Day 215 - Day 227: The Roller Coaster Continues (Topical Steroid Withdrawal)

*****NOTE:  I GOT A NEW IPHONE, SO MY PHOTO CONSISTENCY HAS CHANGED.  THE IPHONE 6 HAS BEEN TERRIBLE FOR USING FLASH (WHICH IS WHAT I'VE DONE FOR MOST OF THIS JOURNEY) AND THE WHITE BALANCE IS ALWAYS OFF, SO I LOOK GREENISH OR BLUISH OR PINKISH IN MOST PHOTOS.  REALLY ANNOYING.)*****

Guh.  This month has been difficult for me so far.  I think partly because I've had some really good moments and good days where I've felt as normal as I can with a constant discomfort.  I've had those good moments, so when the inevitable flares hit, they really hit me in the gut.  For a week or so, I started to get sleep and feel somewhat normal!  I wasn't waking up scratching!  My skin was improving!  I even bathed!  Then it hit the fan again and I'm now waking up every 2 hours ONCE again.  It causes anger and bitterness that are difficult to combat when you just feel like hiding in a dark room.

Anyway, here are pics from 215-227

(October 1 -October 12)
Day 215







Day 216

Looks good... but it's only a matter of time before it looks like hell again.  

Day 217

UGH.

Day 218

Felt descent today....  Pretty good, even... but I still look sick.

Day 219

Hives out of nowhere.

Day 220








Day 222





Day 223











Day 224





Day 225
I got a stomach bug and my skin calmed down...













Day 226



Day 227

I woke up scratching and did this to my neck.  For about 2 days it hurt like hell.