"I felt I hadn’t been listened to"

After waiting over 6 weeks for a dermatology appointment when I was referred from Rheumatology for the assessment and consideration of a skin biopsy to aid of diagnosis of raised patches on my big toes and the thickening of the palmer creases of my right hand.

I had my dermatology appointment and I’m so disappointed with the outcome.

Coming into the department the waiting area was full. I was called into the room, sat down and asked about what had been happening with the changes in my skin.

I explained the joint pain and swelling came first then the skin changes happened. I had made files of photos to show this. The consultant had a quick look at the photos of my hand but didn’t even look at the photos I had of my toes.

The consultant then asked to see my toes, looking from afar. Not even taking a close look they told me that it was contact dermatitis/ eczema.

I have contact allergies that I was diagnosed with in 2022 but have had no issues with my skin since then. I’m very careful with products I use and don’t change them.

I don’t think the patch of erythema is contact dermatitis/ eczema as 2 other dermatology sources have said it’s psoriasis.

I tried to explain the skin changes are only happening in areas where the joint is and that are swollen and inflamed. The skin changes I believe are coming from the inside and not from external factors. I tried to explain it’s now happening on my left hand in the skin folds, but the consultant wouldn’t listen to my symptoms, their mind was already made up that it must be my contact allergies that are causing the skin changes that I have had for months.

I asked if the thickening of the palmer creases which have left scarring has been caused by the inflamed joint or inflamed skin, but I got no answer. I’m extremely worried about what has happened in my right hand and can see it starting to happen in my left hand in the exact joints and folds. Nothing is being done to prevent the same damage that has been left in my right hand.

I asked about the option of the skin biopsy that rheumatology had asked for as this would aid the diagnosis and confirm what the erythema patch is, but the consultant wouldn’t even consider the skin biopsy. I was told that doing a biopsy on the big toe was too high risk and even if it was psoriasis they wouldn’t do a biopsy for that. Only carry out a biopsy where there’s suspensions of cancer.

I asked the consultant to have a look at my nails because all my nails in my hands and feet have changed. My big toes have the biggest changes, but they didn’t even look at them. Had a quick glance at the nails on my hand but said that’s nothing.

I was trying to explain and express my concerns regarding the changes in my skin, not only the changes I had been referred for but changes in the mind Dermographism I have which I feel is getting worse and how sensitive my skin in the areas already swollen but no one listened and didn’t have the time to listen.

I was then given the option of seeing a different consultant as they could see I wasn’t happy with the outcome of the rushed 10-minute appointment and expressed my concerns that this could take months to see someone else.

I left the room and the appointment feeling rather upset and in tears. I felt I hadn’t been listened to. The appointment was rushed and there was no examination carried out.

Therefore, after over 6 weeks waiting to see dermatologist I’m no further forward in my diagnosis and seeing the changes in my skin and in my right hand happening in my left hand I’m completely worried about the damage being done.