November 18th, 2004
I am warning you in advance: If you don’t like to hear about people’s disgusting personal aliments – Move along, nothing to see here.
However, if you’re an information junkie like me, and you actually enjoy thumbing through gory medical journals – Read on…
Three weeks ago, I noticed this reddish patch right near my collarbone, at the base of my neck. It looked like a burn or a hickey something, but it didn’t hurt… it was just there.
Apart from exposing my vanity it didn’t do much, so I didn’t stress until a week had passed with no imrovement. By then I had worn every turtleneck sweater at least once and tried every over-the-counter treatment I could think of.
So I saw my doctor last Wednesday, and he says that he thinks it’s ringworm. Ringworm? That sounds particularly disgusting. Don’t only dirty people get things like that? Gross! He tells me to continue with the antifungal cream and asked me what I was doing the day it appeared.
After thinking back a bit, I realize… Wasn’t that the day that I bought ten pounds of mushrooms and rolled around in them? No. Hmm… All I did that day was finish a lot of crochet projects while watching season two Alias DVDs… Oh, and I worked out at the gym.
Damn that gym! I’m sure they’re behind this.
It’s been nearly three weeks since this ghastly lesion showed up, and despite following my doctor’s instruction faithfully, there has been no improvement. So now it’s gone from being an oddity to a big mystery. All I know is, I want it to leave without a trace.
Entry Filed under: Atomic Bombshell, One Of The Guys
16 Comments
1.
hannes | November 18th, 2004 at 2:31 pm
If it’s the gym then keep using that fungus creme. Good ole fungus, gets you everytime.
2.
Keith of R.Electrons | November 18th, 2004 at 2:34 pm
Weird. I hope you get rid of it soon! It does look like a hickey. Are you a really sound sleeper?
3.
ottomobiehl | November 18th, 2004 at 4:51 pm
I could get rid of it in Photoshop but that may not help you.
Good luck.
4.
Jesse | November 18th, 2004 at 5:23 pm
That’s what you get for not wearing flip-flops around your neck when you shower at the gym.
5.
Kimm | November 18th, 2004 at 5:24 pm
That’s really odd and yeah it does look like a hickey from the photo.. It could have come from something you did days before it showed.. Some of my rashes/reactions to things happen that way.. But I wish you the best and hopefully it will go away as fast as it came.
6.
Culturekitchen | November 18th, 2004 at 7:24 pm
Wow… I thought you were joking. Are you positive it’s not a hickey? Hope it gets better soon!
7.
Lisa | November 18th, 2004 at 8:39 pm
Once I got ringworm on my face from borrowing somebody’s makeup. Is that the only spot you have? Because it looks remarkably like this skin rash people get that doctors often misdiagnose as ringworm or a fungal infection but in fact is a viral thing and only gets worse with anti-fungal creams. If you have spots on your back also I would see a dermatologist straight away.
8.
Aurora | November 18th, 2004 at 9:21 pm
Yeah, that’s the only spot… And although I am a very sound sleeper, the husband confirms it’s not a hickey. I was thinking it looked a lot like a “herald patch” for something called Pityriasis Rosea but so far no other spots have appeared, so maybe not. I wrote this article shortly after I emailed my doctor and I’m still waiting to hear back from him. We shall see.
9.
Lisa | November 19th, 2004 at 7:03 am
More proof of cosmic twinness. Pit.Ros. was exactly the disease I was referring to but didn’t remember the name. I actually had that once and it itched like crazy. I don’t think ringworm is supposed to itch, so that may be another thing to consider.
10.
Aurora | November 19th, 2004 at 8:09 am
It itches, but only mildly, like a tickly annoying itch… and mostly in the morning or when I’m working out.
P.S. Got an email back from the doctor this morning, saying “I have submitted a referral to Dermatology” …The saga continues.
11.
Neb | November 19th, 2004 at 1:01 pm
I had something similar attack me for no apparent reason two years ago. It wasn’t ringworm…I can’t remember what it’s called but it just appears, usually in the Spring or Fall, messes with you for awhile and then goes away. No anti-fungal will treat it. Is your doctor sure it’s ringworm? Have you seen a dermatologist?
12.
Neb | November 19th, 2004 at 1:02 pm
Found it: Pitiryasis rosa
http://az.essortment.com/whatistreatmen_nyf.htm
13.
LlamaKing | November 21st, 2004 at 1:34 pm
Ok, so a little off topic… Did the forums explode?
14.
Alexine | November 21st, 2004 at 4:44 pm
I believe ringworm is fairly easy to get… you get can it from pets or even from the shoes of people who’ve been outside the house.
Your layout looks great by the way
15.
Mal | May 15th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
It looks like Pityriasis Rosea. It can result from a virus you have and it is a way your body reacts in fighting it off. It may be a mild case and usually stays in the trunk area of your body. Make sure to wear sun screen when out in the sun. The whole thing could last 6-12 weeks, but it will go away. And the one on your neck will get better in a shorter amount of time. Theres not a lot you can do about it… there are some things to keep it from itching but that is all. Good luck! I know how you feel.
16.
Anette | September 13th, 2007 at 3:05 am
Did it eventually clear up? I have had three of those on my neck that look exactly like yours for over a month… anti fungals arnt doing anything…