As some of you already know, I've had a recurring (as in never went away) rash on my right index and middle finger since mid-October. I saw a dermatologist in December, being of the opinion that 2 months is too long for any normal rash. The doctor looked at it and said it was dyshidrotic eczema. What it looks like is dozens of tiny water blisters forming deep under the skin. Eventually there are so many of them that the upper layers of skin are no longer attached to the lower layers, so the upper layers slough off. I then have a raw patch of exposed dermis that takes a couple weeks to heal. Once healed, the cycle begins again. Now, 4 months after the initial diagnosis and with the problem slowly getting worse (it's now on my left index finger as well) I decided to take a look under my microscope at some of the clear fluid that oozes from the blisters. What I saw was bacteria. An ass load of flagellated cocci or bacillus swimming around, attaching to my cells, and then my cells would shrivel. I stared at and marveled at the sight for about half an hour, just to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

Now I'm in a bad position. Most people know that doctors like to stick by their diagnoses like preachers stick by the Bible. This becomes even worse when you go after them and say that they're wrong. Problem is that's the only dermatologist who takes my insurance anywhere nearby. So now I have a choice. A. Bury another $100-$200 into a different dermatologist that won't be covered by my insurance (and risk the same answer as the first guy). B. Spend $100-$200 on the supplies I'd need to accurately culture and identify the organism myself, then go confront my dermatologist with a pre-packaged diagnosis and demand treatment for it before my fucking hand rots off.

Opinions?