Hand infected (Warning, gross photos)

[PIPpityDoodah]

I do have another thread on this but I've been on antibiotics since Thursday and it's just getting worse.

It's still hot and new puss filled blisters are appearing.

Shouldn't the antibiotics have kicked in by now?

It's so sore and embarrassing

That looks like pompholyx that’s clearing, to me. You have clear areas now. It does move about a bit. Give it a bit longer doing the right things. It won’t disappear, it will just get more manageable.

Then eventually disappear. But not this week with this cream. You are getting under control at this stage, not getting rid of it.

No advice OP - just hoping this morning things are even better! Interested to hear what the swab outcome is too if you care to share at some point when you know. I feel like this could potentially be one of those threads that, years later, when something similar happens to someone I know, I think ‘I remember something like this…’ xxx

OP I have pustular psoriasis and that looks a lot like it.

https://www.papaa.org/learn-about-psoriasis-and-psoriatic-arthritis/psoriatic-disease-unlocked/pustular-psoriasis/

But get a Dr's appointment.

I had this really badly about six months ago. Came on after using a new bathroom spray without gloves. Can’t remember the name of the cream that eventually dealt with it, but it was a strong one that I was only allowed one tube of.

You are absolutely not supposed to do this, but boiling a needle and popping all the blisters provided the most relief. My hand is completely fine now; no scarring.

I get this too, you have my utmost sympathy.

I lve had a ffewsince 2021, they just keep saying 'review in 3.months'

My sister has terrible psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis I think

Yes the head GP at our practice.

I think they are working as its much drier and not hot to the touch anymore

Is it that easy? I assu.e even I'd I am granted a referral wait times will be crazy

I'm not cleaning 'so much' but I have 4 kids and have to wipe down the kitchen daily and bathroom every few days. I'm not doing anything serious just the basics.

That’s good they’re keeping an eye on it. High TSH, normal T4 means you’re at risk of developing underactive thyroid in the future - possibly many years away or might not even happen at all.

https://www.myskindoctor.co.uk/ you can send photos to this service for their opinion. They take both private and NHS patients.

I can't do it without a referral from my Dr and I won't get a phone appointment now

You can do it as a private patient, I used it and it cost me about £25 I seem to recall

yes, it’s available as a private patient. Give them a ring if it’s not working.

Oh that's reasonable, so that's just for them to look at photos and say what they think the issue is?

Just filled it all and and got to the end. I can't afford that :(

Boots and superdrug also offer the service, although apparently it's not necessarily by a dermatologist. Boots is £25 and Superdrug is 'from £20'.

https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/skin-conditions/diagnosis?utm_source=Boots&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Boots_asset_skinhealthhub_diagnosis

https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/skin-condition-diagnosis.html

But I've already had 2 doctors look at it. One via photos with 111 and the other is the Partner of the practice.

When I first was only able to get phone consults with photos I was told I needed to be seen in person. I've done that now and a swab was taken.

What good is sending photos again?

It's reasonable to ask your GP for a dermatological referral. Yes it may take time but they may have more information, and different meds to recommend if you get another flare up.

I think that unless there is a radical change (spreading rapidly or signs of infection or if you develop pain) then waiting for the results of the swab is probably the best course of action right now. By all means be a pain in your surgery’s arse chasing the results but that’s likely to give the best indication of what you’re dealing with and what needs to be done. Sorry to say but this looks like a long hauler and I would definitely push for a dermatology referral if your swab comes back with anything that isn’t a definite one-off.

re:your thyroid - this is an odd one. My tsh has been creeping up for about a year (it’s sitting around 5/6 last couple of checks) and only been taken seriously now because I’ve had a course of treatment that has known side effects on the thyroid. I’ve been started on a very low dose of levothyroxine and am genuinely gobsmacked by the results. So many symptoms I’d attributed to the reason for my treatment have either improved or disappeared almost immediately. The letter from endocrinology says that they want to keep my TSH between 2-3 but officially the NHS doesn’t really start to act until it gets to 10 I think. Unless other symptoms are exhibited too. Long winded, but my point is that it’s worth looking into the other symptoms associated with hypothyroidism and seeing if any of that rings true for you. With this episode of frakenhand I think you have a pretty strong case to be investigated further by endocrinology.

Can you ask your GP to do an E consult referral to the hospital? Our surgery does this and it meant my skin cancer was diagnosed within 48 hrs and no need to wait. They take photos and send it in then the dermatologist at the hospital emails back.

It's spreading therefore I'd go to GP again or urgent care. Don't let any cleaning products anywhere near it.

I'm definitely affected by all these, and not heavy but painful periods.

I'm going to go tomorrow and ask to be put on levo and get them to look at my hand again.