26 Months Update

26 Months and seven days are now behind me folks.

Earlier today I Recorded a quick video update whilst I was out for a walk around a country park here in the very warm and sunny Scotland.

Energy levels and mood have been improving massively over the last 9 or 10 days. Here's hoping the skin follows suit.

Will keep you posted if this is indeed the case!.

As always I wish and hope you're having a good skin day. If not, I hope you get some relief soon.

Take it easy and thanks for stopping by.

Gary

Two Years and Five Days Destroyed Now

So I passed the two years milestone on the third of the month just there. To celebrate I've made some whacky videos showing my undying love for a special someone, a special someone who has been there for me during this awful withdrawal process. Here's to you my love.

 

 

Anything to keep you going and keep the darkness at bay I suppose?. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!. Flakes and dead skin be gone. You shall not pass!.

Thanks for popping on by. Take it easy out there.

All the best!

Gary

Video update - Just shy of two years from TSW

Hi folks,

Recorded a short video the other day with my recent progress on the spur of the moment whilst out going for a walk around a nature trail, near by my home. My skin has been getting better and better with my face being the clearest it has been in roughly four months compared to now. You can see how much my face has improved from my second last post from the blog. Just scroll down, what a difference!.

It's still cold and Winter time here, in Scotland. But, the sun was shining along with my mood so hence why I decided to make the video.

I can't quite believe the timing of my healing. I have a trip booked in Amsterdam tomorrow for my birthday which is on the Wednesday, the second of March. I'm still pinching myself as my mind has been blown. Honestly, it's just within the last few days that my face has cleared up. This is the best present that I could've asked for for my birthday.

Fingers and toes crossed that I continue to see progress with my skin. Dare I say I might be on the road to full recovery?. Who knows?. I could just be entering another break period, which is always welcome in this here parts too!.

Seriously though, I'm not naive enough to think that I could be free from the pain and madness that comes with this burden. As I am sure like most of you know by now, Topical Steroid Withdrawal is so random and diverse with regards to the progress being made with the old healing factor.

As always I appreciate you stopping by. Here's hoping we've not got long left to go now.


Will keep you posted!. 


Take care,


Gary

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwmoGBhS3Q4&feature=youtu.be

Hello Darkness, My Old Friend...

Well, I am nuts deep into the dreaded anniversary flare folks.

After having a break for a few month during the Summer the Winter months have put me right back in it again. Even though I was still flaring during my "break" period, my skin has taken a wrong turn down south since the start of November.

I've been holding off to post lately in hope for some good news to share with you. Sadly, that isn't the case.

All the original symptoms have returned. Even the horrible insomnia. Positively and strangely, I have enough energy to get me through the working day which is huge for me. I've only ever had a few days off from work during my entire time with withdrawal.

Is it a severe as my first "big" flare?. I dunno yet to be honest. My skin is getting worse by the day so I might not have peaked to that level. Judging by my previous updates from my blog my skin should be getting better by March/April time.

Got a trip booked in Amsterdam for my birthday at the start of March so fingers crossed my skin drops back into a more calmer period.

The anniversary flare is tougher to deal with mentally as you think you're on your way out then BOOM!, back to square one. Just have to keep pushing on I suppose and keep Kicking TSW's ass like a savage!.

Last good skin day. October 31st, Halloween,. My Sister & I.
I Dressed up as Charlie Brown from "Peanuts" for attending a Halloween party.

Looks like a penis, no? :)

All of the above photos are from November. The temperature outside here in Scotland started to drop as we entered Winter time...


Below are some images from December with the temperature dropping even more. You can see my skin getting worse with time.

The images below are from the other day (in January now).

As always, it's time that will heal us from this beast.


Gary

TSW Highlighted in the Mainstream Media

Just sharing some awareness from "big media" regarding withdrawal from the you know what's.

The article featured is from The Daily Mail newspaper, here, in the UK. Feeling quite pumped about this latest piece of recognition. It's getting out there folks!. Hopefully it's not too long for our condition to be recognized as a genuine medical illness. The future is looking bright gang. And hopefully not of the red variety either;)

Credit goes to Louise who's blog I found the article from. I also tip my hat to Laura Stageman, who the story is about.

Will update you on my own condition & progress in early January.

Take care and don't be too hard on yourselves. Remember you're going through a terrible ordeal which is no fault of your own. We can do this. We all have an end time. A guaranteed, better quality of life is at the finishing line awaiting us.

All the best for the new year. Healing thoughts & positivity be with you.

You can find the online news story here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3350782/Eczema-patient-spent-20-hours-day-bath-soothe-flaking-skin-suffering-severe-reaction-stopped-using-steroid-creams.html

Loise's blog link is here:  http://topicalsteroidwithdrawal.blogspot.co.uk/


Gary

19 Months Update

Hi fellow itchy friends.

Been a while. How you doing?. Just passed the 19th month mark of my withdrawal a few days ago. So what's my current status with my withdrawal I hear you ask?.

Recorded a short video with all the gory details :)

Hope your skin is treating you good.

All the best,

Gary

17.5 months (Day 534) Update

Hi folks.

Day 534 has now been reached in my quest in being healed from TSW.

Where do I begin to fill you in on my progress?. Lets start with my diet. I posted (2nd last entry) about trying the gluten free & dairy free diet. Has it worked. Hmmmm, not 100% sure to be fair. Obviously there are health benefits in cleaning up ones diet but has it affected my healing?. As stated above I don't quite know. It's been a hard change and I have to admit there has been some days where I've ate some gluten and had some dairy. I'd say that I've stuck to the diet about 80% of the time. My lymph nodes have gotten smaller so there's less inflammation over all. But, I continue to flare daily although not as intense as previously, thankfully. I have more energy too and continue to take part in sports and hit the gym which has gotten more & more consistent recently.

So to answer the question of has my diet change increased my recovery speed?. The Jury's still out on that one. It could be just a coincidence and that time is making me feel & look more normal. As we all know by now time is the one and only true healer in this battle.

I've only been applying Jojoba oil to the skin when I get out the shower or bath in the mornings. My skin is more stronger and doesn't tear up or crack open. Still have some troublesome spots but only my hands, face & neck continue to break open during a flare attack & be the most stubborn of areas to heal. The oils are returning too. I'm only putting the Jojoba oil on once or twice in any given day.

Life has taken over recently thankfully which can only be a good thing as I haven''t been thinking too much about my skin. Not long moved into a new place and have been more & more social by getting out when I can & catching up with my friends & family.

Below are some picts of my slow but comforting progress.

At a family celebration last Friday evening. My sister and I (14.08.15)

As always thanks for stopping by. I hope all is well with you.

Gary