Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group For those who want to keep updated...

Hi Everyone,
I can't see a dermatologist until Mid September... that's how booked up they are. An appointment hasn't been set (yet), because Brenda is working the phones with my rheumy's office to find out whether or not I *must* see the dermatologist before seeing the rheumy again in about 3 more weeks. Once we know what's what, we'll make the appointment for September.

In case anyone doesn't know already, I recently had an allergic reaction to Enbrel which involved getting a bunch of blisters on my skin and some breathing complications to. The reason my rheumy wants me to see a dermatologist is because of the blisters, and to find out if I have any skin conditions that we should know about. They 'were' completely gone, but I suppose since yesterday, the help from the benadryl and steroid pack has worn off already. So now I have a few new ones, but this isn't as serious of an outbreak as before though.

My stomach didn't agree with the steroid taper after the third day, so I stopped them abruptly. It probably wasn't the wisest thing for me to do because stopping suddenly them made me really sick for a while. They did great against the reactions though.

Just in... we found another dermatologist, although much farther away, but we need another referral. Brenda had to leave to pick up her paycheck though, and I have an apartment inspection any minute now, so I have to postpone these calls until later...

All taken care of now, I have an appointment with the other dermatologist on Aug 17th (they called me back). I passed annual apartment inspection again too. The 9v battery was dead in my smoke detector though, but luckily I had a spare to put in while they were here. We're getting a paint job done soon too.

Well... there it is, my update to the Enbrel reaction.
Take care,
James

Good update! I'm so glad you are able to see a dermatologist sooner. That reaction is concerning.

glad you sorted out your rash for the most part. i dont understand why theyd make you wait at all to have the blisters and other skin issues looked at. they cant take a sample or look at something that isnt there! chances are those blisters will be gone by the time you have your appt. i dont get it sometimes. good luck. hope you get some answers!

This sounds like pretty good news.

Hi Micki, and Sunnypower
Actually, being that I was feeling under the weather, I put off making the appointment with the dermatologist until the last couple of days. But yeah, I know what you mean, they should allow for urgent like appointments too.
Take care,
James

is this your first appointment with this dermatologist? i know around here, new patient appointments take quite awhile to get, but then once you're an established patient, then there is less waiting and you can even get in for emergency appointments. when i was getting my weird leg rash that came and went every week or two and peaked for a day or two, he told me "just come in" so they could do a quick biopsy while it was there. but that was only once i was established. so even though i haven't needed his services for quite some time, going on 3 years now? i make sure i'm considered one of their patients so i can pop in when something pops up! so if its your first appointment, maybe just make sure you're an established patient after that. and if you're an established patient already, could you ask for an emergency appointment, explain the situation? maybe you already tried?

Hi Sue,
Yes, this is my first appointment with a dermatologist, and I have never seen one before. I have heard from other people, and by some personal experience of my own, that around here it not easy being a new patient too. There were a couple of times where I have been told they were "not accepting new patients at this time" over the years. I can't complain now though, because I did stop the phone calls for about a week until I felt better. A few blisters did eventually come back though, so maybe I did a good thing by waiting a week.
Take care,
James

Hi Erica,
Yes it is a pretty good update, and it got even better at the end. As I was finishing my post, Brenda was telling me she had too leave and I saw the owner of our apartment complex heading in our direction so I thought I was going to have to put things off a little bit again. Luckily the doctor's office called me back right away with an appointment.
Take care,
James

sounds just like around here (regarding new patient appointments) and you just have no choice but to wait it out if it ain't life threatening, but once you're in, you're in.

one thing i did one time was take a photo of my rash which has been somewhat helpful with doctors as time goes on (a picture's worth a thousand words), so maybe you could take some good photos, take them with you to the appointment. just an idea, but if i ever have another rash, that's what i will do again, even if i can get right in to see the dermatologist, then i can show them to any doctor in the future. too bad we can't take similar photos of our insides with our own cameras

good luck with the appointment!

That is an excellent idea, Sue. I'm working on it now. Thanks.
Take care,
James

Okay, here we go. I uploaded a few images of my hands. In the morning I'll go outside and take pictures of my hands because my camera doesn't do to well indoors (the indoor pictures are always dark and gloomy with this camera) Anyways, my hands were covered in blisters at one time, and right now it is just a few.
http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/3637552/1/Enbrel%20Blisters?h=c89cf4
Warning to dialup users: These are large unedited images: sorry in advance.