Re: foods,heat edema and rosacea

[Guest guest]

I have the exact same problem. I get swollen almost immediately after

eating many foods. I dont think thats my only trigger though, any type of

heat seems to be even worse. I also don't have swelling that is noticable

like hives across my face or something, my face just takes on this bloated,

puffy appearance. When it comes to this aspect of cea, more so than any

other, I think docs/derms are particularly useless. They don't seem to

understand that this is common with cea (at least that is my

understanding). I have read a bunch of online articles talking about how

doctors continually underestimate the frequency of this problem. And even

if its not common, it is something that definitely happens, and can be

distressing.

foods,heat edema and rosacea

>

> I recently said to my doctor that I am sure food is one of the biggest

influences on my skin.

>

> Now I know I don't have any food allergies, but, after eating my face

bloats. The doctor dismissed this and said that it's almost impossible for

food to effect rosacea so quickly.

>

> I am wondering if others have found that food really effects their facial

" bloating " (pls excuse the crude term) and if anyone has kept their rosacea

edema under control successfully just by adapting their diet? I wonder if it

is just heat from the body obviously food is a fuel, I get huge swelling

after eating carbs but perhaps this is because the foods are high energy and

ofcourse the more energy the more heat..?)

>

> The doctor also said that rosacea swelling is usually hard, as in the case

of new tissue formation. My swelling is not like that it's a constant

puffiness around the eyes and quite frequently my cheeks could be two

balloons filled with water - saggy cheek look if you see what I mean. It's

enough to make my face look different but not enough for there to be an

obvious swelling ie a lump so i think the doctor as he has only known me for

a year doesn't appreciate what I used to look like.

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

I have the exact same problem. I get swollen almost immediately after

eating many foods. I dont think thats my only trigger though, any type of

heat seems to be even worse. I also don't have swelling that is noticable

like hives across my face or something, my face just takes on this bloated,

puffy appearance. When it comes to this aspect of cea, more so than any

other, I think docs/derms are particularly useless. They don't seem to

understand that this is common with cea (at least that is my

understanding). I have read a bunch of online articles talking about how

doctors continually underestimate the frequency of this problem. And even

if its not common, it is something that definitely happens, and can be

distressing.

foods,heat edema and rosacea

>

> I recently said to my doctor that I am sure food is one of the biggest

influences on my skin.

>

> Now I know I don't have any food allergies, but, after eating my face

bloats. The doctor dismissed this and said that it's almost impossible for

food to effect rosacea so quickly.

>

> I am wondering if others have found that food really effects their facial

" bloating " (pls excuse the crude term) and if anyone has kept their rosacea

edema under control successfully just by adapting their diet? I wonder if it

is just heat from the body obviously food is a fuel, I get huge swelling

after eating carbs but perhaps this is because the foods are high energy and

ofcourse the more energy the more heat..?)

>

> The doctor also said that rosacea swelling is usually hard, as in the case

of new tissue formation. My swelling is not like that it's a constant

puffiness around the eyes and quite frequently my cheeks could be two

balloons filled with water - saggy cheek look if you see what I mean. It's

enough to make my face look different but not enough for there to be an

obvious swelling ie a lump so i think the doctor as he has only known me for

a year doesn't appreciate what I used to look like.

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

<< I recently said to my doctor that I am sure food is one of the biggest

influences on my skin.

>

> Now I know I don't have any food allergies, but, after eating my face

bloats. The doctor dismissed this and said that it's almost impossible for

food to effect rosacea so quickly.

>>

remember --

you know your self better than anyone else does!

i've had some bad experiences with doctors that have made me extremely

skeptical

i used to have absolute faith in any doctor --

stupidly assumed that because they went to medical school

and were in the business of helping

that they knew what they were doing.

i found out the hard way that there are as many lousy doctors as there are

lousy makeup artists ...

if you see an effect in your own body

you know it's there

even if your doctor says

" it's impossible "

trust yourself above all...

especially if your doctor doesn't have the same condition

(ie rosacea)

that you have

side note to marjorie md

that you are eager to ask for information

share information

interested in learning new things

makes you much more trustworthy as a doctor --

why is it that so many doctors refuse to admit they don't know

everything?

i have a recurring throat infection

i went to the doctor (at a highly reputable walk-in clinic)

she said: it looks like strep here take this penicillin

i did

of course the pen v made me really ill but

and then the throat infection came back

i went back to clinic

saw another doctor

he prescribed ceftin for strepthroat

and did a throat swab

with eventually came back negative

the throat infection came back

i went back

saw a different doctor

she said : it's clearly strep throat

i said: i don't think it is. the last throat swab came back negative

and it just keeps coming back.

she said: well, it was obviously a false negative. it's clearly strep throat

here take these antibiotics.

i said: i'm waiting for the results of the throat swab.

she said: it's clearly strep throat so you should take the antibiotics

anyway

the swab came back negative

the symptoms lessened in a few days.

and then it came back again!

so i went back to the clinic

this time fortunately it was on a day that my regular gp was in

i told him the story

he said:

i'll make an appointment with an ENT for you

instead of trying to convince me i had strep throat ...

if he's unsure of something, he'll be the first to admit it

which is why i feel like i can trust him completely ....

hey guys have a beautiful day!

the magnolia trees are in bloom ...

stacey

[Guest guest]

<< I recently said to my doctor that I am sure food is one of the biggest

influences on my skin.

>

> Now I know I don't have any food allergies, but, after eating my face

bloats. The doctor dismissed this and said that it's almost impossible for

food to effect rosacea so quickly.

>>

remember --

you know your self better than anyone else does!

i've had some bad experiences with doctors that have made me extremely

skeptical

i used to have absolute faith in any doctor --

stupidly assumed that because they went to medical school

and were in the business of helping

that they knew what they were doing.

i found out the hard way that there are as many lousy doctors as there are

lousy makeup artists ...

if you see an effect in your own body

you know it's there

even if your doctor says

" it's impossible "

trust yourself above all...

especially if your doctor doesn't have the same condition

(ie rosacea)

that you have

side note to marjorie md

that you are eager to ask for information

share information

interested in learning new things

makes you much more trustworthy as a doctor --

why is it that so many doctors refuse to admit they don't know

everything?

i have a recurring throat infection

i went to the doctor (at a highly reputable walk-in clinic)

she said: it looks like strep here take this penicillin

i did

of course the pen v made me really ill but

and then the throat infection came back

i went back to clinic

saw another doctor

he prescribed ceftin for strepthroat

and did a throat swab

with eventually came back negative

the throat infection came back

i went back

saw a different doctor

she said : it's clearly strep throat

i said: i don't think it is. the last throat swab came back negative

and it just keeps coming back.

she said: well, it was obviously a false negative. it's clearly strep throat

here take these antibiotics.

i said: i'm waiting for the results of the throat swab.

she said: it's clearly strep throat so you should take the antibiotics

anyway

the swab came back negative

the symptoms lessened in a few days.

and then it came back again!

so i went back to the clinic

this time fortunately it was on a day that my regular gp was in

i told him the story

he said:

i'll make an appointment with an ENT for you

instead of trying to convince me i had strep throat ...

if he's unsure of something, he'll be the first to admit it

which is why i feel like i can trust him completely ....

hey guys have a beautiful day!

the magnolia trees are in bloom ...

stacey

[Guest guest]

<< I recently said to my doctor that I am sure food is one of the biggest

influences on my skin.

>

> Now I know I don't have any food allergies, but, after eating my face

bloats. The doctor dismissed this and said that it's almost impossible for

food to effect rosacea so quickly.

>>

remember --

you know your self better than anyone else does!

i've had some bad experiences with doctors that have made me extremely

skeptical

i used to have absolute faith in any doctor --

stupidly assumed that because they went to medical school

and were in the business of helping

that they knew what they were doing.

i found out the hard way that there are as many lousy doctors as there are

lousy makeup artists ...

if you see an effect in your own body

you know it's there

even if your doctor says

" it's impossible "

trust yourself above all...

especially if your doctor doesn't have the same condition

(ie rosacea)

that you have

side note to marjorie md

that you are eager to ask for information

share information

interested in learning new things

makes you much more trustworthy as a doctor --

why is it that so many doctors refuse to admit they don't know

everything?

i have a recurring throat infection

i went to the doctor (at a highly reputable walk-in clinic)

she said: it looks like strep here take this penicillin

i did

of course the pen v made me really ill but

and then the throat infection came back

i went back to clinic

saw another doctor

he prescribed ceftin for strepthroat

and did a throat swab

with eventually came back negative

the throat infection came back

i went back

saw a different doctor

she said : it's clearly strep throat

i said: i don't think it is. the last throat swab came back negative

and it just keeps coming back.

she said: well, it was obviously a false negative. it's clearly strep throat

here take these antibiotics.

i said: i'm waiting for the results of the throat swab.

she said: it's clearly strep throat so you should take the antibiotics

anyway

the swab came back negative

the symptoms lessened in a few days.

and then it came back again!

so i went back to the clinic

this time fortunately it was on a day that my regular gp was in

i told him the story

he said:

i'll make an appointment with an ENT for you

instead of trying to convince me i had strep throat ...

if he's unsure of something, he'll be the first to admit it

which is why i feel like i can trust him completely ....

hey guys have a beautiful day!

the magnolia trees are in bloom ...

stacey

[Guest guest]

Yes. I've been able to control facial swelling with

changes in my diet. I've also found that when I avoid

the foods to which I'm sensitive, I'm less likely to

have problems in hot environments, or when exercising.

(Since heat can be a trigger that causes a histamine

reaction, it makes perfect sense. I rarely get itchy

bumps on my back after hot showers any more,

either...)

It was because of rosacea that I pinpointed my

particular food allergies. And, BTW, allergies can

surface at any point in your life.

After about a year and half hanging out on this board,

reading posts, and talking with folks, I remain

convinced that allergies are very commonly

misdiagnosed as rosacea.

Suzi

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Yes. I've been able to control facial swelling with

changes in my diet. I've also found that when I avoid

the foods to which I'm sensitive, I'm less likely to

have problems in hot environments, or when exercising.

(Since heat can be a trigger that causes a histamine

reaction, it makes perfect sense. I rarely get itchy

bumps on my back after hot showers any more,

either...)

It was because of rosacea that I pinpointed my

particular food allergies. And, BTW, allergies can

surface at any point in your life.

After about a year and half hanging out on this board,

reading posts, and talking with folks, I remain

convinced that allergies are very commonly

misdiagnosed as rosacea.

Suzi

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

on 5/6/02 6:19 PM, Suzi LeBaron at suzi_lebaron@... wrote:

> Yes. I've been able to control facial swelling with

> changes in my diet. I've also found that when I avoid

> the foods to which I'm sensitive, I'm less likely to

> have problems in hot environments, or when exercising.

> (Since heat can be a trigger that causes a histamine

> reaction, it makes perfect sense. I rarely get itchy

> bumps on my back after hot showers any more,

> either...)

Hi suzi,

I'm glad to see you back on the board! I'm interested in what you said

above....can you elaborate a bit on what you mean about the histimine

reaction? I've noticed when I avoid certain foods, my skin is better (much)

and I've been suspecting that I flare less in my usual places. Did not know

exactly why though.....

Thanks for elucidating!

[Guest guest]

It could also be a different throat pathogen besides strep. Tequin

would have been a good antibiotic in this situation as it would work

for a false negative strep, mycoplasma, chlamydia, and other bacteria

that could possibly cause sore throat or be resistant to regular

penicillin. Also, it could be a virus, but it should have been

getting better if it was a virus.

>

> In a message dated 5/5/02 11:33:34 PM, filter@r... writes:

>

> << I recently said to my doctor that I am sure food is one of the

biggest

> influences on my skin.

> >

> > Now I know I don't have any food allergies, but, after eating my

face

> bloats. The doctor dismissed this and said that it's almost

impossible for

> food to effect rosacea so quickly.

> >>

>

> remember --

> you know your self better than anyone else does!

>

> i've had some bad experiences with doctors that have made me

extremely

> skeptical

> i used to have absolute faith in any doctor --

> stupidly assumed that because they went to medical school

> and were in the business of helping

> that they knew what they were doing.

>

> i found out the hard way that there are as many lousy doctors as

there are

> lousy makeup artists ...

>

> if you see an effect in your own body

> you know it's there

> even if your doctor says

> " it's impossible "

> trust yourself above all...

>

> especially if your doctor doesn't have the same condition

> (ie rosacea)

> that you have

>

> side note to marjorie md

> that you are eager to ask for information

> share information

> interested in learning new things

> makes you much more trustworthy as a doctor --

> why is it that so many doctors refuse to admit they don't know

> everything?

>

> i have a recurring throat infection

> i went to the doctor (at a highly reputable walk-in clinic)

> she said: it looks like strep here take this penicillin

> i did

> of course the pen v made me really ill but

> and then the throat infection came back

> i went back to clinic

> saw another doctor

> he prescribed ceftin for strepthroat

> and did a throat swab

> with eventually came back negative

> the throat infection came back

> i went back

> saw a different doctor

> she said : it's clearly strep throat

> i said: i don't think it is. the last throat swab came back negative

> and it just keeps coming back.

> she said: well, it was obviously a false negative. it's clearly

strep throat

> here take these antibiotics.

> i said: i'm waiting for the results of the throat swab.

> she said: it's clearly strep throat so you should take the

antibiotics

>

> anyway

> the swab came back negative

> the symptoms lessened in a few days.

>

> and then it came back again!

> so i went back to the clinic

> this time fortunately it was on a day that my regular gp was in

> i told him the story

> he said:

> i'll make an appointment with an ENT for you

> instead of trying to convince me i had strep throat ...

>

> if he's unsure of something, he'll be the first to admit it

> which is why i feel like i can trust him completely ....

>

> hey guys have a beautiful day!

> the magnolia trees are in bloom ...

>

> stacey

[Guest guest]

It could also be a different throat pathogen besides strep. Tequin

would have been a good antibiotic in this situation as it would work

for a false negative strep, mycoplasma, chlamydia, and other bacteria

that could possibly cause sore throat or be resistant to regular

penicillin. Also, it could be a virus, but it should have been

getting better if it was a virus.

>

> In a message dated 5/5/02 11:33:34 PM, filter@r... writes:

>

> << I recently said to my doctor that I am sure food is one of the

biggest

> influences on my skin.

> >

> > Now I know I don't have any food allergies, but, after eating my

face

> bloats. The doctor dismissed this and said that it's almost

impossible for

> food to effect rosacea so quickly.

> >>

>

> remember --

> you know your self better than anyone else does!

>

> i've had some bad experiences with doctors that have made me

extremely

> skeptical

> i used to have absolute faith in any doctor --

> stupidly assumed that because they went to medical school

> and were in the business of helping

> that they knew what they were doing.

>

> i found out the hard way that there are as many lousy doctors as

there are

> lousy makeup artists ...

>

> if you see an effect in your own body

> you know it's there

> even if your doctor says

> " it's impossible "

> trust yourself above all...

>

> especially if your doctor doesn't have the same condition

> (ie rosacea)

> that you have

>

> side note to marjorie md

> that you are eager to ask for information

> share information

> interested in learning new things

> makes you much more trustworthy as a doctor --

> why is it that so many doctors refuse to admit they don't know

> everything?

>

> i have a recurring throat infection

> i went to the doctor (at a highly reputable walk-in clinic)

> she said: it looks like strep here take this penicillin

> i did

> of course the pen v made me really ill but

> and then the throat infection came back

> i went back to clinic

> saw another doctor

> he prescribed ceftin for strepthroat

> and did a throat swab

> with eventually came back negative

> the throat infection came back

> i went back

> saw a different doctor

> she said : it's clearly strep throat

> i said: i don't think it is. the last throat swab came back negative

> and it just keeps coming back.

> she said: well, it was obviously a false negative. it's clearly

strep throat

> here take these antibiotics.

> i said: i'm waiting for the results of the throat swab.

> she said: it's clearly strep throat so you should take the

antibiotics

>

> anyway

> the swab came back negative

> the symptoms lessened in a few days.

>

> and then it came back again!

> so i went back to the clinic

> this time fortunately it was on a day that my regular gp was in

> i told him the story

> he said:

> i'll make an appointment with an ENT for you

> instead of trying to convince me i had strep throat ...

>

> if he's unsure of something, he'll be the first to admit it

> which is why i feel like i can trust him completely ....

>

> hey guys have a beautiful day!

> the magnolia trees are in bloom ...

>

> stacey

[Guest guest]

It could also be a different throat pathogen besides strep. Tequin

would have been a good antibiotic in this situation as it would work

for a false negative strep, mycoplasma, chlamydia, and other bacteria

that could possibly cause sore throat or be resistant to regular

penicillin. Also, it could be a virus, but it should have been

getting better if it was a virus.

>

> In a message dated 5/5/02 11:33:34 PM, filter@r... writes:

>

> << I recently said to my doctor that I am sure food is one of the

biggest

> influences on my skin.

> >

> > Now I know I don't have any food allergies, but, after eating my

face

> bloats. The doctor dismissed this and said that it's almost

impossible for

> food to effect rosacea so quickly.

> >>

>

> remember --

> you know your self better than anyone else does!

>

> i've had some bad experiences with doctors that have made me

extremely

> skeptical

> i used to have absolute faith in any doctor --

> stupidly assumed that because they went to medical school

> and were in the business of helping

> that they knew what they were doing.

>

> i found out the hard way that there are as many lousy doctors as

there are

> lousy makeup artists ...

>

> if you see an effect in your own body

> you know it's there

> even if your doctor says

> " it's impossible "

> trust yourself above all...

>

> especially if your doctor doesn't have the same condition

> (ie rosacea)

> that you have

>

> side note to marjorie md

> that you are eager to ask for information

> share information

> interested in learning new things

> makes you much more trustworthy as a doctor --

> why is it that so many doctors refuse to admit they don't know

> everything?

>

> i have a recurring throat infection

> i went to the doctor (at a highly reputable walk-in clinic)

> she said: it looks like strep here take this penicillin

> i did

> of course the pen v made me really ill but

> and then the throat infection came back

> i went back to clinic

> saw another doctor

> he prescribed ceftin for strepthroat

> and did a throat swab

> with eventually came back negative

> the throat infection came back

> i went back

> saw a different doctor

> she said : it's clearly strep throat

> i said: i don't think it is. the last throat swab came back negative

> and it just keeps coming back.

> she said: well, it was obviously a false negative. it's clearly

strep throat

> here take these antibiotics.

> i said: i'm waiting for the results of the throat swab.

> she said: it's clearly strep throat so you should take the

antibiotics

>

> anyway

> the swab came back negative

> the symptoms lessened in a few days.

>

> and then it came back again!

> so i went back to the clinic

> this time fortunately it was on a day that my regular gp was in

> i told him the story

> he said:

> i'll make an appointment with an ENT for you

> instead of trying to convince me i had strep throat ...

>

> if he's unsure of something, he'll be the first to admit it

> which is why i feel like i can trust him completely ....

>

> hey guys have a beautiful day!

> the magnolia trees are in bloom ...

>

> stacey

[Guest guest]

Stacey, based on what you described here, I have a different take on

the care you received. Streptococcal infections, very commonly in the

throat ( " strep throat " ) are *very* important to treat early on

because failure to do so can result in a post-streptococcal infection

several weeks later that can affect the kidneys.

The problem is, diagnosizing strep throat is not very

straightforward. Physicians look for a constellation of signs and

symptoms -- and as important, lack of other signs and symptoms -- to

make the diagnosis. Throat cultures aren't even close to 100%.

Without a way to definitely diagnose, doctors will tend to treat

everyone with antibiotics unless they're certain it isn't strep

throat, since missing a subtle or unusual case can be potentially

damaging. So to your doctors who say it looked like strep throat, it

was certainly appropriate to treat you with penicillin and, when that

failed, it was equally appropriate to try a second antibiotic, and

even a third trial isn't unreasonable at all.

But now you have a recurrent/persistent sore throat, and that's

managed differently than a new sore throat. I can't know, but I

suspect your GP would probably have provided you with approximately

the same care you already received. But with continued signs and

symptoms after two or three full courses of antibiotics, we're now

talking a sore throat that need to be investigated, usually with

blood work to rule out systemic causes of a persistent sore throat,

and an exam by an ENT specialist who can look down your throat and

see if there are problems outside the visual range of a typical

exam.

As an emergency physician I don't do throat swabs/cultures, but many

physicians do. I'm not sure why you put such importance on the throat

swab results. I assume it wasn't explained that, since you've been on

antibiotics (even just two or three doses) the test would certainly

turn negative even if you had strep throat; that was probably

the " false negative " the doctor was referring to, although even an

untreated strep throat can give a false negative result, for a number

of technical and lab reasons. So after treatment has begun a negative

test means nothing, but it sounds like your doctors felt a positive

test might be helpful.

Your GP knows you, and knows how you like to be cared for. That's at

the heart of a good patient-doctor relationship: he's doing the right

thing by you, and doing it in the way you like. You may be surprised

to learn that most patients don't want to know all the details of

what a doctor is doing/thinking, they just want treatment (and

information about that treatment). Knowing that, most doctors assume

that if a patient doesn't ask, they aren't interested. Unfortunately,

there are also health professionals who aren't very good at patient

education, even when asked.

Thanks for the kind words.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

>

> In a message dated 5/5/02 11:33:34 PM, filter@r... writes:

>

> << I recently said to my doctor that I am sure food is one of the

biggest

> influences on my skin.

> >

> > Now I know I don't have any food allergies, but, after eating my

face

> bloats. The doctor dismissed this and said that it's almost

impossible for

> food to effect rosacea so quickly.

> >>

>

> remember --

> you know your self better than anyone else does!

>

> i've had some bad experiences with doctors that have made me

extremely

> skeptical

> i used to have absolute faith in any doctor --

> stupidly assumed that because they went to medical school

> and were in the business of helping

> that they knew what they were doing.

>

> i found out the hard way that there are as many lousy doctors as

there are

> lousy makeup artists ...

>

> if you see an effect in your own body

> you know it's there

> even if your doctor says

> " it's impossible "

> trust yourself above all...

>

> especially if your doctor doesn't have the same condition

> (ie rosacea)

> that you have

>

> side note to marjorie md

> that you are eager to ask for information

> share information

> interested in learning new things

> makes you much more trustworthy as a doctor --

> why is it that so many doctors refuse to admit they don't know

> everything?

>

> i have a recurring throat infection

> i went to the doctor (at a highly reputable walk-in clinic)

> she said: it looks like strep here take this penicillin

> i did

> of course the pen v made me really ill but

> and then the throat infection came back

> i went back to clinic

> saw another doctor

> he prescribed ceftin for strepthroat

> and did a throat swab

> with eventually came back negative

> the throat infection came back

> i went back

> saw a different doctor

> she said : it's clearly strep throat

> i said: i don't think it is. the last throat swab came back negative

> and it just keeps coming back.

> she said: well, it was obviously a false negative. it's clearly

strep throat

> here take these antibiotics.

> i said: i'm waiting for the results of the throat swab.

> she said: it's clearly strep throat so you should take the

antibiotics

>

> anyway

> the swab came back negative

> the symptoms lessened in a few days.

>

> and then it came back again!

> so i went back to the clinic

> this time fortunately it was on a day that my regular gp was in

> i told him the story

> he said:

> i'll make an appointment with an ENT for you

> instead of trying to convince me i had strep throat ...

>

> if he's unsure of something, he'll be the first to admit it

> which is why i feel like i can trust him completely ....

>

> hey guys have a beautiful day!

> the magnolia trees are in bloom ...

>

> stacey