HSP Possible Diagnosis
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Hello everyone. My name is Patrick - 50 year old male. I will start by saying I have not been official diagnosed with HSP although from everything I have read, which is not that much as there doesn’t seem to be a lot of information out there, I am almost sure it is what I have.
Towards the end of last year I had a bout of diarrhoea/loose stools that lasted for over 4 weeks and so I visited the doctor. He referred me for bowel cancer screen and so I had a sigmoidoscopy and a Barium Enema X-ray. All came back as ok. The specialist that did the X-ray did put in his notes ‘possible colitis’.
Around New Year I got a bad cough and cold and developed a very sore throat infection that lasted about a week. The day after the sore throat passed I noticed these small red spots on my right ankle. Within days they has spread up both legs. They were non-itchy and turned purplish before they started to fade. I had severe pain in both my knees as well.
I visited my GP who suggest 2 possibilities. Guttate Psoriasis or a purpura (I don’t recall the full name for the 2nd but I don’t think it was HSP). Anyway he gave me some anti-biotics to clear up my persistent cough and some steroid cream (Dovobet) for the rash and told me to return in a week. When I went back the rash had all but faded and he was happy that was it. The day after they returned but not as widespread as before.
I then had quite a social weekend that involved a lot of alcohol. I woke up on a Sunday morning to find the rash had returned worse than ever. This time covering both legs, buttocks, waist and arms. I returned to the doctors but saw a different GP than my usual. He was reading my notes as I entered and before I sat down he said so you’ve had some Guttate psoriasis. I said that I don’t think it was that and mentioned HSP. He almost guffawed saying it was unlikely as in 30 years of practice he had only come across it twice and those were in children. Anyway he did examine me and stated they did not look like Psoriasis and were more vascular in appearance. He took bloods and I provided a urine sample. I await the results of those.
Over the last few days I have had some abdominal pain which seems to emanate above both hips towards the front. It’s not constant but seems to spasm when I get up or bend over. The joint pain seems to have eased somewhat.
I’ve no doubt the chest/throat infection was the trigger and that coming right on top of the digestive/bowel problems meant my immune system was suppressed and weakened.
I just wanted to ask if it was normal for the rash to come in waves. Appearing, fading and then resurfacing? What questions should I be asking the doctor the next time I visit? I guess it depends on the blood/urine results.
Sorry to waffle on but this condition is very worrying. With all the worrying and relief over the cancer screening it seems a cruel twist of fate to be dealing with this so soon after.
1 like, 12 replies
patch64
Posted
janechloe patch64
Posted
If you are in the UK there is an immunologist at addenbrooke's hospital. Dr David jayne....
I hope this helps. Please get back to me if you're needing any guidance or support.
janechloe
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Tingling in the face I'm not familiar with.
patch64 janechloe
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Are the home urine kits fairly accurate in your opinion?
hope your daughter feels better soon.
janechloe patch64
Posted
Gp's should check the following initially.
Urine.
Blood pressure. (maybe high)
Tenderness around the Stomach area.
( abdominal check as in pop you on couch and check your stomach)
Stool sample.
Blood work should be checked.
Kidney function/Creatine
Full blood count.
Esr level.
Crp level.
Then maybe
Possible further bloods regarding immunology test....
wendy92629 patch64
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barber883 patch64
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wendy92629 barber883
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patch64
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Thanks for everyones comments. So helpful when information seems so scarce.
harleycw patch64
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I gave up coffee and chocolate, had less reoccurances ( I don't drink much) and when I redid coffee and chocolate, had reoccurances. Tried each separately and seems like chocolate has a correlation but no necessarily coffee/caffeine.
I think it's just a good idea to keep doing as much research on your own as possible and also avoid general doctors and see allergy and immunulogy specialists as the one I eventually took myself to (no thanks to my completely ignorant and awful primary care doctor) did know right away, HSP was likely what I had.
Good luck to you !
wendy92629 patch64
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linda82350 patch64
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