Rheumatology Visit

Today I visited Dr John M Joseph, Rheumatologist/Internist in Carrollton.  He did a 1 hour history and then called in his collegue to consult as well.

He ruled out Drug Induced Lupus and instead states it is either erethema multiforme majus or Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.  It appears to be caused from my use of the antibiotic Levaquin.

I have four "lesions" on my left leg; nasal, mouth (cheek, tongue, uvula and gum ulcers), throat ulcers and peri-anal ulcers.  This makes talking, eating,drinking and going to the bathroom very difficult.  I have been off the Levaquin for 3 days now and most of the ulcers are better except the ones on my tongue and my bottom.  He told me to make sure I never take Levaquin again or it could be fatal.
That means all quinilone drugs.

He prescribed prednisone to kick the infection faster and some Kenalog (Triamcinolone 0.1%) orabase solution for my tongue to help that heal faster.

He wants me to call Thursday or Friday to tell him whether I'm better or not. If not he wants to see me back to do some labwork for further investigation.

I've  been living on yogurt...I don't really like yogurt, but it's the only thing that is easy to swallow and feels good at the same time and is not hot-spicy-tangy-tart-sweet.  It appears that anything that makes the taste buds react hurts a great deal.  But today I was able to eat 1 scrambled egg(chewed very carefully with my front teeth); yogurt for lunch and some broth for dinner. I've lost about 10 lbs since Friday - not a great way to go on a diet..but guess it's a perk ???

 I'm hoping for a quick recovery so I can have a Happy (and healthy) New Year!

Thanks for all your concerned calls & emails. It's hard talk on the phone so calls need to be short.