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Author Topic: Frustrated with Scab Scare  (Read 4778 times)

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Offline Eric90803

  • Member
  • Posts: 5
Frustrated with Scab Scare
« on: January 28, 2007, 07:45:47 pm »
I'm having these small little scabs that mysteriously just appear from not scratching or itch my skin.  For the most part they are isolated on my lower leg, hands and arms, and now on parts of my face.  I've been to a dermatologist and he just perscribes an array of topical lotions.  After taking a skin sample, he diagnosed it as molluscum/contragiosun (sp?).
I'm on a new regimen of fuzeon, norvir, prezista and a clinical trial drug study called TMC-125.  But I noticed these mysterious scabs appearing a few months prior to changing my regimen.
My HIV specialist Dr. hasn't seen anything like this.
When these mysterious scabs appear, I tend to scratch them and it is leaving a slight discoloration of the skin.

Has anyone out there experienced this and what treatment is out there? 

thanks for those replying to this post.

Offline AustinWesley

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  • Posts: 815
    • HIV Discussion Group on Myspace!
Re: Frustrated with Scab Scare
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2007, 07:56:14 am »
Have you been tested for a possible Staph infection?   
Diag. 3/06  Infected aprx. 2 mo. Prior
Date        CD4   %      VL
4/6/06     627    32    36,500     NO MEDS YET!
6/7/06     409    27    36,100
8/23/06   408    25     22,300
1/2/07     354    23     28,700
2/9/07     139    30     23,000  Hep A Vaccine same day???
2/21/07   274    26     18,500 
3/3/07    RX of Truvada/Sustiva Started.
4/5/07    321     27      Undectable 1st mo.  
5/16/07  383     28    Undectable 2nd mo.
8/10/07  422     32   UD <48 on new scale!

Offline Eric90803

  • Member
  • Posts: 5
Re: Frustrated with Scab Scare
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2007, 11:07:39 pm »
I went to a dermatologist and he didn't think it was a staph infection.  He did take a biopsy, and diagnosed it as molluscum contagiosum.  I went to my HIV specialist Dr. today and he said it's definitely not that.  He's going to take a biopsy later this week to see what this is.
Whatever it is, it's very irritating and frustrating.
Thanks for the reply.

Offline Miss Philicia

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  • celebrity poster, faker & poser
Re: Frustrated with Scab Scare
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2007, 12:56:45 am »
Odd.  I'm on the same thing you are Eric (except truvada inplace of the TMC-125) and haven't seen this, nor heard of it as I'm in a small support group of people on the same/similar fuzeon/prezista combo.  Good luck in sorting it out.

What are your lab numbers like?  The lower my cd4's were years ago odd skin stuff would occasionally crop up by it would be written off to general dermatitus.  I wouldn't have described it as scabs though.  No itching at all?  Are they like postules?
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline AustinWesley

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  • Posts: 815
    • HIV Discussion Group on Myspace!
Re: Frustrated with Scab Scare
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2007, 04:09:03 am »
I went to a dermatologist and he didn't think it was a staph infection.  He did take a biopsy, and diagnosed it as molluscum contagiosum.  I went to my HIV specialist Dr. today and he said it's definitely not that.  He's going to take a biopsy later this week to see what this is.
Whatever it is, it's very irritating and frustrating.
Thanks for the reply.

Hey Eric,

I had some acne like stuff on my face that seemed to not be healling and an odd spot on my leg.   It turned out I didn't have staff and the facial stuff went away after a week or so.   The one on my leg is now about the size of a quarter.  I was all paranoid, but my doctor didn't bother to look at it.  I think that it could be a bug or spider bite.  It's been itchy and had a welt in the middle.  Anyways, I started putting neosporin on it and it seems to be backing off now.

I googled that molluscum contagiosum and the pictures of those look more like raised molish stuff.  It doesn't seem to be serious I don't think.

I would also ck to see if it's a potential side effect of any med.   

It's probably nothing, but good to keep up on it.   If my leg thing doesn't start clearing up completely I'm going to my dermatologist.

Hang in there, I'm sure there will be a simple solution.
Diag. 3/06  Infected aprx. 2 mo. Prior
Date        CD4   %      VL
4/6/06     627    32    36,500     NO MEDS YET!
6/7/06     409    27    36,100
8/23/06   408    25     22,300
1/2/07     354    23     28,700
2/9/07     139    30     23,000  Hep A Vaccine same day???
2/21/07   274    26     18,500 
3/3/07    RX of Truvada/Sustiva Started.
4/5/07    321     27      Undectable 1st mo.  
5/16/07  383     28    Undectable 2nd mo.
8/10/07  422     32   UD <48 on new scale!

Offline Christine

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  • Posts: 1,069
Re: Frustrated with Scab Scare
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2007, 04:33:18 pm »
Yes- I have molluscum. It should be biopsied to make sure it is molluscum, and not something else. It is a fairly common virus, but since we have suppressed immune function it can flourish on hiv + people.

I go to the dermatologist about every 6 weeks, and the molluscum gets frozen, or cut off. I use Retina A afterwards to help with the spread. I have tried Aldara cream, but it did not work for me.

They can be spread pretty easily, so don't scratch them open, you can spread them throughout the area. Also, when shaving be very careful not to cut one, since again it can be spread.

If you do a search here at Aidsmeds, you will find a few links to threads about dealing with molluscum.
Christine
Poz since '93. Currently on Procrit, Azithromax, Pentamidine, Valcyte, Levothyroxine, Zoloft, Epzicom, Prezista, Viread, Norvir, and GS-9137 study drug. As needed: Trazodone, Atavan, Diflucan, Zofran, Hydrocodone, Octreotide

5/30/07 t-cells 9; vl 275,000

Offline AustinWesley

  • Member
  • Posts: 815
    • HIV Discussion Group on Myspace!
Re: Frustrated with Scab Scare
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2007, 05:03:17 pm »
Hey Christine,

Thanks for chiming in and your suggestions.   Odd, you mention it.   I used Retin A on the facial acne like stuff, but I felt shaving was making it spread.   I actually bought the Retin A for cosmetic reasons months back, but felt it might help.

It didn't look like those pics though.   I know it's not staph, but now I'm a little bit concerned it's what you have which doesn't seem to be a big ordeal.   

Was your Retin A covered for this?    It's pricy so that is why I asked.   I think I paid $90 for one tube.   But, it's good stuff.   I think it works better than Botox for getting rid of fine lines ;)
Diag. 3/06  Infected aprx. 2 mo. Prior
Date        CD4   %      VL
4/6/06     627    32    36,500     NO MEDS YET!
6/7/06     409    27    36,100
8/23/06   408    25     22,300
1/2/07     354    23     28,700
2/9/07     139    30     23,000  Hep A Vaccine same day???
2/21/07   274    26     18,500 
3/3/07    RX of Truvada/Sustiva Started.
4/5/07    321     27      Undectable 1st mo.  
5/16/07  383     28    Undectable 2nd mo.
8/10/07  422     32   UD <48 on new scale!

 


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