So, today after seeing 5 doctors, 2 nurses and an Oncologist over the course of a year I have been diagnosed with Granuloma Annulare. A nasty looking rash/blotches around my ankles. Nobody knew what it was and yesterday it was irritating so much and I was losing so much sleep I phoned my GP. I was told I have to wait 3 weeks for an appointment but I could see a Senior Nurse at the surgery. Of course I agreed. She recognised straight away. Her daughter had the complaint whilst studying to be a nurse. It’s caused by stress. What are the chances of that happening. She had first hand knowledge of it and showed me all the pictures on the internet to confirm this is what I had. I just couldn’t believe my luck, seeing this nurse at this time. So, it will disappear in time, hopefully but at least I know why I have this skin problem around my feet and ankles. It’s not contagious neither is it anything sinister. Now I can take a deep breath and just try and forget it. Antihistamine helps the irritation that keeps me awake of a night. Any one else ever had this?
I have never heard of this, but I am glad you figured it out and that stress is the culprit. Now the question is what you are going to do about the stress!
Thanks so much for asking! I had a third interview for an international Executive Director job last week. Waiting to hear if I will advance. Sounds like they expect at least two more interviews before they make a decision. I think this is excessive, but I like them a lot. So, I will see where this leads. 😊 In the meantime, more resumes going out today... before and after getting my monthly labs and tumor marker test this morning.
Thanks so much! With the first two interviews, I felt like they were already sold on me. Third one... not quite as much. Not a bad interview, but it was more that "normal" interview with stupid questions rather than a give-and-take conversation. Trying not to second guess myself. Either it will fall my way or it won't. 🤞
Hope you are well. My health has been interesting and challenging but I'm still here. My youngest is getting r ready to move next Monday to his first apartment out of law school. He will be close in NW DC, so for that I am grateful.
I am doing well. Health is good, and I am only 2 months away from moving my care to Johns Hopkins. YAY! Sorry to hear that your health has been "interesting and challenging"... but... of course I am glad to hear that, not only are you still here... but that you have things in your life for which to be grateful. Happy to hear your son will be nearby. ❤️
After next week when I have the house to myself, I will try to remember to call you. My memory is struggling these days with the chemo so I am not getting as much done. I am so glad for you that Hopkins is finally in play. I hope you are happy there with your care. So far, Georgetown Lombardi has been great. Everyone is so very nice, in every department. I have not met a disgruntled employee to date! That is worth the weight in gold for me these days. I wish you the same!
I got all my labs back already EXCEPT the markers. I think they do this on purpose, making us wait an extra day or so just to torture us! I probably won't know the answer to this one until tomorrow. But my recent scans were really good, so I feel less anxious than usual.
Excellent news on the scans, Mary!Yes, my markers come in a day later as well. 😒While I love it when they’re low (within acceptable range), I do know they aren’t 100% reliable and even if high, it doesn’t necessarily mean I’m riddled with cancer. Some doctors don’t even share marker info as it’s a source of stress and not totally reliable.
Right, Kathleen! I am lucky that my markers are pretty low anyway. (I sometimes feel bad in worrying, and expressing worry here, because of that!) I was stressing a little more so in that I have been feeling sluggish/off over the last few days, which worried me as lab day approached. Then again, I am about to switch my treatment to Johns Hopkins... and I met my goal of getting 'here' in one piece after shitty care over the last (and my first year)... and I was more worried about a delay in restarting my Ibrance on time since I will switch insurance/providers on Nov 1st. Even a week delay could mean I would miss some time in this transition. So, as I am about to head to bed, at LEAST I know that I am fine on all my other labs and am where I need to be with neutrophils/platelets to continue on. More broadly, my tumor markers hover between 38 and 44. And, just last night... I instructed my body that I expect a 32. (I am an overachiever! 😜)
I was being hopeful/optimistic (and admittedly, PROBABLY unrealistic) that they would be the number I kept saying to myself over and over last night. Mind thing. 43 is not bad. Highest has been like 44.3. This is my norm. Now that we have my baseline. I also tell my cancer throughout my body that it is not welcome here. And, despite being mean, I tell it that it is ugly and no one loves it.
I love that. I am going to start telling it it's ugly and nobody wants it here! My tumor markets didn't even indicate a tumor twice, when I had tumors.😜Andrea
Excellent news, Mary! And to be cared for by JH: how fortunate.
Out of curiosity, what parameters are used by your lab for these markers? In my previous hospital they used 0-25 as normal; current uses 0-39. 🤷🏻A bit confusing.
Btw: I’ve gone off Ibrance (100mg) twice since I started two years ago; once for several months during the worst part of Covid last year and again earlier this year so I could have the 2 vaccines when wbcs high enough. My scans during these periods came back “stable”. So I think one can play around a bit with it and still reap the rewards.
Normal "here" is <=31.3 U/mL. When I said I was shooting for 32... I never expected that. But, I also told my breast tumors to go away and they almost all did. So, I keep up with the self-talk. By the way, my current oncologist doesn't think I can get to NED/NEAD... but I pushed to get a PET scan this last go around, and... why not? First time in 9 months that they could tell me what I really wanted to know. What still lights up? (Oh and my new GYN did a breast exam and couldn't detect any tumor or masses. I showed her a photo of what my utterly deformed breast looked like when I STARTED treatment, and her jaw dropped to the floor.)
My (second) oncologist said that the best I can hope for... so HER goal... was no progression (i.e., stable). I have been stable. But I also told her that MY goal is to know what is no longer there. I win. (And, I can't wait to get to Hopkins to see what they have to say about my care at Kaiser Permanente over the last year. "Care" is a generous word here.)
Oh no - I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been with Kaiser and your treatment had been sub par. I am as well - in California.
My Onc is head of the department and I therefore have little time with her but she’s very academic and does a lot of research so I like that.
The NP with whom I work has been a North Star as I’ve been navigating this unfamiliar territory. Sadly, given family and managing the stress of 35 patients, she is now on leave dealing with breast cancer herself.
There is no doubt in my mind that stress is an important factor in cancer. I had just finished fundraising a large amount of $ in my job as Dev. Dir. of an international NPO when I was diagnosed.
I like your self talk. I’m also sure positivity is important in dealing with our dis ease.
I just followed you. Appears we have many things to talk about, if you are game, as we have a lot in common. The non-profit field, for starters.
I am a Social Worker and I spent the first half of my career as an administrator and state disability advocate. First time I ever had to advocate for myself, non-stop... or even at all (at this level). I think my non-existent medical "team" at Kaiser will be glad when I am gone, cause I actually demand the care I need. How dare I.
Frankly, if I didn't find this forum and start researching MBC, I would have... ABSOLUTELY... had a shorter lifespan that what I may now have. Will fill you in more if we talk privately! Had a long day, and I have to go to bed!
My vegetable plot, music and the thought of going to the Lake District next month and our booked cruise for the Norwegian Fjords next May. All helps to reduce my stress. Guess that sums it up really. Hope you are sorted out now. Xxx
Blimey Cheryl that was fate. Thank goodness for Nurses. So glad you don’t have to worry about the rash now, other than it irritating of course!Beautiful flowers and arrangement. So simple yet striking.
Hope the treatment is going well?
Clare x
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It’s so ugly to the point of embarrassment Clare. In this hot weather it’s hard to cover it up with leggings or jeans. I’ve got to chill, lose myself at the allotment and look forward to our trip to the Lakes. When is goes down in places it leaves the skin pink like it’s newly grown skin. Odd thing.Talk soon, Cheryl
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I suppose it’s too hot for some funky leg warmers?!! Seriously though, don’t sweat it, just be free and flowing. Nobody will stare, they are all too busy thinking about how they look themselves. When are you off to the Lakes?
Clare x
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That’s true Clare. Especially in Liverpool. Friday night rollers in their hair and Primark carriers. Bee sting lips as hubby calls them. Have to laugh. Off on 8th October just before my birthday. Can’t wait. It’s so beautiful there in Autumn. Been to the dental hospital again today. Got more antibiotics. Had more X-rays and so it goes on. Bloody teeth. Drive me nuts. Still, we have great weather and I feel ok so happy lady today. Hope you are ok. Sending hugs xxx🥰
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😂 love a young Liverpudlian. I won’t tell you what we call those lips on here, it’s too rude. Happy sunny days make these hospital and dentist visits manageable. I will PM youClare xx
sorry to hear about your nasty rash...have a similar problem but it's my arms ...find Aloe Vera helps...mine is not as bad as yours....l wish you well...and a question how do we stop stress ? really like to know sure we all would ...l love your flowers...well god bless and take care..Maggie x
Hi Maggie, Google it. You can have it anywhere on the body. I’m taking antihistamine to help with the itching of a night. That’s when it’s worse. As for stress control, who knows, so many suggestions and ideas. Think it runs in my family. I care so much about others more than myself. That’s got to stop. Sending best wishes and hope your arms get better. Cheryl
I don’t think it is possible to remove stress completely...especially in our situation. I have found that yoga, walks in nature with the dog, meals with my family eating all our favorites, and acupuncture really help me with mine.My functional doc thinks stress is the #1 culprit in why everyone it seems is getting cancer.
That seems great and I’m glad you are busy. To be honest we have high Covid numbers still in our area so we prefer to stay away from public places right now. We food shop, go to my Stepdaughters and tend our allotment. That’s enough for now until cases drop. A nightmare really. Our friend was double dosed and caught the variant from going to the gym. She’s fine now but was so poorly. She is diabetic so maybe her resistance was low. Take care x
I had a really itchy rash around my feet about a year ago and no one could figure out why. I was given topical meds and antihistamines too. Sort of helped but still itchy and kept me wake most nights. One dermatologist swore it was a reaction/allergy to a mosquito bite but there weren’t any around then so I wasn’t convinced.
It went away eventually but came back a few months ago and I treated it with Witch Hazel and Tea Tree Oil. Amazingly this worked so that’s my new go-to if it ever comes back. I’m going to look up GA and see if there are photos posted.
Some of my meds can cause a rash and I think it’s maybe that in my case as I don’t feel I’m unduly stressed.
So glad you know what it is and that it’ll disappear at some point and isn’t serious.
Hi Kathleen. It is raised at times but not wet. There’s also very smooth patches where the rash has disappeared slightly. Really weird. I tried every cream under the sun plus soaking in tea tree oil. None of it worked. Don’t suppose it would as the problem is purely stress related. Now I take an antihistamine at night to stop the itch and help me sleep. During the day it doesn’t itch so much. It will come and go according to our situation. I’ve gone through it these past couple of weeks (I know I’m not alone) and I think it made it worse. Please do look it up. It will help. Best wishes
Thanks for sharing the picture of the flowers. Very nice. Glad you have found an answer to your rash problem. Gives you some relief just knowing what it is.
Hi June, thank you. I cut the flowers from the allotment. If there is one thing that cheers me up it’s my flowers. I always think positive but occasionally we need something else. They are Astrantia,Blue Lavender and small Sunflowers.Take care x
My daughter had this when she was a kid and I don't remember if we found anything that helped. I wish I could tell you more about what we did. During my long walk with cancer, I have learned all kinds of weird things. One of the best is the website healthjourneys.com and its audio work by Belleruth Naperstek. She's a psychologist who has studied the mind body connection. I bought her "surgery" CD and had a great experience with it--I went from high blood pressure when checking in for procedures to having a low-normal bp. She's done CD's on anxiety, cancer and all kinds of things. They come in CD, iPod download and something else that I never heard of. The downloads are pretty inexpensive. That might help alot of us with the stress of this lousy rotten cancer! Next time I talk with my daughter, I'll ask her if she remembers the Granuloma Annulare. This is the first time I have had anybody mention it around me!
Thank you so much for the info. I shall delve into this. Anything to help. I expect many folks have it or have had it and not realised what it is. I hope your daughter has recovered well now. Take care and again thank you.Cheryl
My daughter doesn't remember having this! She was pretty young when she had it, probably four or five so it was 50 years ago, lol. I am pretty sure that the doctor who diagnosed it was a dermatologist. Wish I had more info for you! My itchy blotchy rash cleared up about amonth ago, just before an appt with my dermatologist and he said we didn't need to schedule another appt. A few days later, itchiness back! so crazy
All this time I’ve gone not knowing. Your stress levels must have been through the roof. I hope it has cleared up for you. At least I realise now I’m not alone. Best wishes
Thanks for sharing the lovely flowers! So happy to hear it’s nothing serious! The Good Lord was watching out over you -putting that nurse there, at that time when you saw her, what a blessing!
I will certainly try. I lose myself in my own thoughts when I’m tending our vegetables and flowers and listen to good music. Of course it helps most of the time but not always. Positive thoughts now x
Bless you Sandra. You are so thoughtful and kind. When the nurse showed me the pictures it was like looking at my own ankles and feet. Relieved to say the least. Hope you are ok. Best wishes. Cheryl
Flower fairies. I’m sorry to hear this.I have had this damn immune disease for about 12 years. I hate hate hate it. It’s all over my torso at present.
When it first started it was all over my legs and arms. Knowing that it can move from area to area on my body…
I thought I’d rather die that have it.
Then I was diagnosed with MBC. And after a few months of treatment it went away. Now it’s back. I dont’ feel like I’d rather die.
But I still hate it. And the worst thing for me is that I get hot flushes, and in summer when it’s hot and I and if I’m going out, I don’t want people to see the rashes, so I either have to cover up and be hotter, or don’t cover up and people stare at me.
It’s very uncomfortable, But I spend a lot of my energy trying to put it into perspective…. as in, “I can still walk”. Or “I should be thankful for what I have got” etc.
This mostly doesn’t help me.
Isn’t it the little things in life that mean a lot? I hope you get some relief.
I feel the same. It’s so embarrassing. Fortunately mine is just around my ankles and feet.It’s hot here at the moment but I have to ignore my legs and wear cool clothes. It just itches otherwise. I feel for you. Like you say, we have to be thankful we are still here to tell the tale. Best wishes.
Hi!Your post caught my eye as I was just diagnosed with granuloma annulare as well. I had a biopsy by my dermatologist to verify as mine looked more like skin nodules. I admit I was nervous that I had developed cutaneous mets. My rash is on the back of the neck, arms and legs. I was so relieved that it was a benign condition. While I know it goes away on its own, I was prescribed a steroid cream as well.
Thanks for posting!
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Thank you for letting me know. Sometimes you feel your the only one. Yes mine can look lumpy when it’s aggravated. It also itches when I go to bed so I take an antihistamine which also helps me sleep. This is probably once or twice a week. May I ask what actually started yours off.Thanks
Cheryl
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Mine actually started during my first cycle of Ibrance, Letrozole and monthly Xgeva injections. It actually never bothers me, except for popping up. For me, it takes a couple of months to go away. By then I have new bumps. I actually read that in older women (I’m 59) undergoing cancer treatment, it could be an immune response. I am currently on cycle 8 of same meds. I was also relieved to know another member had the same skin condition! I am in the US in Oneida NY.
Thanks,
Nancy
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Compared to me you are young. I am 71. Don’t feel it though. I noticed it comes and goes. I was so stressed when I changed medication I think it made my skin worse. Let’s hope we both get relief from it eventually. Best wishes from North UK xxxx
I’ve had it since October, on both legs both arms and back. There’s a FB group with over 10,000 people, most but not all women. Stress definitely played a role in mine exploding all over. Sorry for the graphic photo. It’s weird in that it’s symmetrical. Very similar on both legs and arms.
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