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July 6, 2007 at 5:22 pm #27286sarahtownyMember
This is really a little journey through the last few months with my dealing with Psoriasis which is very much like eczema. Psoriasis is the skin growing too quickly.
In the latter part of October I noticed red blotches appearing on my arms, this then spread to my whole body. The whole part of my lower legs basically had red blotches all over. So I was quite pleased it was winter so I could cover up. The doctors gave me steroid cream and emulsifying cream to use as soap and to keep my skin moist. He told me I was lucky has I had the type that once gone would be gone for good.
It got worse, much worse. It was all over my back my face even my toes. I went to London and bless my best mate, she had to rub this crappy cream over my back every night, and of course when at home my hubby had to do the same.
So I went back, got more creams etc etc. The doctor told me to go on sun beds, the sun is great for skin conditions. But boy are sun beds boring, it helped but no thanks! I then took in a friends advise and decided to try alternative medicine. I had some Chinese tea made up for me, and acupuncture, which did actually stop the aggressiveness of rash.
Anyway, it slowly got better up to a month ago. Then I was out running and fell. Got an infection in my knee, and boy did it come back so bad that my daily routine had to change big time. Get up shower, put on cream. After shower more cream. Every two hours during the day add more cream,in the evening put on dressing gown and completely cover myself in more cream very thickly. Even so in the middle of the night I would get up, and it was so dry my legs would be cracked and bleeding.
I must say I was so down then, I am quite girlie and so far this year not had a skirt on, or strappy tops. Blah! I am a lawyer so I deal with the public a lot. A client came in my face was dry, my skin was flacking every hour or so, I was mortified when in a conference with a client I put my hand on my forehead and all this skin came off, I apologised immediately, and he said it was fine. But I was so insecure I just wanted to run out the room.
I went to the doctors (for the millionth time) last week and instead of giving me a cream to combat infective psoriasis she gave me one for a vitamin D deficiency. So I was fine, my mood was, here we go, give it a try. So off I went with my Dovobet ointment. I got home and put it on. Omg my eyes watered, as just putting it on the soreness was gone, and I could not remember what that felt like.
In one week I have a few little marks left and that’s it. Where the cracking and bleeding areas are is just smooth but very white skin. My lower legs do look like a patchwork quilt with brown and white areas, but I don’t care at all.
I have written this basically because before this point in my life all I had ever had was the odd pimple. I have learned so much about me, who I am from this experience. I don’t believe it’s gone completely, and will always need a bit of treatment here and there, but I have found a method that controls it.
My family and I go to California for three weeks in August, and yes I will wear my shorts, and yes I might get people looking until the sun removes the white areas. But you know what I really don’t give a stuff. :p
So if you see someone in the street that is not just perfect, just think about how lucky you are. My problem was nothing compared to the medical problems some people have to worry about, but it made me sit back and think. Hope this has made you think a little bit to.
The end 😉
July 6, 2007 at 5:48 pm #162636Jeff HesterKeymasterVery brave of you to share what you’ve been going through. I like your optimism and your attitude, and I’m glad you’ve found a treatment that works!
July 6, 2007 at 8:52 pm #162640MrOatsMemberJeff wrote:Very brave of you to share what you’ve been going through. I like your optimism and your attitude, and I’m glad you’ve found a treatment that works!I second that.
It’s not always (or is it ever?) easy telling people your problems.
Good job Sarah, glad you’ve got this under control! 🙂
July 6, 2007 at 9:35 pm #162637RabidKittenParticipant*HUGS on Sarah* You’re always an inspiration honey. And have all kinds of fun!
July 7, 2007 at 12:46 am #162639gossipingraeMemberwow, that sounds pretty scary. i have really sensitive skin,and i know how much it hurts and itches when it’s cold outside, but i had no idea what you went through.
ps sami, i haven’t seen you in FOREVER! what have you been up to?
July 7, 2007 at 9:27 am #162641PolarBearNPRParticipantSarah – I’m so glad you continued searching til the solution was found. When things like this happen, it’s good to share! Especially here . . . BBB family is the bestest, you know. And you never know who might learn from what you’ve discovered and help in that way. We all need to remember that it’s not the outside of a person that we love, it’s who they are inside; ’cause that doesn’t change.
July 7, 2007 at 10:25 am #162638sarahtownyMemberThanks everyone for your kinds words. It means a lot. Thank you :0)
July 7, 2007 at 1:10 pm #162642Leapy LeoMemberI would like to add my condolences for your experience but congratulations on the positives you have drawn from it.
I did suffer from eczema so badly up into my early twenties that I was sent to the skin hospital where I was a part of some new trials for tablets and creams that worked indifferently well but I just seemed to grow out of it in the end. Unfortunately that wasn’t the end of my dealings with eczema as my 7 year old son has inherited it from me, as I did from my Dad.
What can you do? You’ve just got to get on with life, I guess, as Sarah’s post illustrates so well, and don’t allow the discomfort to overwhelm you. 🙂
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