Help

[shabba]

I have been diagnosed for 13 years i have been lucky and never had to have any major surgery, only the usual colonsopsy. My chrons is treated with Pentsa. My problem is I have these horrible red ridge rashes over both my breasts and on my back, I also suffer from boils. I feel that I am an old woman with all the aches and pains and tirdeness. Can anyone help!

 

[Jennifer]

Crohn's can affect the skin on many people as well as joints and other parts of the body. I've also heard that once you get a boil, its easy to get them again and again (so says my boyfriend who does tend to get them rather often, he is undiagnosed though). Be sure to clean boils and it need be, have them lanced. As far as rashes go, have your tried any treatments/lotions like Calamine lotion? If that doesn't work maybe someone on here may have a better product to offer or you can contact your doctor and ask if there is anything stronger (they may try Benadryl which is an antihistamine that's also used to treat hives). Back when my boyfriend had really bad hives, Benadryl did nothing even when they gave him over the max dose and the only thing that worked was Prednisone. If I were you, I'd contact my GI and my GP and let them know about the new symptoms you're having and ask if it could be related to your Crohn's and maybe they will be able to treat you with something to help you feel better.

Welcome to the forum! Sorry you've got these awful symptoms.

 

[Mountaingem]

Skin issues are one of the first indicators for me that a flare is brewing-sometimes a month or two in advance. Maybe get your inflammation markers checked and a CBC, see if anything's going on.

Once the disease is under control, I no longer get boils, rashes or acne.

 

[vonfunk]

my doctor is constantly checking for any skin conditions apparently they can be common. I do tend to get boils on my inner thighs a periodically. I have a red patch of skin on my chest that gets dry and periodically itchy. I've had it for years, I'm not sure if i first got it before or after diagnosis.

 

[D Bergy]

Have the doctor check you for Lupus as a precaution. Rashes are very non-specific, so it can be a process of elimination. Many many thing can cause rashes, and not all of them are even known.

You can check this site and see if it fit your situation, but it is not a substitute for proper diagnosis.

http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_empty.aspx?articleid=453&zoneid=76

Dan

 

[Nancy Lee]

I agree with Dan here (and thanks for the link).
Always have undiagnosed rashes, and skin irritations checked by your doctor.

 

[bry33]

my joints and ligaments always ache...im always in the clinic for ligament injuries and sprains it doesn't help that i love to run so my feet are always swollen and i screwed them up after playing goalie in lacrosse my team mates always aimed at my feet but my muscles get spams and lock up i had a spasm in my neck and couldn't move my neck for at least a week before i went to the clinic i have lots of pain meds and muscle relaxants stored in my cabinet i had a boil once too i got rid of it by plucking out the infected hair folicle(because that's what usually causes it) cleaned it out by using witch hazel a few times a day and it cleared up within two days

 

[Domsmom]

I was actually thinking about starting a thread about boils. I've had them for years and of all the places they have to be....my poor butt! Does it really need more problems?! I have never gotten any answers as to what to do about them or whether they are crohn's related or not. I also have other skin problems, but a lot of auto-immune disorders cause rashes and such. I feel your pain...in the butt!

 

[shabba]

Thanks for all the advice its very much appreciated.