Q: Soooo...I have this...thing...
Hi Buttercup,
Of course, my recommendation would be to have your doctor take a look at the boil-like spot. I'm on Rituxan and methotrexate. Earlier this year, I developed a spot (also on the lower part of my breast) which looked kinda like a really large blood blister, pimple-like spot. It was pretty nasty looking at one point, but did heal. I didn't see my doctor but I did keep it extra clean and bandaged for a while.
Don't do as I did, please go see your doctor and then let us know what the verdict is. What is it and did the biologics contribute to developing it?
Buttercup, yes, I had some skin problems while taking Enbrel. In there studies it was the most common side effect reported. However, mine was not all from the Enbrel itself. It was found to be from the combination of medications taken at that time. Attempting to treat it at home is not a great idea. If it is a boil you will need an Antibiotic. As well, you should go to your rheumatologist as he/she will know about the medications your are taking better than your primary. It would be fine over the weekend to go to a walk-in, just make certain you tell them your entire background. They will probably tell you as well to stay off the enbrel until your are healed. Hope that helps, Take care and good luck with this reaction. Barb.
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Thank you, Barb and Lisa. This community always reassures me when litle else can.
By Saturday afternoon, I'd developed a fever and the Thing was still growing at an alarming rate. My husband took me to the Urgent Care (after hours) clinic where I saw a very nice doctor. The doc felt that the boil was badly infected, and said it wasn't the first of this sort of thing she'd seen in someone taking a biologic. She said any time an immune system is compromised, the bacteria that are lurking within will eventually try to work their way out. She lanced it (ouch!) and excavated a small crater, which she cultured because she's seen a lot of MRSA this past year. She prescribed clyndamcin because it's a very strong, broad spectrum antibiotic that should kill this infection pretty quickly. She also prescribed Vicodin for the pain.
The Thing is defeinitely getting better, but I'm still feeling a bit worn out. My husband is tired of medical adventures and just wants me to be well for a while. Me too!