I was diagnosed in March 2006 as having LCV after a biopsy on an ulcer,
that wouldn't heal. Despite 3 courses of antibiotics, the thing
wouldn't heal so I came to outpatients for a 2nd opinion, as I also had
a very high ESR reading. I was treated with a seaweed type of matting
that gave me an infection, I was then treated with a gel, that did
nothing. Next came 25mg of prednisone daily, which they subsequently
reduced and was on 12.5mg and a topical steriod, it started to heal and
then once again I had another infection and a visit to wound care
clinic, they upped the prednisone to 50mg and I was prescibed comfeel
paste a thick brown goo (reminiscent of dog poo) that I applied every 3
days. Yes it started to get better again, but as I had a disease of the
auto immune system I was also on Imuran (Azathioprine) routine blood
tests shows everything was normal until the last blood test showed I
had no white cells and no neutriphils, so I rushed into hospital where
I stayed for 12 days and 8 in isolation. There I was looked at from
rhuematolgy, dermatology, wound care and infectious diseases.They
decided on a course of Articoat an expensive silver dressing with a
core, that is changed every 3 days, it might be expensive but the
ulcers have shrunk to almost 1/4 of the size they were and this is only
in a month.
I can also report I have now been put on a course of methotrexate with
5mg of folic acid either side of the dose because of the toxicity of
the drug and I am slowly coming off the prednisone. I am now down to
20mg for the next 2 weeks then down every 2 weeks until I to 12.5 for 4
weeks, I hope it gets rid of the fluid and my ballooning face, someone
said it hides the wrinkles.. maybe.. so for those of you that are out
there there is light at the end of the tunnel, I know because I am
coming out of it