u/Tall_Palpitation_476

Background: I was diagnosed in April 2026 by my rheumatologist with systemic scleroderma following a year of breast cancer treatment. It seems to have been triggered by Doxetaxol chemotherapy.
My labs from October 2025 showed my ANA Titer Positive & ANA er of Titer of 1:1280 High.
I wasn’t able to get a rheumatologist appointment until this year.
I noticed what I found out to be Raynard’s back in December at a doctors appointment when I was in a cold room.
My rheumatologist diagnosed me immediately with systemic scleroderma from elbows to fingers & knees to toes. The really tight skin is around my ankles; for another post. She put me on HCQ & gave me a prednisone script of 20 mg to calm the inflammation which worked; I’m tapering off that currently.
About two weeks ago, I started to see what appeared to be pimples forming on my index and fourth finger joint’s which eventually turned into scab/ulcers. I put Mupircin bacterial ointment on them for a week & called my rheumatologist last Friday after doing some reading in this group. She wasn’t in but her nurse had me text a picture of my hand.
She called a script in for me which I picked up yesterday called Nitro-Bid. It didn’t hurt immediately when I put it on but within an hour, oh boy! It felt like the pain of getting a sand spur in your foot!
Now, 12 hours later, my finger ulcers which had turned to scabs prior, with one falling off leaving what looked like a tiny hole with pink healing skin; the other a scab kind of hanging halfway off are looking 100% better.
Anyone else being treated with this?
What causes this issue?

Had Raynauds start last December following HER2+ breast cancer treatment; most likely triggered autoimmune due to doxetaxol(s). Hands change colors from fingertips to hand; same on feet - figured out o line & confirmation at rheumatologist last week.

Also, hands start to curl, hard to type, hold things; again, I thought it was due to neuropathy ~ well, rheumatologist took one look at my hands/feet and told me, scleroderma. My previous labs from September during HP infusions showed weird ANA plus other markers.

Sent for more labs following my appointment.

I also have little purple dots on my finger tips.

I was finishing a five day/20mg per day of prednisone from my bc oncologist. Got another “flare up “ script; I’ve read warnings about continued use so headed to dispensary for balm.

She also put me on the hydro…

What next?!