Pissed off from doctor's appointment

[snuffleupagus]

Just saw a new dermatologist today and man am i pissed. After telling her my concerns with my burning/flushing, she just said nothing can be done just avoid my triggers! WTF. I told her i already do that - don't eat spicy, dress accordingly, cover face in cold, etc. Apparently avoidance of triggers makes us not flush...hah. I hate reading everywhere online "avoid triggers." I told her, what am i supposed to do, i walk into a mall and its warm inside, i cant control it, and i burn like hell. So she told me to go on tetracycline.. Nice solution. I told her i already went on doxy for 3 - 4 months and that it didnt help anything. Also that whats the point if i go off them and symptoms return; i cant be on antibiotics for my whole life!
So basically she said go to therapy lol. I told her my anxiety is a result of my rosacea, not the other way around. That i am just pissed off (and rightly so) and that my head feels like its put in an oven when i flush. Apparently im supposed to live with feeling like ive been put on fire.... nice.

She also gave me flagyl 10% cream. I don't know should i try it? Isn't metrocream 2%? So this is 10%?! Anyone tried it?

[solutionquest]

Sorry man, I hate that you had to go through that. I know how frustrating that whole process is... and when they don't offer up any new information and seem distant..

I wouldn't use the cream. That is me though.

Good luck.

[Brady Barrows]

snuffleupagus,

Have you tried aspirin for flushing?

If you haven't it may be worth a try.

Or you might try RED CLOVER for flushing.

Here is an excellent article on flushing.

Pascoe explores the different problems that may be causing flushing. The list of possible reasons other than rosacea is extensive.

The flushing patient: differential diagnosis, workup, and treatment.
Izikson L, English JC 3rd, Zirwas MJ. Another source

Anti-flushing meds

Hope this helps you.

[snuffleupagus]

HI Brady,

Yes tried aspirin - made it worse.

Also tried all the meds - clonidine, propranolol, mepacrine - nada! Not willing to go on antidepressants like remeron.

ill have to read those long articles later, thanks!!!

[WrinkledClue]

Aspirin makes me flush and burn like crazy. I've tried it repeatedly and narrowed it down. There's no doubt. It's annoying as hell.

[Alba]

Sorry to hear what you are going through, I feel the same but actually worse than you if you can imagine that. About a month ago i woke up with severe swelling in my fingers on both hands. My primary ordered an ANA blood test and many others. The ANA came out positive which is not good. Was sent to see a rheumatologist, saw him yesterday. Not such good news, 1st he explained the results my primary got gotten, ANA result for lupus came out positive and also God forbid ANA positive for scleroderma. Yet he said it doesnt mean I have either of this? what the heck that does mean if the tests are positive! he said that it meant he had to keep a close eye on me :-( did more in depth test I pray they all come out negative. my only symptom is the swelling on my fingers taht only happen at night and in the morning i wake up with bumps on my fingers. he said he has no idea why this happens? mind you he is suppose to be the best. BAd enough i cnat sleep at night cuse of my face on fire if the fan i sleep with aiming at my face is not aiming correctly at my face cuase i move my face wakes me up feeling on fire! Now God forbid what else can me wrong? I have to wait for the results 7 days oh and he said if he calls me means something came out bad so even makes me panick more!

So my point is i know you are in such pain and jsut so fed up i know well we all know how you feel but i thought that feeling was horrible but now with this going on something else worse Godforbid could be with me well the roseace just doesnt feel so bad even thought liek you i cant be in warm places my face flares up in my office its been warm so my face is constantly burning yet this is nothing compare to Godforbid the scleroderma or somethng worse. So hold on to that thought that at least you are only having to deal with the rosacea.

when i have such burning pain at times i take 3 motrim or 2 tylenols the capsules and the tylenol seems to help have you tried the tylenol for some relief? I also use ice pack gels at home wrapped in a pillow case all over the house to stop the burning and flushing have you tried that ice pak gels? I have about 10 in my freezer. I know they say rebound flushing but thats the only way to relief my burning. Also on special occasions or when im jsut feeling so horrible i take a xanax and it helps to calm me down along with the motrim i did this yesterday i had to go to dinner for my nephew's birthday and it calmed me down and helped calm down the burning somewhat.

im to the point that i want to try again the clonodine and start the remeron i am desperate! the rheumatologist said i could try them he didnt see a problem with me tkaing them. I didnt want to start the remoron afraid of the weight gain but i will just have to sew my mouth shut told my husband and duaghter that they both will have to beat me to death if i get so bad and just dont allow me to eat up the house! Ofcourse now with now knowing what is going on im afraid to take the remeron get side effects and not know if its the remeron or whatever else is going on with me. I am going to wait till after i get the results next week and with God's help all is negative and i will start the remeron i just cant take the burning and flushing anymore.

All please have me in your prayers that all the blood work comes out negative.

Good luck snuffleupagus, I pray you find some relief real soon. Maybe you should try the remeron i know how you feel and i feel the same but imagine if it does help how wonderful that would be to have our lives back to some kind of normality. Im so afraid of loosing my marriage to this damn desease just how much more can my husband stand... every where i go i have to worry how hot will it be will i be able to stand it!

Alba

[Mistica]

Hi Alba,

Sorry to hear of your recent tribulations.

Sorry to hijack this thread. ( Well in a way, but still related).

Have you considered consulting Dr M Powell in Sacramento?
He is a rheumatologist who believes in the infectious causes of many diseases including autoimmune ( which makes him another Cpn doctor).
He has had considerable success with patients.
I would fly to see him if it were feasible, which it isn't, alas.

One of our friends is currently looking into flying over though. (From Australia).

If you are early on in your disease Alba, you might be able to halt the progression at least, although I would hope for more than that. And you might be able to significantly reduce the rosacea at the same time.

Snufflepagus:

Could you manage a trip as well?
Something to consider. Expensive, I imagine, but then again, how much money do we waste on useless derms who can offer us so little?

[Melissa W]

Dear Alba,
I'm so sorry about all of this...I am praying it turns out to be nothing.
I am going to email you now...so sorry I didn't get a chance to respond to your email from the other day...

Missy

[Melissa W]

Snuffle,
That was insensitive of the doctor.
I am sorry she wasn't very helpful or more sensitive.
I don't think metrocream will do much for the burning sensation unfortunately.
Alba had some good suggestions regarding the oral meds that you might want to consider with the help of an informed doctor. Many people here have found relief with Remeron and Clonidine for flushing and burning.

Best wishes,
Melissa

[Auburn]

Dear Alba,

I'm sending you a huge hug and keeping fingers and toes crossed for you. You really need a break, sweetheart, you really do.