I have a rash that has been here for about a week. I know steroids are a no no for people with Lyme and cos. Do skin creams also need to be steroid free? I would think so since they can seep through the skin, but I'm not sure.
Has anyone asked this question to their LLMD, and if so, what does he/she say about skin creams with steroids in them???
I think I'm going to have to see a local physician, and I need to be able to tell him or her no to steroid creams if it is a no no for Lyme and cos.
Also, sometimes I have to do breathing treatments with xopenex. I need to be able to clear my lungs, but I'm womdering how detrimental this is to Lyme and cos??
Apparently xopenex has the least steroid i the mix out of all the options.
Thanks so much. Posted by lookup (Member # 44574) on :
I would definitely not use the steroid creme. That symptom on the skin will disappear but then where does it go? As it does not EVER just disappear.
The body pushes dis-ease to the surface of the body - the skin. The creme pushes it back in and then from there it can unleash hell.
Unfortunately, that is what happened to our family member with the initial skin rash...thanks to his girlfriend who just wanted to help out. :/
Posted by me (Member # 45475) on :
Thank you for the feedback, lookup. I appreciate your help.
Do I just put on a non-steroid cream and wait for it to go away?????
I live in a state where lyme "doesn't exist," sigh, so I'm concerned that if I go to a local doc I will just get a misdiagnosis. My LLMD is out of state. I sent him pictures of the rash and he said it looked "non-specific" and I may need to see someone locally. Nonetheless, I'm still concerned about a misdiagnosis.
Tincup recommended an anti-itch jelly, and I'm hoping my LLMD will order it tomorrow.
Also, does anyone have recommendations as far as what to do if I have to do breathing treatments (which have small amounts of steroids)? ??
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
If the rash turns out to be more rare and your PCP is unfamiliar with it, you may be referred to a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment. Your PCP will know how to treat most common stuff.
I've needed to use high dose steroid cream a couple times throughout my Lyme treatment journey. At the time, based on my diagnosis, my LLMD agreed that the steroid cream was necessary and the ONLY way to heal.
About the Xopenex breathing treatments, that is a no brainier! It is NOT a steroid! It is a bronchodilator. It's drug class is Beta -2 -Agonist. This simply opens your airways so that you can breathe. It does not act like a steroid in any way, it does not suppress the immune system. It's a very helpful med.
Another breathing med that is not a steroid is Albuterol. This comes as an inhaler and nebulizer form. It is also a bronchodilator that opens the airways. Works really well too.
So discuss your all of symptoms with your doctor so that they get the full picture and can accurately diagnose you. Also discuss your concerns so that they may be able to give you alternatives to treatment if possible.
Posted by me (Member # 45475) on :
Thank you for your input, Sammy. I appreciate it.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I'm glad sammy posted that .. I was under the impression that Xopenex was steroid free. Whew. I have some, but I refrain from taking it since it makes my heart go wonky.
I've used steroid creams myself, but you have to be very careful. Best just to ride it out.
Do you know what has CAUSED this rash? Check what you have eaten .. that is usually the first cause .. or your meds.
Posted by lookup (Member # 44574) on :
What does the rash feel like? Is there a sensation to it? and what does it look like?
Posted by Judy Carley (Member # 49393) on :
I have been fighting a rash for a year, it seems to move back n forth across the chin, and it itches and feels like little pieces of hair are tickling me, or something is crawling on me. Quite frustrating.
Posted by lookup (Member # 44574) on :
Judy, what makes it feel better and what makes it feel worse?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Consider foods with salicylates as the cause, Judy. They are also found in most skin care products.
Posted by me (Member # 45475) on :
I have no earthly idea what caused the rash. I wish I did. Sitting in a gown a th the dermatologist's office now. Sigh.
Posted by WPinVA (Member # 33581) on :
Which abx are you on? Consider the possibility that you can become allergic to a med even after taking it for months. Are you on Bactrim by chance? That med is notorious for rashes. If it was me, I would see a dermatologist.
Also, you could go off of all of your meds and then go back on one by one. That's how I ID'ed what was causing a mystery rash a few years back. It was Bactrim. FWIW My LLMD didn't know what it was but a non LLMD derm know right away.
I said no thank you to the steroid cream that the derm gave me. It eventually went away, just took longer. I would however take a steroid breathing treatment if you need it - you need to breathe!
Posted by me (Member # 45475) on :
Thank you, WPInVA. I actually got off bactrim a few weeks ago. I started a new regimen, but the only new things that were added to my existing regimen was IV clindamycin and oral flagyl. I used to be on IV flagyl.
We also added back some things I used to be on. I got off the IV clindamycin again on Monday per recommendation of the dermatologist (I saw one on Monday). He wants me off it for seven days to see if that's the culprit.
The dermatologist wanted to put me on a steroid cream, and I said no thank you, he said why, I said lyme, he said what does that have to do with it, I explained, he asked me to bring my lyme tests to the next appointment and asked who was treating me (it was abundantly clear he doesn't believe in chronic Lyme. He said that he would give a pregnant woman steroid cream and gave me a rude look. Anywho . . . The follow up appointment should be "fun."
Im soooooo miserable right now. I itch and hurt so bad. I've unintentionally scratched myself bloody. I woke up in the middle of the night last night to myself yelping from the intense itchiness.
As of now, the dermatologist gave me atarax to take at night, told me to take Zyrtec during the day, and put me on eurax lotion.
The dermatologist took four biopsies and the results should be back Monday. Arrrrghhh.
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