I hail from New Zealand and am slowly reading through the posts in this forum. I am not sure where to start with my story! Prior to Covid-lockdowns, I suffered with an ingrown toenail which meant that I usually only wore jandels. I think my feet got warm in those days. When I finally got help from a podiatrist, I got a severe rash on my feet and legs (and a bit on my hands). I was also diagnosed with ME/CFS and had to resign from my job the previous year. Now I have a big red patch on my left foot that a rheumatologist said wasn’t like that when I went to him earlier. It has been about 6 years that I have really struggled with severe facial flushing. Every place I went to seemed very hot to me and my face would go bright red. My GP ran out of ideas to help so she referred me back to the rheumatologist who suggested Erythromelalgia as my feet (alternates between burning and stone cold - sometimes both but not always), right hand (which is nearly always looking red and puffy with cracked/dry skin), and my face/ears. I have tried several different things which haven’t worked. When it gets bad, I get really emotional and wonder what the point of life is as I can’t go out anywhere, have to stay cold (in cold environment), or do much, particularly outside in the sun. I wondered what others would suggest?
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, for example ciprofloxacillin , can cause severe long lasting or even permanent neuropathic reaction, if that was prescribed for your in grown toenail.
Neuropathic reactions which resemble Erythromelalgia can also be caused by taking vitamin b6 , pyridoxine, a very common ingredient in many multivitamins. In my case I took 25mg every morning, plus adiitional at night, as part of a sleep treatment. There is growing evidence pyridoxine stays in the body a long time and may accumulate as well. Search it out for yourself. I have since stopped all b6 and am 6 months into a detox. My doctor says it may take 2 years or even be permanent damage. ( you would think a pharmacist like me would know better but just shows how us humans are so fallible )
I know it is a long shot you have taken those cipro or b6 but thought it worth a mention.
Sorry to be so blunt but I imagine the symptoms of a possible menopause would not help.
I have managed to cut down my meds and am very hopeful for a cure but one foot in particular has an injury as well which complicates things.
I know how you feel. Sometimes it really gets me down. But hang in there, you will eventually figure it out, or at a minium how to get good relief. I am finding Ai helpful. A lot of search engines have it. Type in your symptoms and see what it offers. Sometimes a small lead can lead on to something else. Take it quietly and choose your battles. Don’t stress the small stuff. Get out with the alpacas and into nature to take your mind of the discomfort.
Thank you for the reply to my question. I can’t remember the antibiotics that I was given but the name doesn’t ring any bells. And I haven’t had multi-vitamins for many years. I think that I can cope with my feet, but it is my face which gets to the burning stage and it is this that I really struggle with. I am trying to do research online to take to my GP to try. But so far, nothing is helping. And heading toward the warmer weather is off-putting as I want to do things outside but the warmth won’t help at all!