Bruising, cuts that don't heal
Posted , 15 users are following.
I bruise at the slightest touch, my skin cuts so easily and takes a VERY long tie to heal. I had to go to the MD yesterday for an infection from a "minor" cut when I took some tape off of another cut. I'm down to 10mg. pred. having tapered. Does anyone else have this problem?
Another question: Does this problem improve when the dose is lowered? Help, I'm getting desperate. I shall certainly appreciate your ;comments! Elinor
0 likes, 93 replies
cindy63197 Elijo
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I never had any problems healing before, so I'm assuming it was because of the prednisone.
Elijo cindy63197
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Edulm Elijo
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Elijo Edulm
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ptolemy Elijo
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When I give blood for example I always ask for them not to put any tape on my arm afterwards as it just pulls off the skin when I remove it.
Elijo ptolemy
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ptolemy Elijo
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Marla0415 Elijo
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Just one of the many side lovely effects of the Prednisone. But when I remind myself of how debilitating the pain was before the Pred I am ok with dealing with the skin issues. It looks awful but I can have a life! Hopefully you can continue to reduce your dose and in turn the skin issues will lessen and disappear. Light at the end of the tunnel, 😊
Elijo Marla0415
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Yes, as annoying and problemsome as the skin issues are, I am also so happy for the prednisone so I can function and have a life.
By the way, these medical people always want to slap on the tape before you can say Jack Robinson. So what can they use instead of tape?
audrey80537 Elijo
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I have tried everything I can think of to stop the ugly blotches and sometimes little skin tears but nothing works. Before my last flare I was down to 10 mg. and noticed the problem had lessened. I have it mostly on my arms and hands or any skin near a bond. I wear 3/4 sleeved and cover the ones on my hands with a makeup cover up. Not perfect but a bit better.
faye______00403 Elijo
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fabric or plastic stuff. I'm 79 so have the brusing problems
and if I just bang hand off comes some skin. Pretty depresssing
to have to deal with this all the time. I guess some of it is due
to pred but also happens in the wonderful aging process also.
ptolemy faye______00403
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EileenH Elijo
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As long as you make sure it isn't bleeding there is no real need for the tape - you'll just have to sit a bit longer!
I don't have quite the same problem - mine is that either alcohol wipes or tape is fine, both together is absolutely not. My ladies here don't use alcohol for me (and that really isn't a problem) and are perfectly happy to wait until I stop bleeding (and I'm on warfarin!). They are horrified at the state my arm CAN get into so never argue.
There are special dressings you can get for bigger lesions but they won't have them in the phlebotomy clinic. If you do have a dressing don't EVER rip it off, soak it carefully to get it to just lift it off.
ptolemy - I wouldn't take it as OTT to use a bandage over a phlebotomy "wound" if it stops the surrounding skin being damaged. But then, I have done the vampire job and there is nothing mroe infuriating than preserving a patient's precious vein all week and coming back in on Monday to find the medics over the weekend had messed it all up...
Anhaga EileenH
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EileenH Anhaga
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I put "we" first - my children rarely had a plaster, I never had any! Bad mummy......
ptolemy EileenH
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Elijo EileenH
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EileenH ptolemy
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faye______00403 ptolemy
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sent me out of the hospital with about 8 staples down the
side of my neck with no bandage on either time. Guess that
leaving wounds open to the air is the current medical thinking.
I think any wound seals within about 8 hours ( think that is what
I read) and after that no bacteria could get into it....
faye______00403 Elijo
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Are you on any blood thinners? Guess that would make
a difference but would try putting pressure on those
spots.
Elijo audrey80537
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faye______00403 Elijo
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across the Indian River from the Kennedy Space Center.
Sort of small world huh?
audrey80537 faye______00403
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I'm in Longwood, right above Orlanfo. I think we r 45 minutes away from one another Do u use a doctor in Orlando? I'm always looking for a good rheumatologist who understands our condition. Been looking for a year and so far nothing.
Email me. There's a way to do it but I'm not sure and we also have a yahoo PMR group here in the USA. it's small and doesn't get a lot of response https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/pmrusa/info
We need an Eileen. 😄
Audrey
Emis Moderator comment: I have edited the link to the actual site page rather than the email contact.
audrey80537 Elijo
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I am in Longwood right between both of you.
We should meet here in the middle. It would be great to meet someone else with PMR person to person.
EileenH Elijo
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About a third of the way down there is a link for the US site - is that still the right one Audrey? If not - please notify the moderator so he can change it.
This link will always go through - it's internal...
EileenH audrey80537
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In case you didn't see - is that link still the right one?
audrey80537 EileenH
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Yes, that is the correct link. Thank you.
faye______00403 EileenH
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the info....
judy20492 audrey80537
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I haven't found a good rheumatologist. I don't think they exist. They tend to want you off Pred regardless of how you feel. "Drop 1 mg per month till you're off the Pred." Still think PMR goes away in two years. Not keeping up with latest news. I wish they would read this patient forum. They need to hear us.
EileenH judy20492
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Google Hayreh GCA 27-year study and you can read the abstract I haven't got the link to the full paper here and can't post it anyway but it doesn't really say much more than the abstract.
I have to say - I don't think either PMR or GCA should be in the hands of rheumies entirely. I see the logic of PMR being in rheumatology even though it is a vasculitis but not GCA - even though they are so closely linked. However - I know it doesn't help you guys but there are good rheumies, 2 superb ones in the UK. I keep saying one of them in particular should be cloned!
audrey80537 judy20492
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i gave up two rheumatologists and now my GP with my guidance 😃😃oversees my PMR. She is a doctor from the old school and will spend a half hour with a patient if necessary.
Received the Bag Balm and just started using it so it will take me a week or two to see a bit of a result Just yesterday I disposed of a years worth of half filled bottles of lotions and jars of creams that didn't work.
i do want to mention two things that have helped me considerably.
The first is a powered drink that contains 38 fruits and veggies. It definitely gives both myself and my son (sarcodosis) a great deal of energy. It's a bit pricey $50.00 for a months supply but well worth it. I had stopped it for a week and really felt the difference.
The second idea -- the squatty potty. If you don't have them where you are located you can use a stool or whatever works. Instead of me going into detail just google it. Before using it I had considerable pain coming from my lower back muscles. It has improved considerably.
judy93591 judy20492
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judy20492 judy93591
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Wish me luck,
Judy in FL
faye______00403 audrey80537
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doesn't like getting into all that traffic. He is turning 80 next
month and gets nervous in heavy traffic now....anyhow let
me know when and where and I'll see how I'm doing health
wise and if I can make it. One more cataract to go. Biopsy
on arm turned out to be squamous so need more work done
on that.....heading to Physical Therapy for shoulder problem
Where the hell are the Golden years I heard about?????
faye______00403 audrey80537
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It is a little greasier than I had hoped but eventually
disappeared into skin....Not sure what a squatty potty is but
when we redid the bathroom from garden tub to walk in
shower my smart hubby had plumber put in a "big boy"
I think that's the name. Anyhow a toilet that is a few inches
higher and boy is that a blessing.....when I go in a stall in
a restaurant or movie I have an awful time getting up. They
have any grab bars to help....
EileenH judy20492
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faye______00403 EileenH
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about printing the Symposium papers (can't remember the name)
and taking to my doctor. I had an appt this a.m. and took them
in and he was very receptive to reading it. Your health system
is very different but the info on PMR and GCA could be
helpful to him I"m so lucky. He really is a JEWEL! A doctor
that isn't positive that he already knows everything there is to
know.
judy93591 judy20492
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Anhaga faye______00403
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EileenH faye______00403
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And the purpose of the meeting? To develop sets of criteria that will be used all over the world for research into various rheuamtic diseases, including PMR which is why I'll be there. This will mean that research can be compared or pooled - to give bigger studies with more power and meaning in the results. So there will be opinions from USA and European and Pacific Rim residents - can't get more international than that can you?
audrey80537 faye______00403
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i sent you an email as I had address from USA site.
I am using the Bag Balm but it's too soon to tell.
i hope it works. If not Ill try what is called "holy oil" which is supposed to heal everything -sent to me through the mail for a donation. I know it sounds crazy but you get to the point where you are crazy and tempted to try anything-- but no donation until I see results😃😃. I've read where people have willed themselves well or at least they think they have.
faye______00403 EileenH
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but we all know from listening to the different treatment some
of us get that not all doctors have the same ideas on treating
this awful disease. So......if my doc can get some different
takes on treatment that can only be good right?
faye______00403 audrey80537
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assorted problems.....Usually they don't but I keep trying.
faye______00403
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new info and bring us back some fresh insights. I really don't
think there is as much interest in PMR-GCA in the U.S. as
other countries. I found that out when I tried researching it.
I'm not overly computer smart but couldn't find much of anything.
Juno-Irl-Dub EileenH
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Elijo audrey80537
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FlipDover_Aust judy20492
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I just laugh at him. lol
FlipDover_Aust judy20492
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WTF??? (sorry if this offends anyone! lol)
I hope you've read her the riot act this morning and she's learnt a thing or two from you!
EileenH FlipDover_Aust
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judy20492 faye______00403
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FlipDover_Aust EileenH
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judy20492 EileenH
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FlipDover_Aust judy20492
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