darkside4k
07-06-22, 02:14
So - I actually thought I had recovered from being a hypochondriac. I haven’t had any seriously long lived fears in a long time. I was so proud of myself. Boy was I wrong.
In February, I developed a red rash under my right eye and a little area near my right eyebrow. I went to the dermatologist and they prescribed some steroid cream. That does make it go away.
In April, I started having some joint / muscle soreness. I also got a red irritated spot on my right pinky. I googled eye rash and knuckle rash and came up with dermatomyositis, a rare and potentially fatal auto immune disease that causes a distinctive eye and knuckle rash and causes muscle breakdown and weakness.
My life has been absolutely unbearable ever since.
I went to the doctor (twice now) and my bloodwork has been normal both times. Normal CK, LDH, and ANA auto-immune panel. The irritated area on my knuckle went away within a week or so. I still use steroid cream under my right eye every day or two so I’m not sure if that rash would come back or not if I stop. I’m too scared to stop.
Even though my blood work was normal, I fear I have this disease and will soon be dead. I do not have any obvious weakness but I do still have muscle soreness and fatigue sometimes. My bloodwork and muscle enzymes have remained normal in spite of this muscle fatigue.
I even have started obsessing if my muscle mass is wasting away because my butt feels smaller when I sit in a chair, though my wife says it looks the same.
I worry my throat feels tight and swallowing feels tight. But I am able to eat normally.
I don’t know what to do or where to turn. I’m basically left waiting for more obvious or severe symptoms to develop so I can go back to the doctor and be diagnosed with this deadly and horrible disease.
In February, I developed a red rash under my right eye and a little area near my right eyebrow. I went to the dermatologist and they prescribed some steroid cream. That does make it go away.
In April, I started having some joint / muscle soreness. I also got a red irritated spot on my right pinky. I googled eye rash and knuckle rash and came up with dermatomyositis, a rare and potentially fatal auto immune disease that causes a distinctive eye and knuckle rash and causes muscle breakdown and weakness.
My life has been absolutely unbearable ever since.
I went to the doctor (twice now) and my bloodwork has been normal both times. Normal CK, LDH, and ANA auto-immune panel. The irritated area on my knuckle went away within a week or so. I still use steroid cream under my right eye every day or two so I’m not sure if that rash would come back or not if I stop. I’m too scared to stop.
Even though my blood work was normal, I fear I have this disease and will soon be dead. I do not have any obvious weakness but I do still have muscle soreness and fatigue sometimes. My bloodwork and muscle enzymes have remained normal in spite of this muscle fatigue.
I even have started obsessing if my muscle mass is wasting away because my butt feels smaller when I sit in a chair, though my wife says it looks the same.
I worry my throat feels tight and swallowing feels tight. But I am able to eat normally.
I don’t know what to do or where to turn. I’m basically left waiting for more obvious or severe symptoms to develop so I can go back to the doctor and be diagnosed with this deadly and horrible disease.