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Red bumps on my face

Posted , 11 users are following.

patti17783
patti17783

Hi everyone!

I have had PMR fo 7 months. Started on 60mg of prednisone now down to 10. Still have arm pain but I'm feeling much better. My problem is that I am getting almost hive like bumps on my face and I don't know what's causing them. Has anyone else experienced this and know how to treat it? Thanks for your help! 

Patti

0 likes, 42 replies

42 Replies

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  • nervebyte
    nervebyte patti17783

    Posted

    hey patti, me too...kind of. i too was diagnosed w pmr some 10 months ago. started on 40 mg/pred and upped to 60 cause my inflammation markers were still high. now down to 12.5 mg/pred and ruducing, but i've noticed a few red blotches on the side of my face; also my hair has lost some vibrance (what little i have). life could be better but also worse. t.g. for small mercies

     

    • iellen32
      iellen32 nervebyte

      Posted

      Hi, having been diagnosed of GCA three years ago and since then taking Pred. I follow a strict diet.

      No salt, no sweets, less carbs the most I can.

      When I eat spicy food , or chocolate - because getting tired of my daily diet, I noticed recently some red blotches on one side of my face.

      Those delicious chocolate cup cakes, I had made days ago I threw them all in the garbage can and few days later my skin came back to normal.

      A tiny little bit of something forbidden once in a while may be ok though...

      Just to share my experience with you- it may be helpful.

      Take care.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga iellen32

      Posted

      I love having the occasional square of dark fair trade chocolate.  Keeps the cravings in check!

       

    • iellen32
      iellen32 Anhaga

      Posted

      I am with you - I like them, too.

      Occasionally we can....😊

      Thank you, Anhaga, for your reply!

  • constance.de
    constance.de patti17783

    Posted

    Blotches, 'bloody' bumps on arms, legs, face do seem to occur in some of us on high doses.  Not much you can do - keep them clean, don't put plasters on them.  If they split the doctor should give you special plasters.  Creams, etc don't work.

    As you reduce the Pred they should get better/disappear.

    Good luck and best wishes.

    Constance

  • LayneTX
    LayneTX patti17783

    Posted

    I read somewhere when I was looking up symptoms of Prednisone, and it did say some can get acne type bumps, and hair on cheek or neck which I noticed extra hairs on my neck below my ears, luckily it's blonde. 

    I just remember thinking, gee, glad I don't have the bumps on my face since I've had just about everything else as side affects!  My worst is acid reflux!!! That alone really makes me want off the Pred. But no.

    I'm noticing the collegen in my neck skin seems loser now, dang it. Guess it's the thinning of skin that Pred causes.  Lovely. 

    • molly1957
      molly1957 LayneTX

      Posted

      I take lansoprazole daily which prevents heartburn , I still have loads of other side affects but no heartburn so that's a blessing 
    • LayneTX
      LayneTX molly1957

      Posted

      Is that a PPI?  If so, be careful.  I'm finding if I drink 2 oz of aloe Vera juice before I eat in morning and now taking the Pred in middle of my meal verses after, it's sort of helping. 
    • molly1957
      molly1957 LayneTX

      Posted

      What is a ppi ? Lansoprazole is to protect the stomach from certain medicines my rheumatologist knows I take this and is happy about it
    • LayneTX
      LayneTX molly1957

      Posted

      My understanding it stops the acid production, but when you stop PPI it opens the flood gate causing people worse problems. 

      There is a reflux forum here too. 

      My doctors seem to love giving us drugs.

      just research and be aware. 

      I also also just read thyroid/Hashimoto's autoimmune can cause reflux, so perhaps that is my issue as well as Pred. 

    • EileenH
      EileenH molly1957

      Posted

      A PPI is a Proton Pump Inhibitor - a medication that stops a pathway that leads to the production of stomach acid. Lanoprazole is one, omeprazole is another and they prevent the production of acid so that you are less likely to get heartburn if the pred irritates your stomach, there is no acid to cause the pain. 
    • molly1957
      molly1957 LayneTX

      Posted

      Thanks layne I didnt know that I will look into it, it's funny because I have taken them for a few years now as I was on naproxen for pain relief for vitamin D deficiency then kidney stone pain I stopped when I started on the prednisilone thinking I wouldn't need them but heartburn came back so went back on 
    • molly1957
      molly1957 EileenH

      Posted

      Thanks Eileen yes pred was causing me heartburn which has gone thanks to lansoprazole I couldn't put up with heartburn as well lol 

      thanks for for all your advice Merry Christmas

  • iellen32
    iellen32 patti17783

    Posted

    Any improvement brings a relief - I am glad you already got some positive result.

    Wish you get a solution for those bumps on your face.

    It may happen when you less expect you will read something about it, or will get a different approach on the treatment of your PMR.

    Hope it happens as soon as possible !

    Take care.

  • JanSP
    JanSP patti17783

    Posted

    I'm going through my fifth round of GCA in 6 years. I've also had PMR twice during that time.My rheumy has always started me with 60 mg. pred for the GCA (40 for PMR) but this time she had to raise it to 80 mg. I just was reduced to 30 mg. I have been getting some red bumps on my face on what was used to be a good complection. I haven't found anything that makes them go away. It only happened once before and I'm happy to report they went away when the pred came down. My skin has thinned and become more fragil. Another skin problem is warts. Warts are a virus and my knocked down immune system is allowing them to grow on my foot. My dermatoogist has frozen some off but I now have 6 on the toes of one foot. That's about as many as I've had in my 70 year life. I've had so many side effects, many from the pred. -  hot sweats, big weight gain. cataracts, fatigue, shortness of breath, depression, crazy sleep patterns, peach fuzz blond hair on my cheeks, diabetes and it's messing up my bones and muscles. After all the forum info, THANK YOU EVERYONE I'm going to speak to my rheumy about slowing down the tapering. I can't get off pred completely since my adrenals don't seem to produce it anymore. I will be going on actemra soon and I don't know how that will work. I'll keep you updated.
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga JanSP

      Posted

      What does Actrema do?  Sorry to hear you've had such a long bumpy road, hope you feel better soon.
    • JanSP
      JanSP Anhaga

      Posted

      I don't know if you received part of a reply? I wrote a few lines, must have hit a wrong key and everything disappeared. Can't wait for my cataract surgery January 5th so I can see what I'm doing. Eye doc didn't want to do it with my pred very high.

      Actemra is toxcilizumab produced by Genentech here in the US. It is FDA approved for RA and has also been in small clinical trials for GCA with good results. My adrenals no longer produce corticosteroids and the actemra will hopefully let me reduce the pred with less chance of a flare. Unfortunately the drug is not covered by my Medicare or other insurance. As I've written before my out of pocket cost for it is approx. $17,000 per year! I can't believe it and I don't even know if it's going to work for the GCA. I have to try it. My scoliosis and other spine and bone problems are cutting down on the room my lungs can expand (combined with the extra pred. abdominable weight) causing me to be short of breath. I can hardly believe that six years ago I was a fairly fit, except for the scoliosis which wasn't very noticible. I am trying to get money from the Genentech Foundation to help pay for the drug.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga JanSP

      Posted

      Oh yes, I remember now.  It is truly shocking that the cost of these drugs has to come out of the pockets of sick people.  What do we pay taxes for if not to spread the costs of services, including medication?  I do hope you can get some funding.   Sometimes the drug companies themselves will provide a certain number of treatments. All the best.
    • iellen32
      iellen32 JanSP

      Posted

      I am getting your message just minutes ago in my Inbox on this Dec 18, 15.

      I am iellen32.

      After reading all your symptoms I see you have a great will power and disposition!

      After your cataract surgery you will do things easier.

      I am postponing mine while I can.

      Hope we will get in touch again.

      Like me, do your best to enjoy this lovely season.

      Take good care of you.💐

      It will be great to get the financial help from the G. Foundation!

    • JanSP
      JanSP Anhaga

      Posted

      Genentech does have a coupon system to help pay for the actemra but only if it is used for RA. Since treating my GCA is "off label" and not FDA approved that doesn't apply. After being turned down by Medicare I applied to the Genentech Foundation. Haven't heard anything yet but it's only about a week
    • iellen32
      iellen32 Anhaga

      Posted

      Anhaga I am iellen32 and after all my activity ,8 badges ,etc there is a glitch and I am not getting notifications. Yes, I ca access my account though.

      I wrote several replies today but even though do not get the same immediate motifications I was receiving until last Sunday night.

      I will send you a reply and if you see it ang give me a response may me j can reconnect again to the site.

      Could we try?

      Many thanks!

    • EileenH
      EileenH iellen32

      Posted

      It happens every so often, or the site can be very slow. I've reported your post so the moderator can have a look.
    • iellen32
      iellen32 Emis_Moderator

      Posted

      Thank you so very much!!

      You made my day brighter than yesterday,

      Great you could get to the source of the issue I was having!

      The span I did was one of those unfortunate mistakes. which bring a long time headache as l had all day long yesterday!

      I will keep the link, too!!

      Thank you so muck!

    • iellen32
      iellen32 Emis_Moderator

      Posted

      Hello,

      I am again facing the same issue I had since las Sunday night when after answering to emails until night I did not get anymore e/mails until Monday , 21 when you kindly helped me to stablsh the contact again,

      I am sorry for contacting you again, just avoiding to sign up because I would loose all I did up to now,

      Yesterday all was working perfectly well until late at night -no e/mails all day long today though.

      I would very much appreciate if you kindly help me to establish again the connection with my e-mail address;

      Thank you so much in advance,

      Maryellen

    • EileenH
      EileenH iellen32

      Posted

      I think you should remember that this site is based in the UK and that, while there are quite a few people in the US, most of the members are there. That means it is pretty quiet at certain times of the 24 hours and it is Christmas - people have a lot of things to do besides being on the forum! 

      By the way - it really isn't a good idea to post your email address in a public forum!

    • Emis_Moderator
      Emis_Moderator iellen32

      Posted

      Hi Maryellen,

      You reported one of our emails as spam again hence them stopping. I've removed the report so you should get them again. I have also edited the email address out of your post - as Eileen says it is not a good idea posting it in open forums.

      Regards,

      Alan

    • iellen32
      iellen32 Emis_Moderator

      Posted

      Thank you so very much!

      This is a true Christmas guift!!

      I am greatly interest on exchange experiences about vision and this morning I got a reply on the subject!

      Thank you for helping on redoing my connection with Patient,

      I am wondering why it happens as I am not reporting spams.

      After sending my replies during the day and ending all my activity late at night, on the day next, like it happened yesterday, I do not get any e-mail notification.

      I use my iPhone.

      Hope it does not happen again.

      Marry Christmas.

      Cheers to the New Year!

    • iellen32
      iellen32 EileenH

      Posted

      Hi, dear EileenH, thank you so much for your reply and you advice regarding the e-mail address shown in a public place.

      My concern was to clarify as soon as I could about the span - it made me feel bad as it was happening without my will and for the second time.

      This explains why I was posting immediately, knowing the difference of time UK/US and that's Christmas.

      I knew it would be taken care at the most convenient time though.

      Explanations done, dear Eillen, I apologize for my mistakes.

      Thank you so much again for your reply and for your time as well.

    • EileenH
      EileenH iellen32

      Posted

      All you have to do to easy access to the Moderator to get him to look at a problem is write a post with the problem and post it and then click on the report flag at the bottom of each post, your own included. That brings up a set of options, one of which is "Feedback for moderator", check that and post it, don't write anything in the other box as that overrides the other reason.

      The Moderator - all one of him for multiple forums, this isn't the only one on the site - works normal working hours in the UK. If you are posting in the USA in the middle of our night it won't be seen any earlier although he does look in occasionally at the weekend.

      There's no need to apologise at all - some of us have been using the forum for 6 or 7 years so have learnt how it all works.

      If you check in to this page

      https://patient.info/forums/discuss/browse/polymyalgia-rheumatica-and-gca-1708

      you will see a list of all the posts with a note on each of when the last message was put up - and you can check them out without having had an email notification at all. 

    • iellen32
      iellen32 EileenH

      Posted

      Hi dear Eileen, your instructions on how to reach the Moderator were precise and helpful giving to a new member a way to navigate wisely throug the site .

      Thank you for doing so.

      May you have a Happy New Year!

      xxxx

    • iellen32
      iellen32 EileenH

      Posted

      Hi Eileen,

      As I am not getting any e- mail notifications for hours in a row what's unusual.

      I am wondering if i am not having another of those glitches...

      I received, emails from cousins in Europe and realize none from Patient

      If not for the interruptions happened twice I would think everything was normal

      I hope so.

      I know the difference of time between us,

      Thank you so very much.

      Have a great weekend!

      xxxx

    • EileenH
      EileenH iellen32

      Posted

      They also do work on the site, particularly at weekends, which may put it down for a short time. I also find that on occasions I will go some time with no notifications and then they arrive all at once. The speed emails travel at depends on a lot of things including the server and they are probably different.
    • EileenH
      EileenH

      Posted

      PS - meant to ask in the past post - where are you from originally?
    • iellen32
      iellen32

      Posted

      Thank you, Eileen.
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