******** WARNING GRAPHIC PHOTOS *********
Right now, it's the first day of my 9th month and I am ringing it in at 5:41, awake after waking up scratching from useless, dry, think skin on my neck. It feels like the skin of a rotisserie chicken. You know, the kind that is so crispy it kind of just breaks off. That's my skin on my chin, neck, chest, and arms.
The first flare I had was so bad that I really thought that was as far as it would spread. I never imagined my arms and hands would be getting WORSE in my 8th month. I never imagined I'd be home bound again with no energy to go out and skin so bad I don't want to face anything.
As far as my emotional state, I'm doing pretty well. Just letting people help me. However, it still hurts and really sucks to have this be my face. To have this be my skin. It's really awful and upsetting, to I avoid mirrors. I'm starting to test out supplements and other foods, too. My gut is still crazy off. I drank a green drink today that had probiotics in it and my body went haywire! Sweating, smelling... BLECH. I have no idea what the heck is still going on. Maybe bacteria or yeast... Who knows.
Day 234
Day 235
Day 236
Day 237
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| My skin is SO dry. I can't even describe it. Like nothing I've ever experienced. My skin has no elasticity. It wrinkles like I'm 80. |
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| To look at this in the mirror and know it's you, makes a person pretty bitter and angry. |
Day 238
Day 240
Day 242
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| My arms are getting worse and spreading. This disease is AWFUL. |
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| My mother in law brought me flowers... :) |
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| And she said I looked normal haha |
Day 243
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| Stephanie, a TSW mom, got me these slippers with a gift package of amazing and wonderful products to sample!! Her easy link is below and it is AMAZING stuff. |
AWESOME TSW skin products!! --->>The Home Apothecary
Day 244
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| I look like a baked chicken. |
This condition really does test every fibre of your being and can easily initiate anger and bitterness within yourself. I'm only 1 month ahead of you and have been flaring like this since the beginning. Please be patient and allow this TEMPORARY condition make you stronger and more resilient to negativity, because when this disease goes away, this will stay with you for the rest of your life. You will look back one day and smile at your accomplishments. You are a source of inspiration to me and many others facing this horrendous situation. Cry whenever you feel like crying but when you're done, wipe your eyes and focus on the inevitable beautiful health waiting for you at the end. A few months or years for a lifetime of health (no more low self-esteem, pain, depression) is a remarkable exchange, one that is worth being patient and increasing the beauty within you for. You're not alone sister. Keep ya head up!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful reply Mohamed it helps others just by reading this as I am in my 8 th month and wondering when WHEN WHEN will it stop
Deletety
cheryl
What a beautiful reply Mohamed it helps others just by reading this as I am in my 8 th month and wondering when WHEN WHEN will it stop
Deletety
cheryl
OMG my neck looked like that once. It was awful. I hope this flare ends for you soon :( looking at your pics made me want to vomit... just remembering how horrible it is.
ReplyDeletesending you hugs
I really hate seeing this. TSW is not worth it. A good doctor like Dr. Aron would have your skin almost cleared in a week. You'd never suffer again and be weaned off steroids in the next few months forever. Itsan has lied to you and you are suffering for it. Please consider conventional therapy. You could well be living with TSW for a few more years. Take control of your life back!
ReplyDeleteGerald, I was on steroids for years... And they ruined my life. You're telling me that your solution is to be on steroids forever? Even in diluted amounts, that CANT be good for you. I had perfectly managed skin before I quit, but the steroids destroyed my adrenals and endocrine system to the point I was having serious blood sugar fluctuations. I was crazy. I have heard and talked with TONS of people on the other side of TSW who are steroid free with beautiful skin. I've heard of MAYBE one person from Dr. Aaron's who isn't still on steroids. I could end this temporary suffering tomorrow by starting steroids again, I know this, but TSW is inevitsnke if you don't want to be reliant on steroids. It's the only solution I've seen so far that allows you to not be dependent. So, I'm suffering.. It sucks....I could stop it tomorrow... BUT it's either now or later. Steroids ARENT for me.
ReplyDeleteI apologize for sounding harsh. I just get so pissed off at how itsan has presented this to everyone and then I see someone suffering like this because of it and it gets my blood boiling! Dr. Aron gets people to the same point as TSW in virtually no time at all. You hear of people continuing to use steroids with Dr. Aron because we (yes we - I have a 7 year old daughter I put through TSW for 2 years before quitting and realizing how ridiculous it was) realize that occasional steroid use is not hurting one bit. We realize this through the process of being weaned off of them through his method and it's how we "choose" to continue to treat our flares. The flares, after his successful treament, are the same small rashes that many, many TSW people talk about - you know, how their skin is 100X better now. Same here. It's the same place. I could never again use steroids on my daughter and she would look 100X better than she did still. Instead, I slap a fingertip full on her flares once every 3 months (on average). Not a big deal! There is nobody using Dr. Aron that is suffering that I know of. There are people 5 years into TSW on Itsan and suffering.
DeleteIf steroids aren't for you, then great. You don't know how much others are suffering though. Here's a very good example! This girl would still be in a living hell if not for Dr. Aron.
https://machelan.wordpress.com/
Hi Jen! I wanna send you a virtual hug! <3 I'm sorry for the pain that you are experiencing, and I pray that you will have relief soon!
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned drinking a green drink with probiotics and experiencing some sweating and body odor. I know for myself when I started changing up my diet to a more healthy one (before TSW and at the beginning stages of it) and implementing green drinks and gut healing supplements (probiotics & digestive enzymes) my body went through a little detox. Those are normal symptoms. It's your body's way of pushing out the toxins and healing itself by using the amazing nutrients that you are supplying it with. I did a page on it on my blog if you're interested in checking it out... http://eczemaholistichealing.wordpress.com/how-to-naturally-heal-from-eczema-detoxification/
I remember feeling similar symptoms, and A LOT of elimination and a strong odor in my urine, because my body was detoxing and cleaning itself through the liver, kidneys and digestive system. I think it's definitely worth it to continue drinking green drinks, and especially taking the probiotics to help your immune system fight through this healing crisis. Fresh turmeric (anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial), ginger (digestive aid), and herbs like cilantro (pushes out heavy metals from the body) and parsley (diuretic) are really helpful add-ins to your green drinks!
I hope you have a speedy recovery from this flare! <3
Take Care!
-Jen
Awww boo Jen!!! That red sleeve is furious!
ReplyDeleteSending you positive healing thoughts.
CatRStephens