Re: Low carb diet leads to mystery skin blisters?

Digital Art Resources <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Sure sounds like chicken pox!

i find it hard to believe that even a marginally competent GP wouldn't
recognize chicken pox.  

> "Yeechang Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > On 24 August I began an Atkins diet and since have been keeping it
> > quite faithfully. (For the record, I'm still in induction, as I
> > plateaued after losing a grand total of 5-6 pounds, but then at 6'1"
> > and 200 pounds I'm not very far from where I should be anyway.)
> >
> > Beginning the second week of September my back began breaking out in
> > large, symmetrical clusters of red bumps that turned into blisters
> > that contain a fair amount of pus. At first I ignored them figuring
> > they'd go away. However, they haven't. They've steadily worsened the
> > past couple of weeks, and are now spreading to the area below my
> > armpits. A few have appeared on my chest and neck. They all itch like
> > crazy, especially in the initial stages.
> >
> > I went to my general physician today, who upon seeing my back
> > immediately had me see the head of the dermatology group. The
> > dermatologist was also mystified (enough to summon two of his
> > colleagues for consultation), but has ruled out hives, insect bites
> > (due to the blisters' symmetrical nature), and anything contagious. He
> > figures it's one of a family of conditions with immunological causes
> > ("IPA" was mentioned during the dermatologists' discussions while
> > examining me, I believe), perhaps globules of some kind. We'll know
> > more once results of the biopsy he took comes back later this week and
> > through next week.
> >
> > Meanwhile, I of course can't help but to speculate on possible
> > causes. I work in an office environment and have not traveled. The
> > only skin problems I've had before are acne and, last year, a
> > diagnosis of tinea versicolor that has long since been completely
> > treated with Nizoral shampoo. I live alone and no one else has used my
> > bedsheets.
> >
> > The only recent change in my lifestyle has been the Atkins. It's fair
> > to say bacon (especially precooked) is a large portion of my diet
> > right now, along with pepperoni slices, mozzerella string cheese, pork
> > rinds, and almonds. For lunch I have a steak and a salad.
> >
> > I know ordinary bacon is frowned upon by Atkins devotees due to the
> > nitrate content, but haven't seen any mention of nitrates causing the
> > kinds of symptoms I'm seeing. Is there something else in my diet that
> > could be causing what I am experiencing?
> >
> > -- 
> > Read my Deep Thoughts @ <URL:http://www.ylee.org/blog/>     PERTH ----> *
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> idle