Diet and Supplements

I may or may not have mentioned my diet and supplements I'm taking and that's because I haven't made any changes. This may be important to note. Almost every blog that I read has people who have made changes to their diet or are on a gluten- no sugar etc kick. They all take some sort of vitamin with some taking more then 3 supplements and having strict regimens for their skin. And you know what I notice? Nothing. Everyone is still suffering.

I in general, try to eat healthy. I consider myself healthier than the average American, I eat some type of fruit everyday...lol Seriously though, I don't eat fast food, or drink soda except on special occasions. I don't drink alcohol. My weakness however....is cookies. There was a week straight where I had four cookies a night, with a big glass of skim milk and that was that! Did that hurt or help my skin? Can't say, but what I do know is I will always chose a cookie and a glass of milk over a banana when I get home after work. 

Why no vitamins?  Well, the main reason is that it's  expensive. I can barley afford to buy skin requirements as it is. (Gauze etc.) Another reason is that I have taken them in the past and never noticed any difference in mood, skin or health. I know I should take them but I still haven't.

What do you guys say?
Is diet a deal breaker? Are you on one?
Are there any vitamins you insist I should be taking? Where is a good place to buy them?
Which ones are you taking?

Day 148

These first two pics were actually taken last night, but I wanted to show the healing of that chunk I took out of my face. Surprisingly a lot of the huge cuts on my face heal within a week. There's also a HUGE dark scratch on my nose.

These were taken in my car as always, everything is the same as far as damage, redness, and edema.
The cuts look a lot more healed just the morning after! My face isn't too terrible right now, in fact I almost feel pretty. But my feet are killing me! Especially the left one.

Day 146

Took a piece outta my face!

 Check out the scales on my feet. Sheeeeeedddddiiiinnnngggggg

Day 142-Hair Loss

Just a quick couple pics, I wasn't going to even bother uploading it, but thought it was a good picture showing the amount of hair I've lost.

I think it's about time I make a progress collage thing. Might be interesting...

Day 141-Red and Flakey...and Grateful

I wanted to make up for the lack of recent posts so I'm putting up lots of pictures

 Here I am on my lunch. Just as the title says, RED and flaky. But where's the grateful part? Scroll to the last photo.

This. 

I have the most wonderful husband in the world. 

I'm grateful and thankful for Ian.

(The bugs are us)

Now if you'll excuse me I have some cookies to eat and some Scriblenaughts to play!

Day 139- The Worst Flare of Them All?

There a bit of gap between the date of the posts, reason being is I've had a horrible flare for the past few days. On the 18th, Saturday night I had a lot more trouble sleeping than usual. Then the nerve/stingers started in. They have never been so deep before, I was crying in pain, wanting to rip my chest off! Ian couldn't scratch tickle or rub deep enough.

One of the other nights I tore my hands apart,  in my sleep, even with gloves gauze and all on. I ripped them off, scratched like crazy, which then woke me up. Crying I reached for the ibuprofen and cold water bottle by the bed and held onto it until the medicine kicked in and the stingers/nerve pain lightened up.

Day 133- Holy Hair Batman!

I only wash my hair  once or twice a week. Last night.... In the shower/bath as I ran my fingers though my hair I felt 50% of it come with me. I lost so much last night. It'll come back...Stay positive...

Don't let the picture fool you. I've always had SUPER thick hair. So while I did lose a lot last night, it doesn't look that bad yet... Getting more red and splotchy.

Day 132-Bright Side of the Down Side

 Red, I'm starting to get a lot redder and I've noticed more of my hair falling out. I recently bought a new brush and was excited about it because it was a lot easier on my hair then my old one.

Shoddily made too. 

Thing was like 5 bucks!

 When I saw this I was irritated at first and then I laughed and thought "Oh well at least I have less hair to brush now anyway"
.....
Then I was sad.
:(

Day 128

This is just a really big picture dump. Lol.
Showing the usual problem spots and a few others. I'm pretty red here, but not as inflamed or bright as it used to be.

The top images are of my right foot, and the bottem is the left foot. Both are swollen, with deep cuts and of coarse itchy as hell.

 While I though my hands were getting better I was checking in a patient today when he randomly asked "You been gettin up to the mountains?"
I was a lil confused and said "No, why is there something going on up there?"
"It looks like you got a lil case on you hands, they're a lil dry or something." He said.

 That's the first time I've had someone mention my hands specifically. And looking back now I wonder it it's only because he didn't see a ring on it.  Don't worry! Ian and I are as wonderful as always.

I just forgot my wedding ring on my night stand this morning :'(

I have to take my ring off before I sleep cause it cuts me and my fingers swell at night.

Day 127

I've been really trying to be more positive, but it's just so hard. Having family and friends there to support you through this is huge, and while I have neither, I am super thankful for Ian. My other half. He always tells me I'm beautiful, even when I don't feel like it.

Here I am at lunch. It was unusually sunny, so I had trouble taking a picture where I wasn't washed out buy the sun. So here I am with a smile, and handful of hair I acquired after running my fingers through my hair. :(

Day 126-My Poor Feet

Ow Ow OW!!! While the withdrawal has eased up on attacking my hands, it continues to attack my feet with full force. I had them wrapped all through bed, cleaned them up and then rewraped them before putting on socks and shoes.I kept them wrapped unti llunch where I took my shoes off to breathe and took some pics. Poor lil feets!! :(

Day 125- Four Months!!!

Happy four Months!!!! Technically it was the 7th but who cares.

I've noticed my skin seems to flare when I go back to work. Especially after my two days off. Makes sense I suppose, I don't want to be here and every inch of my body (including my skin) knows it. On the bright side, while I am still freezing, it's not nearly as bad as it used to be.

Here's to another week. 

Day by day

Day 121-Remembering the Past

Holy poop it is cold!!!

Don't worry I won't talk about the Polar vortex like everyone else in the States. :)
I'm still not as red, super flaky but nothing I can't handle.

I would like to talk about something else however. Everday since the 1st I wake up with lil white head "pop-able" hives? I have been getting these throughout the withdrawal, but for the last 4 days they won't go away.

I remember reading in another TSW sufferers blog that he too got the pop-able hives. He could even recall a time where he had these while using steroids, before his withdrawal.

I got these too when I was younger, but back then since I used to get so many infections I thought the hives to be folliculitis or some other type of infection. 

I remember using Protopic and the next day complaining of burning. I can very clearly remember saying "It feels kinda like when your fingers get frostbite" Looking back at it now I know it was vasodilitaion. I wish I would've stopped then. But I had no other options. Nothing worked. I was scared that I would always have to pack steroid oitments on trips or vacations. Terrified of losing my medical insurance... "I don't want to be doing this when I'm 40." "I don't know what this is, but it's not eczema." All of this before the withdrawl.

Listen to your intuition, Listen to your body. Listen to your skin. Even if your doctor tells you something else.

Day 118

Happy New Year!
Here's to Health and hope this year!
As usual let us dish out those resolutions! This year I just want to work on healing. I would like to eat better and the usual take better care of myself.

Not as red today..I guess I'll take what I can get.
I don't know, sometimes I feel like I'm getting better and then not. A very.... one step forward two steps back type of process.