vasculitis and cellulitis in legs

[Pollyanna]

Hello friends,

I haven't been around here much as things have been blissfully quiet and I have been feeling very well. Until Sunday morning when I awoke with legs covered in the red dots of vasculitis. Saw my primary care and dermatologist today and spoke to the rheumatologist and so had it biopsied and now am waiting for results.

The dermy thinks there is also cellulitis going on, so in addition to re-starting prednisone, I'm also on 2000 mg keflex (antibiotic).

Despite this, it's spreading up my leg. We ruled out blood clot, thank goodness.

My question to you: if you have experience with this, any idea how long it should take to resolve? My rheumy said it would get worse before getting better, but that's rather vague. Christine, I saw your photo you posted and it looked exactly like my leg!

As a background, I've had diagnosed SLE for six years, fairly well controlled with Plaquenil, Mobic, Methotrexate, Aspirin, Plavix and others (17 in all for all the complications from the lupus.) I'm hyper-coaguable, and treated for but not officially dx'd with APS yet, thus the aspirin.

Other problems include coronary artery disease, degenerative disk and spondylosis lumbar back, peripheral artery disease and Type 2 Diabetes from long-term prednisone use. Prior to SLE diagnosis, had a history of seizures and CNS involvement, which led to diagnosis.

Any insight into this vasculitis/cellulitis issue is appreciated. I know there is a recent post about vasculitis, but I didn't want to step on dressagerider's (Janet's) toes!

I appreciate your love and support and thank you in advance! :needhug:

Love, Pollyanna

[alobreto]

Hi, Pollyanna! ;)
I wish I could say that it will take exactly 'X' number of weeks for this to clear up, but as you likely already know, we have no way of predicting healing rate.

Not only do you have autoimmune problems, but unstable blood sugars, too, which complicate things further. Not to mention the possible APS rearing its unruly head.

It's hard to have new conditions pop up and not have any idea how long we'll have to be dealing with them. Frustrating! Frustrating!

I don't blame you one bit for wanting some kind of time frame, or for asking if anyone has any idea of a time frame. I for one hope that in exactly two weeks from onset that your vasculitis will be totally gone from the antibiotics and steroids and that it will never recur. No sense being bashful with my wishful thinking, is there? :lol:

I really do wish you well! Keep us posted as to how things go!
Angela :)

[Lily]

(((((((((((((((Polly)))))))))))))))))) :hug: :kiss: :grouphug2:

totally unfair my friend! enough already!!

I know absolutely zilch about cellulitis but I'm hoping for a speedy recovery for you, hang in there ok?

love
Lily

[Pollyanna]

Thank you Angela and Lily for your responses. I absolutely know better than to ask how long something will take. Just a measure of how down I was feeling!

I must say that the generalized redness of the cellulitis is fading rather rapidly now. Instead of being "blood" red, it's more of a purple, so I suppose the antibiotics are working. However, the vasculitis doesn't want to go anywhere. At least it's not spreading any further. <sigh> I see the rheumy on Friday, so we shall see.

I was scheduled to have outpatient surgery on my hand yesterday and this threw a crowbar in the works. Now I have to re-schedule the surgery and will have to repeat all the pre-surgery blood work, etc. Nothing a little money can't take care of! LOL

Thanks again for thinking of old me and hopefully I'll have a new computer installed in the next couple weeks. THEN I'll be able to chat again - I do miss it so...

My love to all, Pollyanna