Monday, October 20, 2014
EXTREMELY busy with school
I know I have been getting a lot of page visits. I'm sorry to say that my junior year of high school has been SO insanely busy and tight-scheduled to the point of where I am unable to post the rest of my hundreds of photos. I'll do my best to upload them soon, as well as post an update!
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
August-September 2013 Pictures
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| I had what seemed like a break, a moment of "calmness," here. |
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| Starting of September |
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| You can still see how my lymph node is swollen on the right (your left). |
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| Left elbow-the redness has subsided a bit and my skin's tone is peeking back through |
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| Right elbow |
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| End of September-redness has decreased |
Monday, July 21, 2014
Beginning of TSW-July 2013
These are the ones that I took in the past (July). I apologize for being so inconsistent with the picture taking. I have tried putting them in the most accurate order as possible.
Others from other months will be posted soon.
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| Before applying steroids-"eczema" out of control (bumpy, pimply-like, itchy, red, raw) |
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| A day or two after applying Hydrocortisone 0.2% |
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| Flare initiating after stopping steroids |
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| Continuing to start up flare |
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| Flaring- Right elbow's inner fold |
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| Flaring- Left elbow's inner fold |
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Notice how the lymph node is poking out of my neck.    
Nearing the end of July
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Saturday, July 19, 2014
Hi everyone! First off, I would just like to inform everyone of what topical steroid withdrawal (TSW, abbreviated) is in case you are a wonderer on my blog that is addled with the term, and wondering whether you, a family member, friend, etc., have/has it. Awareness of this medical condition is arising and I would love to increase this realization along with the hundreds of other bloggers out there.
Topical steroid withdrawal is synonymous with terms such as "red skin syndrome" and "steroid-induced eczema." You'll become comfortable with all the scientific jargon after reading blogs here and there. Basically, what this is is an opportunistic, big-burdened yet miraculous event one can go through to finally achieve a cure for their incurable (at least what doctors say) eczema. As probably guessed, the steroids are the culprit, especially if you have used them for an extended amount of time and have gotten worse. This process demands you to completely stop all steroids the doctors push in your way. You have to stop them completely cold-turkey, stop utilizing them on your skin for the rest of your life, and never, ever touch them again even after your skin heals. It sounds utterly simple but I will just put this out there: going through it is undoubtedly a hard and emotional process. But, if I was 15 (currently 16) when I first started this, then that means you CAN do it too.
Steroids are never meant to be used long term, and doctors often misguide patients on the symptoms caused by them. Whenever someone uses steroids but are unaware that they are addicted, they end up persistently scheduling dermatologist appointments and getting even stronger forms of it because their eczema retaliates and worsens each time. In the long run, some people have went from using the lowest, least potent form of steroid creams to consuming oral steroids and getting shots, which are the highest (and most dangerous) forms of those so called "miracle drugs." Once they stop, they initiate the topical steroid withdrawal journey, and are on the road to being cured.
This is of course just an overview. I wonder how long it takes some other bloggers to write their Harry-Potter-length entries... much respect for them!
Any-hoo, my name is Emily. I am 16 years old and am living in a small town in Arkansas. My experience with withdrawal began a year ago on July 15th, when I was 15, so I realize it is pretty late starting my blog right now-oh well! Each experience counts, right? I am unable to pinpoint the exact age the regular eczema appeared, but it was most likely around ages 12.5-13. It was a weird age for it to appear on my skin since most of the people I know with this condition had it when they were little and eventually outgrew it/still have it. For my case, it started out as a penny-sized splotch on the left inner crease of my left elbow, and it most likely was a case of contact dermatitis and not atopic. It would not subside, so like any good parent, my father brought me to the doctors and I received a tube of Hydrocortisone 0.2%-a very low dosage steroid cream. The cycle started here. I would apply it, it would calm down for a week, it would return with an itchy vengeance, start SPREADING, transform the affected parts of my skin into a raw meat color of red, and I would have to go back to the doctor. Eventually I went to numerous doctors in America and in Taiwan and received differentiating results. One thought I had a bad case of a fungal infection, one thought I had a bacterial infection (which even seemed dumb to me at the age of 12-13...), one thought that it was solely the pollen from trees and plants, and so on. I remember desperately crying in one of their offices one time, literally begging the doctor to help me, and in the end, again, he unsympathetically prescribed me a tube of my worst nightmare. My mother only encouraged me to use the medicine. In the midst of all of this, I received hardly any support even from my parents because I would try to instead place my reliance on natural remedies and only apply the steroids very sporadically (maybe twice or thrice a month, if it was severe). They told me that the doctors only intended to do no harm, and I understood, but they did not understand me. They were not in my position, my shoes, and they did not understand me. And that's what angered me the most. I researched for countless hours for the root cause of eczema and natural remedies that cure. Drinking pungent apple cider vinegar to digesting half a cup of olive oil a day, trying wet wraps, probiotics, bathing in oatmeal baths, fish oil, changing my covers and pillows to hypoallergenic ones, and the worst: restricting my diet down to nothing but rice, vegetables, apples, and water for a year...I've done it all. I was so malnourished from avoiding everything including wheat, soy, dairy, eggs, corn, peanuts, chocolate, acidic fruits, and red meats. Grocery shopping was torture. Nothing worked. In the end, I only used the same tube of hydrocortisone my first doctor gave to me for about a year to a year and a half.
I cannot tell you how utterly depressed and hopeless I was until I found ITSAN. ITSAN, or the International Topical Steroid Awareness Network, made me realize that it was not the regular eczema I once had anymore. This is a website that persuaded me into terminating steroids. This website has a forum composed of the most lovely, caring people that have went or are going through the same thing and is basically the beacon of light once you start withdrawal. I'm able to post my experiences, talk and sympathize with others. It's fantastic, and I've been with them since day 1. I will post a link below.
I am proud to say that I have completed a year of my journey. I totally forgot until today. Until now, actually, while I'm writing this. I haven't even gotten the chance to celebrate!
Anyways, I will not try to cover it up-this has been the most difficult course of my life, but I am actually glad to be going through this. It has given me a lesson on life and a very, very different perspective on situations, and it has helped me build my self values and explore who I really am. This is a touch on my history!
-Emily
Links: Forum
Website
Topical steroid withdrawal is synonymous with terms such as "red skin syndrome" and "steroid-induced eczema." You'll become comfortable with all the scientific jargon after reading blogs here and there. Basically, what this is is an opportunistic, big-burdened yet miraculous event one can go through to finally achieve a cure for their incurable (at least what doctors say) eczema. As probably guessed, the steroids are the culprit, especially if you have used them for an extended amount of time and have gotten worse. This process demands you to completely stop all steroids the doctors push in your way. You have to stop them completely cold-turkey, stop utilizing them on your skin for the rest of your life, and never, ever touch them again even after your skin heals. It sounds utterly simple but I will just put this out there: going through it is undoubtedly a hard and emotional process. But, if I was 15 (currently 16) when I first started this, then that means you CAN do it too.
Steroids are never meant to be used long term, and doctors often misguide patients on the symptoms caused by them. Whenever someone uses steroids but are unaware that they are addicted, they end up persistently scheduling dermatologist appointments and getting even stronger forms of it because their eczema retaliates and worsens each time. In the long run, some people have went from using the lowest, least potent form of steroid creams to consuming oral steroids and getting shots, which are the highest (and most dangerous) forms of those so called "miracle drugs." Once they stop, they initiate the topical steroid withdrawal journey, and are on the road to being cured.
This is of course just an overview. I wonder how long it takes some other bloggers to write their Harry-Potter-length entries... much respect for them!
Any-hoo, my name is Emily. I am 16 years old and am living in a small town in Arkansas. My experience with withdrawal began a year ago on July 15th, when I was 15, so I realize it is pretty late starting my blog right now-oh well! Each experience counts, right? I am unable to pinpoint the exact age the regular eczema appeared, but it was most likely around ages 12.5-13. It was a weird age for it to appear on my skin since most of the people I know with this condition had it when they were little and eventually outgrew it/still have it. For my case, it started out as a penny-sized splotch on the left inner crease of my left elbow, and it most likely was a case of contact dermatitis and not atopic. It would not subside, so like any good parent, my father brought me to the doctors and I received a tube of Hydrocortisone 0.2%-a very low dosage steroid cream. The cycle started here. I would apply it, it would calm down for a week, it would return with an itchy vengeance, start SPREADING, transform the affected parts of my skin into a raw meat color of red, and I would have to go back to the doctor. Eventually I went to numerous doctors in America and in Taiwan and received differentiating results. One thought I had a bad case of a fungal infection, one thought I had a bacterial infection (which even seemed dumb to me at the age of 12-13...), one thought that it was solely the pollen from trees and plants, and so on. I remember desperately crying in one of their offices one time, literally begging the doctor to help me, and in the end, again, he unsympathetically prescribed me a tube of my worst nightmare. My mother only encouraged me to use the medicine. In the midst of all of this, I received hardly any support even from my parents because I would try to instead place my reliance on natural remedies and only apply the steroids very sporadically (maybe twice or thrice a month, if it was severe). They told me that the doctors only intended to do no harm, and I understood, but they did not understand me. They were not in my position, my shoes, and they did not understand me. And that's what angered me the most. I researched for countless hours for the root cause of eczema and natural remedies that cure. Drinking pungent apple cider vinegar to digesting half a cup of olive oil a day, trying wet wraps, probiotics, bathing in oatmeal baths, fish oil, changing my covers and pillows to hypoallergenic ones, and the worst: restricting my diet down to nothing but rice, vegetables, apples, and water for a year...I've done it all. I was so malnourished from avoiding everything including wheat, soy, dairy, eggs, corn, peanuts, chocolate, acidic fruits, and red meats. Grocery shopping was torture. Nothing worked. In the end, I only used the same tube of hydrocortisone my first doctor gave to me for about a year to a year and a half.
I cannot tell you how utterly depressed and hopeless I was until I found ITSAN. ITSAN, or the International Topical Steroid Awareness Network, made me realize that it was not the regular eczema I once had anymore. This is a website that persuaded me into terminating steroids. This website has a forum composed of the most lovely, caring people that have went or are going through the same thing and is basically the beacon of light once you start withdrawal. I'm able to post my experiences, talk and sympathize with others. It's fantastic, and I've been with them since day 1. I will post a link below.
I am proud to say that I have completed a year of my journey. I totally forgot until today. Until now, actually, while I'm writing this. I haven't even gotten the chance to celebrate!
Anyways, I will not try to cover it up-this has been the most difficult course of my life, but I am actually glad to be going through this. It has given me a lesson on life and a very, very different perspective on situations, and it has helped me build my self values and explore who I really am. This is a touch on my history!
-Emily
Links: Forum
Website
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