-like" by the second, accompanied by little "shooting pains" on my right side.

Wellllllll (not saying this is it, but looks VERY likely) - what I came up with was shingles. I mentioned that to my mother the other night since I'd had a mild case of shingles before, but was so fixated on it "having" to be from my psych meds that I just breezed by that idea.

All my symptoms from A-Z relate to shingles, plus the photos posted look exactly like my rash.

Oh, joy!

Going to try to pull myself together to get to Dr.

(Since we're on the subject - and I know how "interesting" this is ) - When I was early 20's, I got this weird rash that began as a tiny rash on my palms, wrists and stomach. In about 2 hours I was scratching to beat the band!!

The next day the little rash had morphed into a large rash, each approximately the size of a quarter - covered my entire body, including the soles of my feet. As the day went on I became very ill and my eyes were very swollen.

My mother kept taking my temperature, which was sky-rocketing. (Now that I look back on this, I'm wondering why we didn't go to the ER. My stepfather is very allergic to all kinds of things so he was convinced it was an allergy of some sort. Went to his allergist who told us to see GP.)

By this time I felt like I was going to die and couldn't even sit up on the way to the Dr. - the same GP I had gone to as a teenager.

GP said it could be a number of things but was going to prescribe for what he thought it was and wrote a script for some type of "horse pills" that we got filled and I took a dose of on our way home and even before arriving I felt 100% better. We called GP to see what the skin rash had been. He called it "pyrodermia" - and the reason I was so ill was that the welts on the outside of my body were also on my internal organs.

He said it's a virus that is in everyone's body and in 1 in a billion (exagerating there) people, it activates. Once having had it, a person is no more likely to have it again. I found out later one of my cousins had a bout of it.

My Dr. said he would have normally put me in the hospital to diagnose it for sure...the reason he didn't:

This was 1 week before my wedding. Did I "really" have pyrodermia and if so, could the anxiety have caused it?

Truth is stranger than fiction

[silver_queen]

I was going to suggest shingles too... my dad had a rash in a similar place to you a few years back, in a band around his side, which hurt him and he also felt generally unwell. I hope you get it confirmed or that it clears up soon! My dad got a kind of powder stuff to put on his rash.

[silver_queen]

I was going to suggest shingles too... my dad had a rash in a similar place to you a few years back, in a band around his side, which hurt him and he also felt generally unwell. I hope you get it confirmed or that it clears up soon! My dad got a kind of powder stuff to put on his rash.

[Larry_Hoover]

If you have shingles, seeing the doctor right away is very important. There are ways you can minimize the long-term impacts of shingles outbreaks. Time is of the essence, i.e. don't waste any time obtaining treatment. Also, if it is shingles, be aware that you are now contagious. The virus is called herpes zoster, and it causes chicken pox. It never ever goes away. Your body just manages it. Having shingles means your body needs some help managing the virus. People who have never had chicken pox can now get it from you.

Also, I can't find any good information on pyrodermia, likely because it's not a commonly used term for whatever you had. Sounds like hives, though. The treatment (the horse pills) would have been high doses of diphenhydramine (Benadryl), I'd bet you.

Do your best to maintain stable psych drug levels during this time when the rash is active. You don't want to complicate things, okay?

I'd appreciate hearing what your doctor has to say.

Hugs,
Lar

[Larry_Hoover]

If you have shingles, seeing the doctor right away is very important. There are ways you can minimize the long-term impacts of shingles outbreaks. Time is of the essence, i.e. don't waste any time obtaining treatment. Also, if it is shingles, be aware that you are now contagious. The virus is called herpes zoster, and it causes chicken pox. It never ever goes away. Your body just manages it. Having shingles means your body needs some help managing the virus. People who have never had chicken pox can now get it from you.

Also, I can't find any good information on pyrodermia, likely because it's not a commonly used term for whatever you had. Sounds like hives, though. The treatment (the horse pills) would have been high doses of diphenhydramine (Benadryl), I'd bet you.

Do your best to maintain stable psych drug levels during this time when the rash is active. You don't want to complicate things, okay?

I'd appreciate hearing what your doctor has to say.

Hugs,
Lar

[lenjan]

Aza, I can't say I understand why you're so panicky about taking psych meds -- as my pdoc used to tell me when I used to complain about it, before ending up hospitalized twice in one year and realizing that I *needed* them -- if you had high blood pressure, you wouldn't think twice about taking meds for it. Depression is a disease too. No stigma to taking meds.

Admittedly, they don't know a lot about some of the long-term side effects (Exhibit A of that is typing to you right now!) -- but frankly, I'd rather have them than not.

I wish I could give you some hints on how not to catastrophize, but I do that on a daily basis myself, so I won't presume to give advice on it . I just know it would make our lives a lot easier if we weren't predisposed to doing that!!

Let us hear how it went at the doc -- hope all it is is shingles, although I hear that can be yucky. I've never had chickenpox, so good thing you're half a country away, in cyberland! LOL

Hugs, gf. Hang in there.

Love, Candy

[lenjan]

Aza, I can't say I understand why you're so panicky about taking psych meds -- as my pdoc used to tell me when I used to complain about it, before ending up hospitalized twice in one year and realizing that I *needed* them -- if you had high blood pressure, you wouldn't think twice about taking meds for it. Depression is a disease too. No stigma to taking meds.

Admittedly, they don't know a lot about some of the long-term side effects (Exhibit A of that is typing to you right now!) -- but frankly, I'd rather have them than not.

I wish I could give you some hints on how not to catastrophize, but I do that on a daily basis myself, so I won't presume to give advice on it . I just know it would make our lives a lot easier if we weren't predisposed to doing that!!

Let us hear how it went at the doc -- hope all it is is shingles, although I hear that can be yucky. I've never had chickenpox, so good thing you're half a country away, in cyberland! LOL

Hugs, gf. Hang in there.

Love, Candy

[CelticCatnip]

*hugs* I hope it's nothing serious.

[CelticCatnip]

*hugs* I hope it's nothing serious.

[Azalysa]

I was pretty much convinced the rash was shingles once I found the symptoms/photos on the web. I had a very mild case of it yeaaaaarrrrrrssss ago. The Dr. I went to then said "You have Herpes Zoster" then went on to explain about shingles. I was repeating the conversation to my husband and I thought he was going to hit the ceiling - all he heard was "herpes."

I don't recall the rash being quite as large as it is this time, but, this is the second time around.

When my Dr. saw the rash he said "Whoa! You've got a healthy case of them!" Not really the thing I want to be "healthy" in. He prescribed Valtrex, Vicodin and Prednisone. After taking my first dose of each I'm feeling MUCH better.

Thank you all so much for your concern, input, and putting up with me when I was freaking.

Larry: Thank you so much for your information. My Dr. said pretty much what you did in your first paragraph. The rash just showed up last night although I'd been feeling sore in the same areas for a few days. Dr. was VERY pleased I got in within 72 hours of rash appearing.

An interesting comment Dr. made was that being on Lamictal should help with the shingles in some way. (He told me but now I've forgotten.) I only saw him 2 weeks ago for a GP issue and went over all my psych meds with him at that time. I expressed my concern at that time about being on so many meds. He said when/if I wean off them that the 2 he would recommend staying on are Zoloft and Lamictal. This is twice he has been positive on Lamictal!)

Something I forgot to mention to Dr. is I had Chicken Pox TWICE as a child. (Back in the day when it was not vaccinated for and it was just one of those childhood diseases we expected to get, like measles.) It's something you're only supposed to have once, so that was odd.

Dr. said I'm contagious while I have the rash via contact, not by airborne germs, but in general right now to stay away from pregnant women, babies, children and the elderly.

I tried to look up Pyrodermia earlier as well and all I could find were a few entries from people asking if they knew anyone who had gotten this while overseas in service. The "horsepill" wasn't Benadryl. When I first went to the allergist he *did* give me a shot of some type of antihistimine. That was when we found out I am highly allergic to it, the only thing I am allergic to.

I'm guessing my family GP gave me some type of anti-viral med, much like what I received today. The interesting thing is I went from being so very ill an entire week, to almost 100% better in one day!!!!!

And I promise to stay on my psych regime! I got myself freaked somehow.

*Hugs back*

Candy: I've never had a fear of taking psych meds for the last 15 years and, in fact, have been an advocate for mental illness/meds not being a stigma (something I'd still like to figure out how to make into a vocation). I even held this view quite vocally in grad school where the profs were VERY anti-meds and "therapy only."

I think several things combined started to concern me: I'd only been on 2 meds during the last 15 years, then, during this past 5 months every time I went to pdoc he increased a med and/or added a new one and in the case of Wellbutrin, for about 3 weeks the "cure was worse than the illness."

The long term effects of so many meds began concerning me, but you're right, I'd rather be psychologically stable.

Ummm, "Exhibit A" did frighten me a bit as well. But we're each so different that who knows what causes stuff in each of us. (It would be wonderful if we did!) I asked my Dr. if there's any rhyme or reason to getting shingles and he asked if I was under any stress - same question I was asked by the pharmacist when I filled the meds. Apparently no definitive reason. My grandmother had them years ago as well...maybe a hereditary gene.

Oh and, remember...there are planes, trains and automobiles!
{{{{{{Candy}}}}}

{{{{{{{CelticCatnip}}}}}} you're always so supportive!!! Thank you for thinking of me.

I love this place!!!

[Azalysa]

I was pretty much convinced the rash was shingles once I found the symptoms/photos on the web. I had a very mild case of it yeaaaaarrrrrrssss ago. The Dr. I went to then said "You have Herpes Zoster" then went on to explain about shingles. I was repeating the conversation to my husband and I thought he was going to hit the ceiling - all he heard was "herpes."

I don't recall the rash being quite as large as it is this time, but, this is the second time around.

When my Dr. saw the rash he said "Whoa! You've got a healthy case of them!" Not really the thing I want to be "healthy" in. He prescribed Valtrex, Vicodin and Prednisone. After taking my first dose of each I'm feeling MUCH better.

Thank you all so much for your concern, input, and putting up with me when I was freaking.

Larry: Thank you so much for your information. My Dr. said pretty much what you did in your first paragraph. The rash just showed up last night although I'd been feeling sore in the same areas for a few days. Dr. was VERY pleased I got in within 72 hours of rash appearing.

An interesting comment Dr. made was that being on Lamictal should help with the shingles in some way. (He told me but now I've forgotten.) I only saw him 2 weeks ago for a GP issue and went over all my psych meds with him at that time. I expressed my concern at that time about being on so many meds. He said when/if I wean off them that the 2 he would recommend staying on are Zoloft and Lamictal. This is twice he has been positive on Lamictal!)

Something I forgot to mention to Dr. is I had Chicken Pox TWICE as a child. (Back in the day when it was not vaccinated for and it was just one of those childhood diseases we expected to get, like measles.) It's something you're only supposed to have once, so that was odd.

Dr. said I'm contagious while I have the rash via contact, not by airborne germs, but in general right now to stay away from pregnant women, babies, children and the elderly.

I tried to look up Pyrodermia earlier as well and all I could find were a few entries from people asking if they knew anyone who had gotten this while overseas in service. The "horsepill" wasn't Benadryl. When I first went to the allergist he *did* give me a shot of some type of antihistimine. That was when we found out I am highly allergic to it, the only thing I am allergic to.

I'm guessing my family GP gave me some type of anti-viral med, much like what I received today. The interesting thing is I went from being so very ill an entire week, to almost 100% better in one day!!!!!

And I promise to stay on my psych regime! I got myself freaked somehow.

*Hugs back*

Candy: I've never had a fear of taking psych meds for the last 15 years and, in fact, have been an advocate for mental illness/meds not being a stigma (something I'd still like to figure out how to make into a vocation). I even held this view quite vocally in grad school where the profs were VERY anti-meds and "therapy only."

I think several things combined started to concern me: I'd only been on 2 meds during the last 15 years, then, during this past 5 months every time I went to pdoc he increased a med and/or added a new one and in the case of Wellbutrin, for about 3 weeks the "cure was worse than the illness."

The long term effects of so many meds began concerning me, but you're right, I'd rather be psychologically stable.

Ummm, "Exhibit A" did frighten me a bit as well. But we're each so different that who knows what causes stuff in each of us. (It would be wonderful if we did!) I asked my Dr. if there's any rhyme or reason to getting shingles and he asked if I was under any stress - same question I was asked by the pharmacist when I filled the meds. Apparently no definitive reason. My grandmother had them years ago as well...maybe a hereditary gene.

Oh and, remember...there are planes, trains and automobiles!
{{{{{{Candy}}}}}

{{{{{{{CelticCatnip}}}}}} you're always so supportive!!! Thank you for thinking of me.

I love this place!!!

[Azalysa]

It's only been 1 week since the shingles reared their ugly, monstrous heads, but it feels like a month. I was basically just uncomfortable when I last wrote, then it peaked to PAIN...my main activity was waiting for the next time I could take another dose of pain meds.

Now it seems to be subsiding somewhat...still uncomfortable, but I'm going a LOT longer between pain meds.

I have an online diary and when I wrote about it there, people came out of the woodwork who have had shingles, including one of my good friend's husband.

So, that's why I haven't been around recently.

[red_rose]

I am sorry to hear about the shingles. I know you are going through My sister had them and it does take them awhile to heal Iwish you good Luck on this and I am thinking about you I can do anything to help you please feel free to pm me.

[Azalysa]

{{{{{RedRose}}}}}

Thanks for your support!! It's getting better day by day. From last night til now I went 17 hours without pain meds. WOOT! Previously I was just waiting for 6 hours to go by so I could take the next dose.

Many blessings!!

[wi_fighter]

I googled pyoderma and got 315,000 hits. There's no "i" in the word, that's why you aren't getting much or any info.

Glad to hear you're feeling better Aza.

[Azalysa]

WOW!!!! Shirley I am sooooo impressed!! How did you know that????

Now that I've read about it I was like *gulp* but in my case the culprit was stress again as I have no history of the other issues. I was intrigued to see it is categorized in the U.S. as "rare." I always knew I was unique.

[wi_fighter]

LOL I'm a medical transcriptionist. It's my job to know these things.