Can someone talk me off the ledge?

Anonymous · January 2015

Yesterday I had a Kadcyla infusion as part of my clinical trial. Before the infusion, I had a physical exam by a NP. She noticed as she was doing it that my stomach had red bug bite thingys. I asked her about skin mets and she said that it didn't look like that to her at all, it looked like some sort of allergic reaction. I had not noticed the red spots prior to her doing the exam so I think they came on quickly. She thought it could be an allergic reaction to Zoladex. When I examined myself later, they were all over my stomach and also some on my lower back and buttocks. We were staying in a hotel since the cancer center is three hours away and we had multiple appointments so I would think bed bugs except a) they don't itch b) I haven't found any on my arms and legs and c) my husband slept in the same bed and he's not spotty.

Since the NP wasn't concerned I'll just have to wait and see of they clear up. But does anyone have any stories of similar spots that turned out to be nothing?

MsPharoah · January 2015

Hi BadAtUserName and all the best to you for your treatment.

When I was going through treatment, I had a several rashes and spots and believe me, I always thought it was skin mets. My doctor was always surprised that I went "there" and told me that while skin mets are "possible", they are very rare and that I should stop freaking out. I think it is highly probable that this is an allergic reaction, but just check it out and try, try, try not to worry. I know it's hard.

MsP

SpecialK · January 2015

Rashes are very common reactions to a number of chemotherapeutic agents, and also drugs taken to handle chemo side effects. This happened to me, and others I know, throughout chemo. Can you take an antihistamine like Benadryl, or use it topically? If you can, and get relief from it, you should feel more confident that this is an allergic reaction.

Anonymous · January 2015

Thanks ladies. I applied cortizone last night and I think they look a little better this morning. But there's nothing to get relief from, except my mental anxiety. They don't hurt, they don't itch. They're just "there," just like my extremely aggressive malignant breast tumor was.

bevin · January 2015

Hi... I am not sure if this helps or not in trying to determine what your red dots are.. but I was badly bitten by bed bugs..confirmed by seeing the bugs....and bringing a couple to doctor in a container. I was in a hotel as well. Jersey channel islands.? It was awful!! ..they didn't itch or hurt. They were smallish round red spots with like a little white dot in the middle. They took awhile to go away. Good luck with your treatments.

Anonymous · January 2015

bevin, I'm so relieved there's someone who had non-painful, non-itchy bed bug bites. Actually, my husband told me he found some bites too although he might be playing up his to make me feel better. I never saw actual bugs but there was also an issue with a long hair definitely belonging to a previous guest in the shower (ick) which made me think the room wasn't cleaned properly. The way they came up so suddenly after sleeping in a hotel bed would seem to indicate bed bugs but it's so weird that they ignored my arms and legs. Maybe they just liked to feast on fleshy skin?

MsPharoah, your onc's reaction was exactly like the NP's. She was really surprised to hear me bring up mets.

Anonymous · January 2015

Also, I never thought I'd be so psyched about the possibility of disgusting tiny critters feasting on my skin as I slept. It's discombobulating.

bevin · January 2015

yes... and its gross isnt' it. One thing though, bed bug bites show about 9 days after you've been bitten- if I recall properly...http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/bedbugs/faqs.html

The above link is a FAQ from the CDC on Bed Bugs and their bites.

Jelson · January 2015

here is hoping it isn't bedbugs!!!!!

Might it be folliculitis? an inflamation of the hair follicle? A year or so ago, I began to see red dots on my stomach, outer thighs and rear end. that is what the doctor diagnosed and said that it occurs in areas where clothing might be tight or rub. She suggested hydrocortisone ointment - which I proceeded to apply when I remembered to do so. I was then listening to sirius xm, the Doctor Radio show on dermatology one day and the topic of red bumps came up, the doctor on the show said probably folliculitis and suggested an antibacterial soap. Well, I realized that my problem started a while after I switched from a lifetime? of Dial antibacterial soap to an all olive oil soap - you know, for my health! and even though it looks like a giant bar of boogers. So what I do now in the shower, again when I remember, is to apply some anti-bacteria hand soap to my mostly likely to be affected regions and it has really brought it under control.

gentianviolet · January 2015

Bad at usernames - I have been bitten by bed bugs on three separate occasions in the last 15 years, all at motels. And my experience is, the first time the bites showed up the following day and did itch. Second time the bites again showed up the following day and they were bigger and itchier than the previous episode. Third time was the worst with about a dozen bites showing up the morning after and all were very itchy but by the next day they were HUGE and I couldn't stop scratching them. Used cortisone as soon as I got home but the itching and welts took about 10 days to resolve. The first two motels were not expensive but the third was a very pricy place. You just never know. My husband had a few bites but he doesn't react to the them, his never itched. I have learned to never put my luggage on the floor because my worst fear is that I will bring the critters back to my home. They are sneaky little devils. Hope you find what caused your bites.

Anonymous · January 2015

Just an update - the spots are rapidly fading. So I guess they were bed bugs or some unknown allergic reaction after all. Now I can go back to worrying about my hip...and ribs...and liver...

ann273 · January 2015

Strangely enough I went through the exact same thing two days ago. Just that the bites or whatever they were were on my right arm very close to the axilla! Faded away now..

Anonymous · January 2015

Just another possibility - I developed eczema during my treatment, and it is just little red or purple bumps that itch when I get hot, etc., but not all the time. They recommended switching to "perfume, etc.free" body wash and laundry soap which has helped.

Anonymous · January 2015

Quick update. Right after I wrote the last post, I went in for my Zoladex injection and the spots came back in full force. They were pretty red for awhile and then faded slowly. I've wondered if it was an allergic reaction to Zoladex. My onc says that's not typical and seems baffled. I'm baffled too but they went away so maybe it was just one of those weird occurrences? As long as it's not cancer, it's all good to me!

Can someone talk me off the ledge?

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