Shiney Sue, you have the most boyfriends of anyone I know! And I so appreciate your attitude about humor and laughter. I am still struggling with depression, but at least I am in the struggle... No giving up!

Cyclelops, so sorry you are feeling rotten. I hope it is temporary.

And Mel, I hope things keep going well for Alan. Won't it be wonderful if this is the last of his problems with that sorry old foot ulcer???

Thanks to all of you who responded.

I do have a question that is not neuropathy related but is auto-immune related.

Alan has had psoriasis for many many years. On his elbows, behind his ears (these have gone away), but the elbows and ankle, (the right foot which is the foot where he had his operation). In the past, whenever he has had IVIG, the psoriasis would flare up.

Or when he has had surgery (like the stent, or the tailor bunion), the psoriasis would flare up. We've tried all the creams, etc. (his insurance won't cover the oral meds, and I don't think he would go that route anyway).

Actually, it comes and goes. BUT!!! on his right ankle, this is where he has this HUGE psoriasis patch (don't know any other way to describe it). It's a good 5 inch patch full of scales). He would scratch it and the scales would come off. Been doing this for years. Usually at night I'd remind him, and he would rub on sime Vitamin C and E lotion. (he's used the psoriasis cremes and stuff but they don't work).

The Vitamin A D AND E (it looks like vaseline) stuff just moisturizes his ankles and dissolves the scales.

WELL!!! (and sorry if this is graphic but I have to put this question out there), today, at Beth Israel, the orthopedic surgeon unwrapped his leg (it's been about 3 weeks since his surgery).

He came home and said "my incision is healing nicely". So I didn't look at the leg. Well, just now I walked into the living room and on the little table by him were this bunch of stuff that I thought were orange peels. I said "what on earth is that". and he said "my psoriasis". I said "your what??" and he said "I've been wrapped up for 3 weeks, do you know how much scaling I've accumulated?, you know that after a surgery, I always have a psoriasis flare-up!!!" I could not believe what he took off of his ankle.

I took a look and said 'holy moly" It looks exactly like a snake that shed his skin. He has very thin skin anyway.

There was the BIG 5 inch thing that was red and raw looking, and two other patches. Of course I quickly cleaned up everything, got out the Vitamin A D and E ointment and went to town putting it all over his leg. Not by his incision, but where he has had the patches. On his elbows too.

It just melts the scales and it either comes back or smooths away. Like behind his ears. Most of that is gone. I have no idea why this happens to him.

His toes are psoriatic (that's what his podiatrist has said). Nothing Alan can do about that. He just takes care of them as best he can.

But the thing on his leg. I never knew that being wrapped up for 3 weeks, well, that I would see ALL THE STUFF on the table. It was like flake flake flakes, all over the place. And all over my couch. I mean ALL over. Got it all cleaned up. He had an IVIG treatment on the 7th.

It's like his skin is shedding. By tomorrow, the raw stuff on the ankle will have calmed down. This has always happened. Sometimes, one of the psoriasis cremes we have used, well, it will work. But that ankle patch, well, it just is what it is. Long long time now. He doesn't seem to care about it. I believe he is just used to having psoriasis.

Do any of you have experience with the scales accumulating after a surgery?.Or after an IVIG treatment? He wasn't able to unwrap his leg for 3 weeks, and these scales really accumulated. I really never expected to see such accumulation like I did.

I know that it's just a bunch of cells but Holy Cow!!!

My guess is that it's time to start a 'relationship' with a good dermatologist?

Maybe they would take a biopsy of the 'flakes' and see what the source is...IF a source is to be found.

I do know I see my own Derm. yearly and get the bulk of the prescription salves and lotions or potions I need to keep me well 'ICK' free until my next yearly visit.

Worth a try at least? - good lluck - j

He's been to countless dermatologists. He's had this condition for YEARS. Nothing they did helped. It was explained to me that his immune system is out of whack and this is excess growth of cells that accumulate and flake off. Behind the ears have disappeared so that's a good thing. He gets some between his eyes, so we gently clean that and I put the soothing balm there.

I forgot to mention however what happened two days ago. He woke up with something on his face. I said "what the heck is that??" I brought him a mirror and he said "oh, that's psoriasis". It was on his face, next to his nose but underneath is eye. I looked at it and I believe that's exactly what it was. I gently cleaned off the scale, lesion, whatever it was and I had an idea.

I said to myself. "I'm italian, we use extra virgin olive oil to moisturize our skin". My skin is great so I said: "well nothing else is working, why not do this".

I found a good facial recipe that said "warm a bit of extra virgin olive oil between the hands and gently apply to affected areas".

I did just this. gave him a whole facial. Did his scalp (he's bald), so it was easy. I then did his whole face, behind his ears, everything.

It was gone the very next day. Smooth as silk. It's still gone.

So just now, I put some extra virgin olive oil on my hands, warmed it, and applied to to Alan's patches.

Hey, if there's a miracle happening tomorrow, you know I'll post it on this thread.

Can't hurt. Might even moisturize and help with the redness.

Will update.

Melody

I have very fair skin,very fair but always very pretty,only short time
in sun.. Now that i'm on meds my skin is very dry, now That Derm.
lied to me about that vaseline,busniness last year,(I'm allergic to it}
Look for petroleum products it's in alot of over the counter and alot
of the stuff they give you,,,This group of Drs. didn't want to be wrong
three layers from knee to ankle my skin came off,it drain,it bled,the ER
medical student looked his eyes poped out,he said I can't admit you but
you will be..He shook his head and said,did you tell them your are allergic
to that,yes well why did they say,nobody alleric to that..Well
I would try the Virgin Olive Oil,my mom warmed that stuff up and put
it everywhere.Mothers in my Italian neighbor used it for earackes,I hope
it helps him..

Susan humor helps many things,but i've suffered from depression bad
went to a great Psycholgist,someone I could talk to it helped me.
Yes for a old bat who falls all over and falls down ,not to mention
tonight we went were I could only eat wonton soup or barf on him.
I was hoping he would say go ahead eat,if you barf on me that's fine
he didn't so I didn't. Ha Really it wouldn't hurt to talk about how many
have gone through depression.. Or going through it,and I'm glad your
feeling better. Now I have many men friends because when I'm not sitting
on it I have a great behind..

Mel let's hope it works do you use plastic gloves,you can buy in a big
box or wash hands and clean nails..I use the gloves now some people
can use latex some can't..Just a suggestion,you know my uncle had that
and sat in the sun when he could it helped,just put on sun lotion now
adays..I'll meditate and have good thoughts it starts to help. Hugs
to you and Allen and everyone..Sue










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Hi Sue and All:

Well, I just woke up. It's 8:30 a.m. and I went over to check his leg. He's sleeping. The really impressive thing is that there are no more new scales. That has never happened.

Last night at approximately 10:30 p.m. I did the extra virgin olive oil thing. For the first time.

Previously, I would put the A D & E ointment, which would moisturize, but 10 hours later, there would be those nasty scales again.

BUT THIS TIME WAS DIFFERENT. I can only tell you what I just observed. The 5 inch thing was just red. It's like new skin. It's not raw, it's not flaming. It just like there's new skin. There are no scales. The three other patches on the same leg are exactly the same. No new scales. This is a first.

So what I'm going to do when he gets up, and after he washes and gets dressed, is.....I'll warm up some extra virgin olive oil between my hands (I don't use plastic gloves for this, just my clean hands). I rub the oil between my hands and gently put the oil on his legs. I even put it on the other leg yesterday because his skin is so dry. I'll do this for a while.

If we don't see any new scales, and the skin just heals, well, now, we might be on to something.

I'm am definitely crossing fingers toes, and anything else I can cross.

You have no idea the scales that came off of this guy yesterday. I never saw such a thing in all my life.

I hope the olive oil does the trick. Old Italian recipes, well somethings THERE REALLY IS SOMETHING TO THEM!!!

Will update.

Melody

I have and it is a little diff then from surgery but scales under my lids and was prescribed a steriod antibiotic cream. Will see. The oil I have never heard of. I heard of putting sugar on your skin I think.
I agree laughter is the best medicine.
Sue that is so funny about the behind. I always tell my mom don't wiggle your wiggle wagon too much. She likes the young men. Oy!
For people in pain and with many issues everyone here has such a wonderful spirit.

I never heard of putting sugar on the skin. I know that in biblical times, they did something called sugar waxing to exfoliate the skin.

Alan doesn't need anymore exfoliating believe me.

Just did the oil thing again. He's got the boot back on. We shall see later on tonight, if the skin is still smooth. Boy he certainly does have some immune stuff going haywire, that's for sure.

But his ears and his face is smooth, so that's good thing.

Hope your eye stuff works for you. I read about what you are going through.

Thanks Mel. Yea the sugar I saw I think on tv and putting powder jello the red stuff on your lips makes them look rosey. Not into those make your own stuff.Have a good day

Well this sounds good,just don't put so much oil on him,you get frisky again
hug him and he hit's the ceiling..Back to the Neuro again,I can't only laugh
when the Neuro asks Sir how did this happen..Well my wife Mel.
Ha..Hugs to all Sue