What's upsetting you today?

[DanaC]

I am getting really hacked off with this never-fucking-ending eczema flare-up.

It's been going on for weeks. I've tried all my usual creams and potions. Am wearing bandages at night to increase the absorption rate and prevent unthinking scratching. Still fucking horrible. Head to toe.

[DanaC]

I hate being like this. Aside from the obvious physical discomfort I feel so disgusting. My skin is sloughing away, and I know most people find that a revolting thing. I find it revolting. I don't want to be around anyone when I am like this. I leave a fucking trail. I can't wait til this is over.

[Griff]

I'm sorry to hear this D. Its unpredictable how long it will go on?

[monster]

Dana, have you tried latex gloves and saran wrap to incease absorption? Uncomfortable as all hell, but it works sometimes.

Will it cheer you up if i call you Danana, as I originally typed accidentally?

Are the creams working but slowly, or making no damn difference at all? If the latter, maybe a trip to the doctor again? last time I had a flare like this (20 years ago thankfully), they sent me to the hospital to get sorted out. they gave me potassium permanganate soaks which helped soothe the skin and made it better prepared to absorp the medicine and moisturizers. Probably way out of date as a treatment, but the point is they went for a different approach than the GPs and it worked.

Do you take anti-histamine to help with the itching?

[DanaC]

No idea :p

I went to the docs last week and got some medium strength corticosteroids. I am going to phone on Monday and suggest it is time to break out the big guns. It may also be time for antibiotics. With 70-80% coverage the risk of serious infection is quite high.

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by monster

Dana, have you tried latex gloves and saran wrap to incease absorption? Uncomfortable as all hell, but it works sometimes.

Will it cheer you up if i call you Danana, as I originally typed accidentally?

Are the creams working but slowly, or making no damn difference at all? If the latter, maybe a trip to the doctor again? last time I had a flare like this (20 years ago thankfully), they sent me to the hospital to get sorted out. they gave me potassium permanganate soaks which helped soothe the skin and made it better prepared to absorp the medicine and moisturizers. Probably way out of date as a treatment, but the point is they went for a different approach than the GPs and it worked.

Do you take anti-histamine to help with the itching?

I've bene using tubigrip dressings and cotton gloves. Can't use latex as I react to it.

Am taking hydroxizine, which is an anti-histimine combined with a sedative. Three times a day. It helps but also makes me a little zombielike:p

I am fortunate in that there is a GP at our surgery who specializes in dermatology. I think it's time to pay her a visit. She and I usually work out a regime and then I just get the meds I need accordingly after that. Every so often, maybe once every year or so I have to go back and we work out what's what.

This is what the worst areas currently look like: apols if anybody is eating when they see this. I know it's pretty gross looking. Thank heavens for small mercies, my face just looks flushed and swollen, but you;d only spot that if you knew what I normally look like. To anybody else, I look like I caught the sun a little. TRhe left pic is my forearm, the right is obviously my foot :p

[DanaC]

I don;t think I ever posted any pics of a flareup before. I never want the dwellar fellas to think of me like that. But hey, after seven years I might as well be brave ;P

[Griff]

I think it helps everyone realize the universality of suffering. Thank you for sharing yours. Continue to be brave.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by jimhelm

Wolf's user title is pissing me off. 19 years at the nuthouse.... Over just like that?

What the cock!?

It boils down to "you are really smart, you really know your job, you are awesome, but you don't work and play well with others."

[Griff]

Shit, we're all in trouble then. 19 years and its a problem now?

[DanaC]

Fuck, Wolf, that's horrible. How can 19 years of service and experience count for so little?

[monster]

Wolf, you got fired?

Yeah, Dana, I used the cotton gloves and roll stuff too, but they in turn wick up moisture that would be better off going to the skin and plastic doesn't. There are latex-free versions -I am also allergic to Latex -and that gets worse as I get older. I am so sorry, that looks terrible. definitely time for a visit to the doctor.

Is there a pattern for the flare-ups? Is it seasonal allergy-related? Can you see an allergist?

[DanaC]

I don't think it's seasonal allergies no. This can occur at any time of year. I think what set this particular one off was a bout of depression a couple of months ago, followed by 11 days of hotel living (starched sheets and towels, shower and no bath for oilatum, eating lots of fast food like a dickhead). It's been brewing for months but the London trip seemed to kick it into overdrive.

Once it's really kicked in it can be difficult to shift. I think the doc was too cautious in prescribing eumavate. Should have gone straight for betnovate. This is why I need to see the Doc who specialises in skin conditions. She's a lot less cautious.

I'll ask her about the plastic wrap. My one major concern with that is if it makes the skin sweat. Sweat makes me itch like someone's thrown itching powder all over me, even after it's been wiped away. It can start an itch that lasts for hours.

Thanks for the sympathy. I am feeling a hell of a lot better than i was when I posted earlier. Back to my sunny (ish) self

Just went for a great valley walk with the Pilster. Was hot as hell and it kicked the itch off a little, but I don;t care because it was so glorious. Enjoyed every minute of it as did He Who Must be Fed.

Also just spoke to my local 'farmer' friend and he says there'll be something smokable for this evening. Yey! That always helps put a better complexion onto my day *grins*

[footfootfoot]

Dana that looks itchy as fuck. Sorry. Tried oil of cloves to numb the area?

[DanaC]

I tried that once, years ago. The thing is, the itch isn't on the surface as such. It's deeper under the skin. The top layer already feels slightly numb. That's what makes the scratching so damaging. I can't just lightly scratch the skin and deal with the itch that way. All that does is make it worse. Sometimes I can't even feel it unless I really scratch hard. But it's only the surface that's numb. Underneath that it's sore and itchy. If that makes any kind of sense lol.


One of the problems with eczema remedies is that they tend to take an anaesthetic approach: lightly anaesthetise the skin surface. The trouble is, that itching is not actually related to pain, as was once believed. It involves different receptors in the brain. It is entirely possible to numb an area as far as pain is concerned but still feel the itch. All numbing it does is disable your ability to touch/scratch the itch.

One of the most horrible things I have experienced is having had anaesthetic for dental work and my lips left completely numb, but itching like hell. Can't even feel my fingers touching the area, but the itch was there. Untouchable.