posted
Earlier today for the first time in weeks I felt alright enough to go swimming in my pool (and also I know I need the exercise as I've been in bed for weeks as its getting harder to breathe.
A little before going in the pool I noticed my lips were very slightly blue but shrugged it off.
then after taking selfies of myself (again because I felt good for once) I noticed some very strange blue areas. I would have to post a bunch so you guys get an idea of the severity and can maybe give me some advice (and then delete pics shortly after) so let me know if it's acceptable. thanks. ps the pool was very warm as was i when this occurred
thanks
[ 07-21-2016, 02:20 PM: Message edited by: HK ]
-------------------- Back At It Posts: 203 | From NJ | Registered: Feb 2015
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susank
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22150
posted
This sounds strange and very serious perhaps? Worth going to the ER for? I would think is OK to post a few photos. I'm not a mod. but this sounds serious.
-------------------- Pos.Bb culture 2012 Labcorp - no bands ever Igenex - Neg. 4 times With overall bands: IGM 18,28,41,66 IND: 23-25,34,39 IGG 41,58 IND: 39 Bart H IGG 40 Posts: 1613 | From Texas | Registered: Aug 2009
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Forget the selfies, forget posting anything, forget asking people here what to do.
posted
Hey everyone. Thanks for your concern Susan and tin. I did not go to ER. I have already been to the er 3 times in the last 8 days for very severe and worsening 'heart attacks'.
I refuse to keep going bc they don't/won't do anything. I'm assuming it's bc of my age, insurance, and because I've been to the er so many times the paSt year.
Even though my troponin is borderline high (>0.04}, I have cardiomegaly (left side), Sinus node arrythmia, tachycardia (always 90 and above resting) high BP when these occur. Other times it's very low. Nm the sx
They did however, for the first time give me nitro and set me up w a cardiologist for a second opinion on having further tests done. I've had 4 'heart attacks' already in the past 4 weeks. The drs office actually called me to set up an appt after ER which was a HUGE surprise. They actually called 4 times (not answering my phone lately) to set up appt.
Also everytime I have one I generally feel worse. Ive been very ill and sob after the first attack a month ago. They stopped until this last week where ive had 3, everyone worse.
Nevermind my symptoms and signs. During the attack - blue tinged skin...nausea and exteme dizzyness/faint feeling first then all these at once - EXTREMELY weak, hot cold flashes, left hand tingles, upper left arm feels like it's being squeezed by an arm wrestler, at times right arm too but not as severe, sharp pain in mid upper back, extreme jaw pain, upper abdominal cramps, heart hurts (localized to sternum area where it burns and hurts and this last episode I had was by far the worst heart pain I've suffered. my heart didnt hurt nearly as much in the last 3 episodes.
Then when this all comes to an end, all sx stop besides the heart pain which will still hurt but to a much lesser degree and radiating over to the left side, and my entire upper back burns very much before it finally ceases.
These episodes leave me generally weaker, sicker, and in more pain like I said. Very much so. Bedridden 95% of time now. Walking into walls, dropping everything, ect. when I do get up.
I forwarded my mom (the one who thinks it's JUST LYME everytime and doesn't help or support me because of that) some of the pics and she said it was creepy but only shadows.
How? I took like 30 pictures in all different angles and positions n the blue coloring is in every one of them on the same side.
-------------------- Back At It Posts: 203 | From NJ | Registered: Feb 2015
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posted
and here's one I edited (which made the blue more defined)
idk what to do. hospitals, drs, specialists. noone will do anything and I'm very scared this next attack will be the last because the last attack was just so bad. I couldn't even walk to look for some cayenne pepper (which I wanted) had to call my bf at 3 in the morning to come help me to the er. And I'm way too weak to fight for my health/for help right now.
Also prob only felt good enough to go swimming yesterday since the er gave me a prescription for narcotics to take home when I was last there Sunday night
Thanks for well anything (: ! Any words at all.
ps to mods. I will delete these pictures in a couple of days. I of course very much dislike posting myself on this site due to privacy reasons but im just really desperate for answers/opinions/advice.
If you must delete due to your own reasons I completely understand. thanks
-------------------- Back At It Posts: 203 | From NJ | Registered: Feb 2015
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- It's good that you did not have an attack as before, so embrace that as a good sign maybe your body is starting to work FOR you.
Glad you got to enjoy being in the water. Hope you can do that more often, gently.
Do you see blue when you look in a mirror? In DAY LIGHT?
I wonder if the color setting on your phone might be set to more blue as what I see is not blue at all, but pink, irritated & pale.
My color setting might be off, too, as recently friends posted of their "for sale" house photos and their green wall looks blue on my computer. So, then, it would seem that it's seeing more blue but your lips don't show blue at all.
All computers, phone cameras, even regular cameras can have very different colors due to the settings and surrounding color "bounce".
Still, check what you see in the mirror in DAY LIGHT - NOT under fluorescent lights or really any artificial lights at all and away from any color walls, cars or other things that can bounce color.
The pool lights and blue reflection from the pool water, paint can also alter color in photos. -
[ 07-21-2016, 03:19 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I know you have various medical issues, etc. and that's a lot to sort out, of course.
Variables tend to be my first point of focus. Regarding just lips, now, though, just to eliminate other possible variables:
Consider any lipstick, gloss or balms you are using as your lips certainly do look irritated, regardless of what hue they are in open day night (and not in a photo). The water will bounce back whatever color paints are on the pool sides, walls, etc.
Many lipsticks, glosses & balms contain terribly irritating ingredients, some even contain toxic heavy metals such as lead or cadmium.
Also consider if certain foods, spices, lemon water or other beverages (or powdered supplements) might be causing the irritation around your lips
& if certain nutrient deficiencies might be causing pale lips. Are you getting enough protein? Do you eat meat, eggs, fish?
I mention this not just for blood flow "hue" for face / lips but for the heart, too. You've posted recently about some arrhythmia and your weakness. Too little protein could be one variable here. -
[ 07-21-2016, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
Search your brand of anything you put on your lips:
Lip Balm, Gloss, Liner, Plumper, Lipstick
& any Sunscreen: Lip Balm -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Two days ago, you posted " . . . My body has become very sensitive to everything lately (even eating cherry ice will leave my tongue abnormally bright red for a long time. . . . " (end quote)
That could explain the irritation around lips, in part. Not sure if you made your own with real cherry juice and no additives or if it might be a "flavored" ice with various additives.
Any "flavors" will be more irritating.
Even "natural" flavors are often MSG or other synthetics hiding as "natural" and can cause irregular heart rhythm. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Jordana
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 45305
posted
HK, I just don't see any obvious blue.
I know you're feeling very sick but if I can't see it, you can bet the docs and maybe even your mom can't see it.
From what you're describing you obviously have autonomic dysfunction which can be from Lymeco OR it can be damage that can fade away after a while. Have you been evaluated for POTS?
I think I'm with Keebler. Heart symptoms can be a reaction to something in your environment, or to food. They can ALSO be an extreme reaction to hormonal issues, like very high estrogen.
If it were me feeling like you, having exhausted the ER, I would start home treatment for POTS and try to get an additional appointment with a neuro who can evaluate your autonomic function.
I wish I had more for you. Just generally heart/panic/skin issues = bartonella.
Posts: 2057 | From Florida | Registered: Feb 2015
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Best from real foods as there is no powdered protein on the planet that can be a good substitute other than for maybe just part of our supply.
Meat, Eggs, Fish - from good clean sources are especially important to build muscle throughout the body and that includes the heart muscle, too.
Plant proteins matter as well to complement intake.
THE REQUIREMENTS OF PROTEIN & AMINO ACID DURING ACUTE & CHRONIC INFECTION . . .
Anura V. Kurpad - Institute of Population Health & Clinical Research, Bangalore, India 129. Indian J Med Res 124, August 2006, pp 129-148.
Excerpt:
" . . . In general, the amount of EXTRA protein that would appear to be needed is of the order of 20-25 per cent of the recommended intake, for most infections. . . ."
- 20 pages - Full article at link (or web search the title if it does not go through). -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Thanks for the info keebler and jordana (: but I'm very confused. I have a very pronounced, very visible shade of blue around my heart area in every picture I posted? Am I going crazy ?
-------------------- Back At It Posts: 203 | From NJ | Registered: Feb 2015
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posted
I had an abg done which showed mixed acid base disorder, s02 (internal 02 was only 70 when I had it tested 5 weeks ago) and am hoping it hasn't gotten worse as I feel it has.
-------------------- Back At It Posts: 203 | From NJ | Registered: Feb 2015
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Jordana
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posted
Okay, at some point today do another selfie for yourself without the blue pool water behind you. In the picture it looks like a bit of pool water staining that area blue.
If it's still there in different light then you'll be able to tell right away that it's really there.
Posts: 2057 | From Florida | Registered: Feb 2015
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bluelyme
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Member # 47170
posted
I have lost pallor and color too..even my nurse doesnt see the wasting and discoloration. I believe its circulation. Many doc denyed my livedo (i was purple) and a er doc noticed it finally...
hk how are you treating ? ...consider mhbot to get o2 and are you on abx ? If you have the resources rife. My hrart felt a little better after iv curcumin. Do you have a funtional medicine doc ?
How can we help? The er and specialist wont really they may say stuff like skipped beats ,high heart rate .inflammation. but how do we get spirochettes off the nerves to the heart ...? Sending hugs your way pm if you need
also return veins carry blue blood back .is ther a chance that you have gotten thinner and veins are more pronounced..? Also bartonella makes veins grow ...my skin has become more translucent in the last year also
its all a horror show .i know ..stuff too freaky for movies ..we are here ..good news is even if you need a new pacemaker or a ticker the body is extremely rresiliant. ..look at neil spector. . .
-------------------- Blue Posts: 1539 | From southwest | Registered: Dec 2015
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quote:Originally posted by Jordana: Okay, at some point today do another selfie for yourself without the blue pool water behind you. In the picture it looks like a bit of pool water staining that area blue.
If it's still there in different light then you'll be able to tell right away that it's really there.
- Yes, very hard to tell with the blue pool water.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- While most of the blue seems to be the pool water, that this pool is painted an intense blue also adds to the hue being bathed all over, even out of the water - depending on angle to light and bounce.
Compare photo #1 with photo #6. Some of the blue area to the left on photo is different. #1, some of the chest area out of the water, left side looking at photo is not blue as it is in photo #6, also that part out of the pool. There is a triangle on your swimming suit to use as a marker.
Photo left, your right.
The bluish hue in #6 would have to be "bounced" color from the pool water or paint. Hope that makes you feel better about this this.
Still, I know there is much to consider. Take really good care of yourself and maybe your body will let you enjoy the water again soon. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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MichaelTampa
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posted
I do see it generally around heart (a lot of upper left breast, smaller amount of right breast, some area in between).
But then look at picture 1 and 2, and it seems tied to the water running down from your hair. So maybe it is just the water. But also, could be the breast/heart area there, plus what happens to be similar coloring from water coming down from hair.
Of course the water isn't really blue, so some of this calling it the water doesn't make sense, at least from the pool. But remember ocean water can look blue or green -- it is not the color of the water, but somehow from the sun ... think or rainbows too.
Definitely, let's look at another picture, outside of water.
I don't want to jump to conclusion it's just water, because while it makes sense water would run down from hair, not sure why water would be hanging around in similar spots in heart area ... so that does suggest something else going on there...
Lips look very bright peach/pink to me, like lipstick or whatever other names they have for things people put on lips.
I don't see anything on left arm. Right upper arm (really under arm?) looks also like similar coloring of "blue" or whatever it is.
So sorry you are going through this.
As far as what else to do until you/we figure anything more out, I do think protein might be something worth a try. Eggs also a possibility?
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
Cyanosis refers to a bluish cast to the skin and mucous membranes, like inside the mouth or the lips. It's caused by low oxygen levels in the red blood cells. Google pics of cyanosis.
Whenever I evaluate patients for cyanosis, I look at their mouth and their fingers. I would need to see a picture of your face without makeup, in natural light. And your hands, without nail polish. I can see a grayish area of skin on your chest.
I had a patient once whose lips were always dark blue, but when asked, she always "felt fine."
One of your symptoms was burning pain behind the sternum. When this happens, try taking a tablet of Tums antacid, just to make sure that the pain isn't due to stomach acid coming up into the esophagus. (A study showed that Tums worked better than liquid Mylanta.)
When the heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen, the sensation may be like "an elephant sitting on your chest," with heavy sweating. But symptoms are varied, and women can have different symptoms than men.
You can try a dose of hot Cayenne extract. I take five drops in half a glass of iced tea, although you may need more.
It's possible that one of the cardiac arteries can spasm shut, causing symptoms. This happened to my father. His doctors were visualizing his heart (during a heart attack) when they observed the spasm relax and circulation restore.
Low magnesium can cause spasms, as well as arrhythmias. Are you taking mag?
Tip for doctor visits: Do not wear makeup! The doc needs to be able to evaluate your color/circulation!
If you look like "death warmed over," the doctor will see nothing but radiant health when you're wearing foundation, blush, bronzer, lipstick.
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
I do see bluish gray tint in the upper chest area. But not around the lips, which look red, irritated so maybe that's masking it?
Can you get hooked up with a regular cardiologist and pulmonologist who can figure this out? If the ER doesn't determine that you are having an immediate blockage (ie heart attack) they are not going to keep looking. That's just not their job.
Seems to me like you should have a Holter monitor and maybe a stress test too.
Could it possibly be a bruise of some sort? Have you been coughing a lot? Really just guessing here.
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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Keebler
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posted
- HK,
Here's hoping you are feeling better today. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
if you start having red/blue bruising on your skin, please get to a doctor. it might be something eklse entirely.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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Rumigirl
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posted
To be evaluated for POTS or Orthostatic Tachycardia, you need to see a cardiologist. BUT, it would be best to see a somewhat LL, or at least Lyme friendly, cardiologist, who knows about the effects of Lyme.
It's not that a regular cardiologist can't evaluate you for this, but, you know, someone who is more familiar with the strange ways of TBD's is better.
If you do have this, salt, and/or Florinef, and possibly a beta blocker low dose, can help a lot.
But this is clearly more than even just POTS per se, which is bad enough. You definitely should see a cardiologist. Ask Lyme people in your area for who is best.
Are you seeing a good LLMD? I hope so! You need treatment for the infections, along with supportive treatment for the symptoms and effects on your body.
Sadly, ER's aren't much help for people like us---unless you get in an accident or something more run of the mill. (Don't do that!).
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MichaelTampa
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posted
HK -- Hope you're doing better, or at least making progress in getting to the bottom of what is going on. Wishing you the best!
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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