skin sores

[melpar]

My mother has had skin sores for 2 years.  The doctors can not find anything to make them go away.  The only thing that helps her is Prednazone (sp?).  This is not a cure, she can no longer take the Prednazone.  The sores are all over her body except her face.  They look similar to a cold sore, they leak all of the time & they are very painful & itchy.  The test have ruled out herpes and almost every other skin disease.  She is at a loss, with no medical insurance she can not afford to keep going to the doctors without any results.  If anyone has had this or knows what it may be please let us know.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I'm afraid I can't say much from your description.  Here is a guess: when your mother gets the sores, does she itch or pick at them?  If she does, they won't go away unless she stops.  Beyond that, I can't recommend anything except for another opinion.  If she goes for one, make sure all previous records get to the new doctor first, so the same tests won't have to be repeated.

Sorry I can't say more than that.

Dr. Rockoff

[ArmourGal]

I had severe skin disorder like that because of hypothyroidism.  Skin disorder can happen in hypo even before labs go out of range.

Have her get full thyroid function tests:
Thyroid Antibodies
TSH
Free T4
Free T3

esp. if she has other hypo symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, menstrual problems, etc.