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Horrid thing on my leg

ally1 said:
My honest opinion, I Don, t like the look of it.
Glad you are referred to a dermatologist and hope you get seen quickly
I would keep an eye on them and if getting worse or not healing, I would go back and see your gp
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Thank you for your comment, I thought I'd give it a week using the steroid ointment and if no better I'll seek a second opinion.
 
badcat said:
The thing that puzzles me is why would something the doc thinks is caused by circulatory issues be referred to a dermatologist?
I would try and get a second opinion
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It was the 2nd doc who thought it might circulation / varicose related. Very confused!
 
Hi my hubby had cellulitis and his skin is very dry where the cellulitis has healed. the gp explained that he has varicose veins very near the surface and that is why the skin is dry and discoloured. Please don't leave it any longer than you can. hubby's sores got infected and it took months to get them healed up as he is on warfarin too. He uses Cetreban which has proved, for him, better than E45. I would try to avoid touching it in the meantime. It looks very sore. Hope you get some help soon.
 
DCUKMod said:
@AnnieBernice - @donnellysdogs ' suggestion for a private referral also holds good value, if you can afford it. If you choose not to go down that route, for whatever reason, you could consider seeing another GP to ask their opinion on the diagnosis, leading to the dermatology referral.

Whilst I agree with Donnellysdogs' view to keep a very keen eye on the size of your sores, in your shoes, I'd be nervous about drawing anywhere close to broken skin.

Were I in your shoes, I would put a ruler, or tape measure across the sores at various points, and photograph then on my phone, to provide a record of the "today status" of each sore and allow you to sensibly compare over time. That was the advice I was given to keep an eye on a mole that was "of interest". When it changed, the photo was a very useful tool when I had to go back and discuss changes I had observed.
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Thank you for your advice. The cream seems to be calming it down somewhat, and my husband is very kindly measuring them and photographing them for me! Naturally, I'll be keeping a very close eye on them
 
If you do need to make a record of the outline of something similar, do so with a new felt tip pen, and gently touch the skin with the side of the point, rather than the pointed end, to make a series of marks rather than a continuous line.
Do not use the point, do not make a continuous line, do not apply pressure, do not use red ink - there were five things not to do - oh yes do not use a permanent marker, washable and child safe inks if possible.
 
DCUKMod said:
Hi there - What did your GP advise you do with these sore in the meantime, whilst waiting to see the Dermatologist?

Did these appear after bites, or the like? Are they all on your lower legs around the same level, or are the others higher up? Are any above the knee?

Sorry to ask so many questions.
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Sorry for the late reply. In the meantime, I'm using a steroid cream (betnovate) they seem to be calming down but time will tell. They are all below the knee. They're not bites, I've had one for quite a while but was alarmed at big it grew and shocked that others materialised. Thank you for your help.
 
AnnieBernice said:
Sorry for the late reply. In the meantime, I'm using a steroid cream (betnovate) they seem to be calming down but time will tell. They are all below the knee. They're not bites, I've had one for quite a while but was alarmed at big it grew and shocked that others materialised. Thank you for your help.
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If they are close together, it could be an infection which is raising several heads. I would get it checked out again. Does your doctor know that others have materialised?
 
donnellysdogs said:
If you can afford it... consider paying for a private appt and get seen quickly...

You can always cancel it if nhs aplt comes thru quick.

Pretty sure you would get put back thru nhs if privately funding for tests..

I think this needs quick attention...
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Thank you for your advice, unfortunately I can't afford private health at the moment, but a great idea as a last resort. I'm measuring it and taking photographs. If there's no improvement in a week, I'll go back to the doctors for a second opinion. I may also contact the diabetic nurses and see what they say .
 
DCUKMod said:
I agree with you that measuring and monitoring is good medical practice, and I have been drawn on when I have had something very temporary, and likely short-lived.

In that case of my mole, it could have been with me the rest of my life, so permenantly drawing around it would have been impractical.

We have no idea how long @AnnieBernice had had her lesions and how long she may be waiting to see a Dermatologist, but it strikes me that a single drawn line around each lesion won't last long, with showering etc.

Frankly, as long as it's closely monitored, I think that's the important thing, but I know I would npt be able to trust my mind's eye to remember the exact size and shape of three things, potentially changing slowly.
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It started a year ago, it was only small to start with, then started to grow in size and two other lesions appeared. I should've done something sooner, I've only got myself to blame! My hubby is holding a ruler on and photographing them, thank you for your advice.
 
donnellysdogs said:
If you can afford it... consider paying for a private appt and get seen quickly...

You can always cancel it if nhs aplt comes thru quick.

Pretty sure you would get put back thru nhs if privately funding for tests..

I think this needs quick attention...
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I've replied before but somehow it didn't save it! I can't afford private health at the moment sadly though if it deteriorates further, I'm sure we could juggle the finances around a bit. Thank you for your advice
 
DCUKMod said:
DD - My rationale on the photo was to also record the shape of the sore. It's supremely unlikely any of these things are a uniform circle, rectangle, let alone any changes to redness/scab or whatever.

In many ways a drawing around the sore would be ideal, but as I say, personally, I'd not be keen to be applying pressure and/or ink in that area, bearing in mind it could be required over some weeks.

@AnnieBernice - Should you elect to go with the photo option, be prepared to repeat the photo session as (hopefully) your sores heal.

When I needed to go back and discuss subsequent growth on my mole, with the photographic evidence there was absolutely no suggestion of "are you sure?", as I had the photographic evidence to hand.

(The mole is no more, having had it removed.)

Annie Bernice - Did you Doc share with you what his thoughts were on the cause of your sores, or is the referral because he's not at all sure?
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No he didn't he seemed mystified!
 
No2D said:
IMHO:
I have limited knowledge of diabetic ulcers, but understand they are difficult to deal with because circulation to outer limbs has been greatly diminished. Capillaries are severely damaged so oxygen and nutrients are limited to local cells in the legs and feet. The cells starve and are suffocated, die a slow death. Things muddle along until an infection comes along. The normal response is the immune system goes to the site of infection, acting at a cellular level, at such a small scale it's close to molecular. But in the case of diabetic damaged to capillaries, the immune system defense can't get to the infection site. The infection has free reign and increases, killing more cells and things snowball. Treatment becomes impossible because medicines like antibiotics absolutely depend on the blood system for delivery. The flesh rots and gangrene may set in. The options are amputate or die.

As a 52YO T1 you should consider your A1c over the years and how tightly controlled your BS has been. The closer to normal your A1c has been and keeping post-prandials lower than 8 would be wonderful. Probably less to worry about in that case. However, if it's been significantly higher this could be a real problem. I wouldn't take any chances with infection.

I apologize for being so blunt and alarming. I'm trying to put myself in your position and imagine what I'd want to be told.

Good Luck and Best Wishes...
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Thank you for your very honest and frank opinion, though very scary at the same time. Last years hbac1 was just over 8, the higher side of normal I know. I have several other conditions some auto- immune related like diabetes type 1. I am very overweight and like a tipple or two so there are lots of changes to be made. I don't receive the greatest support from the medical profession. A yearly blood test and a podiatry appointment with a nurse who doesn't listen and 'talks at me'. Thank you for taking the time to respond.
 
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