Friday, 5 June 2015

Pre TSW - Found some old photos

Pre TSW - Found some old photos...




So I was deleting some files while cleaning up my hard drive when I stumbled across some old photos of myself from mid 2013 whilst I was still using corticosteroids.

The images show typical red skin syndrome, one of the many adverse effects from using the evil poison that is topical steroids. As you can see from the images below my skin was super red and inflamed while the others show my skin during a dry, flaky phase - all from the same month might I add.

Interestingly and thankfully I no longer suffer from that level of inflammation & redness. Well, only on my face these days. Also, that level of dryness has never returned throughout the latter stages of my withdrawal.

Just passed my 15 month into withdrawal dear reader. I will be me again, one day that is. Until then the fight goes on!.































































































Cheers & best wishes friends! :)


Gary


P.s.

Just thought I's share this wonderfully created video regarding TSW. The lady Briana, gives a humorous but powerful insight into what to expect while going through withdrawal. I encourage you to share the video with friends & family as it really does describe all the symptoms and negative impacts that TSW can have on ones quality of life.



Monday, 25 May 2015

Day 447 - Quick video update


The roller-coaster ride that is TSW


Day 447 - Quick video update. The 3rd of June will mark my 15 month anniversary of my withdrawal from corticosteroids. Offft, it's been one hell of a journey, I tell thee.

But I will prevail!. Hopefully by the time I reach 18 months my withdrawal will have ended. Fingers crossed.

18 months seems to be the lucky number for some people who have reached the end of their withdrawal. Not being naive. Just confident............... or stupid?, unreasonable?, ha ha.

Guess we'll just have to wait and see!.





 All the best.


 Gary 




Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Positive exposure for TSW & ITSAN from Canada

Hi folks.

Someone posted this article from the Huffington Post News in one of the Facebook support groups that I am a member off.

"B.C. Woman Whose Skin Fell Off Warns About Steroid Cream Addiction" is the name of said article.

 Full story can be found here: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/05/15/steroid-cream-addiction_n_7236986.html


Nice, positive story & a good read.



Gary



What Doctors Aren’t Telling You About Steroid Creams – Janelle’s Incredible Story. Link @ http://www.collective-evolution.com/2015/03/09/what-doctors-arent-telling-you-about-steroid-creams-janelles-incredible-story/

 Click here to listen to a documentary featuring Janelle Norman.

Join the Facebook support group. Link @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/212642132257327/

More info and all things topical steroid withdrawal related can be found @ http://www.itsan.org/



Saturday, 9 May 2015

Day 432


Day 432...

Just sharing my progress as of late folks.

My energy levels are still going strong compared to previous months thankfully, dear reader.

Flaring, sadly is still an everyday occurrence for myself. It tends to get worst around the start of every new month, which is interestingly about the time that my withdrawal started, "the third day" of the month that is.

At the start of the month there (May) I started getting random, sweat attacks during the day. Embarrassingly, I was up at a friends house when it began. It got too much. My skin just started pouring out copious amounts of sweat!. Then the ITCH, f**k me the itch was intense. I asked my mate if I could hop in their shower. Que, orgasmic sounds coming from the shower room! (you know what I mean, right?) ha ha. 

Sleeping much better too. Only wake up a couple of times during the night for a good, ol' scratch then quickly, without any problems fall back to sleep.

Took some pictures of the parts of my body that were the worst affected. You can see the redness has faded. Still have some dry, eczema like spots to heal here and there too, check the picts out below.







 
 







As always,

Muchas Gracias for stopping by. Healing thoughts are always with you.

Gary

Thursday, 23 April 2015

Progress in pictures - March 2014 to April 2015





My progress so far from March 14' to April 15'. Nearly 14 month into my withdrawal from corticosteroids.










Please scroll down below to view the images of my progression.

I warn you now that some of my pictures are quite graphic, like horror movie graphic!. 

You've been warned...


March 2014
April 2014
May 2014
June 2014
July 2014
August 2014
September 2014
October 2014
November 2014
December 2014
April 2015 - Today 23.04.15

Feeling much more like my pre TSW self again as in internally. Although my skin is still going through the motions. Maybe being completely healed is not that far away for me now, fingers crossed!.


Cheers,

Gary 

Saturday, 18 April 2015

13.5 Months and a bit completed now

Red, raw but happy...

Recently I told you that I'd switched to coco-nut oil instead of good, old reliable petroleum jelly for applying to my face & neck. Well, I got a bad reaction almost instantly when I put the CO on my face so I reverted back to the PJ only applying in the mornings and if my face got a bit dry during the day. Bear in mind that I'm still continuing with the moisturizer withdrawal everywhere else.

My face and the back of my neck have been given me some serious jip of late. I think the PJ is the culprit. So from today I'm refraining from using the PJ. Someone from the Facebook support group suggested hemp oil. Luckily, I found a bottle that I purchased a couple of months back in my drawer.

So I applied the HO (no instant reaction) after my Epsom salt bath, went and sat outside in the glorious, lovely, warm sunshine that we thankfully have been getting recently here in Scotland. Came back inside the house after about an hour then went for a nap. Woke up to a big red face, ha ha but at least it wasn't dry & flaky or sore and weepy.

So for now it's hemp oil only to be applied to my face/neck. MW will continue for the rest of my body. I plan to go completely product free on my entire body once my body's natural oils return. 

In the meantime I made a short video to capture my mood at the time :)

Strength and healing thoughts to all!

Gary




Tuesday, 31 March 2015

13 Months down in a few days time

One year has now passed with my fight against topical corticosteroids withdrawal.

Just coming out of a big flare actually. Entering a smaller one just now. Was super dry a couple of days ago as that's me also four weeks into moisturizer withdrawal. Only doing MW in certain areas. Doing MW everywhere apart from my face, neck and hands as these parts remain the angriest areas so must keep them moisturized during the day.

Yesterday I bought some coconut oil. Going to try out only on my troublesome spots instead of the petroleum jelly. Been using petroleum jelly since month three. Looking forward to seeing if I get some results with the swap. Not been having as much Epsom salt baths and showers as I've done previously. Trying to see if my body will start producing its own oils by skipping baths and showers. My skin interestingly, goes through different cycles during any given day.

Firstly when I get up in the morning my skin is a little dry. I then get ready for work only applying the PJ to my face, neck and hands. The pain is no longer present like it was in the earlier days so I can move freely thankfully without shoving pain killers down my neck. By midday my skin is more flexible. Early evening it continues to remain comfortable. Nighttime my skin begins to get dryer. I then start scratching and have a couple of flares during bedtime. Still got the old insomnia. The insomnia isn't as bothering as it has been. Maybe I'm wide awake until about three am. Then manage to get four or five hours of sleep if I'm working. Days off I can sleep longer and well into the afternoon if I've got no plans or nothing to do that day.

You'll be interested to know I still haven't opted for the imunnos yet. In previous posts I said I was considering take Cyclosporin. Think I'm just gonna solider on through without them now. Feeling confident that I can get to the end with just good, old perseverance.

Even more good news is that I've been more social by getting out and about and hanging with friends. Went on a night on the town the other week there. Had a good time with a few tasty beverages on hand. Even managed to get a game of footie with some old mates in there too. Although sadly, I'm still not ready to play football weekly nor am I ready to hit the gym. Missing my physical activities big time. Just have to be patient and get on with it I suppose.

Nice timing with the good weather approaching to our grey skied, ladled lands. Looking forward to the warm sun and lying out the back with the nice rays hitting my body and getting a cheeky tan.

Not got much really else to say here folks. As I always say; time and comfort are the allies. Slowly but surely I'm getting there as will you too. Maybe there's light at the tunnel for myself after all?.

Thanks for stopping by. Let me know how far you're into with withdrawal and how you're getting on.

Hope all is well at your end.

Thanks again.

Gary