Sick of this problem! What is it?!

[Valhalla17]

Hi I'm being driven bonkers with my skin. I'm really anaemic, on b12 and iron due to super heavy flooding periods. Doc wanted me to have a transfusion 6mths ago but I've stuck with meds. I havent been great with them but my blood count has improved.

At the same time I had an all over rash, like hives. I was also getting skin ulcers and they took ages to heal, have scarred massively and left horrid dark pigmentation marks. It's been really getting me down as it's all over my legs, back, chest, torso.
Sometimes I felt they may be bites but I've checked for bed bugs, dust mites dont bite. I dont have pets. They dont even look like bites, but I'm just confused to why this continues.

A few days ago I'm on the sofa with my legs curled up under me...I felt a sting, my leg was sore in one place. As I was looking at it (and I couldn't see anything on my leg), I felt another sting about 2inches away from it. Again, nothing i could not see a thing in terms of bug but i definitely felt something. They weren't itchy but I was feeling one and then a tiny bit of skin just kind of came off

The next morning they were both like mini ulcers/craters. Very much like all the skin issues I had before. Pic attached. Are they bites or is there something else going on...can anaemia do this? I was tested for celiac before as well and doc says that's all fine. I'm losing the plot and dont know what to do to fix this! Thanks for reading

I'm NOT a medical professional, just someone who Googles. Could it be hidradenitis suppurativa (look it up)?

Have you been tested for coeliac?

I guess anything is possible at this point @Alcemeg All I've been doing is googling trying to figure this out...so frustrating.

@Hawkmoth I did some sort of test, a gut test which I think covered me for colitis and chrons etc. I cant recall if it covered celiac now I'm thinking about it again...interesting

Pyoderma gangrenosum?

Google does suggest something called anaemia rash

It does actually look like a bit like celiac rash...yes! I think it could be a strong contender. I have another rash at the base of my spine currently which looks like that, and on one of my arms.

Might be worth getting some indorex or similar decent bug spray for the sofa if you're feeling something bite/sting like. Doesn't sound like that's the whole issue but that photo does look quite bite like. Some people do react really badly to bites/stings.

Anaemia rash? Hmm thank you @CorianderAndCream will check that out too. I think I will ask the GP for a celiac test...I'm surprised it wasnt done with the last set of tests, but after I got the iron he pretty much sent me on my way and wasnt interested in my skin issues!

Yes will cover all bases @neamchimpsky as it's all very odd! Maybe they are 2 separate issues, who knows. I've been hoovering like mad and washing all the bedding crazily for months as a precaution...I have a few things to go on now, so will tackle and see if it improves/I can get answers from the doc. I just hope I can sort out the scars over time. They're really knocking my confidence as well now.

That sounds really disconcerting, I hope you can get answers soon.

Thank you

@Valhalla17 hey how are you getting on?

I'm not sure about the rash OP. Perhaps show a photo to the doctor. The fact you felt a sharp sting and then they were visible is more indicative of a bite than a rash.

I have coeliac disease, pernicious anaemia and have NHS b12 injections every few months, and take a liquid iron and folic acid (though may have iron infusions in the future if needed). I've not ever had a rash as you describe but am very slow to heal if I get a bite or cut etc (just personal experience)

Not everyone can absorb b12 via the digestive system so I would be chasing with the GP for further support, both to control the heavy periods and also to understand why things are not improving. If it's the case that the numbers are going up but you're not taking the tablets consistently then perhaps try a daily pill divider or setting alarms, trying liquid iron and folate etc.

Re: coeliac disease the only answer to that is cutting our gluten anyway. If you do cut it out as a trial make sure to consume it again prior to any coeliac testing or the tests generally don't work.