Awas Shingles

Deciding to try out the doc's method was a GFI moment and perhaps an act of desperation and experimentation. You might detect am regretting having gone down the alley with steroid creams and ointments.

So week 1 of the new prescription regime to step down the use of steroid creams had to be stopped mid way. The hydrocortesone was reacting to all parts of my skin, causing rashes. Additionally there was an area on my back where I had been applying both the fucibet and the hydrocortesone that seemed to make it worst.

It started with a stinging, burning sensation. The type of sensation that occurs when you have scratched yourself. I ignored it and went on a camping trip to South Wales to drag a tyre around the Brecon Beacons with a couple of 60 year olds.

3-4 days later some small blisters appeared. With eczema, it is not unusual to have blisters where some infection has occurred. Unfortunately the blisters continued to be sore and looked like they were spreading. They wept, became lumpy and ugly the more the steroid creams were applied. Thus stopped the application of steroid creams anywhere on my body as I thought there was a chemical reaction and now the same blisters were spreading onto my stomach. Really gross to touch (pic on right).

Two days later after the picture was taken, ran a 1/2 marathon. Felt tired, the pain on the back was bearable but completed the run even if it was a poor time. A friend who I'd shown the rash too said it looked similar to shingles (oh dear might have infected thousands as have been going into work)

Decided to drop into A&E (hospital) to get them to evaluate and give me an exact prognosis. L4 shingles it was! And yes the application of the steroid creams was making it worst. However by the time I had dropped into A&E the blisters had already dried out. Doc said I had only been infectious to those who did not have a vaccination against chicken pox or those who did not have chicken pox whilst the blisters were weeping. I could still go to work! Unfortunately as the virus was already on the way out there was nothing that could be done to ease the pain, and that it was possible that I could feel the pain for up to two months.

Doc recommended bathing in bath water with a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to reduce the intense itching and taking painkillers if the pain became unbearable.

Helping the Healing Process of Shingles
So having been told there was nothing that could be done, I of course did an internet search to find out about how to quickly reduce the post symptoms. Plenty of vitamin A, C and B to help nerve endings to be healed. So for the week I got through a 500g bag of baby carrots, a bag of
oranges and ate marmite sandwiches everyday.

I really don't know if that helped, but the pain was gone by the end of the week. So hopefully the nerve endings have been able to heal quickly.

As for running, well should have taken it easy as the virus could do further damage with a reduction in the immune system. So I have taken it easy otherwise my running buddies will give me an earful.

Got to find something else to eat!...might as well.

Food Sensitivities

Always look out for these. No matter what your doing, letting down your guard can be a bad one.....and eating lots of cashew nuts has been a bad one for me. Love them, body hates them :o(

The most common food allergies, in general, are diary, egg, peanut, tree nut (walnut, cashew, etc.), soy, and wheat.

Think I should try an exclusion diet for longer. Steroid creams can only do so much but the body needs nourishment to help the skin grow and reduce toxins that affect the lymphatic system. Phew

So.....

...another visit back to el doctor.

Doc: Skin looks much better

Me: Yeah - expected it as you've hit me hard with steroid creams. The flaking has reduced. My worst fear is that it'll all come back after stopping the steroids and that will be my big disappointment with the whole treatment.

(no pressure!)

Doc: What we will do is step down your treatment and ensure there is no rebound.
So
- Week 1: 1% hydrocortesone now every other day and fucibet the other days
- Week 2: Use only the hydrocortesone
- Week 3: Hydrocortesone every other day and then come and see me for the next stage

Me: Ok (well might as well since I've reverted back down the steroid path)

On the other hand having had the antibiotics seems to have calmed down my system and have been able to sleep at night without the use of anti-histamines. I have had 2 weeks of sleep and the skin likes sleep.....

Starting up a new world

In my zeal for removing all catepillars from my veggie patch, I sadly removed the aphid "lions" the nickname for hover fly maggots.......the good guys.....I have been like an antobiotic to my plants.

I miss those hover fly maggots, really exciting to watch when they go hunting for prey. Hoping to see them again but knowing, as summer ends, it is unlikely.

However my stomach bugs can be encouraged to grow back.

Probiotics! .......that's what everyone is telling me - "will get the friendly bacteria back in there!"

• Lactobacillus Acidophilus
• Lactobacillus Casei
• Lactobacillus Plantarum
• Lactobacillus Rhamnosus
• Bifidobacterium Bifidum
• Bifidobacterium Lactis
• Bifidobacterium Longum

And so I drink up!....MADNESS

....One Bag of Skin

....so another visit to el doctor, well a different one who has specialised in dermatology. Picture on the left is my arm before the medicines. The skin is flatter compared to the picture on the right in the side bar but texture ain't great and it is now red.

Me: So doc this is what I am using to keep my skin moisturised. 500g tub of emollient and have nearly finished it after a week....and this is a bag of skin to show you why. I have skin dandruff! (displays a ziplock bag of skin to doc)

Doc: Thank you, I don't need to see the bag of skin. It is obvious you have a skin problem.
Your skin is very warm to touch....

Me thinking: Good it means I'm very alive.

Doc: Very dry.....

Me: I only moisturised it an hour ago.

Doc: ......and you've done some damage to yourself.

Me thinking: Thank goodness I had a small scratch session in the night....the last doc didn't take me seriously when the skin had no scratches!

Doc: ....from the notes you've had this since January. Right I think we need to hit it hard.

Me: Yah! Finally

Doc: So I'm going to give you:
- 500mg Flucloxacillin (antibiotics) to take internally to kill the bacteria infection in your body. Take 4 times a day.
- Fucibet (say it carefully) - an antibiotic + cortesone cream to apply externally to clear the skin of any further infection
- Ucerax 25mg - stronger antihistamine to help you sleep and stop scratching in the night
- AND more emollients

Me: Great!

Doc: ....see me in 2 weeks time

I give the pharmacist a small fortune and look at the amount of "stuff" I need to take/apply.
For the whole of my life, I have avoided chemicals like antibiotics. Now I'm about to destroy the good bacteria I've nurtured my whole life.

Killing Bacteria
I decide to only take the antibiotics over the next couple of days to monitor its effects. The antibiotics reek of chemicals. However after the first day of downing antibiotic pills, the redness over the entire body seems to disappear and for the first time, I sleep normally at night.

3 days later the skin is still feeling good. Unfortunately this is the day where I got a bit slack taking the antibiotics. I was doing a 12.5 mile run and it's a warm day (in the 30s). 12.5 miles later the body is hot and I've forgotten to bring the pills to the venue so I miss a pill pop. Socialising, the itchiness starts and the skin is hot and red even after cooling down. I try to make up for it later, but in fact miss another pill pop as had eaten a meal and cake! (must take these pills on an empty stomach).

2 days after the run day the skin is still red and itchy, so decide to start applying the fucibet. I said never again to steroid creams, but many assure me it is only temporary and if applied correctly should heal the skin and the symptoms should not return. You guys BETTER be right!

Stand Still

So I know I said I would get up at the same time (08:00) every day. After 3 days of this, had to sleep in until 11am-12pm on the weekends to catch at least 5-6 hours sleep.

Fuzzy head + work = Struggle
Little to no sleep = Itchy skin

The brain signals the head to not bother or care how hard one scratches. However constant reminders keep things in check. So giving up a little and will go see doc about insomnia.

Yawn - maybe I should cat nap now....

Reprogramming Insomnia

The skin is looking much better and slowly beginning to look like normal skin.

The only problem now is the insomnia. An eczema sufferer can suffer long bouts of sleepless nights due to the itching and scratching. I've learnt to exist on 3-4 hours sleep a night sometimes only 1 or 2 hours during the weekdays and then try to do a catch up on the weekend.

Having done this since January, my head seems stuck in the habit. No matter what time I go to bed, I lay there restless but seem to doze off just before the alarm goes off at 07:00. Sometimes I go to bed in the early evening, tired. I doze off but then find I am awake after an hour and then the sleeplessness continues.

Sleep is so important for healing to occur so need to reprogram. Will to try to wake up at the same time every day. No more lie ins and early nights.