Sorry you're having issues healing. The combination of RA and prednisone is probably slowing down the healing process. Hopefully things will get better soon!

I really don't have any remedies for swelling...sadly. Wish I did. Can you soak in Epsom salt bath? I know nothing about tattoo do and don'ts.

Are you keep an ointment on the tattoo? The fellow that did my hubby's tattoo has him put an ointment on it and that seems to help a lot... maybe not with the swelling so much but with the healing.

welp, apparently i've developed cellulitis with this tattoo. i was having trouble driving to work this morning, like pressing the accelerator was hurting my ankle! so i turned around and went to an urgent care center and the doc there says it's cellulitis. with a bit of help from dr. google and my soon-to-be-sis-in-law's mom (whose husband is a super surgeon) i've learned that cellulitis is an infection of the skin and sub-cutaneous tissues that spreads very easily.

apparently, prednisone and methotrexate are both immune suppressors, and being on both while getting a three-hour tattoo is 'not good'. the suppression of my immune system means it's taking longer to heal the tattoo, meaning more opportunity for bacteria to sneak in. and then my immune system can't fight the bacteria OR heal the tattoo.

i've been using my regular cream/lotion for my tattoo (i have multiple tattoos and used to work in a tattoo salon) which is helping with the dryness and scabbing, but apparently the damage is done. so now i'm on clindamycin hcl and cephalexin - like A LOT of antibiotics - with orders to go to the ER if it gets any worse or doesn't improve in a few days. luckily, my soon-to-be-sis-in-law's dad will be manning a sort-of local ER on friday and is a whiz with cellulitis. so if it's not any better on friday, i'll head to the ER.

Yikes! That is good to know about the tattoo and meds. Sorry your having to deal with this what a pain. Feel better

Steph, sorry to hear this. I know, from personal experience, just how painful cellulitis is.
Do take care - cellulitis can lead to septicemia (blood poisoning).

sorry Steph

that sucks.

are you tapering off pred and off mtx?

I had that infection from operating room bacteria 12 years ago during a routine surgery and ended up with a pic line. so i hope this nips for you really quick.

I was not on mtx or prednisone (neither which I take) when I receied my calf tat in the spring (2 hours) - the artist specifically asked about mtx.

fyi, I am off all drugs while healing from nothing more than a surgical dental implant. both the dental surgeon and the rheumie were so conserative, they talked to each other and told me what they wanted me to do (how many weeks before and after). I don't agree with them, but I want the implant to set and I figure if I do not follow their instructions and the implant fails I will be out of luck. since the dumb thing costs like $5k soup to nuts i am following their instructions.

so we can be no med commiseraters.

i am keeping thoughts for you. let us know how you are

Ros

i've tapered down a bit quicker than i normally would on the prednisone - went from 15mg over the last four days to 5mg today and will keep taking the 5mg for at least a couple more days. my mtx is weekly and the doctor at urgent care told me i could take it next weekend. i guess i should call my rheumy to confirm that, huh?

i'm on SO MANY antibiotics and the pain has already subsided a bit, after only 24 hours. so i'm 100% confident in the cellulitis dx from the urgent care doc. i'm just hoping a week's worth will be enough to kick it without having it return - i'm supposed to start my internship next week.

i love your great attitude Steph! you are a trooper!

I am rooting for you

Ros

Glad to hear the antibiotics are kicking in. Cellul;itis can get bad fast. (I had it once across the bridge of my nose, and the urgent care people wanted to admit me to the hospital.) Are they having you mark the redness with a Sharpie to keep track of whether it's growing or shrinking? A guy I worked with had to do that. His leg looked like a topographical map, but it was a good way to monitor it. Would a heating pad help?

the funny thing about the redness is that it's not widespread. the real redness is just around the edges of the tattoo - which is normal for me because of my sensitive skin. there isn't really a lot of other redness in the area that i see, just tenderness.

waking up this morning i was terrified of getting out of bed because putting weight on my foot hurt so much. it didn't hurt as much as it did yesterday, but it still hurts. i'm hoping it hurts even less tomorrow so i can go enjoy family time for thanksgiving.

also, ros, i certainly don't feel like a trooper. i hate everything that is happening to me and spend more time crying than i care to admit. 'it's not fair' is something i say more than i should. mostly, i want to stay hidden on my couch and not do anything except watch mindless cartoons so i don't have to think.

but, you know. my husband usually puts a stop to that eventually. and this whole job/internship thing next week will certainly change that.

you keep moving. and you are not giving up your plan of action - that's what my statement meant in shortened code :)

Ros

I got my ankle tattoo this summer and it swelled for one day. I can't remember if i used ice or just elevated. But i take nsaids and that probably helped alot. What tat did u get? Mine is posted in my pics. I love it.