7.17.2008

Mark's Spots Update

Several comments on yesterday's post made me realize I've never updated the story of Mark's mysterious spots. As you can see on his arms in the pictures below, he still has some but they are definitely improving.

He's had a really rough time. He was literally covered in these raised, itchy, hive-like spots that seemed so random and mysterious and the doctors [he saw 3 different doctors, all from different specialties] couldn't seem to pin it down. It was pretty awful as the itching was terrible and then most of the spots turned into what looked like giant, weepy, gross blood blisters.

The dermatologist drew 7 vials of blood and did a biopsy from one of the sores [and they were sore!] and was not willing to commit himself to a name of any kind until all the test results were back in. The blood tests all came back negative, which was a good thing, because they those tests were for what the doc called 'bad stuff'. The biopsy results were slower to return but finally, we were given the name of "Sweet's Syndrome". I can tell you that there's nothing sweet about this infection, but that's the name.

It was interesting to read up on it and to discover that it's very rare, sometimes viral or can be a reaction to a more serious condition, like leukemia or cancer. As I said before, thank goodness for those negative blood tests!

They are healing now but it's been quite a process. The skin that was affected [and there was a lot of it] has all dried up and peeled off and now there's new, soft pink skin. There are some spots that have just faded down so that they aren't raised anymore at all, but just look like a red spot [on his arms and neck area, front and back especially] and they seem to just be gradually fading out.

The doctor told him that his feeling is that it will never happen again, that it was just some random viral 'event' that somehow Mark ended up having to endure.

He endured very gracefully - much more so than I did. I was mad. Really mad, that someone as kind, generous and good-natured as Mark had to deal with something as ugly as this. Rest assured, I know that being nice and kind doesn't guarantee you anything, but I can tell you that I was not happy about this happening to him. His attitude was much better than mine was.

But things are looking much, much better and I'm so grateful.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

such a crazy thing! i'm glad it's pretty much over and done with now...

Chris and Tara Mason said...

Yep - crazy indeed! It's tough when people we love go through pain and sickness!

Just Spotted said...

oh now! i hope all is well these days!

xoxo, K

Rebecca said...

I'm so glad he is feeling better. That's just so horrible and unfair.

Ashley said...

wow...what an ordeal!! so happy it's improving!!

Marilee said...

Aren't you glad that there is a name for it? Funny name though.

Mia said...

Oh man that is such good news. Hopefully he will continue to get better!

Emily said...

So glad to hear this!! I've been thinking about you guys a lot the last couple of weeks... hope they continue to fade and never come back!!

Natalie Scott said...

Thank goodness he's recovering, and thank goodness it wasn't more serious, albeit awful to deal with!

Melissa said...

Glad it was nothing too serious.

Hayley said...

i'm so glad that things have calmed down & you've gotten back results.

i'm sorry that i've been a slacker on commenting on blogs lately but i always read & have kept you guys in my thoughts!

hoLLy said...

so glad to hear he is doing much better. he sounds like he was a trooper-guys sure can handle things better than us girls. i'm a wimp and complain way more about stuff than joey does!

tiburon said...

That is crazy. I hope he is feeling better :)

Kristi said...

Oh man, pooor guy. I am so SO glad he is on the mend and all his tests turned out ok. You both have been such troopers through this.

. . . . . . . . . said...

I'm so glad it wasn't any of the BAD stuff...and grateful he's getting better.