 |
here's a pic of myself that i took today on my way home from work. i'm wearing some foundation but you can definitely see the improvement.
it's been awhile since my last post. here's an update so far: |
GOOD NEWS
-face is much better now. still slightly pink but i'm not as fiery red anymore. i still have a day here and there when my face is redder than usual but for the most part it has subsided dramatically.
-neck and chest are improving quite a bit as well (finally!). less red but still splotchy. my skin definitely feels stronger here.
-no more oozing
-for the most part, the burning is gone as well.
-shedding decreased
NOT SO GOOD NEWS
-my elbows are still bad if not worse. skin is super thin so the slightest scratch will tear my skin apart.
-it has now spread to my wrists, on top of my hands, and forearms. very red, raw, and thick.
-still have insomnia. i haven't had a good night's sleep in forever.
-itch is still pretty intense but seems to be a lot better than before.
overall, i think i am doing much better! besides the fact that my hands and wrists are relatively new rashes, everything else seems to be doing better. i'm still in those flare cycles though but i feel that they're getting shorter each time. right after a mini flare i got into massive shedding for a day or 2 but after i'll have nicer skin for a couple of days.
hope all of you are doing well!
hey mel great to hear u improving. i just ordered the book u mentioned in ur last post! i'm looking forward to reading it hehe i'm so glad, ur face looks completely normal! yay! happy healing :) ahfaye byebyesteroids.blogspot.com
ReplyDeletehi! sorry it took me so long to get back to you. how's the book so far? hope you're well :)
DeleteWow, your skin has improved so much from last month! I have read many people suffer with their hands for a lot longer, but in time that will go too. You give us hope!!!
ReplyDeletehi josh, thank you! my face, neck, and chest have drastically improved but now the TSW has moved to my hands and arms. i am hopeful they will improve since the parts of my body that were initially affected are much better now. hope you're healing well!
Deletegreat to hear that you're doing well. you're living proof perseverance pays :) the skin on the joints of my arms are pretty problematic as well--the fact that the skin is irritated makes them so much more susceptible to damage as well. i came up with a trick to help protect the skin...buy a pair of childrens/baby's leggings or stockings. cut the toe part off and a bit of the top off to make a shorter tube and slip it on over the joint of your arm, similar to an arm warmer. i wear this to sleep and during the day (i usually wear long sleeves/jackets). very comfortable, stays on all day, and helps protect against damage.
ReplyDeletestockings! great idea. i will try them for sure :)
Deletehey--great to hear back. :) i usually wear the stockings during the day. at night i will wear compression bandages like you mentioned below. i wear two of them and tie them together in a knot because those little metal things don't stay on. a safety pin might work.
Deletei remember you mentioned you're developing a red sleeve. how are you going about dealing with it, besides waiting for time to work it's magic)? i have one and it's so annoying how there's a perfect red line on my wrist. scratching less helps i know...i scratch out of compulsion a lot too ~_~
can't wait until your next update. you were the first TSW blogger i found so it's always exciting to hear what's up :)
you're looking fabulous and well done for getting this far!! i struggle with my joints too like lots of people, definitely going to be trying the above tip! and my wrists are a big problem for me at the minute so i think i'm going to try wrapping them in bandages for work etc so they dont bother so much. keep it up!x
ReplyDeleteHaha hey, the stocking trick works pretty well. I use ones for babies/children because they're tighter and therefore stay on better (I stopped wearing gloves to sleep because it's a waste of time...I always wake up with them on the floor). Not tight enough to cause numbing and cut off blood flow, but still nice and snug. At first I sometimes dealt with it rolling up in bed and throughout the day and what helps is wearing two layers of it, with the first layer being shorter.
Deletehi sarah! i went to the sports store the other day and got compression bandages for my elbows and wrists. so far so good!! it's feels like armor - protecting your skin from yourself.
DeleteMel! Can you post an update of how you're doing now in June?!
ReplyDeleteYou look fantastic! Rooting for you!