What is this rash? Pic

[gertrudemortimer]

For the love of god I turned 30 last week and my body is broken. Incase any of this is relevant I'll put down each ailment if someone has a magic pill I can take to fix it all.

Beginning with December, dodgy long heavy periods, pain during sex, gynae said I had a bulky uterus, stomach hard and uncomfortable, very bad smell from inside vagina mainly during periods and after but still a smell every day that is 'off'. Sti tests negative had ultrasound scan last week, still waiting to find out what is what with that.

Last week, small rash started on bum thought I'd scratched it somehow, gradually the rash has spread to both bum cheeks and my thighs. Feels like little raised pin pricks at first but then they get bigger and join up. Sore and itchy at the same time, none have popped or had anything come out. Never had a rash like it.

Few days after the rash I notice I have very strong smelling urine did a urine dip that I had at home it was positive for nitrites and protein but not leukocytes. Gp questionnaire to get AB's was rejected because my only symptoms is the smell and the amount of urine is quite a lot more than usual but no pain or burning etc. HELP. I'm taking in urine samples tomorrow (how small are the tubes now!?) but just so curious about this rash too if anyones had anything similar

Best to speak to your GP about that if it continues. It could be the hives thing but it also sounds like what I have which is POTS (positional orthostatic tachycardia). Mine is linked to autoimmune dysautonomia but it's also linked to other conditions and even long Covid. The aural/visual disturbances, fainting, sweating and headache fit. It's not a heart condition but causes elevated HR due to blood pooling in the legs & heart pumping to rectify it. Did it happen after you stood up after lying or sitting op? Have you got a pulse oximeter to check your HR after sit/standing?

OP, is someone poisoning you? Your symptoms are ever so much like the symptoms of the man that gets murdered in Purple Hibiscus.

*I'm sure this isn't actually the case.

Me again! I finally have a gastro appointment it's at the end of October.

I'm still getting the petechiae and I've just noticed the biggest cluster so far on my breast. Shall I go back to the gp? It's been a long time since I've spoken to anyone.

I have 3 lymphnodes on my collar bone two on right and one on left all like little peas easily moved and don't hurt I've had one of them for a good few weeks, groin ones from July are still there like peas too.

Chest and back rashes coming and going I'll attach photos of what my chest gets like. I googled the collarbone lymphnodes ... i don't want to be dramatic but equally don't want to be blasé so I'm hoping one of you can give me a nudge in the right direction.

I think I would. It's hard isn't it? There's obviously something going on underneath it all, but you wouldn't want to miss anything while waiting for gastro.

Has everything except gastro been ruled out/investigated? Is there anything else you could be looking into with the GP while you wait? That's what I'd be asking, I think.

Though how on earth you can keep track of everything I don't know!

Sorry to hear you're still poorly. With all these weird collections of symptoms it could be pointing towards an autoimmune problem. I know you've had numerous blood tests done, but have you had any bloodtests done specifically for rheumatoid/connective tissue diseases just to rule these in/out?

OP have you had an STI check? You say your symptoms started with pelvic discomfort. The rash is very odd and now swollen lymph nodes. Sounds like you still don't have a diagnosis and I wonder if anyone of the HCP's you've seen have actually asked about potential STI. Sorry to say it but I would be thinking specifically of syphillis.

Ok!! Calm down, OP. None of the other possibilities have been right, so don't assume ^^ that one is either!

@picklemewalnuts yes it is difficult to know what to do in the in between time. I think I will try and make it to the gastro appt without bothering the gp, if I did go back I'd request a FBC and ask about the blood smear again that the derm mentioned. I do have a check up with derm on the 4th so I will tell him I still have the lymph nodes and petechiae maybe he will get the bloods done. Gastro is the 17th October so not long to go.

@doubletwixer I have been checked for a few sti's and HIV, I haven't had any sores or rashes on my genitals at all. I don't think I've had any sores anywhere to be honest it's primarily been rashes, bowel problems, joint & muscle aches.

@CherryRipe1 I don't think I have had anyone look for them specifically but I might be wrong. I'm hoping gastro can access my file despite it been in a different trust.

Can you access them via the NHS/patient knows best app? If you haven't had rheumy/immunology checks you need ana and ena panels, Rheumatoid factor, anti dsdna, anti ccp, anti Ro and La, immunofluorescence staining, ESR, CRP. Immunoglobulins. Check if these have been done. There are other tests for other things also.

How are you getting on @gertrudemortimer ?
Any more progress in finding. Out what is going on with you?

Hi @Cupofteaonesugar thank you for checking in. I'm not bad at the moment! The lingering things are the petechiae clusters, fatigue and lymph nodes. I had another appt with dermatology he did more bloods and I have a chest X-ray next week to check for enlarged lymph nodes. I'm not convinced anything will come of it but it's good the dermatology isn't leaving me to wait for the gastro appt.

Did you ever get to the bottom of thsi OP?
I hope you don't mind me asking ☺️

I was thinking about the OP the other day,thanks for bumping this. How's things now?

Yes, I remember this thread. How are you now @gertrudemortimer?

Hey! Unfortunately no answers at all. Luckily the bowel problems and severe rashes stopped at the end of the summer and haven't returned.

I had the endoscopy at the beginning of January and they took 4 biopsies. I received a letter for a phone appt with the gastro doctor at the end of March. I'm tempted to ring and ask but I doubt they'll tell me anything? I'm guessing it's inconclusive if they're leaving me waiting that long and my bowel problems went (thank god!)

Rash wise the small clusters of petechiae still happen, and I get red blotches over my face, neck, chest and back regularly, especially after showering or washing but it also appears throughout the day, it lasts an hour or so and goes.
I spent a weekend in Madrid last week. It was cold but bright sunshine, I developed a rash on my face and it felt so tingly and uncomfortable for the entire time and that's really made me think I have some form of sun sensitivity. It stopped the day I got back! It's so frustrating not to have an answer for last summer but I'm very happy none of those rashes have reappeared.

Hi @gertrudemortimer is your skin still settled? My LO has a rash that looks exactly like yours did but it is completely baffling the doctors we have seen so far. Did you ever find out what the cause was? She’s even having the rash across the chest now like you had. So uncomfortable for her.

Hii @Hibbutyhop I'm sorry to hear your ds is going through skin problems. I had biopsies, blood tests and an endoscopy and nothing showed anything definite. Has your DS had any tests done? Are they under dermatology? I was very lucky that my dermatologist investigated within days every test he could think of. I can imagine now the waiting lists are months long unless it's seen as life threatening.

Do you have any photos of the rash?

Since the suns been shining again I've had further skin problems on my hands and face (the only parts in the sun when I'm gardening) so I believe I've got a sensitivity to the sun, even if it isn't warm! I don't think it was the cause of the first rash but the first rash has kick started an overreaction if that makes sense. Are your DS's skin problems in areas that are exposed to the sun?

@gertrudemortimer ahh OP! I was quite invested in your thread last year so I'm pleased to hear your update 🙈 I'm glad that it's nothing to worry about but also how annoying to not know for definite.
It's crazy isn't it what our bodies do and how they work... also I guess the science isn't always there to know exactly what the problem is!

Maybe try some antihistamines to see if that helps if it worsens!

@Hibbutyhop I hope your daughters skin settles soon! ♥️

@gertrudemortimer Thank you for the update. It’s reassuring to hear that you’ve had thorough tests and nothing has come up (though I can imagine it’s also really frustrating to not have an answer!)

This was my LOs cheek a while back. It has settled a lot now but we don’t know what has caused it and I find it really worrying. It started after some cold weather (and possibly triggered by a cream I applied). She has seen a dermatologist who thought it might be psoriasis but it wasn’t as ‘active’ by her appointment so he was going by the photos. It’s not scaly or even particularly dry so the psoriasis diagnosis surprised me. She’s about to have a blood test to check for autoimmune conditions. She’s also currently itchy which seems more of an allergy type response.

Forgot to add the photo!

I know it’s been mentioned, but have you been tested for lupus? It’s not part of a normal blood panel. Sun exposure making it worse is indicative.

Agreed - also worth considering Dermatomyositis which is worsened by the sun. My neck and chest looked very similar to yours OP and first appeared one summer whilst sitting out in the garden. I also have negative ana.

@gertrudemortimer how are u now ? X

Hi thanks for everyone checking in! The rashes started again as soon as it got sunny. I'm on antihistamines and factor 50 sunblock to try and keep them at bay. I've got a dermatology appt at the end of June and I had another blood test and stool sample done by the gp after a week of right abdo pain. It's like I get sun poisoning every time I'm in the sun, I burn and peel feel sick! My bowels go completely out of whack. At least I know what it is this time.

@Hibbutyhop how is your LO doing? Did you get to the bottom of it?