Hi everyone!!!! This is my situation. About 3 months r so ago i went an had the top part of my right ear pierced. It was very sore an painful as a new piercing usually is for about 6 weeks at the very longest i believe. Mine is still very painful. It seems like when im feeling ok it seems to ease up a little to were i can sleep on my right side an it doesnt hurt as bad laying on my pillow( the pain is still there though) When i have a flare come on it gets almost unbearable and stays that away until my flare dies down,but never feeling completely pain free. I just noticed this pattern. I find it very odd. I have had my right ear pierced before at the top when i was younger an the experience was nothing like this. I only felt a little discomfort for a few days. I have tried to pull on it to pull it apart to take it out but its just too painful! Has anyone here experienced anythng like this before. If so please give me some advise. I guess im gonna have to go to the ER maybe an have them try an get it out. im dreading it because it hurts so dang bad. I want to know though if this sort of thing is common in lupus patients?HELP!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!
Hi Moniquecrader
I had my ears both triple pierced right before my wedding last year, and my right ear got red and sore and very painful. It swelled up, and I couldn't grasp the earring to get it out. My husband tried and couldn't - I couldn't stand the pain of him trying to help me. I put ice on it for a while to get the puffiness down, and my daughter was able to get it out. The ice will help numb it a bit and take the edge off the pain, and reduce the swelling so that you can get it out. This happened to me last year, before diagnosis and when my lupus was just starting to kick in. I had my ears pierced the first time when I was 9, and the doc pierced it at the time, and I had to lay die because they said I got as white as a ghost. I felt fine, I was 9 it was a cool thing. When I had my 2nd piercing - I had trouble with it healing, and had to take them out, and had them re-done later. I've not thought about doing it again, because my husband reminds me of what I went through.
If the ice doesn't help you to take it out, then you have to go to ER to get it out. Let us know how it goes?!
Hugs, Trisha
Hi Monique,
I agree with Trisha to take it out. Listen to your body! It may not be the time for your body to accept this! There are several on the Fibromyalgia site who have had piercings and tattoos and suffer their affects for a very long time, some have gone into major flares over them, some of them suffer these endlessly!
I know they may look nice, but sometimes the body just cannot deal with it and pain is just not worth it!
Hugs,
SK
I have not personally experienced this but one way or the other it sounds like u need medical advice. It may be infected!!! Go to er or doc!!! They may run labs and determine that it is an infection which may need antibiotics. Sometimes we have a tendancy to blame lupus for everything…because how can we not of course!!! But this one time it may actually be an infection that u r more susceptible to because of lupus. Either way don’t suffer with it any longer. I wish u the best!! Let us know the outcome. Good luck!!!
We know it stinks when u have to give up just one more thing that gives u pleasure or makes u who u r!!!
Hi Monique. I also had swelling, pain and redness after I got my ears pierced for the second time. I couldn’t stand the pain so I began putting rubbing alcohol on the piercings with the earrings still in my ears in the hope it would kill the infection. Didn’t work so I took the earrings out. I did have trouble grabbing them because of the swelling, so I used ice to bring down the swelling and also to numb my ears. It worked and I was able to remove them. I kept putting rubbing alcohol on the piercings many times throughout the day for several days. It worked. The infection went away and eventually the piercings closed up.
I got my ears pierced for the first time when I was 13. I’m 44 now. I started having problems with these piercings, too a few years before I was diagnosed with lupus when I was 40. I put rubbing alcohol on these old piercings when they become painful, itch and turn red. I do this and don’t wear earrings for a few days until they’re healed. Then I’m good until it happens again. This usually happens every other month. I also had my belly button pierced before lupus diagnosis which got infected, so I removed the piercing and again used alcohol to kill the infection. We are so susceptible to infections! Have to be careful.
I'm not sure about new ones, since I've been afraid to get any new body mods since my pain threshold plummeted, but my body has recently even started rejecting old piercings. i've had my belly button done since i was 16 and all of a sudden it seems to be getting red and irritated. try epsom* salts and warm water compress for a few min each day and keep it dry and clean. And honestly, unless you're hellbent on keeping it, I'd just take it out. Hope it works out for you.
I had to let my 3rd hole in my ears close up twice because one really hurt. I also had my eyebrow pierced twice and each time I had to remove it. The ears just hurt but the eyebrow actually seemed like it never really healed after months and was always getting crusted. I cleaned it with many different things from alcohol or peroxide to Band-Aid first aid antiseptic, but it did not help. It was causing headaches so I was done, I am not piercing or re-piercing anything else!!
I'd get it checked out by a Dr, it may be infected. Lupus affect your immune system & the drugs like Prednisone decrease immunity making it easier to get infections. I put hydrogine peroxide on my pierced ears & my ears. They can spray a local anesthetic on it to take the ear ring out so don't hesitate to get it checked out soon
You may have even developed a sensitivity to nickel, or any other ingredient in the earring. The most dangerous thing would be infection, blood poisoning is always possible! Be safe! Be sure! Get checked by a Physician very soon!
Hi Trish, Thanks for repling to my discussion! I have had several piercings in the past. And never had any kind of trouble with them. This has been the only one,and its right after ive been diagnosed with lupus. It isnt swollen r anything. Matter of fact it hasnt swollen up at all not even when i first got it done. It isnt red either. There is no visible sign of infection at all. The only time it gets red is when im in a flare an wake up in the morning from laying on it all night. It has me very puzzled! Im just not sure what in the world to make of it! The only thing is the horrible pain,as if there would be an infection.Then when im not in a flare the pain subsides to just a very mild pain. thank u so much for caring enough to weigh in on this puzzling situation,lol!!!!
sunrisetrisha said:
Hi Moniquecrader
I had my ears both triple pierced right before my wedding last year, and my right ear got red and sore and very painful. It swelled up, and I couldn't grasp the earring to get it out. My husband tried and couldn't - I couldn't stand the pain of him trying to help me. I put ice on it for a while to get the puffiness down, and my daughter was able to get it out. The ice will help numb it a bit and take the edge off the pain, and reduce the swelling so that you can get it out. This happened to me last year, before diagnosis and when my lupus was just starting to kick in. I had my ears pierced the first time when I was 9, and the doc pierced it at the time, and I had to lay die because they said I got as white as a ghost. I felt fine, I was 9 it was a cool thing. When I had my 2nd piercing - I had trouble with it healing, and had to take them out, and had them re-done later. I've not thought about doing it again, because my husband reminds me of what I went through.
If the ice doesn't help you to take it out, then you have to go to ER to get it out. Let us know how it goes?!
Hugs, Trisha
Im gonna have to look into some of these sites. it just has me very curious to find out why it is doing this when there is no infection. I am definatly gonna go to the ER very soon and get some help. I stay more in flares than oout so most of the time it is a horrible pain there,thank u so much!!!!!
SK said:
Hi Monique,
I agree with Trisha to take it out. Listen to your body! It may not be the time for your body to accept this! There are several on the Fibromyalgia site who have had piercings and tattoos and suffer their affects for a very long time, some have gone into major flares over them, some of them suffer these endlessly!
I know they may look nice, but sometimes the body just cannot deal with it and pain is just not worth it!
Hugs,
SK
Monique
Just an FYI I have had infections that show no redness or heat and the pus is building up under the skin and as others have stated the steriods lower your bodies ability to fight infection. I would take it out. One less thing for your body to fight against. I hope you feel better soon. God Bless
moniquecrader said:
Hi Trish, Thanks for repling to my discussion! I have had several piercings in the past. And never had any kind of trouble with them. This has been the only one,and its right after ive been diagnosed with lupus. It isnt swollen r anything. Matter of fact it hasnt swollen up at all not even when i first got it done. It isnt red either. There is no visible sign of infection at all. The only time it gets red is when im in a flare an wake up in the morning from laying on it all night. It has me very puzzled! Im just not sure what in the world to make of it! The only thing is the horrible pain,as if there would be an infection.Then when im not in a flare the pain subsides to just a very mild pain. thank u so much for caring enough to weigh in on this puzzling situation,lol!!!!
sunrisetrisha said:Hi Moniquecrader
I had my ears both triple pierced right before my wedding last year, and my right ear got red and sore and very painful. It swelled up, and I couldn't grasp the earring to get it out. My husband tried and couldn't - I couldn't stand the pain of him trying to help me. I put ice on it for a while to get the puffiness down, and my daughter was able to get it out. The ice will help numb it a bit and take the edge off the pain, and reduce the swelling so that you can get it out. This happened to me last year, before diagnosis and when my lupus was just starting to kick in. I had my ears pierced the first time when I was 9, and the doc pierced it at the time, and I had to lay die because they said I got as white as a ghost. I felt fine, I was 9 it was a cool thing. When I had my 2nd piercing - I had trouble with it healing, and had to take them out, and had them re-done later. I've not thought about doing it again, because my husband reminds me of what I went through.
If the ice doesn't help you to take it out, then you have to go to ER to get it out. Let us know how it goes?!
Hugs, Trisha
Yes ur right it sucks to have to give up more things that makes us who we are . I have thought about it being caused do to infection. But if it was an infection due to poor sterilization r poor up keep then there would be swelling and redness there. I do know enough to know that much. plus there is the fact that ive had several several piercings in the past and never no problems at all. then i get diagnosed with lupus get it pierced and this happenes with it when there is no signs of infection. And there is the pattern of being in a flare it getts extreme then it subsides as the flare goes away. Im not the type of person to jump to conclusions fast and blame everything on lupus. Actually im quite the oposite. Thats why it has taken me months to even play around with the idea of it being caused by the lupus and asking u guys about it. I didnt wanna believe that it could possibly be caused by lupus. partly i guess because im still a bit in denial about having lupus,i just dont wanna believe it. even though the symptoms r there for me to have to deal with every freaking day.Also i wanna add that even though there r no signs of infection i have been trying alcohol and peroxide on it ,let it dry then i put antibiotic ointment on it. I do this several times a day. Thank u for ur reply!!!!!!!!
Queenie said:
I have not personally experienced this but one way or the other it sounds like u need medical advice. It may be infected?!?! Go to er or doc!!! They may run labs and determine that it is an infection which may need antibiotics. Sometimes we have a tendancy to blame lupus for everything....because how can we not of course!!! But this one time it may actually be an infection that u r more susceptible to because of lupus. Either way don't suffer with it any longer. I wish u the best!! Let us know the outcome. Good luck!!!
We know it stinks when u have to give up just one more thing that gives u pleasure or makes u who u r!!!
Hi disarray!!! i would luv to just take it out,lol!!!! but i cant get a good grasp on it because of the pain to be able to pull it out. Ive tried several times. I only sleep a couple hours a night as it is. and when im in a flare (which is always) my ear keeps me from even sleeping a couple hours. I cant sleep on my back due to degenerative disc desease. I cant sleep on my left side because my left hip an side hurts to bad to lay on for a coupe hours at a time. So the only choice i have is my right side where the piercing is.I guess im not wanting to go to the er because they will get it out one way r the other and its so sore i dont want em touching me. Which they may have something they can numb it with first but knowing the hospitals around here i doubt it. Thanks!!!!!!!!
disarraycarr said:
I'm not sure about new ones, since I've been afraid to get any new body mods since my pain threshold plummeted, but my body has recently even started rejecting old piercings. i've had my belly button done since i was 16 and all of a sudden it seems to be getting red and irritated. try epsom* salts and warm water compress for a few min each day and keep it dry and clean. And honestly, unless you're hellbent on keeping it, I'd just take it out. Hope it works out for you.
Ann u r absolutely right, lupus is a learning experience. Its like u have to re envent ur whole life an everything in it,lol!!!! And not only me but my husband an daughter have to learn a new way of living. one were im not doing everything for them but were they r having to learn to think of me for a change,lol its been rough sailing so far!!!!! But we have been thru so much together i know we will all get in routines and habits to accomadate my ilness a little bit more. Which then it makes me a little more depressed knowing they have to start making sacrifices in thier routines for me.
But thats life , right? whatcha gonna due? We'll eventually all adjust!Anyway im rambling,thanks for ur reply and advise.
Ann A. said:
I am with those who suggest self care and those who suggest seeing a physician. A cold compress might reduce the swelling. But if it is an infection and is filled with pus a warm to hot compress may also cause some of the pus to come out and thereby reduce the pain and swelling. After trying the warm to hot compress (or the cold one) and making sure that the area is as clean as possible, apply antibiotic cream (some like neosporin or a generic equivalent).
Then see a physician. This is one of thos times when I would go to an immediate care center insted of an emergency room. The immediate care center is quicker and much less expensive.
With lupus our goal is always to avoid truama. If you are on any medications for lupus they are designed to supress your immune system and it is not a good idea to do anything that opens the door to infections. You poor poor thing. I feel so sorry for your pain. But living with lupus is definitely a learning experince.
Sunshine,
Mine doesnt even have any form of crust that builds up around it, It does seem like it just nevered healed up. It feels exactly like it did about 2 minutes after it gets pierced. But it eases up when my flares die down!
Sunshine751990 said:
I had to let my 3rd hole in my ears close up twice because one really hurt. I also had my eyebrow pierced twice and each time I had to remove it. The ears just hurt but the eyebrow actually seemed like it never really healed after months and was always getting crusted. I cleaned it with many different things from alcohol or peroxide to Band-Aid first aid antiseptic, but it did not help. It was causing headaches so I was done, I am not piercing or re-piercing anything else!!
Thank u thats what ive been wondering,if they put somethng on it to numb it. Thats a big reason why i havent went in yet.
OC GAL said:
I'd get it checked out by a Dr, it may be infected. Lupus affect your immune system & the drugs like Prednisone decrease immunity making it easier to get infections. I put hydrogine peroxide on my pierced ears & my ears. They can spray a local anesthetic on it to take the ear ring out so don't hesitate to get it checked out soon
Bless your heart! I used to have 3 piercings in each ear lobe, with no problem, until I got SLE. Now, I can't wear earrings because my ears are so sensitive. I don't want to try any more piercings since I tend to get infections right and left.
I do get tattoos, though, and my rheumo has a fit with me about it. They have healed very well and I've been getting them since I've been diagnosed and I only get them at one Shop.
Hope you feel better soon....I know it hurts!
Love and hugs,
Lori
Hi Monique,
I remember all too well, my husband trying to help me get it out and walking up to me with a pair if needle-nose pliers and I said NO thank you LOL. I couldn't get a hold of it myself, and it hurt too much to let anyone else touch it. I tried to clean it, with alcohol, antibiotic ointment and do whatever to get it to heal. But it was crazy to try to save something that was causing pain. Eventually, you have to decide for yourself, is this really worth it????? I tell my kids, you have choices, we all have choices. My choice was not to hurt anymore, and after I got it out myself, it healed and was better. The higher up you go on the ear the more sensitive for anyone, with or without lupus. My second piercing, I can only wear gold or silver, no costume jewelry. I put a pair in and haven't changed them. But that's just me.
This was a good discussion to bring here. Best wishes for you!
Trisha
moniquecrader said:
Hi Trish, Thanks for repling to my discussion! I have had several piercings in the past. And never had any kind of trouble with them. This has been the only one,and its right after ive been diagnosed with lupus. It isnt swollen r anything. Matter of fact it hasnt swollen up at all not even when i first got it done. It isnt red either. There is no visible sign of infection at all. The only time it gets red is when im in a flare an wake up in the morning from laying on it all night. It has me very puzzled! Im just not sure what in the world to make of it! The only thing is the horrible pain,as if there would be an infection.Then when im not in a flare the pain subsides to just a very mild pain. thank u so much for caring enough to weigh in on this puzzling situation,lol!!!!
sunrisetrisha said:Hi Moniquecrader
I had my ears both triple pierced right before my wedding last year, and my right ear got red and sore and very painful. It swelled up, and I couldn't grasp the earring to get it out. My husband tried and couldn't - I couldn't stand the pain of him trying to help me. I put ice on it for a while to get the puffiness down, and my daughter was able to get it out. The ice will help numb it a bit and take the edge off the pain, and reduce the swelling so that you can get it out. This happened to me last year, before diagnosis and when my lupus was just starting to kick in. I had my ears pierced the first time when I was 9, and the doc pierced it at the time, and I had to lay die because they said I got as white as a ghost. I felt fine, I was 9 it was a cool thing. When I had my 2nd piercing - I had trouble with it healing, and had to take them out, and had them re-done later. I've not thought about doing it again, because my husband reminds me of what I went through.
If the ice doesn't help you to take it out, then you have to go to ER to get it out. Let us know how it goes?!
Hugs, Trisha
Hello Monique,
I had my 3rd pair of ears done in my early 20s and kept going constantley bad with puss so i fetched them out and no trouble since...my sister who as lupus had her navel repierced 4 times through infection.
My last Tattoo was 9yrs ago and it healed fine but how my body is now you would'nt see me risk it.
A large majority of members have given you excellent advice about fetching it out and i'd do the same because if we go by the rules on keeping them clean till they go right and it works out opposite then it's telling you...no more of what you was able to do.
This link says a fare bit about issues.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/01/16/hepatitis-b-from-manipedis.aspx