Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis Support Group
Polymyositis (PM) is a type of chronic inflammation of the muscles (inflammatory myopathy) related to dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. The inflammation is predominantly of the endomysium in polymyositis, whereas dermatomyositis is characterized by primarily perimysial inflammation.
Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been posting in such a long time. I don't know if I told you or not, but I fell last September and wound up with two broken discs in my back, L-4 and L-5. So, I have been dealing with that, no fun!
Anyway, when I went to the back doctor, his nurse looked at the "thing" I have on my leg and said she thinks it is a basal cell carcinoma and she used to work for a dermatologist for 15 years (wound up being my dermatologist that I went to one time for DM diagnosis). Anyway, I tried to get back into the dermatologist and they are not taking my insurance. So I called my insurance and they referred me to a derm group here in town that I have gone to before a long time ago. They couldn't get me in until October 2nd!! I told the nurse that my husband and I both thought it was calcinosis based on pictures and description on the computer and that I have DM. My back doc took a look and said it could be either and get it checked. I saw my primary care doc last week and he checked it and said the same thing. I told him the dermatologist group couldn't see me until October and he said he would see if he could get me in sooner.
When it first appeared it came through my leg and looked like the end of a straw that had been split about four times. After the initial eruption it took a while but it remained white and hard and flattened out into a disk that has a diameter of about 1/2 inch. It raises up on one side. It does not bleed, it is consistent (not ragged), it has a red ring around it now, but I think it is just irritated from being rubbed. That is the only time it hurts, also.
Have any of you had experience with this? I'm trying not to worry. I've always been really good about taking care of my skin and would have had this checked before now, but have been immobile. Thanks!!
Anyway, when I went to the back doctor, his nurse looked at the "thing" I have on my leg and said she thinks it is a basal cell carcinoma and she used to work for a dermatologist for 15 years (wound up being my dermatologist that I went to one time for DM diagnosis). Anyway, I tried to get back into the dermatologist and they are not taking my insurance. So I called my insurance and they referred me to a derm group here in town that I have gone to before a long time ago. They couldn't get me in until October 2nd!! I told the nurse that my husband and I both thought it was calcinosis based on pictures and description on the computer and that I have DM. My back doc took a look and said it could be either and get it checked. I saw my primary care doc last week and he checked it and said the same thing. I told him the dermatologist group couldn't see me until October and he said he would see if he could get me in sooner.
When it first appeared it came through my leg and looked like the end of a straw that had been split about four times. After the initial eruption it took a while but it remained white and hard and flattened out into a disk that has a diameter of about 1/2 inch. It raises up on one side. It does not bleed, it is consistent (not ragged), it has a red ring around it now, but I think it is just irritated from being rubbed. That is the only time it hurts, also.
Have any of you had experience with this? I'm trying not to worry. I've always been really good about taking care of my skin and would have had this checked before now, but have been immobile. Thanks!!
I would suggest contacting the rheumy to see if s/he could speed up the process with your treatments.
I am sending prayers for you. Keep us posted.
So I am taking it really easy this month, ha ha! I did slip in the shower this past Saturday!! It scared the you-know-what out of my hubby and I. I hadn't had an actual shower for almost a year because I couldn't get in and out of the tub. I couldn't lift my legs that high. Well I was so happy that I could get in and out finally, and I had a new bench to sit on with extra support. Well, I didn't think about the fact of how low those are and how much strength it takes to stand up from sitting, especially when it is slick, even after rinsing very well. I also learned that I need to have a grab bar installed, because the soap holder just doesn't cut it. So I wound up slipping and hurting my legs and back. I won't be taking a shower until things are in place to prevent me from having this happen ever again! Live and learn! Ha ha! :)
I was at the TMA conference last week. They had a session on "Aging in Place" where they talked about adapting your house to help you be safe. The bathroom is one area that you need to be super careful. They discussed grab bars for sure. Also zero entry or low entry showers. If you can, it might be worth checking into taking out the tub and just having a shower. Another thought is to get one of those chairs that are half in and half out of the tub so you could shift so you don't need to get out in the wet tub. Just a few thoughts. Here is a link to the presentation on the TMA site.
http://www.myositis.org/storage/documents/2014_conference/Presentations/Myositis_Conference.pdf
Hope your back and legs are okay and you are feeling better quickly.
Lexis had a great tip on the bathroom...
If you visit an area hospital and look at the walk-in shower, then that will give you some good design ideas for the bathroom. For a zero entry shower, it is just tile on the floor and slope the floor down to the drain. Install a pull around shower curtain. You can also put a chair in front of the shower head, or install a nice tile bench for sitting against the wall.
Best Wishes.