going crazy

md63

Hi Salduck,

You seem a bit happier! obviously your appointment put your mind a bit more at rest. The steroids will work pretty quickly, they normally don't like you to stay on them for very long, but this should calm your skin down and make it a bit more manageable. Have you considered trying a couple of wee sunbed sessions? Obviously not now, but when your skin calms a bit. I know we're always being told about the dangers of sunbeds and sunshine, but maybe a very short session every couple of weeks might help.

Agree with you regarding the sleeping pills, I wouldn't go down that road either.

take care x

salduck

Yes it did put my mind at rest that she knew what she was talking about and understood how bad it was!!
Steroids for 7 days only so hopefully that will clear it and then yes i had thought a sundeb aweek may help when skin healed
Thanks
SAl

Bronnie

Result!

The prescribed sleeping tablets are a short term fix to get you through this intense period. Family circumstances permitting, if you feel you need them, I wouldn't hesistate to use them as prescribed if they benefit your condition. I know what you mean not wanting to be a zombie but doing everything you can to break the itch-scratch-itch cycle is your absolute priority and if poss your 'support network' (if you're lucky enough to have one!) should try to accomodate you through this phase, in the same way as if you had a broken leg or you were 'ill' in some conventional manner.

Really pleased you're on track now! Good luck.

Bron
x

pjk_3

You might consider reading the thread here on vitamin d testing.

I used to get a mild form of a kind of eczema called dyshydrosis and since taking vitamin d (at quite a high dose of 5000 iu per day) it stopped. Then I didn't take the vitamin d for a few months, can't remember why, and one day noticed the beginnings of a flare up so I downed a mega dose of 20,000 iu to see what happened (note this is not a recommendation!). In the morning the 100 or so little blisters on my hands were almost all gone, maybe 3 or 4 were still there. I was beyond amazed as in the past it's never, ever done that - usually it's run its normal course over a few weeks. Since being back on the daily dose I've not had a single flare up.

moneysavingmumofone

I hope you can get soemthing sorted at the hospital, I really really feel for you. My psoriasis is so bad at the moment, especially under the arms. Its looking better at the moment as i put steroid treatment on but before that it was so cracked and sore, i couldnt put my arms down or sleep properly and the itching is driving me absolutely crackers. I tried e45 itch relief cream at £5.xx and it didnt work at all, neither did another one i tried. Trouble is most stuff (inc e45 cream) stings like mad, feels like my skin is burning off! Im worried if i go to the doctor he wont take it seriously as ive been using the steroid cream and it looks better but within days of stopping using it it will be really bad again! I hope you get some relief soon. x

Savvy_Sue

moneysavingmumofone wrote: »

Im worried if i go to the doctor he wont take it seriously as ive been using the steroid cream and it looks better but within days of stopping using it it will be really bad again! I hope you get some relief soon. x

I don't know about psoriasis, but DH has quite severe eczema and I am an avid reader of Exchange, the magazine from the National Eczema Society.

One problem is that sufferers often don't use steroid creams enough, or for long enough. So the condition doesn't fully recover and then flares up again suddenly.

Obviously this isn't medical advice, but do go back and explain what's happening, see if there is a skin clinic / consultant you can be referred to.

We had one memorable visit to Dermatology, when the consultant basically said that as DH's skin was so good at the moment, he couldn't advise or do anything. Shame he hadn't seen it when the GP referred us! However, we were then 'on the list' as it were, and could go direct to the hospital for an appointment if we needed it in the next 6 months, we didn't have to go through the GP.

We also had a referral to a wonderful dermatology nurse, more recently, who was extremely knowledgeable and helpful, and arranged light treatment.

Another :money: tip is to ask your pharmacist if they have any samples of creams and lotions which might help, before you shell out on things which don't help.

And finally, there is a Psoriasis Association, no idea if it's any good but worth being aware of.

newlywed

I thought the advice on sunbeds was not to use them if you have eczema???

I thought the advice (at one time) was that due to the use of steroid type creams to treat eczema your skin is thinner and therefore more delicate and shouldn't be exposed to the intensity of a sunbed?

Of course that was some time ago and they often change their minds

Savvy_Sue

It is true that prolonged use of steroid creams thins the skin - although this is NOT an argument against using them, because if you don't you may end up with no skin!

It is also true that whenever DH has 'wondered about' occasional use of a sunbed while receiving his light treatment the response has been "Very bad, very bad", but without giving him an intelligent explanation of why it's "very bad, very bad", and what the difference is between the rays they are using and those from a sunbed.

It may be a 'try it and find out' exercise, because many sufferers can't tolerate sun, but others find it enormously helpful. Would be worth considering which kind of person you are, and what the consequences are if you're the wrong kind of person ...

Zazen999

I was like this for a year before I found out what was wrong and it was dairy products and acidy foods. Cut that out and was back to normal within 3 days. I was highly sensitive to dairy for 10 whole years; but gradually introduced it back into my diet and became pretty much able to eat any cheese after a while.

I appreciate that they are giving you the steroids but something is causing it; I tried everything but then in desperation went to a health food shop tester and they told me the above; and so I tried it and it worked.

Prior to the above year; I had eczema for about 25 years and had tried all the lotions, potions, cures, baths, and the creams - oh my gosh those horrid creams. :eek:

salduck

I think the thing to keep in mind is that atopic eczema can be caused by any or all of the above that everyone ha mentioned and will be different and treatment different for every sufferer. Whilst I appreciate the advice and support I am not going to be going out and trying every single thing mentioned!!
Thanks again and it is much appreciated but I believe everyone has to learn their own way be it through normal or holistic methods to control and treat! And at the moment I am going down the lines of Medical support however I may get to a stage where I need to try other stuff in which case advice is appreciated.
Thanks
Sal