Went in for a biopsy yesterday

poseidon · #1 01-07-2003, 10:54 AM

Dunno if anyone much remembers, but about a month before the wedding I had a nasty outbreak of what I thought were hives. I posted it in a thread called "Eeep! Hives."

My first doctor thought it was foliculitus, and prescribed medication as such. The problem is that the way foliculitis is spread is almost uniquely through use of a hottub, and it has been years since I've even dipped my foot in one.

After we got married, I dropped my insurance and got onto my wife's plan, which allowed me to be a patient in her clinic. About a week later, the "hives" popped up again. I went in, and my doctor said she was stumped. She took a bacteriological sample and it grew nothing. She then got me into a great dermatologist.

The derm thought perhaps I was one of the few people who have developed an allergic reaction to the natural fungus that is on everyone (kinda like how everyone has staph on them). She took a culture and sent it off and it grew nothing.

It went away for about two weeks and then it cropped up again. My doctor gave me a steroid routine and the "hives" went away in 24-hours. Doc said that this definitely ruled out the bacteria route.

Sunday night, they returned.

Yesterday Michelle got me in and she and my Doc convinced me to do a biopsy on it. So, I've got a few stitches in my side right now and sheer terror in my mind.

The last time I had a biopsy, they discovered skin cancer. Two surgeries later (the latter consisting of almost 10 hours of surgery) I've been cancer-free since 1993.

I guess I'll find out the results in about a week.

Sigh.

millinocket · #2 01-07-2003, 11:02 AM

Oh, my. Good luck. I hope the biopsy shows nothing, and that they figure out the cause soon!!

Wishing you well....

Sue

**theworm**[$] · #3 01-07-2003, 11:10 AM

Sorry to hear this Jeff! Try not to worry! You had a very bad experience in the past with melanoma, so you are allowing yourself to jump to the worst conclusions. What you described doesn't sound like melanoma or any of the lesser skin cancers. I, of course, have no medical training. I think it's great that they are doing a biopsy to try to rule things out and figure out what the heck these hives are, but don't make yourself crazy - it could be a week before you have results. Whatever the results are - it sounds like you have a great Doctor and a wonderful support system in Michelle.
Good luck, and let us know how you are doing!

poseidon · #4 01-07-2003, 11:17 AM

Thanks... but to make it clear it wasn't melanoma... it was basil-cell cancer. It had just spread rampant through my nose (about 45% of my nose had to be rebuilt through skin grafts).

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #5 01-07-2003, 11:25 AM

((Jeff))

Been there recently. Waiting for results sucks the high hard one. Try to remind yourself that this waiting time is out of your immediate control and that you can't come to any conclusions until the results are in. Don't freak out about what "might be" and wait to see what "is."

mj

frazzledspice · #6 01-07-2003, 11:54 AM

I'll be thinking of you.

I had a biopsy last week, too

I'm not that concerned about it (is that foolish?)

I had a little postmenopausal bleeding, but my pap smear was normal.

They decided to do an endometrial biopsy. The doctor thinks that most likely I just need a D&C.

The only aggravating thing is that our medical insurance changed January 1, and we all have to start out with completely new doctors.

I had the biopsy December 30, and if immediate action is necessary, I will have to find a new doctor affiliated with the new hospital (my doctor has a very good friend with the other medical plan who went to medical school with her, so I will probably go to her friend.)

Anyway, you pray for me and I'll pray for you.

**theworm**[$] · #7 01-07-2003, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by poseidon
Thanks... but to make it clear it wasn't melanoma... it was basil-cell cancer. It had just spread rampant through my nose (about 45% of my nose had to be rebuilt through skin grafts).

Sorry - I thought you wrote something earlier about melanoma - your basil-cell sounds like an even worse experience. I'm sorry that you had to go through that!
Just remember - that was then - this is now. It's so easy to lump things together, but this sounds like two very different problems. Try to relax and not drive yourself crazy!
The biopsy can come back and show nothing - if it does show something, at least you'll know what you're dealing with and be able to develop an action plan!
Sending out hopeful thoughts to you for good biopsy results!

**drmomentum**[$] · #8 01-07-2003, 12:25 PM

I've had a rash like that before. In fact, the itchiness (if not the rash itself) comes and goes. Luckily, it's more gone than here.

The allergy to naturally occuring fungus (or some naturally occuring hting, like a virus perhaps) does not sound unreasonable. The steroid will only control the reaction while you're on the steroid.

I hope it's nothing serious, and from your description I really doubt there are any more serious implications than itchiness. Of course, that in itself is annoting as hell. My own itchiness prompted me to shower in almost scalding water this morning which has afforded me a few hours of relief.

Best of luck to you, and keep us informed.

-JP

**theworm**[$] · #9 01-07-2003, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by frazzledspice
I'll be thinking of you.

I had a biopsy last week, too

I'm not that concerned about it (is that foolish?)

I had a little postmenopausal bleeding, but my pap smear was normal.

They decided to do an endometrial biopsy. The doctor thinks that most likely I just need a D&C.

The only aggravating thing is that our medical insurance changed January 1, and we all have to start out with completely new doctors.

I had the biopsy December 30, and if immediate action is necessary, I will have to find a new doctor affiliated with the new hospital (my doctor has a very good friend with the other medical plan who went to medical school with her, so I will probably go to her friend.)

Anyway, you pray for me and I'll pray for you.

Hey Fraz - didn't see this in the cross-post. Good wishes going out to you too!

poseidon · #10 01-07-2003, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drmomentum
I hope it's nothing serious, and from your description I really doubt there are any more serious implications than itchiness. Of course, that in itself is annoting as hell.

The hives aren't exactly attractive and looks like I've got some sort of serious ailment. When you deal with the public all day, and much of it involving shaking hands, etc., it's hard to convince others Don't worry it isn't contagious.

While in the winter-time it's easy to wear clothes to hide the hives, in the summer I'm going to be hard-pressed to wear long-sleeves when I'm on 160-degree roofs.

**drmomentum**[$] · #11 01-07-2003, 01:52 PM

If it interferes with your work, that would seem to be a good enough reason to resort to more steroid therapy.

Good luck with it.

-JP

poseidon · #12 01-07-2003, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drmomentum
If it interferes with your work, that would seem to be a good enough reason to resort to more steroid therapy.

Maybe/maybe. Being on steroids for long periods of time isn't good for you. If I have to do steroid therapy on a regular basis, I'm not going to be happy with that solution.

I'm more interested in finding out just what it is exactly that I have -- whether it be an allergic reaction or otherwise, and I'm just hoping and praying that there's some simple treatment that won't have adverse side-effects.

I don't mind the pill-a-day-forever routine. I just don't want it to be steroids.

**lynnzop**[$] · #13 01-07-2003, 02:18 PM

Jeff, Fraz, I hope your test results come back soon and can put your minds at rest!

Jeff, just out of curiousity (because I have NO idea...) would a cancer-type hive come and go like yours have?

Regardless, I'll be thinking positive thoughts for both of you.

Lynn

**amykhar** · #14 01-07-2003, 02:25 PM

Sending good vibes your way. My son used to break out in weird rashes and hives all the time when he was younger but he finally grew out of it. Seems that just about any virus he got made his skin break out.

Amy

poseidon · #15 01-07-2003, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lynnzop
Jeff, just out of curiousity (because I have NO idea...) would a cancer-type hive come and go like yours have?

Both the doctor and my nurse (Michelle) are both saying that they don't think it is cancer, as cancer wouldn't normally act this way (and especially shouldn't be put into remission by simple steroid treatment).

**drmomentum**[$] · #16 01-07-2003, 03:11 PM

I know quite a bit about steroids, as I administer them daily and get to watch the effects of a high dose over a long period of time as well as what an extreme dose does over a short period of time.

However, I assume you'd be facing a shor course on a fairly low dose. You'd have to repeat it now and again.

BTW - many people now are prescribed non-systemic steroids and take them for minor conditions regularly over a long period of time Nasacort, for example. There might be a steroid cream they could prescribe for you to apply after you come off another short oral dose. A good doctor will probably let you explore the possibilities if you ar euncomfortable with the treatment he first suggests.

My comments are only in reference to it affecting your job. If it were just an annoyance, obviously it's less of an issue.

-JP

Quote:

Originally posted by poseidon

Maybe/maybe. Being on steroids for long periods of time isn't good for you. If I have to do steroid therapy on a regular basis, I'm not going to be happy with that solution.

I'm more interested in finding out just what it is exactly that I have -- whether it be an allergic reaction or otherwise, and I'm just hoping and praying that there's some simple treatment that won't have adverse side-effects.

I don't mind the pill-a-day-forever routine. I just don't want it to be steroids.

**jgibson2**[$] · #17 01-08-2003, 04:09 PM

Jeff,
A skin biopsy is an excellent idea -- because there are many conditions other than cancer diagnosed only by biopsy. The fact that the steroid puts you into temporary remission of this condition doesn't sound like cancer. I hope the biopsy gives some conclusive answer (not cancer, of course) so your doctor knows what to do next.

*emeleel* · #18 01-08-2003, 04:41 PM

Good luck to both of you, Jeff and MaryAnne, and I hope the waiting doesn't drive you too crazy!

I agree with the others, it sure doesn't sound like any cancer I've ever heard of - just try to forget the association you're having with years past. (Yeah, right, I know, hard to do!)

Sean had a really weird rash last week - it started with nothing but an itchon one foot, then an hour later, a patch of what looked like bug bites in just one placeon that same foot (little, tiny white whelps) then a few hours later, he had huge red/purple patches all over his feet, and spots and patches around his ankles and up one leg. It was only on his lower body. The red stuff didn't itch, but it looked horrible. The skin didn't change texture as you would expect with a rash (not bumpy, dry or anything). The Dr. gave him a 4 day steroid dose and some Lotrisone cream. About a day and a half after starting the meds, it looked more like bruises than a rash. Oh, and the first night he had it, his feet hurt so bad he literally couldn't walk, but the next morning, he was fine! It was very, very weird.

I'll keep y'all in prayers! Hope you find some answers real soon.

kidnykid · #19 01-08-2003, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by theworm
Sorry to hear this Jeff! Try not to worry! You had a very bad experience in the past with melanoma, so you are allowing yourself to jump to the worst conclusions. What you described doesn't sound like melanoma or any of the lesser skin cancers. I, of course, have no medical training. I think it's great that they are doing a biopsy to try to rule things out and figure out what the heck these hives are, but don't make yourself crazy - it could be a week before you have results. Whatever the results are - it sounds like you have a great Doctor and a wonderful support system in Michelle.
Good luck, and let us know how you are doing!

Like Worm, I am neither a physician nor an actor playing one on TV LOL. But this doesn't sound like cancer to me, either.

I hope the biopsy turns out OK.

Robin Peters

poseidon · #20 01-10-2003, 11:43 AM

Well, the results are in...

I'm having an allergic reaction to something. The results say its something that I've come in contact with or an allergic reaction to medication.

The only medication that I've been on since this has started on a regular basis (since these crop up regularly) is my -- get this -- allergy medication (Zyrtec and Allegra, depending on when I've used it -- the only reason I started with Zyrtec in the first place was that I was on Allegra when these cropped up, and they felt the Zyrtec would work better for allergic reactions with me).

So, the next step is to see an allergist... another traumatic (for me) situation.

One of the reasons I despise doctors (not the people, just the profession) is that for my first thirteen years of life, I had to go to the doctor three times a week for allergy shots. Around thirteen, I outgrew most of my allergies.

My tremendous fear of needles stemmed from the allergy shots. You'd think that it would get easier with each injection, but the opposite happened -- each one would solidify my fear even greater.

Sigh.

**drmomentum**[$] · #21 01-10-2003, 11:57 AM

You might be able to figure out what is causing the problem, because these kinds of allergies can pop up when there are changes in your life/lifestyle. You're possibly exposed to new chemicals when somehting in your life changes. Of course, you can also suddenly have a reaction to somehting you've been exposed to over a long period of time, but it doesn't hurt to examine the new chemicals in your life.

I got a bad case of hives when I was a kid after Easter, from eating cheap chocolate bunnies.

I know someone who started to get hives when he got to an age he was interested in girls. The culprit? The cologne he began to wear. My own grandmother was so sensitive to cologne that she would have a reaction when exposed to my grandfather's cologne.

There are a lot of chemicals out there to be sensitive to.

-JP

**theworm**[$] · #22 01-10-2003, 12:00 PM

JP's right! Your hives sound pretty bad, but this sort of allergic reaction is fairly common. I had one once. It was very itchy and uncomfortable. The dermatologist prescribed a cream (that smelled horrible and was drying and uncomfortable but helped) and also suggested that I buy Cetaphil soap - which you should be able to get in the supermarket. The soap costs more, but I liked it. Maybe it will help you too!
Glad its nothing more serious, and hope you find out what you are allergic to soon!
Any changes in laundry detergents?