On Saturday I had an episode where I started feeling really sick, I got dizzy, couldn't see straight, heart felt like skipping beats and then all of a sudden my skin felt like it was burning. My skin has felt like it's been burning ever since!
Have been trying to narrow down what caused this and need some help. I've seen 2 different doctors and can't get any answers.
I did a 3 wk. course of diflucan and finished about 10 days before the episode. 3 days before the episode I had walnuts and I'm allergic. I'm also sensitive to eggs and had mayo 4 days before the episode. The day before the episode I took an epsom salt bath. My neck actually felt like it was burning when I got out. I also had aloe juice several times in the days leading up to the episode.
I'm really suffering here. From my chest up I feel like someone threw acid at me! I found out Mon. that my child has a strep rash. I was off abx so I restarted Biaxin Mon. night just in case I was having some kind of strep reaction.
I vaguely remember reading somewhere that someone can react to an epsom salt bath if they are extremely deficient in magnesium.
Help!
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
Oh yeah. Last night I developed some red bumps on my stomach too.
Posted by missing (Member # 22437) on :
I had red bumps on my stomach. I always have skin pain/nerve pain. Even high doses of pain killers don't help. I cry from pain every day.
The skin pain got worse over the last 4 years. If they would have treated me with ABX right away, it would have never gotten to the point that I was crying all day long from the torture of it. It just got worse and worse and worse.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
So sorry you are suffering with the burning skin. That is terrible!
Try taking some sublingual (under the tongue) vitamin B12. Take double what it says on the bottle for the first few days. Then, go down to a normal dose.
Make sure you let it dissolve under the tongue. Don't forget and swallow it by mistake.
That is what my lyme doc prescribed when I suffered with nerve symptoms.
The burning is nerve pain, and it is the pits. For nerve pain, you can try Ultram, which is a prescription pain med.
Someone on this board recently said they got this problem after the epsom salts bath. So, I would say to stay away from that for a good while.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
TF,
I don't know if it is nerve related b/c it feels like a sunburn and my face and neck are actually kind of red. It's pretty much only my chest, upper arms, neck, face, ears head. Also the inside of my mouth and nose.
I've had neve pain and this is different. B12 couldn't hurt though.
I wish I could find that post about the other person that had the reaction to epsom salts but can't find it.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
I'm starting to wonder now if she has a strep rash or if it's staph. I guess it can be hard to tell. If it's staph, Biaxin won't cover it.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
At least take benadryl in case it is an allergic reaction since you have red skin and red bumps on the stomach.
You had the walnuts, the eggs, and then the epsom salts bath and that could have just put you over the top allergy-wise. Allergic reactions can cause burning skin.
Biaxin can also cause a rash.
Did you do anything new? Like start any new supplements, new meds, was the epsom salts bath new, etc?
You probably will get help if you go to a dermatologist. The dermatologist is going to ask you all about anything new, including things like hair products, hair dye, etc. Think of everything you put on your head and face--cosmetics, etc.
If benadryl doesn't help at all, I'd see a good dermatologist or any dermatologist who can see you quickly.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
The biaxin isn't responsible as this started BEFORE the biaxin. I restarted the biaxin b/c of this.
I had some Yoga Detox Tea the day before and started New Chapter women's vitamins and a new brand of aloe juice.
So today is day six and my skin is STILL burning and red!!! I also have terrible head pressure with this.
Strange thing is when I woke up this morning the skin inflammation was way down/almost gone. Right now, I'm in agony and it's burning and red.
I did stop my Allegra several days before this happened b/c I was going to retest food allergies b/c it's been 2 yrs. but when this happened Saturday Istarted taking it again.
I don't do well with Benadryl. It actually makes my heart feel weird and gives me insomnia.
As far as seeing a dermatologist, I cringe at the thought of running around to doctors again trying to get answers like I had to to get dx w/Lyme. I already went to 2 doctors about this.
I'm adding in amoxicillin! Wish me luck! I found out today though that my bilirubin is slightly elevated again. Probably from the 3 wks. of diflucan.
Could the burning skin from an allergic reaction last this long? Why was it better this a.m. and now awful again?
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I know this problem started before the Biaxin. However, if it is an allergy problem, then the fact that you added Biaxin to the mix could be relevant.
What I have learned is that once the skin begins to react, you have to consider everything that can be adding to that reaction.
You need to be sure you tell about the epsom salts bath that you didn't rinse off. All of these things are relevant.
Also, the fact that you successfully took a med in the past doesn't necessarily mean that it can be ruled out as the cause now.
If you do enough things the body doesn't like, then you go "over the top" and get a skin/allergic reaction. That is what I learned in all the years I had lyme and got so many skin problems during my illness.
Also, the dermatologist I have seen for years always knew what was causing all my rashes and hives, etc. while I was treating lyme disease. He is a pro at diagnosing skin conditions. He doesn't have to know anything about lyme disease.
So, I don't see a visit to the dermatologist as anything like trying to get diagnosed with lyme.
I don't know what kind of doctors the 2 were that you went to for this problem, but it is a dermatological problem, so you want a good dermatologist to see you.
If you don't know one, perhaps you can ask around for a really good one.
This is how a visit with the dermatologist typically went for me: He came in the room, saw what I had, and told me what it was from. Took no more than 5 minutes. Then, I asked questions, protested the diagnosis, etc. He talked. And, it was over.
I had so many skin problems while I had lyme that it wasn't even funny. Evidently, it has to do with everything else that is going on in the body. The body just can't handle much more without the skin reacting. (I have very sensitive skin.) I once had hives continuously for at least 4 months. There were times of the day when they seemed nearly gone (like in the morning, just as you are noticing), but they weren't gone.
When I had lyme, I reacted to the fillers in my hormone replacement meds! I reacted to nearly every anti-inflammatory that there was. I got hives from all of these. I also got hives from zith.
Before lyme, I had never had hives in my life.
Posted by missing (Member # 22437) on :
All vitamins make my nerve skin pain much worse, especially the B vitamin injections that I got from my ND.
eating make my skin nerve burning pain so bad that I cry, and cry,,, so I don't eat until just before bed,
then I take sleep meds right away, and then I only have to live through an hour of pain , instead of a whole day of pain.
My fingers, arm, toes, and feet have also gone red, and have also gone numb at time.
This is all getting much better though after 18 months of meds, and after one month of high doses of oral ABX
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
TF, I really do appreciate all that info. Can you give me some examples of the causes of some of your skin problems and then what you were able to do about it?
So this is probably a combo of things and my skin just couldn't take it anymore? Makes sense. Especially since I had stopped taking Allegra about 5 days prior. OMG! I just had a light bulb moment!
Don't allergy meds stay in your system for several days after you stop taking them? I had the nuts 2 days after stopping Allegra and the reaction was 3 days after that. Probably right about when there'd be no more Allegra left in my system.
Do you think this will eventually go away on it's own? Do you think I'd be putting myself in danger If I didn't go to the dermatologist?
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
When I got hives, the dermatologist told me it was from some med I was taking. He said it was most likely the hormone replacement. I protested because I needed that hormone replacement.
So, he let me try other things. When they all failed, I called my gyn and said I had to try a different hormone replacement. I did this with total fear and trepidation.
The gyn prescribed the same 2 meds I was taking, but in 2 separate pills instead of the combo pill I had been successfully taking.
Voila! The 4 month hives went away. (That's how it was shown that it was the fillers in the hormone replacement pill that I could not handle. The dermtologist had predicted this.)
When I had these hives, they were nearly gone in the morning. But, if I wore any clothing that was the least bit rough or itchy, like wool, I would really suffer with burning skin and stabbing. I could only wear the softest materials. Nothing starched. Just very soft cotton things. My wardrobe was very limited for those 4 months.
Also, I would not use any hot water on the skin while it is reacting like this.
This is how I found out that even changing the dosage of a med can put a person over the top. My hormone replacement med had recently been increased. That set off this terrible case of hives.
I don't think you are in any danger if you try to just ride this one out since you are not having any breathing problems. You are just suffering with burning skin.
However, if the skin gets significantly worse or if breathing becomes affected, I would not play around with it.
Try to flush out your system with a lot of water. If Allegra helps you, then stay on it.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
OMG! I did just switch compounding pharmacies for my thyroid extract. I wonder if that has anything to do with it. I'm also having crashing episodes in the afternoon like I did when I first started thyroid extract and I was using this compounding pharmacy at that time too. Hmm!
Is it dangerous to stop thyroid extract abruptly?
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I don't know anything about thyroid extract.
Posted by pamyla (Member # 8575) on :
Hi, awhile back I had the burning skin symptom on my stomach. My doctor told me to take B6. For me, the burning sensation did abate after a few weeks. Not sure if it was from the B6 or not....
Hope it gets better for you. It's an aggravating symptom!
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
OMG! I'm worse than ever last night and today. It feels like sever sunburn and skin is red. Now it's from the hips up. I'm in tears. I have terrible acne along with this too. Mouth feels prickly and nose and eyes burning. I'm in tears.
Posted by penguingirl (Member # 28688) on :
Oh no - I really think you should call your dr first thing tomorrow and see a dermatologist! Did you try the Benadryl or take more Allegra yet?
I am scared for you - I don't want it to close up your throat and anything - do you want to go to the ER?
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
I already saw 2 dr.'s about this so I'm feeling like I did trying to get dx w/Lyme! I am considering ER but also a lot of time and wasted $$ there.
Although my skin always feels sore and like it's burning, it doesn't always look red so I'm waiting for it to get good and red before I go.
Still concerned that this could have to do w/my child's strep infection. So, I looked up sunburn type rash and causes and one is systemic infection w/strep or staph, actually that's toxic shock syndrome. But, I don't have a fever.
I'm still taking Allegra. I take it in the evening and am noticing my symptoms are worse in the evening, I'm thinking b/c the previous dose is worn off by that time. I will be back in contact w/a doctor. If not the ER then I'll call or go to Dr. tomorrow.
Posted by penguingirl (Member # 28688) on :
When you take the Allegra in the evening (let's say around 6 pm) do you notice a difference in the symptoms by 9 pm? Just curious.
Good luck - please keep us posted!!
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
It may be mildly better several hrs. after taking Allegra but just takes the edge off.
I've been doing a lot of reading about strep. Strep diaper rash (impetigo) and scarlet fever, and Toxic Shock Syndrome are all caused by group A strep. Said TSS is more likely in people with supressed immune systems.
I'm already getting the heebie jeebies about trying to explain to a doctor that doesn't believe in chronic Lyme why I'm immuno-suppressed! Considering treating myself w/amoxicillin but if I do then tests won't be positive.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
If you had toxic shock syndrome, you would have a fever and be VERY ill. Also, Allegra would not help at all. (Allegra only helps allergies.)
This really sounds like an allergic reaction to something. For that reason, I strongly suggest you go to a dermatologist. Don't try to convince any doctor that you have an impaired immune system. Just go to the doctor and tell how you feel.
If you try to convince a doc that something terrible is wrong with you, they will decide you are a nut case, hysterical, and you won't get any good thinking going on from then on. They will dismiss you and do nothing for you.
Your main symptom is red, burning skin, so a good dermatologist should be able to help you a lot more than the ER.
Maybe when you call a dermatologist tell how long and how severely you have had this and ask if they can see you that day.
If your skin is always burning, then try sublingual (under the tongue) vitamin B12. Be sure not to swallow it without thinking. I hope it gives you some relief.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
I don't know what to think. It's driving me crazy. Spent most of the day in tears.
You're right TF. If I start talking like that at a doctor's appointment they will think I'm nuts.
So, I can't swallow the B12 at all? I thought that after you keep it under the tongue for 30 seconds that you are supposed to swallow it. Am I wrong?
I thought antihistamines could take the edge of a reaction caused by toxins from an infection.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
You keep the B12 pill under your tongue until it is totally dissolved. You do not chew the pill.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
I have B12 drops. Says to hold under tongue for 30 seconds. I assume you swallow after that.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
Just found something saying that Scarlet Fever CAN be caused by impetigo.
Tempted to start amoxicillin right now as I'm pretty far into this and the complications of strep infection are scarey.
I should probably wait till tomorrow and go get a throat culture. I guess it may be negative though in cases where one gets scarlet fever from impetigo but the complications are just as scarey.
Maybe I'll get a throat culture tomorrow morning and then start amoxicillin regardless.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
Turns out if this is scarlet fever, I'm already covered w/the biaxin I'm on. Apparently, abx don't really shorten the duration of the illness, just shortens the amount of time you're contagious.
Wonder if I should add in amoxicillin just to be well covered. Would be a good start to a well rounded Lyme protocol after being on an antibiotic break for 10 mos. Maybe add in Flagyl or tindamax somewhere down the road.
I knew I needed to start treating again soon but I didn't think this was the push I'd need to do it!
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
Still getting terrible rashes and it's spreading. I just realized that I changed compounding pharmacies for my thyroid extract. I wonder if this could be it. Here's the thing though, I don't think I can stop it abruptly and I can't get in contact with my prescribing dr. for the thyroid extract until Mon. I' on a very low dose (32.5 mg twice daily). Does anyone know if it's ok to stop?
Posted by hadlyme (Member # 6364) on :
With the thyroid meds... can you cut them in half and take less. take less for a few days then stop.. maybe a gradual thing would be better.
I'm on Armour thyroid.. and I went up in baby steps.. and would think that going down in baby steps would have to be done too if one is coming off of them.
Seeing a dr. is the best thing to do in this case though.
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
They are a capsule w/powder inside.
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
tickled, if food and vitamins make your pain worse, the problem obviously originates from your stomach, be very careful with your diet... I suffer exactly the same problem as you....with incredible head pressure, red rashes, neuropathy....
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
Shahbah,
The pain I get from food is different than what I'm experiencing with all of this. Food sensitivities/leaky gut are definitely a problem for me but this is different. I'm going to skip my thyroid meds today and see what happens. Wish me luck!
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
tickled - I'm so sorry for your struggles. I have been having them too. Thank you for starting this thread. And thank you folks for posting, little bits and pieces you posted triggered me to look at things from a different angle. I just figured some things out that I wanted to share with you tickled. I feel for you and hope this helps....
The last week I have had the worst time of my life. Hot sizzling tingling and nerve pain. Off the charts burning. Could not sleep which triggered immense anxiety. I thought this all stemmed from the dental work I had done about 11 days ago, to have mercury removed, a wisdom tooth pulled, etc. I thought it was all about the mercury. Everything I was doing for myself turned out to be wrong. For me, and I just figured this out last night/this morning, it is from a B6 deficiency and kidney issues. (B6 is depleted by Lyme and also by KPU).
Per my health book -- B6 is involved in more bodily functions than almost any other single ingredient. A deficiency of B6 may be recognized by anemia, headaches, nausea, flaky skin, sore tongue, vomiting, acne, cracks or sores on mouth and lips, depression, dizziness, fatigue, hyperirritability, impaired wound healing, inflammation of the mouth and gums, numbness, tingling sensations, etc. etc....
I have been beyond thristy and peeing all the time, sometimes every 10 minutes. I had acid taste in my mouth, thinking it was from the mercury. I now know it's from the kidneys being in distressed. I was doing everything wrong.... taking epsom salts baths daily and even adding salt and baking soda to my drinks to re-hydrate because I was sooooo dehydrated. I was also taking advil because of the inflammation and mouth pain from dental work. My kidneys are visibly swollen. I know I've done some damage, but thank God I figured it out now.
My first turn around came last night when I was on FIRE and wanting to go to sleep (something I have not been doing because of such intense suffering). Something told me to shower off from the epsom salts bath I had. Immediately I got some relief and was able to sleep fairly well.
What I'm saying is take B6 and support your kidneys. In my health book 'Prescription for Nutritional Healing' it explained everything. And so many points rang true for me that I feel 1000% sure. And wouldn't you know, B6 is at the very top of the list of "Very important" supplements that need to be taken for kidney issues. I just went to the store and got a bunch of things to help myself now.... pure, organic cranbury juice, B6, inositol, uva ursi tincture, marshmallow tea, dandelion tincture and dandelion root tea.
If you don't have the book I mentioned above, I think most health food stores have a copy for their customers to look at.
Wishing you the best. I really hope this helps.
Take good care, Tammy
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
PS - my book also says infectious diseases such as measles, scarlet fever and tonsillitis can damage kidneys if not treated properly and completely.
I really think you need kidney support. Try to get your hands on a copy of this book so you can read the kidney section. Today, I can say, it changed my life. Already feeling relief. Felt like I was on a really dangerous path going down. Worst I have ever felt. Feel so much better today already just by making a few changes and the right additions.
Also, in the meantime, I would try to to minimize what you are taking in (in way of various meds/supps), if possible, so you don't continue to burden an already taxed system.
God bless, Tammy
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
I think you may be onto something w/the B vitamins. The last couple of days I've been taking sublingual B12 and immediately feel this calm come over me after I take it and like a fog is lifting. But this is B12, not B6. Do you know if there's a sublingual B-complex?
The burning I'm feeling isn't nerve related. I've had that before and it's a different sensation. What I'm feeling with this is more of a flushing and inflamed skin like with sunburn.
I don't want to speak too soon but so far my skin isn't reacting today and I haven't taken my thyroid meds. I hope I've figured out the main offender.
I do feel a deficiency in b vitamins could be playing a role though.
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
Tickled, then I think you should check into vasculitis, inflammation of blood vessels...
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
I would still offer your body some kidney support as I think it is related to skin burning sensations. And definitely add the B6.
Also, for what it's worth, burning skin is can be related to mercury.
My improvements today have been dramatic. I am soooo grateful.
Best to you, Tammy
Posted by chiquita incognita (Member # 30381) on :
Lots of things can cause skin issues.
THe skin is the body's largest organ of elimination.
Therefore, if we are allergic to something, excess (toxins) are eliminated through the skin, and we get allergic reactions.
Tammy, yes kidney stuff can figure in but so can liver and adrenal stuff (much more likely). Adrenals are involved in allergic reactions and so is the liver.
Some people are allergic to aloe fyi. You could try and see what happens after you stop it.
I agree that the B12 especially and also B6 can intervene with nerve inflammation. Don't forget that the nerves connect with the skin too, of course!
For skin issues:
Calendula oil by Weleda is a really good brand, but calendula in general is a good skin, burn, rash intervening herb. Allergic reactions to members of hte aster family (chamomile, calendula, etc) are so rare that it almost doesn't bear mentioning, maybe one person in every 10 or 15 years. If so, mouth or skin blisters may arise but again this is rare.
Aloe topically, if not allergic to it.
Coconut oil on the skin is a marvellous nerve anti-inflammatory and a skin conditioner.
It is important to address the symptomatic area but also the underlying cause.
Allergies, adrenal imbalance, liver or blood cleansing, etc. Usually we think of blood cleansing herbs with psoriasis et al, red clover blossoms and dandelion root would be one of those.
Tammy, dandelion root is for the liver and the leaf is for the kidneys, did you have a memory blank after reading Dr Page's book?
The leaf is diuretic but also replaces much of the potassium that is lost in excretion.
Milk thistle supports the kidneys too alongside the liver, though primarily the liver.
Best, CI
The above information has not been evaluated by the FDA and does not diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. This does not substitute for medical advice, talk wtih your doctor.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
No Chiquita, I didn't have a memory blank. The book says "Dandelion root extract aids in the excretion of the kidney's waste products and is very beneficial for nephritis." The book also says "reduce your intake of potassium", so maybe that is why they suggest the root.
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
Don't forget that P-5-P is the active form of B6... For those of us with heavy metal issues we may not be able to convert B6 to P-5-P so consider this when choosing what to supplement with.
If you are doing the HPU protocol, P-5-P is better to take in the morning and B6 & B12 should be taken at night.
I can't find the book I am looking for to reference but I have in my notes on Vitamin B "equal amounts of B2 and B6." I couldn't remember why I wrote that...
So I went looking... and found this article.
B-INFORMED ABOUT B-VITAMINS
The safety record of the B-complex vitamins is extraordinarily good. Since their discovery, beginning with thiamin (B-1) in 1911, many thousands of studies have verified an unequaled therapeutic value of these essential substances. Side effects have been rare, and toxicity is nearly nonexistent, even at the highest doses. Some cautions are in order, of course, and here are some of the most important.
Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) has been reported to cause temporary neurological symptoms such as heaviness, tingling or numbness of the limbs in persons taking very large doses. It is very important to realize that such cases are not common, and when they do occur usually result from huge doses of pyridoxine TAKEN ALONE. The B-vitamins are a team, and work best as a team. Upsetting the balance by taking a lot of just one is like devoting all your baseball practice time to your pitcher. You might get a lot of strikeouts, but if anybody hits one, you are in trouble. No one player has ever won a World Series by himself, and no single B-vitamin can do the job that the whole "team" can do.
Thanks so much for that Heather. Very helpful. I'm really annoyed now that I spent what I did on the sublingual B12. Ugh!
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
Heather - wow, great info!!! I'm still not able to balance myself out. I think this info is very right on.... and helpful to me. Always appreciate your input.