Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Testing, Testing, Allergy Failure Ahead.

Frustrated. Angry. Itchy. Painful. I'm kind of all that wrapped in one right now.

The weekend of my first tri (feels like forever ago, when it was really only 5 weeks) I noticed a rash on my hands. After careful examination, some googling, and a doctors visit--- eczema. One of the first things the doctor said was, let's do allergy testing. She told me what it would entail- 36 patches being put on my back, no sweating/showering for 48 hours, and 2 follow-up appointments for reading the results. I decided almost instantly to plan it for this week (taper week for Musselman) so I wouldn't feel as guilty not working out. I thought I was being smart about it and the doctor agreed.

At first I was like, sweet...eczema, people have that all the time and it's treatable. The initial topical and oral steroids helped a little, but not much. Come to find out, hand eczema is a lot harder to treat than I thought, silly me. I was actually somewhat excited for the skin testing, gimme some answers and tell me how to fix it and what to avoid. Bing-bang-boom-done kind of deal right?

So Monday I went into the dermatologist ready to start my T.R.U.E. Test process. They put 3 strips of patches on me (12 each) and then covered it with a giant gauze pad and LOTS of tape. 

Whatever, it's my back covered in gauze at the docs: don't get your panties in a bunch.
I did my best: sit still, don't itch, don't take any medications, no sweating.....I was miserable. It must have been mental because I was itchy, felt sick, and slept for like 10 hours Monday night. Tuesday was a little more bearable, less sickly feeling, a little less itchy but still uncomfortable. Folks its 80+ degrees and you're covered in gauze trying not to sweat, impossible.

Went in this morning to the doctors to get the patches taken off. I expected my back to look like a checker board with a bunch of little red reacted squares. I sat there while the doctor peeled off the tape (and the top few layers of my skin as well, not like I needed that or anything), and then I heard it....that deep sigh from her that I knew meant I wasn't going to like what she told me. Nothing reacted, a few were slightly irritated but not enough where she considered it a positive result. So much for that Bing-bang-boom-done kind of deal.  
But where is the checkerboard? :(
I still go back Friday, as delayed reactions can occur; the doctor didn't seem hopeful though. So there I sat staring down at my scaly, itchy, painful, bumpy hands about ready to cry.  I have issues gripping anything (my bike handle bar even bothers me after extended periods), and this testing got me no closer to an answer. The doctor gave me the literature about negative results, and told me we WILL find an answer, it's just going to mean me seeing an allergist now. The T.R.U.E. Test only tests for skin contact allergens, time to find out if it's something I am eating or breathing in that is causing the issues I am having. 

So here I am 4.5 days away from my first half-iron distance triathlon: My hands hurt, gripping my bike for 3+ hours is going to be painful and I need to find gloves that breathe more, I gave up good workouts for 2 days for the testing, the doctor told me no swimming in Chlorine all week (and I can't OWS until Friday or Saturday...race is Sunday), I'm just plain old frustrated. 

We (the doctor and myself) are both still convinced that the severe eczema on my hands is an allergy thing, not just stress or some of the other typical causes. I have had sensitive skin since I was a child, something just seems to be making it worse. So this means more testing, and more trial and error for treatments. More steroid creams, more lotions, more white cotton gloves, more shopping for perfume and dye free everything. 

I think I'm just going through the Taper grief process, but the excitement is also building. Thank goodness I can run again as of this afternoon, I need it. I know that this is NOT going to make or break me on Sunday. I may be uncomfortable at times on the bike, and I may have to stash some cortisone cream in my tri-top pockets to have with me since I know my hands will get super sweaty all day. I'll make it work. Its just my damn hands, I'm just being a stressed out baby about it at the moment, sue me.

One fabulous thing, you can find forums on ANYTHING & EVERYTHING these days.....guess who found some fabulous tips and support about Cyclists dealing with eczema!?! I'm pretty sure this made me do a happy dance! Time to do a little shopping for some "dermatological friendly" products and things for this weekend :)


Have you ever had T.R.U.E. Testing?

Any tips for a newbie diagnosed with hand eczema?

Tell me something fabulous that'g going on with you right now, trying to channel some positive thoughts!


25 comments:

  1. I hope you find an answer to the eczema, but I'm glad you found some solutions online at least... makes me wonder what athletes and runners did before the internet when they had questions, you know? I've never heard of these tests but it beats the ones where you get injections and stuff at least!

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    1. Injection/needles allergy testing is next :( we were hoping to avoid it but since these were negative, we don't have a choice!

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  2. Bummer on the test not coming back with a cause and having to miss two days of workouts and dealing with head. I am glad the doctor is set on helping you find the cause and not just saying oh its just ezcema deal with it...

    I am looking forward to the weekend and hope to get my work release Friday morning so I can return to my emt job and Saturday I am helping at the lemonade stand my ambulance base is doing. We are doing hawaiian theme so I finally get to wear my grass skirt and coconut bra (with a shirt) that my friend from Hawaii sent me!
    Can't wait to hear about your race!!!!!

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    1. Can't wait to see photos of the hawiian theme lemonade stand! Have a blast and take lots of photos! Fingers are crossed for work release for you!

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  3. Oh boo girl! I was hoping you'd get some answers! Hopefully you will soon! I wish I had some advice for you but so far I don't have any allergies.

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  4. I had terrible eczema as a kid. I was lucky enough to grow out of it!

    Hope you find something that helps!

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    1. Growing into it is weird, I was hoping not to have to grow out of anything lol.

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  5. Laura -- I'm so sorry to hear that you're dealing with eczema!! Unfortunately, it seems as though you're going through much of the same that I did (unexplained eruptions that created a full body rash -- scalp to feet! -- that lasted for months). After failed allergy tests, not responding to oral steroids, and not being able to figure out what was exacerbating the eczema, my doctor decided to just treat the rash and not fight the cause. I was prescribed a topical steroid, Betamethasone (I find the 0.1% ointment works best!) and within a week, the rash that had been there for nearly six months was gone. Any new eruptions that I get (they're mostly stress related now, as far as I can tell) are gone within hours of putting on some of the ointment. It's my life saver -- I refuse to go anywhere overnight without it, just in case. I don't know if it would work for your eczema, but it might be worth asking about during your follow-up. Best of luck with it all!!

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    1. I think that's the cream they gave me now. I only have it on my hands so they have me putting the cream on at bed and sleeping with cotton gloves over so it soaks up better. Fingers crossed it helps!

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  6. Bummer they didn't find the culprit! I'm sorry.

    I would hit the computer, and investigate the shit out of other people that have it, and see what helps them, and give it a try!

    Hope you got to test out your new shoes! :)

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    1. You bet your bottom I am reading and researching everything I can!

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  7. Ugh, that totally sucks :( Hopefully they can figure out the culprit soon. I know it was probably the best time to do the testing given the taper week, but man ... taper brain is not a good thing to have when dealing with stuff like this! I know you'll pull through 70.3 strong as ever though, you are amazingly tough and I know you got this despite a little road block.

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    1. Taper brain and frustration is just...blah!!! This weekend will be good, I am excited to do it and also excited for it to be done and focus more on running again: AKA running with you and getting ready for Wineglass!

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  8. Oh no that is awful :( I really feel for you! I don't have any experience with it but from the limitations you've described whilst looking for treatments, I would be so frustrated!

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  9. I'm really sorry to hear how frustrating that is. I'd be upset too but I'm still holding my breath for a delayed reaction. I still wonder if it's something to do with the heat and humidity and all the sweating associated with it...because I'm clearly a doctor you know?

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  10. I had allergy testing done when I was little and it was awful, they did some on my back and some on my arms and it itched so bad!
    Frustrating not being able to work out and I definitely feel your pain with that right now but at least you aren't injured. Hopefully the doc can figure it out and you'll be ready to go!

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    1. Thank goodness I can work out again, just need to be careful about hand sweat. No weights or anything in my hands for the time being and I need o figure out something for the bike for this weekend. But I will make it work!

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  11. I'm so sorry that the tests didn't give you the results you were looking for. It's good that you have a doctor that's determined to help you figure it out and get it treated. I can't imagine my hands being in pain all the time...we do so much with them! Thinking about you!

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  12. Its always frustrating when something like this happens. But just think, you will get an answer, and it will get better... might just take a little time. Maybe it has something to do with your all you Tri training? Maybe the swimming in chlorine pools triggered it - plus allergies?
    You've put in so much work for this 70.3, so no matter what - your ready for this weekend. Mind over matter - you got this!!

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    1. Thanks! Mind over matter is seriously how I am heading into this weekend, can't let anything take away the hard work I have put in! I'm curious to see if it does have to do with the chlorine, I wondered that myself.

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  13. i haven't done true testing, but i did a blood test and found a number of food sensitivities. what a difference it has made!!

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    1. Thats the next step, I hope to get some answers from that!

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  14. So frustrating. So sorry you're dealing with this. I did a TON of allergy skin prick testing a few years back. I had a permanently stuffed nose (basically couldn't breathe for months), constant skin break outs, rashes and the like. Two weeks of testing discovered the culprits--down, dust, dander, cockroaches (ewww), mold, rose extract (in tons of skin products!) and a slew of other things I was allergic too. Threw out all my rugs, my down comforter and pillows, cleaned out my skin products, got on allergy medicine and have been managing it ever since. You'll solve the mystery and get better. It just might take some time :(

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