Skin problems

[geoffcamp]

Has anyone else had skin issues?  I get ingrown hairs pimples mostly on my neck and back. If anyone has any solutions I would sure like to hear them. I think I'm going to let my self esteem guard down and talk to my doctor. Now I'm starting to get what looks like permanent marks on my skin when they heal or go away. YUCK!!  I'm also on blood thinner so everything I touch cuts me and bleeds FOREVER! 

[smcd23]

My husband gets them, and I find in his case it's from lack of proper bathing. He has a chest cath and cannot shower/clean up as much as he should. But I also found that the less adequate he was, the worse it would get also. How are your #'s looking?

[geoffcamp]

I did some research and I think I may have calcium deposits. They are painful and mostly on shoulders. I googled pictures and it look a lot like them. Going to get doctor involved on Monday. It seems these can be very serious. I shower one or two times a day with water proof bandages. Also softer years of not taking binders I got serious a few months ago and my phosphorus levels took the biggest dip my dietitian had ever seen. Levels were in the 7-9 range now in the 4s. PTH was CRAZY levels of 4000 to 5000. Now they are as low as 394 last one was just over 400!!  I really think this might have something to do with it. It's the same time period I started experiencing the problems. Anyone know if this is related. Internet research I did says take a calcium supplement. I'll find out from doctor and let you know!  G.

[amanda100wilson]

no, I wouldn't take a calcium supplement without checking with your doctor.   Calphalaxis can be serious  so I would definately go and see your doctor.









 

[smcd23]

Oh I am glad you mentioned PTH! My husbands skin has improved since he had his parathyroids removed - How are your PTH levels? His phos and calcium were always way off mark and his PTH was steadily increasing. Last level before the surgery was over 3000. His skin was definitely disgusting prior to that. Now it just gets bad due to the lack of showering.

[geoffcamp]

I had a Parathyroidectomy a long time ago. Probably around 2005. But the did implant two of them back into my arm. Was told just in case they need to adjust surgery is easier than cutting around the neck. So I have 2 implanted in my forearm. I've started using noxzema and some anti acne scrub but it not doing much just a little improvement. I'm going to talk to the doctor this week and see what he thinks. It's really really embarrassing. Can't take my shirt off and I love the beach and pool. I don't care about people staring at scars and cath but the acne marks and big ugly red pimple like things on my back are just nasty. THX for advice. Oh and I won't start taking any calcium now. I just read on Internet that may help. Doctors opinion is best way to go.

[smcd23]

My husband has had strange scarring issues since he was diagnosed with ESRD. He used to scar like a normal person, but now if he picks a bug bite or pimple he gets big red marks. They do fade over time. But if it's still acne-like then it might be related to something else, a chemical imbalance (since that is what causes most acne anyway). I wish I had more suggestions. 

[geoffcamp]

Sounds very similar to what is happening with my skin. I'll keep you posted here as I am going try see the doctor this week to see if there is anything I can do and if its a serious problem. I have been using ice pack last few days eases the itching and reduces swelling a little. I read on the Internet icing it may help.

[geoffcamp]

In the last 2-3 weeks my right shoulder (the back and top), elbow and wrist joints have become VERY painful. It hurt all the time. I can't sleep and when I finally get to sleep the pain wakes me up. I'm using ice and it helps a little bit but pain never goes away. I had my nephrologist come in to my center and he basically blew me off told me to see my PCP and see if they want to do an MRI. I'm seeing him tomorrow and I'm desperately trying to see a nephrologist at my transplant center but it seems practically impossible since my primary nephrologist is the one who controls dialysis at my center. I'm told Medicare will not pay to see another nephrologist who might actually take me serious. The sores I have are still a problem and they itch so much I can't help not picking at them. The nephrologist from my dialysis center didn't even take me in a room and do an examination. SO DAMN FRUSTRATING!!  Any advise!?

[geoffcamp]

Well aaa my in center nephrologist QUACK!!  Saw him before I hooked up did no examination and basically said who is your PCP go see them. THX buddy he is the worst. Staff call him Lazy Lazin. (Last name Lazin). I had a great one until a little over a year ago at same center but he move and I got stuck with Lazy Lazin. Being on night unit (not nocturnal) just 3rd shift come in at 5pm. He never comes by and visits and on rare occasion he does if its for 5 minutes your very lucky!!  But he sure makes sure to bill Medicare monthly. But if I complain they could disband the night unit and I love the schedule so I'm stuck with him.      Saw my PCP got cortisone shots and it hurts more now!!!  Scheduling MRIs to check for calcium deposits under skin and around joints in the shoulder elbow wrist and hand that hurt soooooo much. So I'm waiting in massive pain (thank god i have a very high tolerance for pain) until we can get some tests and stuff done. PCP doc put me in a sling on that arm but not much has changed except pain is worse!!  Hate to bitch and moan but that's why I came back here LOL. wishing I could have an out of body experience or was someone who could ruin my life with heroin or oxy something to deaden this pain but I'm not that person and I happy not to be but it would be great to numb this pain have some very weak pain killers but use sparingly. I sure hope hep/relief is on its way!!!!!!!!  I'm spent.

[Whamo]

My skin has dried out.  I use skin cream, but it doesn't stem the tide.  I think the fluid drain sucks the life right out of the skin!   

[kit78]

I was having a lot of shoulder, collar bone, feet, knees and knuckle pain.  Went to my acupuncture guy and I got major relief.  Pain went away for a few weeks. He wants me to see his mentor one time to get put on Chinese meds. He said my liver was all gunked up.  I also started peeing more during that time.  It does take more than one treatment and yes...medicare does pay about 65% or so, so that's a good thing.
Well need to go out and finish shoveling. The million $$$$$  dollar arm isn't completely healed yet so have to do most of it with my left arm.
Where are the "Shovel Fairies" when you need one??

[geoffcamp]

I was having a lot of shoulder, collar bone, feet, knees and knuckle pain.  Went to my acupuncture guy and I got major relief.  Pain went away for a few weeks. He wants me to see his mentor one time to get put on Chinese meds. He said my liver was all gunked up.  I also started peeing more during that time.  It does take more than one treatment and yes...medicare does pay about 65% or so, so that's a good thing.

Wow I'll have to look into this!!  Any idea of the origin of this pain?  I was thinking it might be the HERO graft doctors felt like it was going to solve all my access issues but it clotted to. HERO. Is a hybrid access it is just like a cath as it is attached to heart via jugular then (as my doctor explained to me) they attach it to a synthetic graft by a metal that acts like those Chinese finger cuffs bridging the gap between the cath part and the graft part. It failed by clotting up on me and was told the hardware must be removed from my body. It was right on the front right shoulder. So I am wondering if that may have led to this pain issue. Plus I have had about 5 attempts in each arm left arm upper and lower right arm upper only for fistulas and grafts. Nothing lasted very long. Blood thinners have helped some but not for long. I have "thick" blood. If you look around my center at the machines my blood in the machine is darker than everyone else's blood and I usually do not require EPO my red blood count runs high enough on its own. No doctor has been able to explain why. Even a great blood specialist who usually works with cancer patients I was referred to. They have told me for years that its a good thing with the exception being I can not seem to keep a good access for long. The perm cath is the only thing that works long term. But infections are inevitable and so the move it from one side of my chest to the other. Who knows how long this will last!!  We are always looking for new options like maybe a graft in my chest they can get a good enough gauge needle in. Anyone else like me!!??  LOL. I'm unique or so I've been told!!