What the hell is wrong with me?

[isshoes]

Sorry but I’m posting here for traffic as am desperate.

I have had a poor immune system for about 10 years. Specifically, I am very prone to skin issues. If I get a cold virus, I develop chicken pox type spots and horrid mouth ulcers, plus an exciting array of other conditions (in the past these have included conjunctivitis and molluscum contagiosum).

I’ve been to the doctors about it numerous times. They’ve tested me for everything under the sun and I have none of the usual conditions that would cause immunity problems. I was also tested for chicken pox immunity in pregnancy, which I have, and paid privately to have a blood test to rule out herpes simplex.

Today I have possibly my worst ever outbreak. I have the sorest throat I can remember - swallowing is agony. I’ve tried paracetamol, codeine, ibuprofen, naproxen (not all at once) and salt water rinses, and nothing has helped. I haven’t slept. I have a blocked up nose and about 5 horrific mouth ulcers, and 6-8 of these blister sores on my face. And for some reason, my hands and feet are hurting, though there is no rash there.

I’m at a complete loss of what to do. I might go to the GP but based on previous experience they’ll swab the sores and find nothing of interest, and tell me it’s a virus. They may test me for diabetes again for the umpteenth time, but none of it will help.

Any ideas or suggestions please?

Oh, in the interests of full disclosure, I have an autoimmune liver condition, but my liver specialist has always said he doesn’t believe it should be impacting on my general immunity, and that my immune profile looks fine.

Not sure whether this would work but it was discovered fairly recently that fasting for a few days regenerates the immune system. I'm sure it was even suggested that it could be beneficial for the elderly and those with weak systems.

HAND FOOT & MOUTH - WELCOME TO HELL.

I have it right now too. Doesn't matter id you have the immune system of a greek god. It will still strike you down. It is RIFE at the moment.

Also OP my son currently has a bad outbreak of it but only 2 lesions on his feet and hands. The rest is on his thighs and bum and bits with a few stray on his arms and two on his lips.

It's a myth HFM can only affect those areas. It's just most commonly likely to.

The inside of his mouth and throat are red raw too.

Just thought I’d provide an update on this situation. I’m now on day six of the virus. Thankfully my throat is feeling a bit better, and the mouth ulcers seems to be healing. However, the skin rash has really blown up. I now have probably 50 sores over my body, and depending on the location they can be very painful. Those on my feet and the backs of my legs in particular, because of the fact that I am usually either walking or sitting down on them! I went to see a nurse practitioner this morning and have been asked to go back and see a GP this afternoon in case I need antibiotics. I need to find a longer term solution to this because the thought of this happening every time I get a cold virus is super depressing. I have included a couple of photos of the sores on my face.

Also here is a very strange one on my hand.

Have you been tested for Ceoliac recently? A negative test in the past doesn’t mean negative now.

There’s a correlation between numerous autoimmune conditions and Ceoliac. The standard test isn’t great and doesn’t pick up a significant portion of people with it because it only tests for some of the antibody types). Even if you test negative it could be worth trying a fully gluten and wheat free diet for a couple of months to see if that make a difference (was life changing for me, pain in thyroid, autoimmune eye condition, skin issues, deep cysts, sores inside nose and mouth, terrible gut pain and more. All resolved). Won’t help everyone but worth a try?

Thank you - I don’t think I have been tested for it, but it can’t hurt to give it a try. I’m pretty sure my diet is going to need a massive overhaul in any case.

Op that's exactly the same as our HFM rash here. You must have caught it again off someone. You can catch it many, many times.

Well I saw the GP. He had checked with a colleague who is has an interest in dermatology, who advised that I be tested for MRSA. They’re pretty sure it’s a bacterial infection.

Reflections - I hope your DS feels much better soon. Whether or not I have it, I know HFM can be utterly miserable.

Is your diet generally good? Some of those symptoms may be caused by deficiencies in some vitamins