The worst day so far...

Day 24

Itchy, swelling, red, crusty, oozing, painful and dry skin is what is going on in the below images. For sure my angriest skin day thus far since I started my withdrawal on the 3rd of March. My lymph nodes on my neck (left side) had swollen up as well as my face. The dreaded Eczema herpeticum was taking full affect. They say when the affected area of the skin drys over its part of the healing process. Have a look if you dare...

Home from work and ready to jump in a HOT shower

 

Close up of the "action"

Scratch marks and scabs on my neck. Very dry also and sore when turning my head!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I jumped in the shower to relive the itch and scrub off the dry, flaky skin on my face and neck. At this stage it appears that it's only my face, ears, neck and hands that are giving me the most grief.

 

My arms and legs to an extent but no where near as itchy/dry or sore looking as the rest described above. The only good news for my body during withdrawal.

 

Below are three images from when I came out the shower. Perhaps the wrong idea to scrub my face but the skin was all crusty and wanted to come off maybe with a little forced help form yours truly. 

 

*Please note - The below images are a bit graphic and may put you off your Breakfast, Lunch or dinner. Maybe even all three!, ha.

 

 

Notice the orange ooze next to my nose and on my eyelid

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After moisturizing from head to toe I jumped into bed for a nap (my sleeping pattern is still all over the shop). I woke up a couple of hours later, had a peek in the mirror and was shocked to find my skin looking worse!. I contemplated going to the hospital just in case the antibiotics weren't taking full effect to kill off the infection. I gave myself to the evening if symptoms hadn't subsided then I was heading off to the hospital for sure as I've read the infection can spread and do even more damage i.e. spread to the internal organs!.

 

 

Thankfully my dead sea salt had arrived that morning. I had a bath with the DSS late afternoon, soaking in it for 20 minutes while trying not to touch or rub my face. I also began a 24 hour water fast (How to do a 24 hour water fast properly: http://tinyurl.com/lerh6ng) as I've heard it can speed up recovery time with an illness while also being very beneficial for the body.

 

 

 

 Day 25  

As I write this *Late evening  - Friday the 28th of March, my skin is way, way calmer and about 80% healed from the infection. My face is still a tad red including little clusters of scabs on my cheeks. My swollen lymph nodes are no more as is most of my swollen face. 

 

Now, I'm not saying the 24 hour fast helped in anyway. Maybe the antibiotics just needed more time to kick in (been taking them since Tuesday the 25th) but it might have helped along with the dead sea salt baths, two in total for 20 minutes each. Fingers crossed that's the end of my Eczema herpeticum nightmare *third time in six month I've now contracted it!. Nearly approaching my first full month of steroid free skin. Lets hope the road is a little smoother here on out.

  

 

Getting there

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much better than yesterday

 

Neck and back of head looking a bit better

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers for stopping through my fellow itchy friends!.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!,

Gary