I'm about to cry (itchy rash everywhere) please help

Hi everyone..

I posted a few weeks ago about a rash and it's around the 4 week mark now and it's so much worse. I've been losing a lot of sleep at night. I sleep for 2 hours, wake up and don't sleep until maybe another 2 hours.

Pictures: imgur.com/a/4VR0a#4

The rash is dry and itchy and parts of my skin (elbows, neck, armpits) are so dry that it hurts to move. Sometimes it feels like my skin is cracking. I use body butter in those places and it helps with the dryness a little.

This feels like how eczema does as I had a small amount before this but it was manageable.. but the bit on my arm looks a bit freaky.. like ring shaped? The pimples also came with the rash.

I was taking Rifampicin and Ciproxin for Bartonella but stopped that 3 weeks ago in case it was a reaction but I'm pretty sure it's not. I see my LLMD tomorrow but I have a bad feeling this is here to stay.

I suspect candida because I think I've had thrush (sorry tmi) for a while, a white tongue, and headaches (not sure if Lyme or candida).

I'm using antifungals (olive leaf extract and oregano oil) and have cut out sugar and carbs. I do cheat here and there when I suspect my blood sugar gets too low and I feel sick..

The rash started spreading to my face this morning.. I'm really worried as I'm looking for a job in beauty so I kind of need my face to be clear.

I'm so stressed out right now about this, I feel like I'm going to have a meltdown soon. The lack of sleep and food restrictions are really getting to me. Plus my self esteem doesn't exist at this moment.

Does anyone know what this could be? I'm so miserable right now..

Thank you all <3

Traveler said...
Oh wow, you poor thing!! I'm so very sorry. I had a rash at one time like that, and the only thing that helped at all was oatmeal bath soaks and tons of whatever I could find to help moisturize my skin afterwards.

It sure looks similar to the pictures of systemic Candida rashes that I can see online. If so, that's good news (in a way) in that it's very controllable once you get the Candida treated. The not so good news is that you are job hunting right now.

I'm so glad you're seeing your LLMD tomorrow. Please do let us know what happens and I hope that whatever it is, you find relief soon!!

Thanks so much for your reply Traveler. Seeing you reply always makes me a lil happier :) Did your rash ever go away? I tried making a paste of oatmeal a few days ago. It helped while it was on but after I took it off it was still very itchy and dry :(

Ugh I wish I could totally just not do anything and heal. But I can't afford my medications so....need to work! Hopefully I don't gross too many people out haha. I heard a lot of people with Candida have been treating for a long time with strict diets and they're still not better which makes me quite anxious.

I'll defs post an update! <3 ty again

sayyadina said...
Try neem oil. Whole Foods should have it. Mountain Rose Herbs definitely has it.

I had a bad allergic reaction type rash all over my arms, back and chest recently. Drinking nettle tea helped.

Hope you feel better.

I'm defs going to look into it. And maybe the tea too! Thanks for your reply <3

Traveler said...
LOL! I'm glad that my post helped! I wish I could be more helpful.

Yes, my rash did go away, but it took some time. It happened long before I ever thought I had Lyme, so it was just another weird, random thing as far as any of the docs were concerned.

Have you tried (only on a small area!!!) using coconut oil after the oatmeal packs? I have found coconut oil to be very moisturizing for my skin.

One of our wonderful "citizen scientists" - as I like to call them - has done a lot of research into Candida and the treatment of them for her own issues and was kind enough to share them with us here!! Here are a few links to her posts to help you get started - you can find more by using our search function and using these search terms together: Lyme, candida, fungal, Pirouette.

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3287783


www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3413180


www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3446175

I wish I could be of more help to you!! I'm so sorry that you are having to deal with this.

((((((((((hugs))))))))))

Hm yes I have used coconut oil! It only made it feel more..moist? And itchy. I think I have read a few of her posts! I will read these ones too thanks! My doc said it was either eczema or a fungal skin infection. He decided to go with the fungal infection and gave me an antifungal cream for 2 weeks until I see him again soon. If it doesn't go away he said he'd give me an oral antifungal.

Thanks so much :)

Ouch! That rash really looks like it hurts. I have gone through many rashes myself. Once before I knew I had Lyme and it was all over my legs and midsection. I was miserable because of the itching. I found that Grandpa's Pine Tar soap took away the itch and started to relieve the rash. It smells like a camp fire when you use it in the shower. I started with three showers a day, morning, noon and night until the rash started to disappear. Then I was down to twice a day for a few weeks. Anytime I start itching or develop a slight rash I use that first.
Good luck - sounds like Traveler gave you some good guidance.

ALSO…

you'll want to change your bed and bath linens every day for about a week, wash everything including clothes in very hot water with borax and dry on high heat to kill any fungus. Add a little bleach to anything you can. Shower and wash hair every day. Do this until you get relief and then for a few more days after that.

p

Traveler said...
Best of luck with this - that rash looks soooo painful!! I hope that you begin to feel better soon!! Please be sure to let us know how we can help.

It doesn't feel as inflamed today.. but My LLMD said I could go back on a low sugar diet so I was stupid and ate chocolate and indulged quite a bit. He made it sound very superficial so I was so happy and forgot that it still might be internal. I'm such an idiot. It's a little bit itchier today but nothing terrible. I'm taking Phenergan to help with the itching and insomnia so hopefully it won't be as red tomorrow. Thanks so much for your support! I don't know where I'll be without this forum!

JoOnTheGo10 said...
I would suspect your immune system is out of whack due to antibiotic use. As other's have stated, use probiotics and antifungal treatments such as nystatin powder. Also, I would switch to using hypoallergic free and clear laundry detergent. Skip on using the dryer sheets completely. If you're immune system is out of whack, you can produce a reaction to almost anything (dyes, foods, environment) that you never had a reaction to before. Also, increase your water intake to flush your body.

I will continue to take probiotics and antifungals. I've been given Canesten to use for 2 weeks so I'm hoping that helps! That's what my pharmacist said too. Time to build up my immune system :) Thanks!

Pirouette said...
ALSO…

you'll want to change your bed and bath linens every day for about a week, wash everything including clothes in very hot water with borax and dry on high heat to kill any fungus. Add a little bleach to anything you can. Shower and wash hair every day. Do this until you get relief and then for a few more days after that.

p

Hi Pirouette,

Awh man.. I think I'm going to just line my sheets with a flat sheet for now and change it every day. My bed's really hard to change cos its its right in the corner so I know I'll get lazy with that. I think I will get some borax tomorrow. Wait you said bathe with Borax? Isn't that a cleaner of some sort? I haven't tried shampoos but I tried full strength apple cider vinergar on a patch for a week and it looked worse but didn't itch anymore. Tbh it stung a lot so I'm scared to try it again. Is canesten the same as diaper cream?
I'm going to have a google after this :) Thanks so much for your help!

Agent9er said...
Ouch! That rash really looks like it hurts. I have gone through many rashes myself. Once before I knew I had Lyme and it was all over my legs and midsection. I was miserable because of the itching. I found that Grandpa's Pine Tar soap took away the itch and started to relieve the rash. It smells like a camp fire when you use it in the shower. I started with three showers a day, morning, noon and night until the rash started to disappear. Then I was down to twice a day for a few weeks. Anytime I start itching or develop a slight rash I use that first.
Good luck - sounds like Traveler gave you some good guidance.

Ooh I think my dad used that once! It sounds very familiar. Was it a deep green colour? I'm going to do some more research on this thanks!

Aria - so glad it's not as inflamed today.

I was feeling sorry for myself yesterday - and ate a big chocolate bar, too - then gave my husband heck for bringing it into the house.

That was the last thing I needed!!!

Bless you, I hurt for you! You look absolutely miserable! You have been given some good ideas here. If you take an oatmeal bath use more than one packet and toss in a handful of coconut oil, that might help. If it does not get better in a couple of days I would go to a dermatologist to know just what you are treating....allergies, fungal, psoriasis, or simple exzema. Or slather yourself with yogurt head to toe, take some benedryl, and put soft cotton pj's on and head to bed for a day.