Rash everywhere and WEEPING scalp-Oh Dear!!!

[way]

Hello all- so sorry for the gross post.

Broke out in hives,shingles,chicken pox or something about three weeks ago and went crazy itching, and in addition the other RIBA RASH everywhere except lower legs. Missed 4 days work.

I have been to three doctors in the last week and a half. I was just in to GI Friday for my monthly, and blood looks good but enzymes are up.

The PCP refered to a derm on my plan that could take me two days later...And wouldn't ya know it--it was one of those laser center cosmotology geeks. He gave me the standard hand-out about fragrance free everything, no dryer sheets of softener. And wrote me two Rx's (at my sugestion) one for aterax and some cream--desoximetasone 0.25%. He didn't address my scalp issue and I was so brain dead and itching like madd I forgot to do more than just mention it, I guess it wasn't exerbated at the time.

I will get another referal Monday to a better derm. Are they ALL concentrated on the laser surgery and cosmetic enhancement or do some still deal with actual skin problems??

I have been putting a wash cloth on head with scarf over and it's soaking through, and putting a towel on pillow (soaking through) and actually wetting the pillow. So now I'll have to get a vinyl pillow cover, until I can control this.

Using a T-sal shampoo, with salicyclic acid and also nioxen to clean out the excreations which are making hair real stiff and scalp really hurts. Hair coming out big time trying to get this off me.

Using gold bond for skin but burns some areas so have to use different products, milder.

Suggestions

[dyce]

Ha dude, sleep we gotta have. Can't make a horse plow all day without givin it some barn time off. I was too reluctant to use the ambiem but after a hour or 2 of sleep a nite for the 1st 6 weeks of tx the dyce couldn't take it nooo more!!! We're construction and mait. workers , we gotta sleep!

  Do what ya gotta do my friend to get thru, may all the post tx sx's pass, and God bless!!

[GoofyDad]

just hope I'm not the inverse of what youre talking about, big brains and small breasts

I know of a test for that......

[Forseegood]

really good to see you here, hope you post more, I always enjoy your posts... and take whatever to get some sleep!!!

[beamishboy]

and very good on the grill!..i rem ol fred flintstone was fond of rack of ribs-YAAbaa Daba Doo !!!

[Forseegood]

funny, funny stuff...just hope I'm not the inverse of what youre talking about, big brains and small breasts, or big head, small breasts and small brains cause....that sounds like a Brontosaurus, talk about a dumb animal..he he he...

[stangshelly]

i had the rash really bad, still have it but its dealable. i styou can rinse it stopped all caffeine, hydrocortizone cream, do not shower everyday drys skin out,same with hair rinse with cool water then add a little conditoner, wash everyother day and helps with not losing it so much now. i take babyoil baths every couple days and also use babylotion plus aloe all the time. my rash is much better, it was so bad before i was losing my eyebrows! ..benadryl..always..helps  good luck :)

[NYgirl]

Just reread your post and I have to say...I can't imagine how you are dealing with all of that.

[NYgirl]

PLEASE...YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE TO USE A GOOD LOTION AT LEAST TWICE A DAY ON ALL OF YOUR SKIN and it will help get rid of the rash.

The rash is caused by the Ribavirin and that is why we call it RibaRash.  It's one of the worst most annoying things in the world.

The thing that completely and totally stopped it for me was using GOLD BOND TRIPLE THREAT ANTI ITCH MEDICATED lotion (Green Bottle, Red Top).  I had the rash BAD and nothing really got rid of it until I tried that.

Then many of the members in here used it and had the SAME results.

You HAVE to keep your skin completely and totally hydrated at all times and it WILL clear up.

In the meantime avoid blow drying and harsh chemicals on your scalp as well.  Try to really keep your skin/head moisturized and it should go away in a few days.

You should SEE the scars I have from before I found the Gold Bond worked...they are dreadful.

[fishdoc]

went back and found the thread... I can't keep up anymore!!  I'm glad your Dr. was supportive, and you have so many friends here, its not like your walking away from tx, you will still be here, and watching and waiting for better options... take care of yourself, and live well,
your friend,
consuelo dos gatos

[fishdoc]

so far so good, I think I am cursed with the metabolism of an ox, and even though I feel bad, I'm just a whiner...with a HBG of 11.6, I don't have a lot to complain about..hope your week ahead is a good one,
c.

[strator]

Yes Consuela,(I like that name) my doc wants one 3 mos from when I stopped. As far as all that and the sleep aids and my first post doc's appt I posted a few days ago about my fears there..see (post treatment progress and dr

[fishdoc]

good to hear from you... I don't take script sleep aids.. but I never go to bed with out my bennies... and no they don't have a white cross on em... little pink pills -benadryls.  They also help MAJORLY with the itching... even presribed for dogs with skin conditions...used to do 1, now on tx I do 2.  Shot night and sat night I do 2 bennies, 2 advil and 2 Alleve... and mostly I sleep pretty good.  Hang in there, this too will pass.  Are you planning on doing followup PCRs just on the off chance you got lucky??

[strator]

Ya know this thread is why I love this forum, besides the friendship. Almost 4wks post and the itch is really aggravating on the neck, jawline, occassionaly chest and back...but the scalp has gotten bad, and yes this rash stuff all did kick up the week of the big heat wave when I was working in the sun. I haven't been in the sun much lately but though the visible rash is clearing slowly the itch persists.
I'd been afraid to put anything on the scalp but reading this I see there are things to try. The scalp is itchy and getting scabs mostly on the back of the head and near the hairline. Really time to  find a dermatologist I guess.
Jim, as always thanks for the website and taking the time to list all this stuff.
The good news and also itch related, is after talking to all here, and my friends in recovery I did finally try the Ambien Friday night. I think the statement that convinced me was from a woman at a meeting who also is a counselor where I did out patient rehab 3yrs ago. She heard me talk about only getting 2hrs a night, knows my whole story, and said- 'Don life is just too hard without sleep, talk to us every day, see how it goes a few days. After what you've been through you need to give yourself a break. Remember without sleep your decisions will get worse and worse, and you may make a really bad one.'
Woke up and got rolling better Sat AM, although later in the day I still get the same old fatigue.
I wasn't going to use it last night because I had a bro coming down from NH in AM to help me do some of work on the house(kid says..how come nobody comes to visit w/out tools?), anyways I knew I'd get little sleep because the itch attacked bad before bedtime, so I took one.. got 7hrs sleep(ALL In A ROW!Holy cow!)and had an hr and a half's work done before I even remembered breakfast.
:)On the downside if I get back to a healthy sleep cycle guess my days will get longer again and I can do even more work....
Ah, the blessings of healing.
Be well,
Don

[dyce]

The ole lady said the other day, dyce fix that leakin roof!!I exclaimed ma it's not leakin. Well she remarks ta the dyce later , that dern roof is a leakin. Well I looked at her an said , the dyce can't work in the rain!!!

[dyce]

Ha fish , ya mean northern pike smart, shiner dumb!! Ha we use ta cook carp on a board, when it was done , we'ed throw away the carp an eat the board!!

  When I finish this tx , I'm takin the family ta red lobster an I'm eatin til I passss out!!!! Ya'll come!!!

[beamishboy]

pigeon_your brother is Dr. Albert Schweitzer?? i am impressed and no wonder that lil fish always waves hello-carp are notorious for fawning over famous folks;groveling and gawking at the grand and greats;if they had any hair they would tug their forelocks and call ya g'ovner......i would enjoy his attentions with horseradish and dill..
Forsee-r you suggesting we should only gnaw at the bones of Dumb brutes?? among fishes,could you recommend grunts-they seem to have v limited vocabulary?and clams,no one has ever praised the clam's literary output......i may be dumb as dirt but this seems a slippery slope towards johnathan swift's A Modest Proposal......naw thats a stretch & dumber than box a rocks,minus the box... we best stick w/ domesticated turkeys,they are inna class all their own-certified A#1 dumb,dumber and chickens even laugh at em dumb,they don't know enuff to come out of the rain-selective breeding has produced big breasts and very small brains,shades of hollywood.................?
Dyce-bettr wear some boots-the roof gets hot!......city slicker says to the farmer-"farmer why don't yu fix this leakin roof?"...farmer-"can't work now..it's raining"....slicker-"well, why don't you fix it when it's not raining?"....farmer-"I'll have you know-  when the sunshines,it's as good as Any man's roof!  "
totally tongue in cheek

[fishdoc]

think chicken then, it works for my dogs!!!  Sorry, most fish aren't the sharpest blade in the drawer, seems the higher up the food chain, the better the brains... fairly typical for example... sheep=dumb, wolves=smart...  like your attitude forsee...my mouth was watering... we do have a red lobster... but it sucks!!

[pigeonca]

I used to go to the Fish Grill all the time, until my brother became a vegetarian.  (I live with brudder, his wife, daughter, and the menagerie of pets.)  Love that place.  But ever since brudder decided to become Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the only times I eat any flesh are pretty rare.  Actually fish are kinda smart, I think.  Do you ever eat at the French Quarter on Santa Monica Blvd?  They have a carp pond there, and there is one little fella' who begs. I'm certain he's got a very high FQ (fish quotient???).  We like that restaurant because they serve real comfort food and the best French onion soup this side of Paris, actually better than any I found in Paris.  Have a nice meal.
pigeon

[Forseegood]

don't worry about me Dyceman, I'm not the "overly sensitive" type, I'm cool with anything said in good humor...what I'm worried about now is that there is some data that fish are more intelligent then previously thought, sure Fishdoc can shed some light....I hope that's not true cause I eat fish cause I think they aren't that intelligent, don't like eating intelligent animals...anyway, thinking out loud again, forgive me...

[dyce]

Thanks for the invite, the dyce is a fish eater from way back LOL just goshin foresee . Have a nice weekend!!

[Forseegood]

All this fish talk is making me hungry, I'm headin over to this Israeli Fish Grill place on Beverly, betcha Pigeionca knows it, best grilled Sea Bass, Halibut for the helluva it, with a baked potato and veggie salad on the side...hmmm, invite yall to come with, but there might be some logistical probs...have a great Sunday y'all!

[dyce]

Not fat dude but still sassy !! Sittin here in riba wonderland beam, but me futures so bright , the dyce gotta wear shades LOL.

Tomarrow is fix outside buildin roof day , if I don't pass out!!I'm takin a vow though ta atleast wear the tool belt an a ball cap. Don't wanna sunburn me noggin!!

[way]

Did you catch the one where I use topical Uni for riba rash. LOL.

What? Did you mean urine? Did it work or were ya jokin. If serious whats the thread.

Rocker-I got your natural!!!

[beamishboy]

we will settle for dyceman SASSY....looks like we're in for bettr weather and that's not a bad moon rising!