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Red spots just appeared...Humira reaction?

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Posted 11/2/2010 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
I'm due for my next Humira shot this Friday. I've been on it about 7 months now. about a week ago, I noticed a patch of red spots underneath my left breast where my bra sits. Not sure what they are, but I put some hydrocortisone cream on them for a couple of days and they don't seem to be getting better.

Last night when I get out of the shower, I now have about 10 additional red spots on my torso. The biggest is about the size of a dime then range down in size. I looked at them and made hubby look at them, and some seem to have a tiny head like a pimple, while others look like a deflated blister. No water or pus in them. They kinda sorta look like chicken pox from what I remember, but again, no water or pus in them. I didn't notice them itching, but now, of course, since I know they are there, I feel itchy all over.

Has anyone else ever developed these? I'm watching them closely to make sure they are not chicken pox as my boss has a baby almost a year old and don't want to expose her to anything that she might take home. I had chicken pox when I was 29 thanks to my then 4 yo who so graciously decided to share.

Just curious, I know I need to call the doc, but I'm kinda waiting to see what they are going to do. Also, the only doc I really have is my GI. Should I contact him or maybe a dermatologist? Primary Care? Anybody else besides my GI I will be a new patient with.

Help me to come up with a plan of action please...

 

Posted 11/2/2010 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
Could it be shingles? I would call your doc just for some advise especially as you are on Humira Bev x
Posted 11/2/2010 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Shingles was one of the first things I thought of, but I don't have any symptoms other than the red spots. From what I read, nerve pain and headaches appear first. Also, these spots are pretty random and don't seem to be following any specific pattern, like following along a nerve, etc.
Posted 11/2/2010 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
I would 'second' shingles :) Son currently has it and his only symptom is a(one) small rash on one side of his body, no nerve pain. no generally feeling unwell or headaches. He is now on anti virals for it.
Posted 11/2/2010 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
My son was the same he had a small rash on his shoulder, didn't feel unwell just a bit tired. Bev x
Posted 11/2/2010 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
I think it could be shingles too. My mom had it last year and her only symptom was the rash. Get it checked.
Posted 11/3/2010 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
I called the doctor's office today and of course he is out and wont be checking in til tomorrow. I guess I will get a call back then.

I'm hesitating to call this a rash because these are spaced so far apart. They are just red bumps. I've started putting tea tree oil on them because it's supposed to have antiseptic/antifungal properties, now I just stink! At least the smell will keep other people away until I find out what they are and if its contagious.
Posted 11/8/2010 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
YIKES! this happened to me too!!!!! went to my Dr and he sent me to the dermatologist. i am on Remicade, nothing else. Have had ecxema before, but this got outta control pretty fast! Turns out, it's psoriasis!!! Never in my life have had it before! ANd even better, they think it was caused by Remicade, or related in some way! How weird, because people with psoriasis get treated with Remicade or other biologics! How freaky!!!!

hope thats not what you have, but you should certainly have it checked out by a dermatologist also! Very rare, from what they have told me, but there are documented cases...

mine is healing up quickly now, with strong ointments!!!! and my Dr does not plan on changing my Remicade, because i am so well on it!!

Big bummer!!!
Posted 11/8/2010 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
Greyeyed- I've been on Humira for almost 3 months and just within the last couple weeks I've noticed red bumps as well. I really only have 3 patches, but they're on my arms and like you said there is no fluid in them. Mine are kind of clustered together and somewhat scaly.

I went to my GI (though I wanted to go straight to the dermatologist, but I needed a referral) and he didn't know what it was and said if I want to know to go to the dermatologist to get it scraped. He said it looked like psoriasis, which I've never had before. Keep me posted on what your doc says.

27forever- What kind of ointments did you have to get on? I'm wondering if mine is psoriasis too, and I think it's from the Humira, since I'm not on anything else anymore. Did yours spread a lot? I'm afraid I'm going to wake up to them spread all over...hopefully not!
Posted 11/8/2010 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Humira for 9 months and got the same thing. Started as a couple patches of red scaly bumps, some patches are worse. Only one patch got itchy. Mine is psoriasis also. Even though I stopped the Humira the psoriasis still comes and goes. Doesn't hurt but is ugly. Just recently my mom saw an add for Humira for Psoriasis and it did say that in rare cases it can cause Psoriasis and is some people with it already make it severe.
Posted 11/9/2010 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
I called my GI and he asked me why I didn't call my GP. Then he wanted to refer me to an infectious disease doc. That seemed a little extreme (plus I didn't want to be in a room with people who may be contagious).

I called a GP (since I didn't have one and figured I needed one) and he thought it was some kind of bacterial infection and put me on antibiotics. WTH? I spent most of Saturday going through pics on the internet and have came to the conclusion that it's Psoriasis also. The GP said if it didn't get better to come back, but I'm leaning toward just making an appt with a Dermatologist instead. The red spots have become scaly, bigger, and I now have one on my face. I was supposed to take my Humira on Friday, but I've put it off until I can get a concrete diagnosis on what this is.

I am worried also that it's going to spread. So far it's only on the trunk of my body and one on my face.

27forever~ I second Octobergirl, what kind of ointments are you on?
Posted 11/9/2010 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
I have been using Humira for 3 years.  2 months ago my GI suggested I take my injections every ten days because of a flare I have been having since July.  about a month ago I began noticing red spots, or rash, or almost blood blister looking spots on BOTH  arms just above the wrists.  They go away and then return each week.  Today I got red itchy spots below both breasts, the other spots on the arms are not itchy.  The chest rashes went away after a few hours, don't know if it is even related to the other red spots.

I know it is not shingles because that affects one side of your body.  Mine is on both...

I am trying to get in to my GI to check this out.

 

Anne 

 
Posted 11/9/2010 3:53 AM (GMT 0)

I took Humira three years ago for about 5 months and stopped mainly because I had a bad rash that was diagnosed as psoriasis.    I never had psoriasis before I took Humira.  Usually derms can diagnose it by just examing the rash and can recommend many different treatments to try.  It's a matter of trying and finding one that works.  Psoriasis is now listed as a possible side effect of Humira--- it wasn't a few years ago.  Possibly your rash could be something else--pretty sure a doctor would recognize it.  

My GI brought in a few doctors  to see the rash and one took photos of my legs.  I expected to see them on the web!Hope you get an answer soon.

Moodindigo

Posted 11/9/2010 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
Well, it's called Ultravate... i think it's a STRONG steroid ointment. and is really helping the affected areas, but it is still spreading!!! aaaahhhhh! so i put it any and everywhere i see a red spot!!!
My GI doc says it is pretty rare, but he has seen it happen. he has about 6 patients who are experiencing the same thing! but the Dermatologists said she had to do more research, she was not familiar, also people with severe psoriasis, use Remicade and Humira to treat it! it is also an auto-immune disease.So she asked if i would be a "case study" of her's and brought me in so other doc's could see and give treatment options/opinions! the next option will be light-therapy... but i really hate to use PTO time at work or try to make up hours to go have treatments a couple times a week! So i have talked to a few other people who have psoriasis and they say ointments, lots of good lotion and sun or tanning bed! i know its bad, but i figure i can lay in the bed for 5-10 minutes and be OK. and i can go after work!
So i would say again, go see a dermatologists! and tell your GI doc about all the info your fellow crohnies have shared! maybe he should do a lil research about the relationship...
**mine did get on my ears and face a little and she just called a prescription to treat with a milder ointment... My insides might me whacky,so my outside is all i have sometimes! So vain, i know but darn!! lol
GOOD LUCK!!!

Faith :)

Post Edited (27forever) : 11/9/2010 9:27:52 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/9/2010 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
I know Faith, I feel the same way. I have to admit to some vanity on this one too. Patches on my body I could deal with although it was kinda freaking my hubby out when I didn't know if it was contagious or not! :) When the one showed up on my on my cheek just below my eye looking like a HUGE zit, then turning scaly and patchy, that was when I freaked out.

Do you remember if your derm called it Guttate Psoriasis? That is what mine look like, although not nearly as bad as some of the pics posted. I have an appt w/ a Dermatologist for next week to see if that is what it really is.

I am seriously considering going off the Humira over this.
Posted 11/9/2010 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi grayeyedblonde, I have had crohns for over 20yrs and your rash does sound like psoriasis, which is part of the disease process for some of us. I have had those same patches and they come about now and in the spring for me. Crohns has so many funky manifestations but skin issues are high on the list. Being on Remicade or humira or any immune lowering drug is only going to make you more likely to get these new little interruptions in your life..;)
I have only used benadryl for them because the more i scratched the worst they became and that just suxs :)
I am not so sure any doctor is going to explain how this stuff actually comes on but common sense tells me you have to wonder about the combo of drugs we take as contributing to these conditions.
I wish you the best with this problem OH and remember stressing adds to the problem so try to relax and breathe a lot!! *smile*
Posted 11/16/2010 3:46 PM (GMT 0)

greyeyedblonde...

what ever happened with your red spots??? did you get into a dermotologist????

Posted 11/16/2010 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Once many years ago I had a weird virus called pityriasis rosea (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pityriasis-rosea/DS00720). It was mostly on my torso, but I had some lesions on my legs and arms. None on my face. They went away on their own after about 6 weeks and they didn't itch much.
Posted 11/16/2010 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
I used to get psoriasis on my legs and arms(not crohn's drug related) and the itching used to drive me insane(especially after bath/shower) I found that by applying tea tree oil straight afterwards it calmed and soothed the area and so healed quicker.I also took a vitamin B complex tablet daily and have been psoriasis free for at least 7 years now. I know that I have mentioned Vitamin B complex for headaches and keeping myself on an even keal before but for me it was like a cure all(guess i was most def lacking in one of the B's)
Posted 11/16/2010 10:35 PM (GMT 0)

The dermatologist confirmed psoriasis. By the time I got into see him, they have started healing up and I don't have any new ones popping up so he said to just keep doing what I was doing and come back and see him if I get any new ones and he will give me something. He said there really isn't any thing to be done about them, that they are usually caused by a repressed immune system. I explained about my crohn's and being on Humira and that I hadn't taken it since they showed up. He said using biologics for one thing can sometimes bring out another auto immune issue such as psoriasis or arthritis or lupus, but the drug companies don't want to tell you about those possible side effects.

I still haven't taken the Humira. Not so much because of the psoriasis coming back, but more along the lines of if I've only been on it for 7 months and I'm already getting this, what else could happen? I've got joint aches and pains that I didn't have before Humira and what if it brings on something worse than the crohn's we're trying to control?

I will be seeing the GI in a couple of weeks and will talk to him then about this. I don't tolerate 5-ASA's, and I really don't want to be without a maintenance med, so I looking into alternatives. A couple of months ago there was a thread about the different meds, so I thought I would print that out and take it to him to discuss my options.

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