Re: Digest Number 2898

[Guest guest]

<PRE>hey ally and welcome!!! i have had some strange rashes and even last year

this time they told me i had roseola (chicken pox) i got some creme to put on

it when it gets bad andjust try not to bother with it. i was taking

prednisone back then. now i am on mtx. i know it was a year ago because i

missed my birthday and thanksgiving because of it. big flare. kathy in il

[Guest guest]

Hello everybody! My name is , my friends call me Al (I noticed this

board already has an AL) you can go ahead and call me Ally, or whatever

you deem appropriate--so long as it's not BIG AL! I've been lurking on your

board and getting to know all of you over the past 3 months or so. I'm not sure

why it has taken me so long to post but...I figured it was about time. I have

thoroughly enjoyed hanging back and watching you all support one another. You

are all so amazing!!! Here's a little bit of my history. I'm 26 yrs old and

the proud mother of twin 4 year-old boys. I was first diagnosed with RA and FMS

shortly after my children were born. Though I had experienced many health

problems throughout my teenage years. My health definitely took a nose dive

after the pregnancy and delivery. Is this normal? I'm currently taking MTX,

Plaquenil, Prednisone, Celebrex....the list is so long -I will spare you- and

leave it at that. I've also had a chronic dry cough over this last year that

seems to have a mind of its own. Have any of you experienced this at all? Is

it a side effect from the medication or a connection to any of the illnesses?

At any rate...my doctor prescribed chest xrays, ct scan etc. and came to the

conclusion that I have some sort of allergy induced asthma. Very strange--I've

never had problems with my lungs before. (except pneumonia when I was 13?)

Also something else very strange is happening to my skin....I keep getting these

random red sores -typically the size of an eraser head- on my chest, stomach and

occasionally my upper arms and thighs. They only slightly itch and they go

through weird stages. Let me explain without being too gory....initially the

sore might look a bit like a mosquito bite (raised red bump) after which it can

go one of two ways...either disappear peacefully after a few days or the skin

tends to become dry and flaky around the bump. If it gets to this stage usually

blood (nothing else) comes to the surface -almost like a blood

blister-eventually the dry skin flakes of and the sore bleeds (just a little) if

the sore does bleed it ends up scarring. Does anyone else experience anything

like this? Again could this be a reaction to the medication or is it part of

the disease? My doctor referred me to a Dermatologist for this issue however

the day I went in to see him....of course...I had no red bumps for him to

biopsy. Just some scars and a few sores that were trying to heal. I know you

just sent out an article about Bextra and skin disorders. I have never taken

Bextra the only pain medication I take on a daily basis is Ultram. On really,

really bad days I will use Lortab. Sorry to ramble on and on. Thanks for

letting me read your posts and thank you for allowing me to send this post. I

look forward to building a friendship with you all and I find comfort in knowing

there are people like you who are willing to extend a hand or hug (cyber hug

that is) and just listen to others who are 'down' or are experiencing similar

things. What a great place to come for support.

Sincerely,

Ally

wrote:

[Guest guest]

Hi Ally,

When I was first put on mtx, my Rheumy told me that sometimes it can affect the

lungs. I was told to contact him or my PCP if I ever had trouble breathing, he

never said anything about a cough. He ordered a set of x-rays before I even

took my first dose of mtx. He also said that of all of his patients that were

ever on mtx, he has only ever had 2 that had lung problems. I figured

considering his rep and that size of his practice that those were pretty good

odds. I hope this helps.

Re: [ ] Digest Number 2898

Hello everybody! My name is , my friends call me Al (I noticed this

board already has an AL) you can go ahead and call me Ally, or whatever

you deem appropriate--so long as it's not BIG AL! I've been lurking on your

board and getting to know all of you over the past 3 months or so. I'm not sure

why it has taken me so long to post but...I figured it was about time. I have

thoroughly enjoyed hanging back and watching you all support one another. You

are all so amazing!!! Here's a little bit of my history. I'm 26 yrs old and

the proud mother of twin 4 year-old boys. I was first diagnosed with RA and FMS

shortly after my children were born. Though I had experienced many health

problems throughout my teenage years. My health definitely took a nose dive

after the pregnancy and delivery. Is this normal? I'm currently taking MTX,

Plaquenil, Prednisone, Celebrex....the list is so long -I will spare you- and

leave it at that. I've also had a chronic dry cough over this last year that

seems to have a mind of its own. Have any of you experienced this at all? Is

it a side effect from the medication or a connection to any of the illnesses?

At any rate...my doctor prescribed chest xrays, ct scan etc. and came to the

conclusion that I have some sort of allergy induced asthma. Very strange--I've

never had problems with my lungs before. (except pneumonia when I was 13?)

Also something else very strange is happening to my skin....I keep getting these

random red sores -typically the size of an eraser head- on my chest, stomach and

occasionally my upper arms and thighs. They only slightly itch and they go

through weird stages. Let me explain without being too gory....initially the

sore might look a bit like a mosquito bite (raised red bump) after which it can

go one of two ways...either disappear peacefully after a few days or the skin

tends to become dry and flaky around the bump. If it gets to this stage usually

blood (nothing else) comes to the surface -almost like a blood

blister-eventually the dry skin flakes of and the sore bleeds (just a little) if

the sore does bleed it ends up scarring. Does anyone else experience anything

like this? Again could this be a reaction to the medication or is it part of

the disease? My doctor referred me to a Dermatologist for this issue however

the day I went in to see him....of course...I had no red bumps for him to

biopsy. Just some scars and a few sores that were trying to heal. I know you

just sent out an article about Bextra and skin disorders. I have never taken

Bextra the only pain medication I take on a daily basis is Ultram. On really,

really bad days I will use Lortab. Sorry to ramble on and on. Thanks for

letting me read your posts and thank you for allowing me to send this post. I

look forward to building a friendship with you all and I find comfort in knowing

there are people like you who are willing to extend a hand or hug (cyber hug

that is) and just listen to others who are 'down' or are experiencing similar

things. What a great place to come for support.

Sincerely,

Ally

wrote: