ABC 123

123 Days in now. Been catching a bit of the lovely sun we've been getting here in Scotland recently. Sure it makes me itch for a good (bad really) 5 or 10 minutes but, after a bit of time and willpower my body/skin adjusts to the environmental changes to which I can relax too while catching some rays and boosting my Vit D levels... Yassssssssss.

Still experiencing the flare cycle. Still Waking up every morning with super dry skin. Still Not been moisturizing for about 6 weeks now. Still chucking on Vaseline and Sudocrem  when required... sadly, that's every day, ha ha.

So how's your skin been treating you lately?.

Not my face but my feet

This is an arm

Looking OK here

"Prawn" hand?

Hands are flaring mega

I can assure that's ice-cream

:L

Don't ask...

See you later Christian Slater;)

We'll keep kicking on... TSW will be defeated one day...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6tlZzkqfHw

Micro update... Day 110

Get in!. Over the moon and happy as Larry!. Not long in from my first bit of physical activity in what feels like aeons. It's been a while, roughly about 6 or 7 weeks since I last got some decent exercise in. Played a game of 5 a sides with some mates. Your boy lasted the full one and a half hours. Sweated mega buckets during the match. Only itched a couple of times. Some of the fellas asked what was up with my face (had some wounds from scratching) was straight up with them and explained what I'm going through without fishing for sympathy. They seemed to understand and were genuinely supportive.

Unfortunately while driving home I had a good scratch. However, not too much damage was done. As I'm sure some of you know by now, the toasting hot shower was orgasmic!. Will see how I feel in the morning - fingers crossed. Got another match invite for Wednesday evening... We shall see!.

More good news to share... Got two weeks annual leave off from work. Hopefully get some sun on the body while laying out the back.

Thanks for stopping by... hope your skin has been treating you good lately.


Gary

Day 102...

Happy days... bit further into withdrawal now. My skin continues to go through the same cycle as I described in the previous post... Dry skin, flake, feel the itch, scratch, weep/ooze & repeat.

Remaining positive however... Started to sweat from day 99. I've heard this is a good thing as the body is "remembering" old habits and long may that continue. Sweating mostly at night, frustratingly it follows a intense itch fest that can't be helped to scratch for a good wee while. Energy levels are coming back too - YESSSSS!. This is a major boost for me!. Hopefully I'll be able to hit the gym and play footie again soon. It's been far too long. Something like six weeks since I last put my self through the paces of a decent, good old work out. Ironically, insomnia has entered my life again. Sleeping for two hours, toss turn (turn the pillow over to cold side,etc) sleep for an hour or two then scratch for a bit.

If I'm not working I'll sleep for a good portion of the afternoon. If  working,  when I come home I'll jump in a bath, get greased up, eat a couple of bananas then snooze for a bit. I try to stay up but the fatigue kicks my ass and I give in to it easily. I've learned to just listen to the body now as it knows what's more better for me than I do.

Had a massive flare on Day 90. My skin shows rapid healing but. It truly amazes me how quickly the skin can heal after having a bath and a couple of rest days. When ever I flare, I just think of  healing up again in a few days time;)

So without further ado... have a cheeky peek at my "progress" below if you care to dare.

Day 90 - biggest facial flare to date :(

 

Day 90

Day 90 - Left wrist

Day 90 - Right wrist

Day 94 - Amazing healing here :)

Day 96

Day 96 - Old man arm time

Day 96

Day 96

Day 96 - Swelling much?

Day 96

Day 96

Day 96 - Elephant skin time

Day 102 - Lets have a laugh;)

There you have it folks. 102 days are now behind me. Feeling great on the inside... I'm sure the outside isn't too far behind.

Happy healing hugs to you all! - keep going, we will get there in time.


Cheers,

Gary

Around the World of Skin Insanity in Eighty Days...

I've reached 80 days now. Ten days shy of Club 90 or the three month milestone... 

I'm in full body withdrawal mode at present. My face strangely, has been the calmest part (having been the worst part) of my biggest organ for the past few days. The rest of my body mainly my neck, arms and legs are an evil shade of red with the added bonus of open wounds and flaky, dry skin.

Since I entered the "60's" stage of my withdrawal I have been pretty much bed ridden (if not at work). Energy levels were very low during this time. My body was aching and stiff while flaring up to three times per day. I listened to the body and just kept things on the down low during this phase of the withdrawal.

I live in epsom salt baths. Sometimes up to two per day, they're the bees knees, really can't champion them enough - highly recommend them if you too are going through this awfulness. If the itch gets to intense I'll jump in a smokin' hot shower to take care of it.

My skin has been going through a constant cycle of: dry - flake - flare - scratch - ooze - repeat. Going to bed I play the guessing game of what awaits my sight in the morning.

On that note, below are some images from Day 61 onwards.

PLEASE NOTE: The images below are... blah, blah. You know the drill by now;)

Day 63

Day 64

Day 64

Day 64

Day 64

Day 64

Day 69

Day 73

Day 73

Day 73

Day 73

Day 73

Day 74

Day 74

Day 74

Day 74

Day 78

Day 78

Day 78

Day 80 - Bit red but massive improvements!

So there you have it. 80 days down x to go!. Some people heal within 6 month from topical steroid withdrawal. I'm not gonna be naive though. My target is 9 months to one year. That being said, we're all going down a road with no map or directions to the final destination. The final destination being normal, healthy skin. What ever it takes. I keep trucking on. WE keep trucking on.


Thanks again for stopping by.

Happy healing! - enjoy the long weekend.

Gary

61 days in... the dryness has me

Two months and one day have now passed since steroids last touched my skin...


The dryness is spreading...


My face remains the worst area affected. My body is slowly getting more dryer as each new day begins. My morning routine consists of an epsom salt bath. For now, I only put some shea butter on my face and neck otherwise, I wouldn't be able to move/function, you know what I mean don't you?.

I've been refraining to moisturize the rest of my body (apart from my face) for the last few days hence the dryness. Wanting the body to remember how to moisturize by its self... the way its suppose too, right?. We shall see how it goes. For now the mood is low, not going to lie to you. However, I solider on.



Below are images from DAY 59,60 & 61.

DAY 59 - Friday after coming home from work

DAY 60 - woke up to this in the morning

DAY 61 - Woke up to this

Rumor has it DAY 90 is a possible shining light. Fingers crossed!.



Healing hugs to you all,


Gary

Never, Ever Give Up...

OK, so this isn't exactly on topic with what we're all fighting every day. But... I guess the message and inspiration to take from this video is THE POWER OF MENTAL STRENGTH AND HUMAN PERSEVERANCE.

WARNING: The music is a bit cheddar cheesy but the video is cool.



Topical steroid withdrawal can put you in some dark places at times, quite literally it is a living hell. It's not just a physical battle you're in, but a mental one too. The pain can be unbearable at times. The countless hours of scratching, the constant flares and shedding of the skin. Nothing can quite prepare you for this. You just have to... accept it. Grit your teeth and bear with it.

Think of it as a game, a challenge. At the end of the road of this challenge, guaranteed, will make you a much stronger person. You'll appreciate the little things more. Be more humble about life. 

So whatever day, month or year you're entering. Just remember one day soon, you'll wake up one morning and be free from this.

WE WILL WIN THIS WAR. NEVER, EVER GIVE UP.

Happy healing hugs to you,


Gary


One more thing...

Just to take the edge off my dramatic post - Hope this makes you smile;)