Booboo111
19-03-16, 16:43
I'll start by saying I suffer from pretty severe HA, like many of you. So much fun, isn't it? I am a very rational, strong, intelligent woman, and I never had anxiety a day in my life until my daughter was born 3 years ago. I would literally chop a limb off if it meant I could get rid of this horrible condition...
So I've only posted a few times, and I don't even know exactly why I'm posting this, but maybe just for some feedback from Others who understand, because while my family is loving and mostly supportive, they have no idea what it's like to be so fearful of your health on an almost regular basis.
I have a small 1-2 cm, maybe a little bigger, rash on the top part of my breast, close to my armpit. I got one like it months ago and it very slowly went away. It came back a few weeks ago, and after not googling for many months (progress, I thought I learned my lesson...) and boom, instantly terrified of IBC. But I have ridiculously sensitive skin and the rash is right where my bra meet the crease when my arms are in resting position. No other signs/symptoms, but it is truly amazing how googling and obsessing can make you almost delusional, and then you are convinced you see other things...
Ran to OBGYN, who knows my anxiety and is very kind and patient, who said it looks like contact dermatitis, but if not gone in a few weeks, would do mammogram. Now things like that are not good for HA sufferers to hear, because after we leave the dr office we think, were they really concerned and didn't want to scare me?!? Or are they just saying that they will do a mammogram to all my fears?!?? UGH.
She told me to use hydrocortisone, which helped it a little, but I stupidly kept wearing the same bra, and it got a little bigger. Decided to run to Dermatologist, who I see yearly for my skin checkup as I have Basal Cell in my family. He is a nice doctor, but this is what he said to me.... "It looks like contact dermatitis." Then I told him I had stupidly googled and found out there is a form of lymphoma that affects the skin. He said "Unfortunately that can look like anything, but it usually shows up in multiple places and not in a place that makes sense, like where your spot appears to be from your bra irritating now that area." I pressed him and he said he wasn't concerned, but he said "you'll never get a doctor to say never, and that skin lymphoma would get better at first with a steroid." Ugh - AHHHHH :( . And THEN he said, "When the nurse said you were coming in for a rash, I figured you'd be worried about Paget's disease, which is a form of IBC." SERIOUSLY DOC?!? You CAN NOT SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT to a person with health anxiety. So now I've been petrified for two days (my appointment with him was Thursday.) But - trying to be rational - he gave me a topical steroid and it has helped the spot a little... But it's certainly not gone yet, although it's barely been 48 hours... And I called my OBGYN to update her because of his comment about IBC and she said if it was that it wouldn't get better at all with the topical steroid. So I guess I have my answers?!? I F*****G hate this....
Any comments, feedback, or personal experience would really help me, guys. I secretly hope the famous Fishmanpa will comment because he's the most sane, rational, experienced person I always see on here! Thanks for taking the time to read - I do appreciate it. Peace and HEALTH to you All!!
So I've only posted a few times, and I don't even know exactly why I'm posting this, but maybe just for some feedback from Others who understand, because while my family is loving and mostly supportive, they have no idea what it's like to be so fearful of your health on an almost regular basis.
I have a small 1-2 cm, maybe a little bigger, rash on the top part of my breast, close to my armpit. I got one like it months ago and it very slowly went away. It came back a few weeks ago, and after not googling for many months (progress, I thought I learned my lesson...) and boom, instantly terrified of IBC. But I have ridiculously sensitive skin and the rash is right where my bra meet the crease when my arms are in resting position. No other signs/symptoms, but it is truly amazing how googling and obsessing can make you almost delusional, and then you are convinced you see other things...
Ran to OBGYN, who knows my anxiety and is very kind and patient, who said it looks like contact dermatitis, but if not gone in a few weeks, would do mammogram. Now things like that are not good for HA sufferers to hear, because after we leave the dr office we think, were they really concerned and didn't want to scare me?!? Or are they just saying that they will do a mammogram to all my fears?!?? UGH.
She told me to use hydrocortisone, which helped it a little, but I stupidly kept wearing the same bra, and it got a little bigger. Decided to run to Dermatologist, who I see yearly for my skin checkup as I have Basal Cell in my family. He is a nice doctor, but this is what he said to me.... "It looks like contact dermatitis." Then I told him I had stupidly googled and found out there is a form of lymphoma that affects the skin. He said "Unfortunately that can look like anything, but it usually shows up in multiple places and not in a place that makes sense, like where your spot appears to be from your bra irritating now that area." I pressed him and he said he wasn't concerned, but he said "you'll never get a doctor to say never, and that skin lymphoma would get better at first with a steroid." Ugh - AHHHHH :( . And THEN he said, "When the nurse said you were coming in for a rash, I figured you'd be worried about Paget's disease, which is a form of IBC." SERIOUSLY DOC?!? You CAN NOT SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT to a person with health anxiety. So now I've been petrified for two days (my appointment with him was Thursday.) But - trying to be rational - he gave me a topical steroid and it has helped the spot a little... But it's certainly not gone yet, although it's barely been 48 hours... And I called my OBGYN to update her because of his comment about IBC and she said if it was that it wouldn't get better at all with the topical steroid. So I guess I have my answers?!? I F*****G hate this....
Any comments, feedback, or personal experience would really help me, guys. I secretly hope the famous Fishmanpa will comment because he's the most sane, rational, experienced person I always see on here! Thanks for taking the time to read - I do appreciate it. Peace and HEALTH to you All!!