Weird new symptoms

Let me start off with the good news that I have been feeling really good this week.  The kind of good that makes you feel nervous because you're not sure how long it's going to last and you don't want it to go away.  I have actually exercised most days this week, which is a first for me in at least a year or more. I have two new symptoms though that I've never had and wondered if anyone has had these and know what they might be.  The first is these very red lines that appear almost like veins, but they aren't veins.  I mostly get them along my breasts and up into my chest (they aren't stretch marks either).  First they were on my left side, then yesterday on my right breast I had several areas that looked like actual burns like I had been branded by something that left red, raised shapes.  Then from the red raised "burns" I had the weird looking red vein pattern that went up and along the inside of my arm.  The weird thing is that they disappear after a few days and then come back in another area. The other new symptom is some tremors I'm having in my hands.  It doesn't happen all the time and mostly happens when I've been doing a lot with my hands such as typing or scrap booking, but it's not the kind of shaking you get from fatigue.  When I get the tremors, I have to stop what I am doing and place my hands somewhere solid to get the tremors to stop.  I'm wondering if it might be a side effect from the amitriptyline since I started that not too long ago.  I'm afraid to look because I don't want to have to stop taking it.  It has helped me sleep so well which I think has been helping me feel better. I'm at a loss with these new weird symptoms, especially since I've been feeling good.

Hi Hippi, I think I get the marks you are talking about, they look almost like avein pattern & almost like stretch marks on my breasts & stomach. Like you said, they are usually there for a few days then gone. Have you ever checked your blood sugar when you have these tremors? ( just a thought ) When I am in the middle of a flair I have to keep close eye on my blood sugars. I am hypoglcemic & never even realised it for months on end. I found out one day when I took a ambulance ride! I know the last thing you want is another problem but it might be worth checking into.

Thanks for the replies. I think if the red rash or lines come back I'll somehow try to get a picture of them. The ones I had yesterday are already fading. As far as the tremors go, I had never thought about checking blood sugar, but that's a good idea. I had them again this morning while I was doing some scrap book stuff with my daughter. I'm going to write down these symptoms so I don't forget to tell my rheumy when I see him again. If the tremors get any worse, I guess I'll need to see someone before my rheumy appointment next month.

I have the hand shakes sometimes...I'm not sure they correlated to any of my meds or to a flare -- well, maybe to being tired, as if they come it's usually in the late afternoon, just before dinnertime. SO I guess that could be either tired or blood sugar related -- or maybe to to much prednisone and too little food? Anyway, the rheumy has never paid any special attention to the tremors or whatever they are, except maybe to adjust pred by a mg or 2. Sometimes they come if I'm trying to be precise about something -- like calligraphy and the like.....

Hippi, you must be so disappointed to even contemplate having to decrease or stop your amitriptyline. I sure think you're on the right track and checking with your doc about side-effects is a good place to start. I've never seen the kind of rash you describe. The only skin rash on my chest and my mother's was lupus sores. I don't have them anymore but when I did they seemed to last for more than a day or two.

Actually, when I think about it, I believe I would rather see the rash and the tremor be a side effect as opposed to the disease process. I hope that if it is, your doc can find another drug that can help as well as this one has been helping you.

I hope you're having a great weekend and I'm so very glad that you're feeling better! It is about time!

Scrapbooking with your little girl sounds like a fun way to spend a Saturday morning. Keep up the good work and I look forward to hearing from you again telling us how well you're feeling.

Love,

Pat