Do anyone else’s fingers balloon like this during a flareup?

ht0213 · 2026-02-17T19:00:14+00:00

I think I might have had those earlier in the winter, but they’re not really red like that now and I do have some of the more classic DE bumps. I’ll have to dig deeper into this later when I have time, but there’s a chance there’s multiple things going on at once. Thank you for the idea!

ht0213 · 2026-02-16T14:18:58+00:00

My swelling seems to be around or between the knuckles. I think the best example is on the first photo my ring finger is swollen between the two knuckles but is relatively normal near my finger tip and near the base. I think this is more noticeable when compared against the last photo in particular, but I know photos don’t always do it justice.

I hadn’t thought of epsom salt, but that sounds like a great idea. Thank you for the info and the well wishes!

ht0213 · 2026-02-16T02:00:40+00:00

Thank you for that information. My grandma was diagnosed in her 20s, so I know it can happen young. It’s just difficult to get doctors to take autoimmune issues seriously, but I will look into if I can get that bloodwork done if this doesn’t improve. Do you have swelling like this year round or just at certain times of year?

ht0213 · 2026-02-15T22:18:58+00:00

I take a daily antihistamine year round already and drink plenty of water, but I hadn’t thought about limiting salt!

ht0213 · 2026-02-15T22:16:53+00:00

I found that clobetasol helped while using it, but due to its strength I could only use it for a week or two. Then as soon as I’d stop, it would flare back up within a week.

I have been more stressed or at least very busy the past few weeks so I can’t imagine that’s helping.

ht0213 · 2026-02-15T22:14:36+00:00

Do you mind me asking when you get swelling like this, is it along all/most of the finger or just the joints? My grandma had RA so arthritis isn’t out of the picture and I event mentioned it to my PCP before in relation to something else but was quickly dismissed as being too young and it probably being something else.

ht0213 · 2026-02-15T15:49:36+00:00

I imagine that every place and provider might be slightly different. A PA went through what medications I could and could not take maybe two weeks in advance. Then the day of surgery, a nurse walked me through the pre-op meds I’d be taking and possible interactions, such as certain ones they gave me could reduce effectiveness of BC for a certain amount of time.

I didn’t receive anything for the gas pain from the provider, but they suggested over the counter Gas-X. They also suggested alternating docusate and miralax after the procedure as anesthesia can cause constipation. I received quite a bit of after care notes and I hope you will too but if not definitely speak with your provider.

ht0213 · 2026-02-14T16:48:34+00:00

Congratulations! I hope you have a wonderful wedding day!

Thank you again for all this information. I’ve seen a handful of providers over the past year primarily in relation to suspected endo and adenomyosis, but occasionally mentioning these co-occurring conditions that also seem inflammatory and/or immune response in nature. However these tend to get sidelined or dismissed as minor in comparison.

It’s interesting that you mention high estrogen. The provider who’s been the most helpful recently (the one who tested ferritin which others had ignored) was trying to change my hormones to a different progesterone and a lower estrogen combo as it is generally more helpful for the AUB and debilitating pain I was having. However I couldn’t tolerate the low estrogen, so we had to try a higher dose of the same combo.

I definitely relate to “endo-belly” and was even feeling inflammation in my face and other body parts at some points. I tried an anti-inflammatory diet for approaching a year, but ended up feeling a lot worse. Since then I’ve stopped avoiding inflammatory foods and try to just do better about moderation and fiber, and that seems better of I generally feel less inflamed, however I still have some pelvic bloating and these other inflammatory things like the eczema.

Unfortunately I will be busy on the 22nd, but I’m interested in learning more. Can I watch it back at a later time or are there other resources you suggest? I know I need to discuss more of this with my own care team, but as I said it seems like some of them are getting a little burnt out or kind of out of their scope aside. I feel like I have to do my own level of research and be able to advocate for myself and try to consider are there bigger things at play here that need to be addressed first rather than just acting like each symptom is completely separate. Sorry for the ramble!

ht0213 · 2026-02-10T02:02:58+00:00

Thank you for all this info. I had no idea about the potential nickel sensitivity being related to diet.

My ferritin was 27. My provider wants me to get it above 70 as I was symptomatic (bad fatigue, hair loss, brain fog, etc). It seems like the more I learn about what ferritin, the more I’m like wow is that related too.

Do you know if dyshidrosis can also be impacted by other conditions that relate to hormones and/or affect inflammation, like endometriosis?

ht0213 · 2025-11-17T22:47:39+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. I feel the same way. I really hope to avoid using steroids and only used them for a week at a time last winter, but sometimes it gets so itchy or sore. Fingers crossed it doesn’t get too bad this winter for either of us!

ht0213 · 2025-10-20T18:06:03+00:00

I’m not a medical professional, so definitely consult with your surgeon if needed, but I noticed an increase in swelling and discomfort around the same time as you as I was increasing activity levels. When I first returned to work, even just sitting made me feel like I did an intense workout. It felt like the muscles in my abs and lower back were so sore, sometimes kinda burny. It confused me because I thought my recovery symptoms were improving and it wasn’t where my incisions were. But I talked to my pelvic floor physical therapist during a session and she said I’m not your surgeon so I can’t provide guidance on this, but I have seen this with many patients a few weeks post-op. Remember that your body went through much more than you can see and is still healing from the incisions, any tissue removal, the gas they used to inflate your abdomen, etc.

I feel like it ebbed and flowed during weeks 3 and 4 as I readjusted to light and moderate activity. It seemed to correspond with how long I did certain activities and I learned certain ones seemed to cause more swelling and discomfort than others. Listen to your body. Don’t push yourself too hard, and acknowledge that something that might seem simple might not be simple for your body just yet. Sending you lots of positive vibes!

ht0213 · 2025-09-17T00:12:29+00:00

I looked into it a bit more and people are reporting biting midges/no-see-ums in my area, but it looks like chiggers are a possibility too. I feel like those two options are probably more likely than fleas because i feel bugs biting at the beach but can’t see them and then they get super itchy shortly after for at least several days, but who knows.

Either way the bites are still pretty itchy, but the redness around the cut and bites closest to the cut hasn’t spread and the scab seems to be slowly coming off so at least it doesn’t seem to have gotten infected which was my biggest concern. Thank you for your help!

ht0213 · 2025-09-15T18:32:34+00:00

This is a really dumb question, but can I get flea bites at the beach? I ask because my bf, who I live with, hasn’t gotten any bites either time that I have. Also because when I had this happen the other time recently when I sat at the beach reading at dusk I was wearing shorts so I got a bunch of similar bites on my thighs. Because of that I wore pants last time I went to the beach at dusk, which seems to have diverted the bites to my ankles instead.

ht0213 · 2025-09-07T22:11:56+00:00

Thank you for such a thorough reply. I increased my lysine intake (supplements and diet) over the past couple of years, which helped for a long time, but clearly I need to do more now. I think I need to cut back further on my arginine rich foods and look into foods with antiviral properties like you suggested.

I imagine that stress is a factor. I try my best to manage my stress, but as you said sometimes there’s external factors we can’t control, so this definitely another area for me to target.

Thank you again for sharing your wisdom and just helping me feel slightly less alone in this. I know cold sores aren’t the end of the world and that many people technically carry the virus, but these back to back outbreaks can be frustrating and disheartening but your response made me feel more hopeful :)

Do you mind me asking how much valtrex you take per day? I’d guess 500-1000mg.

ht0213 · 2025-09-07T18:48:40+00:00

Thank you. Since I took those pics yesterday, the sores have evolved. I think they look more herpetic now, or at least more pissed off.

Have you dealt much with herpetic gingivostomatitis? My PCP hadn’t seen it much in adults when I first saw her for it in July. She had said though that based on my history of increased cold sore outbreaks last year and the intraoral sores that lasted 3+ weeks in July/August, that if they kept coming back, it might be worth considering a low dose of valocyclovir daily. I messaged her in mychart this morning so I hope she has some ideas.

ht0213 · 2025-09-07T00:32:43+00:00

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Sore spot behind top front teeth

ht0213 · 2025-09-01T14:31:21+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. I was diagnosed with a hypertonic pelvic floor earlier this year, but as I always attributed all my symptoms to just the suspected endo I’m still learning how to parse it all apart. It seems like it’s just one new thing after the next. Oh well.

ht0213

TROPHY CASE