Eric Tapley

“So how is your rash?” [insert name here] kindly asks.

“Unfortunately,” I reply “No better.”

Here’s some proof. I just took these photos of my legs. I have the same kind of rash on my arms, neck, back, chest, abdomen, and, as you can see, down my legs. Where I don’t have the rash, like my face, my skin is dry and scratchy and flaky. Attractive, no?

It hurts. It’s itchy and burning and prickly. It’s annoying. I’m having a hard time getting asleep and staying asleep. And I’m upset that the doctors at the hospital, at the clinic, and even my dermatologist can’t figure out what’s going on.

I’m supposed to know the results of my biopsy tomorrow. I hope it’s good news.

I’m a bit of an art buff. Not huge, but I do enjoy the Worcester Art Museum (as a destination and a client), and have taken my share of art classes. I’ve tried my hand at pottery, painting, and sculpture, and enjoyed them all. Someday I might pick one or the other up again.

Anyway, a friend of mine from Jaffrey, Eric Peterson, is a great artist with some very amazing work. It’s complex and often looks comic-book inspired, but the themes draw heavily from tough things in life. You should check it out.

Eric is also socially progressive and one of the most concerned people I know. A good guy to know, and to support.

Eric’s site: http://www.artbyegp.com/

Kate and I are celebrating our five-year anniversary today. She’s an amazingly supportive wife, a great mother, and just all-around wonderful. Her love, companionship, and belief in me help me every day and encourage me to be a better man.

Happy anniversary, Kate! I’m looking forward to our next five years and sharing more my life with you.

Last night I went to the UMass Memorial Medical Center emergency room to have them check on my rash and see if my breathing problems are serious and related. After a CT scan, some blood tests, and time with a very frank and (welcomingly) open doctor I don’t have any more answers, which is frustrating, but I do have a different set of medication to use which seems to be helping.

The CT scan ruled out blood clots or inflammation in my lungs. After almost two weeks this is what worries me the most - feeling short of breath and unable to take a deep breath is a little scary. If this rash were to spread into my throat and lungs that could be serious and potentially life threatening.

The medication changes include an increase in Prednisone (to 70mg/day), a switch from the antihistamine Benadryl to Atarax, and a prescription for Dilaudid, a stronger pain medication than Percocet, which is helping keep the rash pain under wraps. The pain control helped me sleep fairly well for the first time in a couple of weeks last night and that alone has been a huge help.

I’m happy to have some pain relief that is actually helping and I’m hopeful that the increased steroids and new antihistamine will have an impact.

The rash hasn’t been responding to typical therapy for poison ivy, so it’s a mystery at this point. I expect to hear from my dermatologist about the biopsy soon and am hopeful that will shed some light on all of this.

It’s weird to be so sick with something seemingly minor, like a rash, but I suppose that after years of being ravaged by Ulcerative Colitis my body is just more susceptible to such things. I’m really going to redouble my efforts at getting and staying healthy once I’m over this rash.

I met with my dermatologist today. She took a biopsy of an area on my right arm that’s covered with the afflicted rash and decided to run some blood tests. At this point, based on the slow response to the Prednisone and other meds, she’s no longer convinced this is poison ivy. But she doesn’t know what it is, either.

At least I got some free stitches and a bandage for my arm out of this.

Starting last evening the rash began to re-appear on my neck, shoulders, chest, and face. It’s painful and red - almost like I have a bad sunburn, but I haven’t been outside for more than 20 minutes at a time in days. I’m also having some breathing problems again, not severe like when I was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago but instead more like my throat was swollen and too small for me to breathe enough air. (I have my EpiPen ready.)

So the wørd is… nothing. I have to wait for the results of the tests.

Anyone have an idea what this might be, or, better yet, what to do about it?

My poison ivy seems to be clearing up. The rash has subsided (now it just looks like an old burn), the itch is about gone, and the blisters have dried up. Plus, I haven’t had any more breathing troubles.

I have a follow-up appointment with the doctors tomorrow to see what they say. Until then (and, I’m sure, even after) I’m going to stick with the course of treatment and medications to clear this up.

Part of my long-term allergy plan includes looking into shots to desensitize me so, if I get poison ivy again, it won’t be as severe. Anyone have experience with those?