tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46035201697244693962024-03-13T06:49:36.695-07:00Itchy No MoreMy journey to defeating Topical Steroid Addictionmurielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-29389905673909890312015-07-04T19:31:00.002-07:002015-07-04T19:31:50.966-07:0015 MONTHS... and life can be tough sometimesI'm feeling a bit rusty due to my last post being nearly 5 months ago. A lot has happened in the last 5 months and I'm not to sure where I should start...<br />
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[Warning: Its going to be a long one!]<br />
<h3>
<b>Life over the last 5 months...</b></h3>
<b>21 Feb</b><br />
In my last post I was 7.5 weeks pregnant and super excited about our little jelly bean. I wasn't getting much morning sickness if any at all and my skin was almost glowing... well as close as you can get to glowing while in TSW anyway.<br />
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<b>16 March</b><br />
I decided to take the job that I was offered as Senior Graphic Designer at a little studio in town. I'd told them that I was pregnant when they interviewed me and I'm so grateful that despite this they still wanted me as part of their team!!<br />
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<b>26 March </b><br />
We went for our 12 week ultrasound to see that our little bean was growing as he should be. This was probably the first sign of trouble as the lady who did the ultrasound wanted us to come back the following week. So we did.<br />
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<b>2 April</b><br />
Had our next (3rd) ultrasound and this is when she voiced her concerns about him. He was much smaller than he should have been for 13 weeks.<br />
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The next 3 weeks were the hardest, most stressful and scary weeks of my entire life. We were referred to the hospital, had multiple scans and specialist visits. We found out our bean was a little boy and we also found out he had spina bifida among other problems and were told that he probably wouldn't survive much longer.<br />
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<b>19 April</b><br />
At 15 weeks and 3 days I started bleeding, we went up to the hospital, he miscarried at 11.45 in the morning. I can honestly say that this has been one of the hardest things I have ever experienced in my whole life. This was also my Grandpa's birthday (who passed away about 11 years ago) so we named him John after my Grandpa.<br />
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We took him home with us and I couldn't put the little box that he was in down for the next 2 days. Its the strangest thing loosing a baby. And its not something that many people talk about I've come to realise. So many people that I've talked to since then have either had it happen to themselves or know someone who has.<br />
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I figured that it was probably my fault that this had happened because at the end of December I'd run out of my Folate and B12 (which I was taking for my <a href="http://itchynomore.blogspot.co.nz/2014/04/result-mthfr-mutation-detected.html" target="_blank">MTHFR gene mutation</a>) so I wasn't taking this in the first 2 months of pregnancy which is the most critical time to be taking this supplement, which I thought had resulted in him having spina bifida. The doctor had agreed with me on this and thought that there wasn't any need for chromosome testing. We decided to get the testing done anyway.<br />
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After waiting 10 long weeks to get our results back, last Wednesday we went up to the hospital and the doctor told us that our baby boy had a chromosome defect called <a href="http://www.healthline.com/health/triploidy#Overview1" target="_blank">Triploidy</a>. This is when 2 sperm enter the egg at the same time resulting in 3 sets of chromosomes instead of 2... he also said that most of these babies miscarry much earlier and all of the abnormalities that they told us about were because of this.. and that there was no increased risk of this happening next time.<br />
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All of this was a lot to take in. But long story short... in the beginning I felt like it was my fault and was pretty worried that there would be a likely chance that this would happen again.. but its not and there isn't!! Big weight off my shoulders. Our little boy was just a miracle baby who hung on a bit longer than most.<br />
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In between all this my Gran who I was really close to passed away as well.<br />
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Its been a hard year.<br />
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Amongst all this sadness I still feel so extremely grateful that I've got a loving, caring partner and family, I've got my job which has been great and all my new team mates are so supportive and that I've got a wedding to plan and keep my mind occupied.<br />
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<h4>
So now I've got my roller coaster of a life update out of the way it's time to talk skin...</h4>
Jan, Feb and March my face/neck skin was pretty good condition (everywhere else is 100% normal). Not perfect but still a million times better than I was in Nov/Dec. After the 12 week scan I think my skin deteriorated a little which was probably stress related.<br />
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<b>MARCH</b></div>
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<i>15 March</i></div>
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<b>APRIL</b></div>
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Immediately after we lost baby boy my skin improved again.. I'm not sure if they gave my anything at the hospital that they shouldn't have or what but by the end of the week it started going downhill again..<br />
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- Inflammation<br />
- Shedding<br />
- Itchy after showers<br />
- Sores that wouldn't heal<br />
- Red itchy spots that looked almost like pimples<br />
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This all lasted about 4 weeks.<br />
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<b>MAY</b></div>
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<i>3 May - In the midst of my Anniversary Flare</i></div>
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<b>12 May</b><br />
Flare died down - I'm going to say that this was my anniversary flare as it finished 13 months TSW<br />
- Spots gone<br />
- Shedding gone<br />
- Inflammation gone<br />
- Itchyness after shower mostly gone<br />
- Can smile normally without skin FEELING tight<br />
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Only trouble spots left were my knuckles on the two middle fingers of my right hand, as well as my TSW moustache and monobrow.<br />
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<b>1 June</b><br />
Started using zinc on my TSW moustache and monobrow everyday to try and heal these stubborn bits which today are pretty darn good.<br />
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<b>JULY - Today</b></div>
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So its been an interesting year so far. Some good some bad. I've learnt a lot about myself and whats important to me along the way. Hopefully the rest of the year will be better.<br />
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<br />murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-30295192996321857732015-02-21T12:31:00.001-08:002015-02-21T12:31:57.975-08:0010.5 MONTHS and a MAAHOSIVE surpriseSkin wise all has been great ever since beginning of last month when things "magically" took a turn for the better. Theres still been general improvements, less reddening, less shedding, improved elasticity etc. The rest of my body from neck down is 100% normal now.. it has been for a while but I'm not to sure if I've really talked about the rest of my skin much. My stomach feels amazingly smooth and I don't even get the little rashy bits behind my knees any more.<br />
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So my MAAHOSIVE surprise and why I can see now how things "magically" got better all of a sudden is I'm currently 7.5 weeks pregnant!!!!!!!!! OMG I actually was gobsmacked when I found out but it all makes sense now.... these baby hormones have done wonders for my skin!!!<br />
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Life has been incredibly crazy/complicated/insane for the last 3 weeks since we found out. We were supposed to be getting married 7th November... I booked our honeymoon to South America the day before I found out... I'd just been offered a new full-time job (I've been out of work since I started TWS - just working on my own little business and doing part time work here and there) and now to top it all off we've got another unexpected guest coming to the wedding who is "due" to arrive 4 weeks beforehand... knowing my luck he or she will be 2 weeks late!<br />
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My brain feels like a 5 lane roundabout somewhere in South East Asia right now... Things going everywhere.<br />
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We've decided to move the wedding to January which gives us 3 months to settle into parenthood before we tie the knot... I've cancelled our honeymoon.. Thinking we'll probably have to go somewhere a little closer to home haha... I've taken the full time job. This was a pretty big decision for me but when they showed me the contract (and the pay rate) I had to do it. I've not had any morning sickness at all and I really want to be able to get into more of a financially stable situation, with me being off work last year our savings are looking pretty poorly at the moment.<br />
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I'm pretty excited now but my initial reaction, and I still have moments of it, was <b>talk about timing!!! </b>We hadn't been trying at all and I'd actually been told that I'd have problems having children. So yip, completely mind blown.<br />
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But getting back to the main topic. It does make me wonder what is going to happen after the pregnancy... Is my skin going to continue to be normal or am I going to go back into flaring again???? I wish I knew the answer.<br />
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Time for a quick photo update...<br />
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<i>Day 320!!</i></div>
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<br />murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-79599246241549102262015-01-12T21:19:00.000-08:002015-01-12T21:19:01.477-08:009 MONTHS... 280 daysI'm behind on my skin update for month 9... I completely skipped my month 8 update... and I think thats mainly because after going downhill a bit I was pretty stagnant for the most part.<br />
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After my last update (7 months) when my skin was in a fairly good place I went down hill slightly and stayed there basically right up until early last week when there was literally an overnight improvement.<br />
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So basically between month 7 - 9 my neck and face went back to shedding similar amounts to maybe month 6ish... I had a spot oozing on my neck for over a week that didn't want to heal... every morning I HAD to have a shower to exfoliate all the dead skin off (just rubbing gently with my fingertips)... stinging in the shower... my neck just felt tight and sore all the time so I was back to taking 2 ibuprofen every night and most times during the day as well. Basically from the shoulders up, I felt sore, red and swollen. Definitely not the same as the early days but I think it just seemed so bad because of how far I had come.<br />
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Diet and supplement wise I have been pretty shocking since maybe mid-December. Sugar, gluten, dairy, take-aways, you name it. My skin had already taken a turn before this and I kind of just felt like "Screw it! Its Christmas/ New Years! I'm going to eat whatever the hell I want to eat!!" (I even had a few sneaky vodkas on New Years Eve, and I hadn't had any alcohol for 8 months), I also ran out of all my supplements right before christmas and with money a bit tight at the moment I haven't actually invested in any more yet - Probiotics, Folic Acid (Vit B9), Vit B12, Fish Oil caps and Apple Cider Vinegar... typical that I'd run out of everything all at the same time!!! But interestingly, I've still had this major improvement without all the good stuff.<br />
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I'm definitely going to get back into my supps when I can afford to again because they definitely weren't doing me any harm and who knows... If I hadn't run out what would my skin be like now??<br />
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I'm not really using the clofibrate ointment anymore. I think the repair lotion was working but once again, I ran out and can't afford to get any more. I've used a bit of sunblock the last few weeks... my partner and I have been out fishing and the sun is so fierce in summer over here! I've noticed that the sunblock dries my face and neck out pretty bad though.<br />
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So! On the flip side... since early last week I now feel so much better. I DON'T have to shower and exfoliate every morning any more. My face/neck area is barley shedding at all. I've stopped taking the ibuprofen. That morning that I woke up, it was actually the pain that I notice first had disappeared, because every TSW warrior knows, when turning your neck theres only a certain distance you can turn it before you get that sharp tight feeling, warning you not to go any further.<br />
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So without further ado... PHOTOS!<br />
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<i>8th December 2014 - Day 244</i></div>
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<i>I didn't get many photos over the last 2 months... but this one about sums them up</i></div>
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<i>9th January 2015 - Day 276 </i></div>
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<i>Last weekend fishing with my BFF</i></div>
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I think this is going to be a great year! A million times better than last year!! This is the year...</div>
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Happy healing thoughts to everyone out there in the bolgosphere.</div>
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<br />murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-66481679721244867172014-11-12T19:57:00.000-08:002014-11-12T19:57:05.470-08:007 MONTHS - 220 DaysI hit the 7 month mark last Thursday so I'm only a little behind with this months update!<br />
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Over the last month my whole 'self' has improved... My skin (mostly), my sleep, my attitude, my energy levels. The only thing that I'm still lacking a wee bit is motivation to get out of my comfort zone where I have created a nice safe little bubble. I feel like I'm just waiting to turn that last corner where my skin feels and looks completely normal again and I can come out of my little hiding hole and yell at the top of my lungs... LOOK AT ME!! It actually gives me excited little butterflies when I think about how that is going to feel :)<br />
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But alas.. I always have in the back of my mind the anniversary flare and as those months creep closer I just feel more and more nervous. I feel like I've reached such a great point skin wise at the moment and feel like I'm just teetering on the edge of a cliff. Waiting to fall.<br />
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My face and neck have 90% stopped shedding, I'll wake up in the morning and my skin will be a little dry and lacking in moisture but there won't be any skin flakes anywhere. I've not taken any sleeping or pain medication for nearly 3 weeks. I haven't had any night sweats in a month. I'm not tired any more at all. I can usually jump in bed and be asleep by 10.30ish maybe waking up once at around 1/2am.<br />
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The only thing that I still get really bothered by is if I put the Clofibrate ointment on my face and neck without having a shower first. The ointment still seems to make my 'quite skin' become 'alive, crazy skin' so I try to only shower and apply the ointment once a day. Its almost like having a shower desensitises the area from being a parched desert which allows the moisturiser to go on without creating a crazy burning sensation like millions of little fire ants running all over my face.<br />
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This is me last weekend...<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZZWcVaCnIY/VGQlkpohp0I/AAAAAAAAAfc/Mx_fbWrG7do/s1600/Photo%2B8-11-14%2B2%2B49%2B01%2Bpm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZZWcVaCnIY/VGQlkpohp0I/AAAAAAAAAfc/Mx_fbWrG7do/s320/Photo%2B8-11-14%2B2%2B49%2B01%2Bpm.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6K3npahYjAY/VGQllpjug4I/AAAAAAAAAfo/radZznlCa4o/s1600/Photo%2B8-11-14%2B2%2B49%2B25%2Bpm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6K3npahYjAY/VGQllpjug4I/AAAAAAAAAfo/radZznlCa4o/s320/Photo%2B8-11-14%2B2%2B49%2B25%2Bpm.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>The flash pics are to show how few red spots I have left.</i></div>
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Unfortunately I think I'm a little redder today. And I feel like I've been a little itchier this week.. which all could be down to hormones but I guess only time will tell. </div>
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I also think that the one thing that will really mean that I'm close to healing is either not having the dry skin at all and my skin oils return on my face and neck, or I can comfortably apply the Clofibrate ointment with no problems. </div>
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One thing that I do love doing is adding comparisons!!!</div>
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Only a short [and all over the show] update this time... didn't really have that much to report on. </div>
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<i>Here's to happy healing!!</i></div>
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murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-71867197817255936592014-10-09T15:37:00.000-07:002014-10-09T15:37:14.347-07:006 MONTHS!! I made it :)To be exact 6 months and 4 days or 186 days. Any way slacker over here hasn't been updating as I usually have been just because the last 6 weeks have been SO busy. We've moved house, had our engagement party, I finally brought a car after being carless for the last 6 months, my little business is really starting to take off and life in general is starting to seem a little more normal than it was at the beginning of all this.<br />
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Heres a wee (long) recap of whats been going on skin wise over the last 6 weeks...<br />
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<b>Days 130 - 138</b> After getting the Clofibrate Ointment and Repair lotion my skin was relatively calmish for a week or so then I looked like this...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zmvr26CKT80/VDb0s2Zjc0I/AAAAAAAAAY0/29dC_d3KsMI/s1600/Photo%2B22-08-14%2B5%2B20%2B53%2Bpm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zmvr26CKT80/VDb0s2Zjc0I/AAAAAAAAAY0/29dC_d3KsMI/s1600/Photo%2B22-08-14%2B5%2B20%2B53%2Bpm.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QXe2BTSDY7A/VDb4KiQR6yI/AAAAAAAAAaE/Xe-_0CrT5xM/s1600/Photo%2B16-08-14%2B7%2B29%2B38%2Bpm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QXe2BTSDY7A/VDb4KiQR6yI/AAAAAAAAAaE/Xe-_0CrT5xM/s1600/Photo%2B16-08-14%2B7%2B29%2B38%2Bpm.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<i>Day 138</i></div>
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I think day 138 was the start of my next flare up. The night sweats came back again after being gone for a couple of weeks. I was more itchy. More red. Had a couple of zingers. My skin was generally more dry, flakey and sensitive. I also got a wee bit of ooze behind my left ear.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iCP6rT6cj-U/VDb19wSzezI/AAAAAAAAAZM/YCCUYu-aJY4/s1600/Photo%2B26-08-14%2B8%2B36%2B16%2Bam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iCP6rT6cj-U/VDb19wSzezI/AAAAAAAAAZM/YCCUYu-aJY4/s1600/Photo%2B26-08-14%2B8%2B36%2B16%2Bam.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ARwsxO0alTE/VDb12Zr1B6I/AAAAAAAAAY8/iAQz8Q1dEcQ/s1600/Photo%2B26-08-14%2B8%2B37%2B01%2Bam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ARwsxO0alTE/VDb12Zr1B6I/AAAAAAAAAY8/iAQz8Q1dEcQ/s1600/Photo%2B26-08-14%2B8%2B37%2B01%2Bam.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TzKmER6ukus/VDb14iUM4ZI/AAAAAAAAAZE/pYcOmGYAx6A/s1600/Photo%2B26-08-14%2B8%2B37%2B47%2Bam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TzKmER6ukus/VDb14iUM4ZI/AAAAAAAAAZE/pYcOmGYAx6A/s1600/Photo%2B26-08-14%2B8%2B37%2B47%2Bam.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<i>Day142</i></div>
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I had a few days around here when I started feeling really down and unsure of everything. </div>
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<i>Day 147</i></div>
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<i>TOP day 150 - BOTTOM day 105</i></div>
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Hand comparison pics after using the repair lotion on my hands every day after my shower. They are definitely not this good every day but still a lot better than they were</div>
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5 Month anniversary on day 152. I also managed my first full day out of the house without feeling absolutely 100% shattered afterwards. </div>
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<i>Day 157</i></div>
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<i>Day 164</i></div>
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<i>Day 165</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5vfyXBKqZx8/VDcE89wyU1I/AAAAAAAAAcE/B6oteiC7ARo/s1600/Photo%2B20-09-14%2B8%2B51%2B47%2Bpm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5vfyXBKqZx8/VDcE89wyU1I/AAAAAAAAAcE/B6oteiC7ARo/s1600/Photo%2B20-09-14%2B8%2B51%2B47%2Bpm.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Day 166 - Our engagement party! (with a bit of make-up!)</i></div>
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I managed to cope really well on the day of our engagement party. I'd had a pretty stressful week leading up to it as we moved house the weekend before so I was still trying to unpack boxes as well as cook and make a couple of decorations. I'm very glad that my part-time contract had finished the week before so I had plenty of spare time. </div>
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Unfortunately I think the stress may have finally gotten to me and pushed me into another flare (luckily it was the week AFTER the party :) ). I had a super painful neck, sore, dry, zingers, itchy as heck. Was on the painkillers every day for about a week.</div>
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I didn't get any pics of this flare but these next pics are the tail end when its getting a bit calmer again.. note the super dry stretched skin from turning my neck?!</div>
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<i>Day 178</i></div>
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Two day after this I had the most amazing skin day I've had this whole journey!! My face was literally perfect except for one red patch on my left cheek! I was absolutely amazed!! No swelling! When I did the pinch test my skin felt thin and normal (not inflamed and thick/swollen).... and then of course I had to totally go and ruin it by eating absolute CRAP.. I think for lunch I ate a whole bag of salt and vinegar chips all to myself and a whole lot of this sickly sweet chocolate slice thing that my mum made (I've got no self control when it comes to sweet stuff - so I usually don't have any in the house!) PLUS takeaways for dinner.... oh my heck.</div>
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So that brought on my next flare which thankfully has only lasted for the week... worst on my face but it also affected my hands neck and inner elbows, plus a split on my ear that had been healed up for a month or so also broke open again.</div>
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One thing I have noticed which I've found a bit strange is that I'm on the tail end of this flare up but the last 2 nights I've had night sweats again which I haven't had for about 3 weeks. Don't know whats going on there.</div>
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In between all these little flares I've also managed to cut back on my sleeping meds. I think I went about a week without taking any before the engagement party and then just the last three nights I haven't had any either. I think I'll take one tonight as my sleeping has been getting a bit crappier again. Last night I went to bed 9.30pm. Woke up at 11.30pm, 2.30am, 3.30am, 5.30am with the sweats, then back to sleep until 8am. I'm SO lucky that I'm able to sleep in a bit in the morning after nights like those.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xy5m9LK1F6I/VDcKV8zrpkI/AAAAAAAAAco/zX9rshx3ywk/s1600/Photo%2B10-10-14%2B10%2B42%2B05%2Bam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xy5m9LK1F6I/VDcKV8zrpkI/AAAAAAAAAco/zX9rshx3ywk/s1600/Photo%2B10-10-14%2B10%2B42%2B05%2Bam.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kdEgABj5QJM/VDcKWJ0Uq5I/AAAAAAAAAcs/wg3wyYEvq0M/s1600/Photo%2B10-10-14%2B10%2B42%2B19%2Bam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kdEgABj5QJM/VDcKWJ0Uq5I/AAAAAAAAAcs/wg3wyYEvq0M/s1600/Photo%2B10-10-14%2B10%2B42%2B19%2Bam.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vf1fBWY2dZw/VDcKbXoxWbI/AAAAAAAAAc4/P4YEyYV1sxI/s1600/Photo%2B10-10-14%2B10%2B42%2B39%2Bam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vf1fBWY2dZw/VDcKbXoxWbI/AAAAAAAAAc4/P4YEyYV1sxI/s1600/Photo%2B10-10-14%2B10%2B42%2B39%2Bam.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<i>Today - Day 186</i></div>
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So in 6 months I've managed to go from <b>this</b> .................................... <b>to this</b>. Yippee :) heres hoping the next 6 months are as positive.</div>
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Here are also a couple of my updated infographics......</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-udaeV6zKhTg/VDcMNbseu4I/AAAAAAAAAdY/IgMUt3u2r3E/s1600/Skin%2BJourney%2B6%2BMONTHS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-udaeV6zKhTg/VDcMNbseu4I/AAAAAAAAAdY/IgMUt3u2r3E/s1600/Skin%2BJourney%2B6%2BMONTHS.jpg" height="449" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-69250606433945215632014-08-13T22:47:00.001-07:002014-08-13T22:47:51.584-07:00Day 130 & Clofibrate OintmentI received (with much excitement) Dr Fukaya's Clofibrate Ointment and Skin Repair Lotion in the mail the other day. I've got to say that they arrived so quickly!! I wasn't expecting them to arrive within a week but they arrived probably 4 days after I ordered them.<br />
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I'd just done my clay mask and walked out into the kitchen and there on the counter was a box addressed to me with Japanese writing all over it!! I was so excited I ripped it open then and there and literally ran back to the bathroom and applied my first lot of the ointment and repair lotion.<br />
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Ive been moisturiser free for so long now it was such an invigorating feeling to feel my skin all soft and supple. I tottered off to my part time job with much delight. The ointment actually kept my face feeling fairly soft most of the day.<br />
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Now I do want to point out that I do feel SLIGHTLY more itchy after application and it does make my skin feel slightly more vulnerable at the mercy of my stubby fingernails. But I think over these last few months it has strengthened up enough to be ok. Probably if I was any worse than where I was now I would not have ordered it.<br />
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I do have just under 2 months left before I hit my 6 month mark and need to got back to work on a more full time basis. So this gives me time to really try out the ointment and repair lotion and if it all goes pear shaped I still have a little time left up my sleeve to do stop using moisturiser and go NOMO again.<br />
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I have in my mind that because I mainly used Elidel on my face and thats probably what has caused the most damage, that using the ointment on my face only will hopefully help... thats what I'm going to tell myself anyway. I'm not going to use it anywhere else as the rest of me is still happy moisturiser free and thats how I want it to be, not dependant on moisturising top to toe for the rest of my life.<br />
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So far I haven't seen much in the way of improvements, but hey wouldn't that be a miracle if we discovered something that works as fast as steroids that isn't actually bad for you!! I have definitely learnt to be more patient with my skin throughout this ordeal.<br />
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My first face shots a couple days after using the Clofibrate Ointment once or twice a day.<br />
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<i>My wonky-eyed serious face...</i></div>
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<i>And heeeello chubby cheeks.</i></div>
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Not much difference from my last face pics other than a little smoother and maybe not quite so red? Don't know. It's hard to tell. I could actually even be coming out of a wee flare that I've been in the last week or so cos my neck is actually feeling a bit smoother today to and I haven't used anything there.</div>
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Oh actually on the flare note... I did start having regular night sweats again for the past couple weeks after about a month or so of no night sweats so I'll see how I go tonight and fingers crossed I will have won this round of flare ups and the TSW monster is cowering back in his corner of the ring for now!!!</div>
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Things I've noticed lately...</h4>
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<li>Night sweats have returned for the last week or so but mainly on my legs not so much around my top half.</li>
<li>I actually had one or two sweat attacks during the day also.</li>
<li>I've got more clear skin on my arms than red skin now, and the red skin is pretty obvious as it is in little dry/red rashy thick skin lumps (couldn't think of any other way to describe it)</li>
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Thats about all I can think of at the moment... slowly but surely beating this thing!! :D</div>
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murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-60146285959709856782014-08-04T22:42:00.001-07:002014-08-04T22:42:54.029-07:00Infographic :: Where and how much I used TS and Where I am flaring at the momentI saw on someone else's blog a little while back a picture that demonstrated where and how heavily they had used TS prior to withdrawing and I thought that was a really cool idea. So I sat down at my computer and had a go at putting something together myself that shows how often and where I used TS and also where I am flaring mainly at the moment.<br />
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The First one demonstrates where and how frequently I used TS and Elidel</h4>
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The Second one shows where I'm flaring/still rashy at the moment </h4>
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Tomorrow I am officially 4 months into this and I'm pretty amazed at how far I've come and how well I'm doing considering my history and how bad my last 'unknown withdrawal' was. I feel like I've gotten off relatively easy this time. Fingers crossed its all healing from hear on out.<br />
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My mum has also decided to throw us an engagement party in September.. Gives me a few more weeks to do a bit more healing. I've also invested in some of Dr. Fukaya's Clofibrate Ointment and also the Skin Repair Lotion... just to see if I can get my self looking a little less inflamed by the engagement party... I have a feeling its going to be a pretty big family affair and even though the family all know what I'm doing it'd still be nice to look a bit better and be able to have them all say 'oh what a lovely ring... and your skin looks AMAZING!' haha yea its a bit of an ask but you never know.<br />
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Once the stuff arrives I'll report back on any progress (or not as the case may be).<br />
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<br />murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-76331626846855102092014-08-01T21:11:00.000-07:002014-08-01T21:11:50.993-07:00Day 118... Nearly 4 Months!Life has become semi normal for me again. Being back at work part time it has really given me a chance to see how far I can push myself without pushing myself over the edge. It has meant that I've become a little slack on my progress posts tho :(<br />
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Life update first...</h3>
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Well, last Saturday 26th July, my nearly 7 year partner asked me to marry him!!! I'm still in slight amazement and disbelief that he's finally asked me... I'd always thought we would get married someday... but never had I ever ever in my wildest dreams imagined that he would ask me right in the middle of TSW when this would be the worst he's ever seen me... and he still wants to marry me!! How crazy is that!! I was absolutely blown away and he planned it perfectly. I didn't suspect a thing!<br />
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<i>Skin behaved perfectly for the two days while we were away</i></div>
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<i>The ring</i></div>
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<i>Spot where he proposed</i></div>
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Yea, so as you can tell life is pretty good at the moment :)<br />
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Skin Update...</h3>
The two days that we went away last weekend were probably the best my skin has been since pre-TSW. It was calm both days... no redness... no itching... no flaking. Just really really good :) it was almost as if my partner had let my skin in on his little secret and my skin had decided to behave for those two days.<br />
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Before the engagement and since the engagement my skin has been pretty up and down. When I say skin I really mean my face, neck, chest and hands as most other parts of me are basically rash free. I never moisturise anywhere and even when I jump out of the shower these days, I never feel as though I even need to moisturise anymore!<br />
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This last week I've been having a bit of a flare on my trouble spots... it could be the start of a big flare, but I kind of doubt it... or it could just be because that time of month is due next week.<br />
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<i>Apart from the dry skin... looking nearly normal today</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GXq66gtaq2E/U9xg1HTFaAI/AAAAAAAAAXs/a8UPG8XMZuc/s1600/Photo+2-08-14+2+56+56+pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GXq66gtaq2E/U9xg1HTFaAI/AAAAAAAAAXs/a8UPG8XMZuc/s1600/Photo+2-08-14+2+56+56+pm.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Until I smile... those puffy smile wrinkles just don't want to go down!</i></div>
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<i>Looks like Ive been in a fight... Lucky its not my ring hand!</i></div>
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So I think to sum up my skin situation at the moment I'd say its pretty stagnant with a few minor flare ups now and then. Kinda just waiting for something to happen... for my skin to make the next move.<br />
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Things I have noticed lately...</h3>
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<li>Daytime sweat attacks have stopped completely</li>
<li>Night sweats have been reduced to maybe once a week and have only had one so bad that I had to get changed in the middle of the night probably once in the last month.</li>
<li>I had a minor annoying sore throat for about 2 weeks that never developed into anything and kind of just gradually went away (a little unrelated to TSW but thought I would mention it anyway as I though maybe it has something to do with my immune system growing stronger)</li>
<li>I've found a few more lymph nodes... Feel a little uneasy about this one.. but I know that swollen lymph nodes are all part of it</li>
<li>I had heartburn for the first time in my life two nights in a row (also unrelated to TWS but anything out of the usual at the moment kind of makes me wonder)</li>
<li>Red sleeves are pretty much gone, I just get a little red on my hands, wrists and up my inner arm sometimes</li>
<li>I also got a little bit wheezy when we went away on the weekend... I used to have to use my puffer all the time. But I haven't needed to use it in probably over a year so I though that was a bit strange and I did have a puff on my ventolin even though its steroids... gotta do what you gotta do to breath!</li>
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<br />murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-86430405178569353742014-07-13T21:41:00.000-07:002014-07-13T21:41:18.002-07:0099 daysI've been a little slack with my skin recording the last couple weeks. My 3 month anniversary has been and gone and its my 100 day anniversary tomorrow so I thought its definitely time for another update!<br />
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Life update first..</h3>
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I started back at work part time last Wednesday, only for a couple months while a friend is away on her big OE in Europe but its been a really good way to test my self out and see what my limits are with working again. Its been the perfect way to do it as I'm completely flexible with my hours. I usually make it into work about 9.30-10am and finish around 2-3pm which means that I'm able to come home and have a nap or just some time to chill out and calm any itchies before everyone else gets home and I have to cook the dinner :)<br />
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I also had my first 'night out' last weekend where I was able to dress up and I even put on a little bit of makeup and wore some nice clothes! It was for a friends birthday and we went out for dinner and then to a comedy show which was sooo good! I didn't drink but it was so nice to just go out and forget about my skin problems for a little bit. I still looked a bit swollen and puffy but I just pretended that no one could see me haha. Im getting quite good at doing that these days. Just pretending that there are no judgemental people in this world.<br />
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Skin update..</h3>
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So, before I had that night out for my friends birthday.. I think I had maybe a week or two of really nice calm (still slightly swollen but smooth) skin. After the night out with my friend I did have a bit of a flare on my face where it felt like my cheeks puffed up so much they were touching my eyeballs... they didn't really but thats what it felt like. Since then my face skin has been trying really hard to get back to that smooth stage but it just hasn't quite managed it. My neck and chest also decided to follow suit and be little pains in the ass.<br />
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Pics...<br />
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<i>SEE MY PAINTED STUBS!!?</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WMs2EO2dNyk/U8NXp6tOARI/AAAAAAAAAVk/nfdO0J0czmo/s1600/Photo+7-07-14+10+53+21+am.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WMs2EO2dNyk/U8NXp6tOARI/AAAAAAAAAVk/nfdO0J0czmo/s1600/Photo+7-07-14+10+53+21+am.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also had a flare on my arms a night or two after I started working again. I think it might have just been my anxiety levels on the rise slightly. Thats something I'm going to have to learn to keep in check somehow. But a day or two after my arm flare, they all dried out and I ended up making snow flurries whenever I moved.<br />
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Pics..<br />
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<i>It was like this on both arms.</i></div>
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Luckily this dry stage lasts only a day or two, now my arms are pretty calm again now with the odd itch here and there.</div>
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I've also been feeling energetic enough to get out and get a bit more exercise lately. Heres some pics from yesterday when me and my partner went for a hike over to a pretty beach just out of town.</div>
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<i>Need to remember to smile again...</i></div>
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So I'm happy (most days) and excited about being free from that medicated prison cell that I've been in for the last 13/14 years and fingers crossed that I'll really be able to do more and more things that I never thought I could/wanted to when I was using steroids. I've just got to keep thinking positive thoughts.</div>
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Things I have noticed lately...</h3>
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<li>Reduced redness in arms when I have a shower (I used to jump out of the shower and I would literally look like a lobster, I can now jump out of the shower and only have patches of redness)</li>
<li>Better sleep. I'm still taking the antihistamines, but the other night I managed to fall asleep about 10.30pm.. I woke up once at 4.10am and fell asleep again until 9am.. how freaking awesome is that!! I haven't had a sleep like that in at least 6 months!!</li>
<li>I've got this weird smelling sweat.. definitely not a metallic smell anymore.. TMI sorry bout it</li>
<li>When I have my night sweats.. I wake up and my legs don't sting any more!</li>
<li>My flares have (mostly) definite stages now.. super itchy > raw from scratching > super duper dry > back to new normal</li>
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<br />murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-60481242739168657412014-06-30T19:00:00.000-07:002014-06-30T19:00:33.102-07:00Day 86 and definite improvementsNext week, this Sunday to be exact is my 3 month anniversary! I can't believe how quick its gone and how quickly things are still changing from day to day.<div>
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Heres my progress pic...</div>
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<i>(you need to zoom in to see the finer details)</i></div>
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On the left is me, Christmas 2013 (I wish it was me today but this is going to be me again by Christmas 2015). I look at this picture and laugh a little because I used to HATE those really fine smile wrinkles... I used to be a big smiler... smile all the time no matter what. I'd smile as big as I could in every picture just because I thought that if I didn't I looked weird and a little dorky haha. Oh how I would give anything to have all those fine smile wrinkles back again!!</div>
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Its ok though because the picture in the middle is me, today. I still have slightly swollen puffy cheeks and dry skin in the mornings before my clay mask, but at the moment if I run my finger over my cheek it actually feels smooth... like real smooth! Its such a weird crazy feeling after all these years to finally be free of TS and know that I can still achieve smooth skin... even if it might be dry, red and crackly again tomorrow, I know that I can still do it :)</div>
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On the right is me, 6 days after quitting TS, Elidel and moisturiser completely. Bit of a mess but it makes me so happy to see how far I've come!!!</div>
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Bring on the next 3 months I say!</div>
murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-21724649541977424382014-06-29T22:03:00.000-07:002014-06-29T22:03:53.943-07:00Innnnnsomnia…Didn't take an antihistamine tonight… Or last night I should say. So I've been wide awake since 2am.. Fell asleep at about midnight so I've managed to get 2hrs sleep in. That's something haha<div>
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My lovely partner got me this wonderful little clock and as you can see its now 5.13am and I thought I'd write a post seeing as sleep is not my friend tonight.</div>
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<br /><br /><br />I'm quite lucky with my insomnia I suppose because I don't really get to itchy at night… Unless I get frustrated with being awake.. Then I get itchy!! I'll usually have a couple of maintenance scratches throughout the night.. But when I have nights like this (usually only when I don't take an antihistamine) I usually just try go with the flow. And the flow is wide awake!</div>
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I vividly remember last time I was going through TSW and I would be wide awake every night between midnight at 5am (this was before I found out about the lovely drowsy antihistamines).. I had this tiny little spotlight that strapped onto my finger and lay in bed and I'd read every book I could get my hands on and I could just NOT understand why I had insomnia when my whole life I'd always been a big sleeper. I'm glad I know now whats causing this I just wish I knew how long it's going to take before I can get a solid (unmedicated) nights sleep again.</div>
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After reading up on a lot of other warriors experiences with this issue it seems that the insomnia can improve anywhere between 4 - 9 months for the solid sleep habits to come back. EEEk. Oh well at least for now I've got something nice to look at on my wide awake nights :)</div>
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murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-57501691565340708752014-06-24T19:52:00.001-07:002014-06-24T19:53:59.521-07:0011 WEEKS / 80 days - things that have helped me so farPre-warning... todays going to be a long one!!<br />
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I really wanted to write this post yesterday, but unfortunately by about 10am I started to nose dive straight into and itchy exhausting flare that lasted most of the rest of the day. So I just ended up spending yesterday taking antihistamines, ibuprofen and sleeping. I had an episode like this a couple weeks back that I wrote about also so I think I've come to learn that these are my 'flares'. It only lasted yesterday thank goodness and today I'm feeling fine again with my energy levels back up.<br />
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Skin review for last week... One word... Improving.<br />
Heres a list of other things that are also improving...<br />
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<ul>
<li>Less flaking (most noticeably on my arms and face)</li>
<li>Less bone deep itching (apart from yesterday)</li>
<li>Sleeping easier / less insomnia</li>
<li>Less metallic smell from scratching</li>
<li>Less hair falling out when I brush it</li>
<li>Better temperature regulation.. I'm not freezing all the time and can sometimes be comfortable without my goose down jacket</li>
<li>Swelling in knees gone down</li>
<li>Haven't had a daytime sweat attack in about a week</li>
<li>Sometimes it doesn't feel so great to scratch anymore. Most of the time it still does, but sometimes I'll be scratching and think 'This doesn't actually feel that great... I should probably stop'</li>
<li>Improvement in energy levels.... just slightly</li>
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Things that still need more time...<br />
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<li>My bald spots</li>
<li>Arms (hands/wrists in particular) still very leathery and elephanty and swollen</li>
<li>Still waking up sweaty a couple times most nights</li>
<li>Swelling in cheeks </li>
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So there we have it :) I think I can officially say now that I'm coming into a calm period... How long for... Your guess is as good as mine! Ideally it will be continuous improvement from here on out but thats just being hopeful I suppose.<br />
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Next I wanted to write about things that I'm using/doing to help myself through this whole ordeal.<br />
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First item in my TSW kit is Apple Cider Vinegar... I drink 2 tsp of this with honey every morning.. have done for the last 2/ 3 years and have not yet once had a bad cold or flu. Had minor sore throats etc when family members or housemates have been sick but its never turned into anything full blown. </div>
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With Apple Cider Vinegar.. to get any real benefits from it you need to use the organic stuff with the mother (floaties down the bottom). I haven't used it externally as some people do, but is great at disinfecting wounds and I sometimes use it for cleaning.</div>
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Second thing that I haven't actually mentioned before as I've been a big advocate of no moisturisers, is this Rawleighs ointment that my gran used to use. It might just be a placebo effect as I've always used this for small cuts and grazes and I always feel like it heals up so much quicker than when I don't use it. The other reason I use this in small quantities is because when you apply it... either to a cut or just a small itchy spot... it has a serious cooling effect (one of the active ingredients is menthol) so this replaces any itch with a different sensation for a couple of minutes. </div>
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I sometimes use it around my lips to prevent cracking.. I also use it on stubborn little scabby spots that refuse to heal. I've also been applying it to my cheeks every now and then after I do my clay mask also. I just really like the feeling of the coolness :)</div>
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I'm not going to recommend anyone else to try this as I firmly stand by the no moisturiser theory. But if you are interested in finding out more heres their website... http://www.rawleighs.info. Its not much to look at but for me its an old wives tale recipe thats been passed down in my family and I trust it.</div>
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And then theres my comb!!!! This one is not my original... my original comb I had for about 5/6 years and oh it felt like heaven every time I scratched. I actually lost that comb 2 weeks before I started TSW and 1 day before my partner and I went to Thailand on holiday. Haha well I can tell you that loosing that comb was one of the most stressful experiences I've had in a LONG time. I still can't believe that I lost it. So typical.</div>
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Anyway this one here is not quite as good... as you can see a couple of the teeth have already broken off due to some over zealous scratch fests over the last nearly 3 months. I brought about 50 combs in the 2 weeks prior to the start of my TSW and this was the one that felt the closest to my old one. </div>
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Its so important to get a really soft plastic one... the hard plastic ones will just leave massive cuts all up and down your skin. Especially in the bony areas like your knees or elbows. The soft bristle combs will bend around those bony bits and not turn them into mince meat... this one I still have to be a little careful with but with my old one I used to go for gold.</div>
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The pink box, Polaramine, I brought over the counter when I was still in Australia. I used this almost nightly leading up to my withdrawal as the insomnia kicked in a couple months before I quit TS completely. </div>
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The blue box, Promethazine, is a prescription antihistamine. I had to up the strength of my antihistamine once I'd stopped TS and gone into withdrawal. I still only take half a pill every night but eventually I'm going to try and wean myself back onto the pink box and then off completely. But at the moment the Promethazine is a life saver. I take it 2 nights in a row and then have a break of 1 night, just so that I don't get to used to them.</div>
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And then my big box of Ibuprofen :) good stuff for reducing the itchies!!</div>
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These are the only medication that I take at the moment. I was on the pill prior to my withdrawal but I stopped taking that also and I'm glad I did. I read somewhere that being on the pill long-term may reduce folic acid levels as well as the body's ability to use folic acid. I have the Heterozygous MTHFR C667T gene mutation, which means that my body has trouble using, or maintaining folate anyway. Plus I've been on the pill since I was about 14 because of bad cramps, which funnily enough since I've started taking folate have stopped completely. </div>
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Actually..... thats quite an important one, the whole pill and folate thing.... I'll do a separate blog post on that I think...</div>
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Short ass nails, nail clippers and millions of those emery boards help keep my stubbs smooth and scratch free haha. I really do look forward to the time when I am comfortable enough to grow them back!!!! My gran used to say I had such elegant hands.... not any more!!!!! haha. Fingers crossed for one day though.</div>
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Bentonite Clay... this one is a fairly new one in my TSW kit. But I believe that it has definitely helped in reducing the flaking and inflammation in my face. I know that after using Elidel daily on my face for 7 years that my face is going to need a bit of extra help and I think that this stuff is great. Its cheap, easy, feels a little weird. But I saw results pretty darn quickly and I'm definitely going to continue to use it.</div>
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Piles and piles of warm comfy clothes. When I was still in Perth, still employed and in my TSW planning stage I went to the big outlet shopping centre and just stocked up on jerseys and track pants, long sleeve tops and heaps of singlets. I knew that I would be coming back to New Zealand and suffering through a long cold NZ winter, so this is where my pre-planning really paid off. I was able to buy heaps of winter stock at sale prices (as it was still summer then) and send it home to be put to use later (now) and I'm so happy I did that. My partner used to say 'why don't you just buy all that stuff when we go back to NZ?' Because a pair of $10 track pants in an Aussie summer would have costed me $40 in a NZ winter!! </div>
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My beloved Goose Down jacket. This was by far my most expensive comfort item. I still brought this in summer on sale and it still costed me nearly $200. I'm glad I did though. I wear it pretty much every day. Its been my warm comfort on cold days and my security blanket when I'm itchy (its kinda hard to scratch when I've got this thing on).</div>
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Ear plugs!! These are for both me and my partner... mainly for him actually. Wearing these means that he's not woken multiple times a night when I have crazy scratch fests and he can actually get a good night sleep and wake up well rested and ready for work the next morning... lucky for some huh. I do actually wear them to though.. they kind of help block out any little noises and I can sometimes meditate myself to sleep when I've got them in. Haha to be honest I'm a pretty light sleeper at the best of times and although he won't admit it my partner does actually snore sometimes :)</div>
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MY SUPPLEMENTS</div>
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These are a lot to write about but info on them can be found here...</div>
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<a href="http://itchynomore.blogspot.co.nz/2014/04/active-b-supplements-and-graph.html">http://itchynomore.blogspot.co.nz/2014/04/active-b-supplements-and-graph.html</a></div>
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and here...</div>
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<a href="http://itchynomore.blogspot.co.nz/2014/05/5-weeks-2000-views-other-supplements.html">http://itchynomore.blogspot.co.nz/2014/05/5-weeks-2000-views-other-supplements.html</a></div>
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Probiotics and Kombucha probiotic tea... I seriously believe that these, among other things are helping me heal from the inside out. </div>
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Sunshine!!! Ok so we don't actually see a lot of this here in NZ at the moment so instead I'm getting my vitamin D dosage from a full spectrum UV sunbed. I just love the sun and it has always done great things for my skin. I was going to wait until I was a bit further along in my withdrawal to begin any sun exposure. But my skin never ended up getting as bad as I expected it to so I thought what the hey... I'll give it a go. And it has definitely paid off for me :)</div>
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Walking, walking, more walking, sometimes gym, but mostly gentle exercise has been great for my mood and energy levels. </div>
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Wheu nearly there... what a marathon!!!</div>
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The last couple of things that I want to mention that I've found is helping me is drinking water (heaps of it), no alcohol, gluten free, mostly fruit and veges and being a CLEAN, GREEN, HEALTHY MACHINE!!</div>
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Done.</div>
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<br />murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-92076731578413487792014-06-17T19:36:00.000-07:002014-06-17T19:36:01.032-07:0010 WEEKS & Bentonite Clay part 2 & UVB Tanning<h4>
Skin Update...</h4>
I'm a little late in writing last weeks skin update. Things have been up and a little down over the last week... mostly up though which I'm really excited about.<br />
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My face finally seems to be clearing up which makes me happy :) but the dry/flakeyness seems to be heading south now. My neck/chest area are very dry... luckily not to the point of cracking but the tightness does stress me out slightly. My arms go through cycles of being covered in snow flakes to being semi smooth. The ashy elephant looking skin will be haunting me for a long time though I think which is ok by me as long as it doesn't get any worse. I have also developed some rashy broken areas behind my knees, nothing to major but I thought I had better mention it as my legs have been mostly fine up until now. Finally, due to the increase in sweat attacks I have been having lately, the skin around my stomach/back has now got a slight crocodile texture... probably from the sweat and itching combination.<br />
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I have also had this one spot on the back of my neck that has just oozed non stop over the last 2 days!!! Its finally scabbed over this morning but literally the last 2 days, every time I touched the spot I'd look at my finger and it would be glistening with ooze! DISGUSTING! I tried some of the Bentonite Clay on it yesterday morning and it still persisted in oozing all yesterday and last night. Thats the longest time that I've had a spot ooze for. Crazy. I just can not understand how this ooze took so long to dry out.<br />
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Anyway I guess that spot is starting to heal which is good, for now anyway.<br />
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I also had another big outing with my partner over the weekend. Went for a bit of a road trip as he had a job interview in Auckland (2.5 hrs away), we left early, I hung around at the beach for a couple of hours while he was busy, we went and had lunch, went to see an open home and I test drove a car (one of those little VW Golfs... really want one but unemployment has its downfalls) and then we ended up getting home about 6pm. I was in bed by 8 and out like a light (no antihistamine either). This whole no stamina/energy thing still intrigues me.<br />
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Bentonite Clay part 2...</h4>
So I started doing the clay masks just over a week ago now, there were a couple days last week that I missed so all up I've probably done the masks about 7 times. I'm not to sure if it's because my face was coming into a break or if the clay masks are working their magic... either way I'm happy !<br />
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Heres a photo of me yesterday...<br />
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I still wake up a little flakey and really puffy around my eyes but the flakes wash off with the clay and the puffiness always goes down by the end of the day. So really, can't complain.<br />
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UVB Tanning...</h4>
Because I'm that impatient, I've also found a good place in town has a full spectrum sunbed which I've tried out a couple of times. Its not to expensive and I've started out on 4 minutes which I will gradually build up. Haven't really got anything report on that just now other than it feels nice to get a bit of vitamin D again haha.<br />
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<br />murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-8252164913335498702014-06-09T20:20:00.000-07:002014-06-09T20:20:16.404-07:009 WEEKS & Bentonite ClaySo first off, skin review for last week.<br />
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My face has been mostly flakey and a little inflamed with a nice smooth skin day on Saturday (it sounds like a weather report).<br />
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My arms last week were growing slowly more itchy over the week until Sunday I had a wee bit of a break down (even suggested using a bit of TS. My partner firmly put that in the NO box). My arms were just throbbing, and stinging and prickly and flakey and oozy all at the same time. I have been trying soooo hard to do as little damage as I can and to be honest they probably didn't look to bad but my god they felt terrible, I really wouldn't have minded if someone had come along and amputated them. My arms have not felt that bad for the whole last 2 months so I'm not 100% sure what brought the crazy horrible feeling on…. but I may have a slight idea. I upped my NAC supplement dosage to 2 capsules a day on Thursday or Friday and I also started my Glutathione again early last week also. So thoughts are that it was possibly an extra bit of healing going on. Because I woke up last night and low and behold my arms had severely dried out and there was a whole lot of dead skin flaking off with mostly dried but less inflamed skin underneath. Its such a weird and frustrating thing this TSW.<br />
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#unanswered question // What caused the massive itch attack in my arms?<br />
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I have also been getting more frequent sweat attacks during the day. I've never experienced anything like them before TSW apart from a couple of times earlier this year when I was reducing my steroid usage, and I just put them down to stress from work/packing/moving my life. But now I realise they are definitely TSW related. I'll just be sitting at my computer not doing anything out of the ordinary and all of a sudden my arms will start tingling and then I can feel my singlet getting damp and next thing you know I've got sweat droplets running down my back!!!!! Never in my life have I ever had sweat droplets running down my back!!! EVER!!!! Let alone when I'm just sitting round doing nothing much at all. So anyway yes over the last couple months these have been increasing in frequency… going from maybe 1 or 2 a week to having 3 in one day last week. Its a really strange feeling and I'm glad to know that I can sweat and that my sweat glands are working but I just wish they would work when its a normal time for them to work, like when I'm exercising. Not when I'm sitting around and certainly not while I'm sleeping!! Oh yea haha then theres the night sweats… jeesh they are fun. NOT. I now know to keep a couple sets of spare pj's by my bed. But the interesting thing with my night sweats is that I only seem to get them when I dream. And I'll know I'm dreaming cos my subconscious will be like 'hey your practically swimming in your pj's… time to wake up' and so I wake up, but you know how if you wake up in the middle of a dream, you know you were dreaming? Yea well that's me pretty much every time I wake up saturated.<br />
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#unanswered question // Why do I get massive sweat attacks during the day when I'm not doing anything?<br />
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#unanswered question // Why do I get night sweats from dreaming?<br />
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Its turning into a long post today…<br />
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So my second thing that I wanted to write about today is a couple weeks ago I had a lovely person comment on my blog and suggested I try Bentonite Clay masks to heal my face up a bit. I did a bit of research and saw some pretty positive reviews and because it's cheap enough I decided to give it a go. I was also kind of getting to the point where I felt I was doing all the right things for my skin and kind of started getting a bit impatient for something to happen so this has also made me feel a bit more positive and proactive which is always a good thing :)<br />
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So anyway my package arrived yesterday and here are the first pics….<br />
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<i>Before…</i></div>
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<i>Mask on…</i></div>
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So I thought it was a great result! I mean nothing is going to magically make me all better. But it reduced the swelling a little, it reduced the redness a little and it reduced the flaking… admittedly after an hour or two my skin dried out again and started flaking a little but it was definitely pretty great for the rest of the day. </div>
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So this is going to be me over the next couple weeks… face masking every morning to see what happens :)</div>
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So heres what I did…</div>
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- 1/2 teaspoon of the Bentonite Clay - Aztec Secret, Indian Healing Clay, 1 lb (454 g) from iHerb</div>
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- A little water to make quite a runny paste (my skins so dry that almost after 10 seconds of applying the paste, my skin sucked all the water out and it started drying almost immediately. So make sure you have some warm water on hand to re-wet it pretty soon after application)</div>
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- I don't have a spray bottle unfortunately so instead I just filled a jar with warm water and kept dabbing my finger in the jar and spreading it over the clay paste</div>
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For the first 10 mins or so it felt really tingly and a my skin felt like it was throbbing a little.</div>
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I left it on for 20 mins… adding the warm water with my finger ever couple of minutes.</div>
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Washing it off was a bit messy haha. I'm going to have to perfect this technique. First off I tried wiping it off with a face cloth… this hurt a little so I stopped that. Then I just ended up cupping water in my hands and wiping the clay off with my fingers. Probably not ideal as I managed to get my sleeves, the bathroom bench and floor all wet in the process. </div>
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SO that is the beginning of my next experiment! I'll report back in a couple more days and fingers crossed the improvements continue :)</div>
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murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-15092324729158114692014-06-04T14:18:00.000-07:002014-06-04T14:18:00.582-07:00Antihistamines and a little TSW funI thought I'd do a quick, very unscientific post on antihistamines and how the affect me... If I don't take any antihistamines and I try and sleep this is what the inside of my brain looks like...<br />
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Theres just this little part in there that absolutely refuses to go to sleep! Sometimes I feel like the rest of me is in a coma and but this little part of my brain just refuses to turn the light out and I will lie awake for hours. Most of the time I will end up researching on my phone all night long.... thank god for wifi on phones now! Last time I was going through TSW and I didn't have an iPhone, I read more books in 5/6 months than I have in probably my whole life and thats not a bad thing... its just my arms would ALWAYS go to sleep whilst trying to prop up the book, hold my little torch light and keep the blanket just over my shoulders but not touching my chin. Talk about difficult.<br />
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Anyway, I try only take them a couple times a week and they are usually pretty effective at putting me to sleep, I don't ever sleep right through even with a higher dose, they just make me feel drowsy enough to actually fall asleep and not be awake for to long when I do wake up, and the other couple of nights I just lie awake and contemplate.<br />
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Also because my last post was a bit of a downer I ended up searching for some joke things to cheer myself up a bit. I don't usually like these sort of sarcastic jokes very often but I thought that these ones were quite fitting :)<br />
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<i>This ones my favourite! </i></div>
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<br />murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-58208452458537235672014-06-01T20:07:00.000-07:002014-06-01T20:07:26.366-07:002 MONTHSMost days I'm thankful... some days I'm over it. Today I'm over it.<br />
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I know I'm only 2 months in and I've still got a long road ahead of me but sometimes you can't help but feel a little disheartened and a little bit down. I know last week I said that I thought I was coming into a break... Nope, it was just me having a good day. Was just all part of this never ending cycle.<br />
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I had my first feeling of wishing I was normal looking so I could go out and have a bit of fun on Friday night... Don't know why Friday. I don't think anyone was doing anything special. I was just home by myself cooking dinner because my sister and partner were late home from work. And I was a bit lonely and just had a bit of a gutted feeling. I would have loved to put on a pair of heels and go out and before all this, that is exactly what I would have done!<br />
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Today I'm just sitting in my office watching the rain come down outside and feeling over waiting. Waiting for my skin to get better. Waiting for my skin to get worse. Waiting for the itching to stop and the flakes to stop falling. I really hope that I can stop waiting soon.<br />
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Pics for this week...<br />
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<i>Love the way fluff sticks to oozy spots... not.</i></div>
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All I ever wanted was just to be normal... and now I look like I'm 28 going on 68 with far to much botox, bald spots and sun burn. I know I shouldn't be complaining because there are heaps of others out there who have been and are in a far worse state than me. I guess everyone just has good days and bad days now and then and I must say it is hard to stay positive all the time and believe that this will all go away one day and I will eventually be 'healed', but most of the time the thought of having smooth skin again is the only thing keeping me going so I will just keep thinking about that smooth skin.</div>
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In the meantime I want to try and be a bit more proactive again in speeding up this process and I am looking in to ordering some bentonite clay as recommended by a fellow TSW comrade so I can start doing clay masks and I am also going to see if I can get a referral for doing light therapy or just find a place that has a good sunbed with UVB and give this a go also. <div>
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Fingers crossed for a better mood tomorrow. </div>
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murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-66331962382673426392014-05-26T14:30:00.000-07:002014-05-26T14:30:09.280-07:007 WEEKSFirstly, my arms and neck are not great, but not bad. No oozing just a few scratches and grazes here and there and just really dry, atrophic and ashy looking. I think my arms and hands are going to take a long time to get back to normal looking skin, they still don't really produce any oil either even though I haven't used moisturiser on my arms since Dec last year, it never hurts, but I can often feel the skin pulling when I move.<br />
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Secondly, at the moment I think my face might be coming into a break, just because since the last couple of pics I put up 3 days ago my face has been improving and hasn't really gone into the down hill part of the cycle yet.<br />
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<i>Its annoying how my camera puts that sort of yellow light on!</i></div>
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<i>My skin is a tiny bit more red against white than what it looks like in the bottom pic.</i></div>
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Thirdly, seeing as my face has been improving a little bit, I have been trying to get a bit of sun on my cheeks for 10 mins each day for the last couple days. Its getting into winter down here and really cold! So I won't be able to get any other parts of me out in the sun just yet but I'll probably look into hitting up the solarium in a few months when the weather really packs in. I used to love going to the sun beds in the winter and getting to feel like it was summer even if it was just for 10 minutes.<br />
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Fourthly, I went to the gym with my partner on Sunday... for the first time in like forever. It was weird and I felt pretty self conscious, but when I got into it it was a lot of fun. I didn't sweat any... I must get my body to work on this. Maybe visit a sauna and MAKE it sweat. And the parts that are most achy from the work out e.g. back of arms, top of thighs and shoulder/chest area, I have noticed an increase in itch and it feels soooo good to scratch down hard on those achy muscles! I don't rip the skin or anything because I usually only ever use my rubber comb to scratch, but it just feels like a really good deep tissue massage as well as scratching that darn itch! I'm not going to make it into a regular thing just yet because I've been struggling to do much of anything these past couple days I've been so sore, but once I feel my energy levels picking up a bit I will definitely get back into it.<br />
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Lastly, I am going to start making Kombucha tea (a fermented, probiotic drink), not really because I think it will speed up my heeling or whatever, just because a friend of mine gave me a "mother" and a jar of pre-brewed tea to get me started, also because I'm almost out of my probiotic capsules and if this can save me $30 a month then I'm all for it :)<br />
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Today I had my first glass, it tasted alright, kind of fruity, but I think I may have left it slightly to long as it has a bit of a vinegary after-taste which I don't mind to much as I have Apple Cider Vinegar and honey every morning anyway haha.</div>
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Another week done and dusted... 2 months next week! Crazy how fast time goes when you look back on something... but how slow time seems to go when you look forward to something...<br />
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<br />murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-74138490438971761052014-05-22T15:27:00.002-07:002014-05-22T15:27:37.939-07:0047 days and still plodding alongIve started to notice that my face is in this continual faze of cycling really quickly. I think the only reason I've started to notice is the cycle veeeeeery is slowly getting longer. Instead of just being constantly flaking and peeling all the time the cycles are starting to grow to include dry skin flaking, rubbing, peeling off skin, to revel not quite ready baby skin underneath... and then the cycle repeats. Its still inflamed and thick mind you but some days just feel a lot smoother than others.<br />
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<i>This is me DAY 45... skin inflamed and what not, but smooth.</i></div>
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<i>This is me this morning... and I'd almost place a bet on my </i></div>
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<i>skin being back to day 45 by tomorrow or the next day.</i></div>
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<i>Heres my neck that has also been a bit oozy for the first time as well.</i></div>
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<i>Think my tattoo is going to need a bit of touching up after this! Haha</i></div>
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I also managed to dig up a couple of old pics from last time I was unknowingly going through TSW 5 years ago (May - Oct/Nov 2009). It was at the tail end of it when we had decided to go on holiday to Rarotonga in September '09 as we both thought that my 'eczema' was stress related and I just needed a good couple weeks off to chill out. I was still using the Elidel daily so my face wasn't affected and I'm pretty sure that I was probably using really mild steroids by now also so this is definitely not the worst of it.</div>
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<i>Me asleep with my bandages on. </i></div>
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<i>I do remember having terrible insomnia last time also.</i></div>
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<i>Love this picture apart from the fact I look purplish and if you zoom in you can </i></div>
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<i>then what I know now. If only I could rewind the clock.</i></div>
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murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-56539218411322030192014-05-19T22:31:00.000-07:002014-05-19T22:31:38.621-07:006 WEEKSUm so this week I don't have to much to report… other than since stopping the glutathione I haven't had any weird mood swings or over the top anxiety this week which has been nice.<br />
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I had a big day yesterday… probably the biggest day since I started all this. My partner and I drove to Auckland (2.5hrs one way) and back to buy a new ute. Seeing as we are back in NZ for good we wanted to get a good car that doesn't break down all the time and require constant maintenance and since I don't actually need a car at the moment we wanted to get one really good one… so back to the story. We got up early… he drove down to Auckland… we test drove the ute… had to go find a bank to get a bank cheque… had to arrange insurance while we were at the car yard as we hadn't thought to arrange insurance before hand (dough) … ended up ringing 3 different providers as they were all soooo expensive (here is where I got a bit stressed and shaky, but even my partner was getting stressed about this and he's healthy!!) … finally drove all the way home… went to the grocery shop… got home and then as soon as I unloaded the groceries and was about to put dinner on I couldn't do it! I was literally a dead man walking! I had to sit down and could barely get up again!! It felt like I'd just run a marathon but without the sweat!!<br />
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It's a really strange thing when your body just decides to stop working. I would often get it in small doses when I was still working, but nothing to this extent, and I wasn't even working or doing anything active yesterday!<br />
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When your busy at work or doing anything during the day your body is just constantly alert, ready to take action when required, kind of like your body is being drip fed small amounts of adrenalin all day and I suppose this is where the adrenal fatigue is probably coming into play. As adrenalin is a natural stimulant created by the adrenal gland and due to the adrenal suppression caused by over use of topical steroids, it probably got to the point yesterday when I felt like I could relax enough and my adrenal gland was like 'ok thats it, I've given you all I got, your home safe now just go to bed' ---> this is all guess work mind you, but it makes perfect sense in regards to how I felt yesterday.<br />
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I ended up jumping into bed about 8pm last night and went straight to sleep which was nice but because I hadn't taken an antihistamine (I try to only take them a couple times a week) I woke up at 11pm and then was back to my routine of constantly waking up during the night. So I'm still feeling really worn out today, but I'm going to knock myself out tonight so hopefully I will manage a 6/7 hour sleep.<br />
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Skin wise I had a really good day on Sunday! My face skin felt so smooth! I'd say about 80% of the flakes had fallen off over night and I could run my fingers over my cheeks and they felt SMOOTH! Still inflamed though… like when I did the pinch test the skin on my cheeks still felt thick as opposed to the not inflamed skin just below my eyes and I still had red patches here and there. But it was nice to just not look in the mirror and pretend my skin was normal again.<br />
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On the good skin topic, I haven't talked much about the lower half of my skin… and thats because theres not really all that much to talk about. Apart from still getting itchy every where, most of my body except for my arms neck, shoulders and face are pretty much blemish free. Still dry and I get the odd nicks on my ankles and behind my knees now and then, and sometimes red or dry spots on my tummy but its so minimal… its probably actually better than when I was still using steroids!! WHAT!? I so badly wish I had taken photos of before I stopped moisturising.. because in the 4 months BEFORE stopping steroids and AFTER stopping moisturiser I don't think I used much, if any steroids on my legs, tummy, back area.<br />
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Im going to try and see if I can dig up some photos of me the last time I was withdrawing for my next post (have a feeling there won't be any though). God that was hell on earth and I'm so glad it's not like that this time… I actually have a pretty gruesome memory of being SOOO itchy I would use the lid off my moisturiser to literally dig my skin off, I just wanted to scratch it down to the bone. It actually makes me feel sick remembering that.<br />
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Anyway… as they say…<br />
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<br />murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-89185393787433549292014-05-14T13:51:00.000-07:002014-05-14T13:51:31.391-07:00Valuable Life LessonsSince moving home from Australia, my mum has taught me a valuable life lesson.<br /><br />When I was growing up in New Zealand all I saw were the grey clouds, the rain, the endless struggle to make ends-meet, the people who bummed around all day and seemed to do nothing except cause trouble, the annoying grass that endlessly needed mowing and the millions of weeds that constantly needed weeding. <br /><br />To be honest I didn't want to come back to NZ. I was happy in Perth, where all the pretty things were so easy to see. Like the never ending blue sky. And the orange twilight that lasted for ages after the sun had set. The big red looking moon that rose up over the red sandy desert. The pay check every week. The clean beach that stretched for miles and miles that would one day be jam packed with kite surfers as far as the eye could see and the next be so calm there was barely a wave breaking. The new clothes and concerts and all sorts of other exciting things. The warm evenings where all you needed was a pretty dress, and some good company. I'm going to cherish these memories forever. <br /><br />But what mum has taught me since I've been back is that beauty is all around us, wherever you are, even when you can't see it. You just need to take the time to look a little harder and look outside the tunnel vision of everyday life. <br /><br />She's taught me to appreciate the beauty of a single flower that's got pink petals with purple on the tips. And the deep burgundy of the leaves on a tree. She's taught me how to notice a soft cool breeze and warm autumn sun on your face after a brisk walk. And a whispy cloud that's pale orange as the sunsets over misty hills. She's taught me to listen harder to hear the birds singing. And to see the little rabbits hiding in the grass thinking you can't see them... She sees so much more here than I'd ever bothered to notice before and I think that even tho you have to look a little harder.. It makes these things that much more special. I love that I've been able to take the time to see these things with her and she always points these pretty things out to me when I least expect it. I hope one day I'm as good at appreciating the little things as she is.<br /><br />Moving home has also made me appreciate what my family and friends mean to me.. They support me 100% even tho most of the time I'm not sure what I'm doing with my life. <br /><br />It has also made me appreciate my partner so much more. The fact that he believes in me and is proud of me and is willing to support me in this. I mean it's not just financially... At this point I feel I'm probably stable enough to go back to work on a part time basis... But he is supporting me to NOT go back to work but instead follow my dream of starting my own business which is something I've always wanted to do but just have never had, or made, the 'time' to start. He's taught me the value of just living and going with the flow rather than taking every opportunity just because you might not get another, or planning everything every step of the way. He's shown me that things work out no matter what.. Planning or no planning good things will eventually happen and at least with no plans you don't have the disappointments that go hand in hand when things eventually don't go to plan. <br /><br />This whole thing has been a massive learning curve for me. Before I found out about TSA I'd planned my life out how I thought was pretty much perfect.. We were going to save up this year to do a 6 week trip over to North and South America, visit Rio de Janeiro, walk the Incan trail at Machu Picchu in Peru, spend a crazy few nights in Vegas, catch some sun and surf in Miami and do a bit of shopping in Dubai on the way back to Perth.. Save for another year or so.. Move back to NZ and buy our 2nd house.. Start my business and then have a family... That's what my 5 year plan was...<br /><br />My new 5 year plan is? ..... What ever happens.. Happens.<div>
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I'm no photographer, but here's a couple of little things that I've found to be a little bit beautiful...</div>
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murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-18717181615393119342014-05-12T21:02:00.000-07:002014-05-12T21:02:51.377-07:005 WEEKS | 2,000 views | The other supplementsIm sorry to say I have been a bit preoccupied this last week so was unable to do my mid-week post on how the other supplements are going. I will get to that shortly but first...<br />
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Skin update...</h4>
Due to a bit of increased stress lately I'm fairly sure that I had my first dip/mini flare/increase in itchiness thing over the weekend. My face has been slightly redder, patchier and flakier over the last 3/4 days, the skin on my arms seemed to get thinner and I scratched up my arms a wee bit (which are actually healing up nicely today), rubbed some skin patches off my hands, jawline and chin, had quite a bit of oozy stuff from where I'd scratched and rubbed. I also had my first experience with the dreaded zingers also known as nerve pain.<br />
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I do get quite a lot of tingly sensations everywhere but I had never had the nerve pain before. It was Saturday night just after I'd given my arms a big scratch and jumped into bed to stop myself doing any more damage... was just lying there and ZAP!! Felt as though some one had just given me a strong pinch with some tweezers right in the sensitive part of my inner arm... It kept randomly zapping for about another 30 mins and then I must of fallen asleep.<br />
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I haven't had anymore zingers or ooze since then and my arms are healing nicely today so I think I can safely say my skin is holding steady again for the moment.<br />
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Pictures for today...<br />
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<i>So much better today! Amazing how the skin heals so quickly sometimes!</i></div>
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<i>Annoyed I didn't get pics of when I'd just done it though. </i></div>
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<i>Look at those lovely old lady hands.</i></div>
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<i>How attractive are those puffy cheeks!!!</i></div>
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Looking at these pics I know Im no where near as bad as I could be at the moment and Im so thankful for that.... can't wait to stop shedding like a mofo though.<br />
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2,000 views...</h4>
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WOAH is all I can say haha!! I'm honoured that anyone would even want to read my ramblings!!<br />
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When I first started this blog it was mainly going to be a way for me to keep track of my progress and write down exactly what it is that I'm going through and experiencing so my family and friends can have an insight into the inner workings of my brain haha.<br />
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I really hope that I have provided some useful information or even just some interesting reading :)<br />
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Ok now on to the supplements...</h4>
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<br /><b>NAC</b><br /><i>Brand I’m taking - Solgar, NAC, 600 mg, 120 Veggie Caps</i></div>
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<li>NAC (N-acetylcysteine) helps to elevate glutathione.</li>
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<br /><b>MSM</b></div>
<div>
<i>Brand I'm taking - Source Naturals, MSM Powder, 35 oz (1000 g)</i><br /><ul>
<li>MSM (methylsulfonylmethane)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>TMG</b><br /><i>Brand I'm taking - Now Foods, TMG, 1,000 mg, 100 Tablets</i><br /><ul>
<li>TMG (trimethylglycine)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>Glutathione</b> </div>
<div>
<i>Brand I'm taking - Jarrow Formulas, Glutathione Reduced , 500 mg, 60 Capsules</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Oh my gosh there is so much opposing information about this on the internet!</div>
<div>
For example...</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>About <b>80 percent of all oral glutathione is absorbed intact</b>, and that the blood levels remain elevated for about three hours.</li>
</ul>
and then...<br /><ul>
<li>Oral glutathione, L-Glutathione, and reduced glutathione are all the same thing. They are all glutathione pills. <b>All are ineffective in raising glutathione levels.</b></li>
</ul>
OH MY GOSH it's soooo confusing!! Being not a medical or scientific person this supplement is one bloody hard supp to get my head around.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lesson #99: Research supplements before you buy them!! I am just going to come to the conclusion that this form of glutathione is no where near as effective as the IV injections and that there is probably no need for me to be taking these.<br /></div>
<div>
<br /><b>Day 1 - now (Day 7 of the Active B's)</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>NAC - Started with recommended dosage 1 capsule - 600mg</li>
<li>MSM - Started with 5grams (1 teaspoon) once a day in water</li>
<li>TMG - Started with recommended dosage 1 capsule - 1000mg</li>
<li>Glutathione - Started with recommended dosage 1capsule - 500mg</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br />One of the main reasons that it has taken me so long to write about the rest of my supps is that I thought I may have possibly been over-methylating... </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I had been on the rest of the supplements for just under a week or so and I went into town with mum and ended up having a pretty big panic attack and ended up having to go back and wait in the car. Now Im not to sure if this panic attack was the result of over-methylation or just due to the fact that I hadn't had much other human contact in the previous few weeks, I was aware that I wasn't looking to normal, it was school holidays and town was packed. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So since then I have had a couple of other panic attacks... nothing crazy and they wear off in a couple of minutes, I've also noticed that I have quite intense mood swings that I have trouble controlling at the moment... I usually get REALLY bad mood swings with PMS but that only lasts a couple days. But these other mood swings are really bizarre... just kind of come up out of the blue.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So anyway, I decided to stick on those recommended dosages without raising or lowering them just to see what would happen and it seems like I'm still having the odd panic attack and the odd mood swing so I have decided that from here on out I am going to ditch the glutathione this week and see if anything happens. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Next week I will increase the MSM to 5g twice a day as I have taken this in the past at quite high quantities and didn't see any side effects. Then after that I will see how things are going.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
__________________________________</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />PS. I just remembered to mention that I ran out of my B6 about 5/6 days ago so have only been on the L-5-MTHF and the Active B12 for the last week... possible reason for the mini flare thing? So many unanswered questions...</div>
<div>
<br />PPS. All of my supplements I had to get off iHerb.com as Amazon did not ship most of the required supps to New Zealand for custom reasons. I was very impressed with their postage as they actually arrived about 4/5 days from the states after I ordered them. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
__________________________________</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Wheuu... long post today... dinner time.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
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<div>
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murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-13515532729740413692014-05-05T00:37:00.000-07:002014-05-05T00:37:10.210-07:001 MONTH down!!Well, I'm stoked that I've made it to one whole month! That much closer to being normal<i>ish</i>!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To report on life this week, I have noticed that I have become sensitive to heaps more foods than usual… The allergies I know I have food wise are eggs and nuts mainly which I know to completely avoid, but over the last month there have been random times when I have prepared meals that are normally harmless to me, such as steak and veg for example, and I've had random reactions, such as swollen lips, itchy throat or sore tummy. Then I'll have the left overs of the same meal the next day (just to see if I react again) and I'll be fine! Its very bizarre.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've got to also report back on the other supplements that I've added to the 3 B's but I'll do that in the next post I think. But so far so good… no change as far as I can tell.</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Photo wise, I have not actually taken any photos this week as I think my skin is still pretty much exactly how it was last week and it'l be like basically looking at the same photos… except I've noticed looking back at the pics that I have uploaded… I really need to get a new camera!!! It looks like most of the pics are slightly blurred a little and I'm a little disappointed I didn't get EXACT photographic evidence of my first couple of weeks. Oh well onwards and upwards!!!</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Life is getting interesting at the moment and most times I'm feeling positive that everything is going to be ok but in the back of my mind is always the thought that my first big flare is just around the corner.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V8-lYxy5Fjk/U2c-Kgrq-PI/AAAAAAAAAKM/2i_HsiCcozg/s1600/Lets-Be-Awesome1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V8-lYxy5Fjk/U2c-Kgrq-PI/AAAAAAAAAKM/2i_HsiCcozg/s1600/Lets-Be-Awesome1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-80599420554807927632014-04-28T16:50:00.001-07:002014-04-28T16:55:15.753-07:00Active B supplements - and a graph!In basic terms, because I have the <u>Heterozygous</u> C667T type gene defect, this is the version where only half of this gene is mutated so I received this defective gene from only one of my parents instead of both. People who have the <u>Homozygous</u> gene defect will need different doses of these supplements to me as this type of defect means that they heal at a far lower rate compared to normal people’s cells, whereas my gene defect means that I heal at a rate of approx 60% - 70% of a normal person.<br />
<br />
The first supplements I started off with last week were the 3 Active B’s and a probiotic and I have just started the remaining supplements last night.<br />
<br />
As I'm now living in quite a small town in the North Island of New Zealand I have emailed all the local ND’s and unfortunately they are either not aware of the MTHFR gene mutations or do not know how to treat them, so due to not actually having received any medical guidance with these supplements it is going to be a bit of trial and error for me. I have done ALOT of research and I feel like I have always been pretty good at knowing my body and when something is going on that is not quite right, so fingers crossed that I’ll be able to pick up on any negative effects quickly. Please visit this link that explains some of the side effects that may occur from over-methylation from using these supplements <a href="http://stoppingtopicalsteroids.blogspot.co.nz/2014/04/side-effects-from-mthfr-supplements.html">http://stoppingtopicalsteroids.blogspot.co.nz/2014/04/side-effects-from-mthfr-supplements.html</a><br />
<div>
<b>I would strongly urge anyone to seek medical advice in regards to their own required dosage amounts.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
L-5-MTHF</h3>
<i>Brand I’m taking - Designs For Health, L-5-MTHF, 120 Veggie Caps</i><br />
<ul>
<li>Folic acid is Vitamin B9 </li>
<li>L-5-MTHF is the activated form of Folic Acid. This gene mutation does not allow folic acid to be converted into the active form which is necessary for your body to repair cells. </li>
<li>Active form of folate = L-5-MTHF = Methylfolate = 5-methyltetrahydrofolate reductase </li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3>
Active B12</h3>
<i>Brand I’m taking - Solgar, Sublingual Methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12), 1000 mcg, 60 Nuggets</i><br />
<ul>
<li>Active B12 and L-5-MTHF go hand in hand to bridge that genetic gap </li>
<li>Active B12 = Methylcobalamin. If it says Active B12 (Cyanocobalamin) you’ve got the wrong stuff </li>
</ul>
<i><span style="color: #76a5af;">While methyl-B12 is a great form to use, some individuals will need to use more Hydroxy-B12 than methyl-B12. This is due to another genetic mutation, known as COMT. COMT is the enzyme that breaks down dopamine, other catecholamines, and estrogen. If an individual has this mutation, too much methyl-B12 may be overly-stimulating and can cause side effects, such as mood swings. </span></i><br />
<i><a href="http://functionmedicine.com/blog/?p=63">http://functionmedicine.com/blog/?p=63</a></i><br />
<br />
<h3>
Active B6</h3>
<i>Brand I’m taking - Country Life, Gluten Free, Active B6 Caps, P5P/PAK, 30 Veggie Caps</i><br />
<ul>
<li>The B6 methyl version is called P-5-P. The synthetic version is Pyridoxine Hydrochloride </li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3>
Probiotics</h3>
<i>Brand I’m taking - MicroGenics Probiotic 8 - Dairy Free</i><br />
<ul>
<li>Personally I think this is a necessity for me as I have previously had problems with candida and I just feel like my original eczema stemmed from a leaky gut and crappy eating when I was much younger </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Day 1 - 3</h3>
<ul>
<li>Active B’s - Starting with the recommended dosage on the packet of 1 capsule per day for each of the 3 B’s (1000 mcg = 1 mg). </li>
<li>Probiotic - 1 in the morning before breakfast. This dosage will remain the same.</li>
</ul>
<br />
I felt fine these first 3 days, not anything noticeably different although I did feel like my brain is a lot clearer… Im not really to sure how to describe this feeling and Im also not to sure if it is just a placebo effect as I am really thinking that these supps are going to do me good. I also noticed a slight increase in energy in the mornings (tired in the evenings though as I have stopped taking Licorice Root for adrenal support). Have also noticed that my legs were a bit achey.. but this could be due to helping out in the garden and being slightly unfit haha.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Day 4 - 6</h3>
<ul>
<li>Upping my dosage to 2 capsules per day of each (2000 mcg = 2 mg). </li>
</ul>
<br />
Not much to report after these next 3 days. Skin still holding steady. Still not really any increase in itching or much more dryness. Yeah…..<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Days 7 onwards</b> I am starting on the NAC, TMG, MSM and Glutathione, will report back later on how I go adding these to the active B’s.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<i>Future predictions.. Or possibly hopes</i></h3>
<b>What I really hope <u>DOESN’T</u> happen:</b><br />
Because my skin has been so stable in this initial part of the withdrawal, I really really REALLY hope that I am not going to be one who gets the big flares later on down the track. I have planned this so carefully and done as much research as I possibly can to prepare for this. I feel like I’m doing everything that I can possibly do to help myself recover (apart from maybe eating a few to many chickpea brownies). <br />
<br />
If I have the big flares later, I can quite honestly say that I will be extremely and absolutely gutted. I had fully prepared myself mentally for going straight into a flare in the first couple of weeks and the way my skin is going at the moment I really don’t see that first big flare coming anytime soon.<br />
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<div>
Im not to sure how I am going to deal with it if I do have big flares later. I suppose I will just have to wait and see.<br />
<br />
<b>What I really hope <u>DOES</u> happen:</b><br />
From a lot of reports of people who have been in the midst of TSW and have started these supps, a lot have seen significant healing (50 - 60%) in the first few weeks/months following the start of these supplements.<br />
<br />
What I am hoping this means for me is that I’m not going to have the big flares, ANY big flares and that what I have done by starting the supps before any big flares is I have caught my skin at that 50 - 60% healed mark (not sure if that makes sense… see graph)… and then I will gradually make the climb back up to good skin the same as every one else is while using the supplements. Fingers crossed.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TAXVlNR_E9U/U17cr48BKdI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/AFX4Zaitn-Q/s1600/Skin+Journey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TAXVlNR_E9U/U17cr48BKdI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/AFX4Zaitn-Q/s1600/Skin+Journey.jpg" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
It will be interesting to refer back to this graph over the coming year.<br />
<br />
I know that my skin is not going to magically be amazing what ever happens, but… I JUST WISH I KNEW!!!</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-67043534778156235532014-04-28T00:14:00.001-07:002014-04-28T00:14:26.437-07:00WEEK 3The end of week 3 is coming to a close with not a lot changing for either the better or the worse...<br />
<br />
Everything seems to be holding steady. For the moment anyway.<br />
<br />
My face is still the worst part about me, thats pretty much the reason why I haven't posted any pics of anywhere else. My only current symptoms (apart from my face) are...<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>elephant skin starting to develop behind my knees now as well as the front and in the creases of my elbows</li>
<li>strong metallic smell when I scratch</li>
<li>sleep is CRAP if I don't take any sort of antihistamine, I try to take them every 2nd or 3rd day though so my body doesn't get to used to taking them</li>
<li>arms are dry and constantly 'snow'</li>
<li>have the slightest RSS around my hands and wrists, though I would have no worries placing a bet on the fact that I would probably look twice as bad if I was moisturising at the moment.</li>
<li>still getting the random sweat attacks now and then... not every day anymore though</li>
<li>have also grown 2 more lymph nodes so that equals 7 that I have discovered altogether</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Heres this weeks pics...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z69-XUXlcq0/U133HGhRjHI/AAAAAAAAAIw/ocNEVRNrYC0/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z69-XUXlcq0/U133HGhRjHI/AAAAAAAAAIw/ocNEVRNrYC0/s1600/16.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Day 16</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1LbAs_nHPbU/U133lZdPqVI/AAAAAAAAAJA/txSuEvziiuQ/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1LbAs_nHPbU/U133lZdPqVI/AAAAAAAAAJA/txSuEvziiuQ/s1600/18.jpg" height="148" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Day 8</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kE0fhvrZaog/U133XK_WjHI/AAAAAAAAAI4/kz5Q-EBFAwQ/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kE0fhvrZaog/U133XK_WjHI/AAAAAAAAAI4/kz5Q-EBFAwQ/s1600/20.jpg" height="148" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Day 20</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GqTjsOLG4jY/U133tk_RYcI/AAAAAAAAAJI/06P5Nya2Q8k/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GqTjsOLG4jY/U133tk_RYcI/AAAAAAAAAJI/06P5Nya2Q8k/s1600/21.jpg" height="148" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Day 21</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--AKS1sT8yKM/U133xucsGkI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/66s8aMthrOA/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--AKS1sT8yKM/U133xucsGkI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/66s8aMthrOA/s1600/22.jpg" height="148" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Day 22</i></div>
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I guess looking at these pics when they are so little like that almost makes me look like I'm normal. From a distance I could probably pass as having not much wrong with me. It's when I zoom in that I can see all the little pieces that I have become addicted to obsessively trying to pick off.<br />
<br />
I have also recently decided that I'm not much of a fan of showers at the moment. Not much of a fan at all. Day 20 I think was my worst day this week and thats because I had a shower in the morning and it was the most amazing feeling letting all the moist dead skin wash away under some gentle encouragement... I possibly got a little carried away but thats beside the point.<br />
<br />
Shortly after my shower all the new baby skin that probably wasn't ready to see the world yet started getting dryer... and dryer... and dryer until I was almost back to how tight it was on my first week!!! Yikes! I was not a happy choppy that day. But after a good sleep I was pretty much back to the new normal.<br />
<br />
Oh and heres a pic of my sort-of RSS... I'm absolutely 100% sure that if I was moisturising at the moment it would be way worse than this...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tO_bJb3rkGI/U138j0Vx6zI/AAAAAAAAAJg/hYEFFI_3VGA/s1600/DSCF0531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tO_bJb3rkGI/U138j0Vx6zI/AAAAAAAAAJg/hYEFFI_3VGA/s1600/DSCF0531.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Not really really red like some people but there is definitely the line between white skin and red skin.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I've been on the 3 Active B's for the past week so I am going to do an update on those tomorrow.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6m3-YImCaaI/U13-vk8QZII/AAAAAAAAAJs/3o8QST4udtE/s1600/Patience-Quotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6m3-YImCaaI/U13-vk8QZII/AAAAAAAAAJs/3o8QST4udtE/s1600/Patience-Quotes.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Its only been 3 weeks and I'm already running a little short on patience...</i></div>
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<br />murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603520169724469396.post-54861663263720498502014-04-25T02:40:00.001-07:002014-04-25T02:40:18.078-07:00Stress, flaring and your adrenalsAfter putting a lot of thought into this over the last couple of days I really wanted to put down in words how stress is a big factor in eczema/rashes/flaring for me and what I (try to) do to combat it.<br /><br />Ive noticed it quite frequently on different occasions when I’m having a stressful moment my cheek will start heating up or my back starts to get prickly. <br /><br />There are definitely ways to control stress in most situations (obviously not all the time every second of the day) but most stress is avoidable if you just allow a bit of extra time for yourself to just breath.<br /><br /><b>Enough sleep is sooooo important! </b><br /><ul>
<li>as much as possible, although I’m not going to go over board and get lazy, I’ve still got to keep some sort of a routine </li>
</ul>
<br /><b>Relaxation and positive thinking </b><br /><ul>
<li>deep breathing </li>
<li>writing down every day things that make you happy </li>
<li>also writing down the things that are making you stressed/angry as this often stops you from dwelling on it </li>
<li>reading </li>
<li>yoga and meditation </li>
</ul>
<br /><b>Having support for day to day things and asking for help </b><br /><ul>
<li>if I’m tired I ask my partner if he can can make dinner or do the dishes/cleaning etc </li>
<li>its important to talk to someone you trust, who understands (well someone who is a good listener anyway!) </li>
</ul>
<br /><b>Exercise and being healthy </b><br /><ul>
<li>every morning I have a warm ACV and honey (Ive been doing this every day over the winter months for the last 3 years and are yet to get sick) </li>
<li>I used to go for 30 minute runs and I enjoy getting out into nature but for the next little while I will be reducing my exercise to walking and hopefully jumping on a mini trampoline if I’m able to get one (help my lymphatic system) </li>
</ul>
<br /><b>Having hobbies </b><br /><ul>
<li>my blog </li>
<li>painting/drawing/sewing… basically anything creative </li>
<li>working on developing my business </li>
</ul>
<br /><b>Getting to know yourself better and recognise when your stress levels are starting to rise </b><br /><ul>
<li>this is very very important!! Sometimes I feel like my own counsellor… ‘So why are you feeling down/stressed/anxious today and what do you think the reason is…’ hmmm yes I do talk to myself in my head haha </li>
</ul>
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__________________<div>
<br /><h3>
What part of your body is supposed to control stress?</h3>
<i><div>
<i><br /></i></div>
Normal Person…</i><br /><br />In a stressful situation your body prompts your adrenal glands to release a surge of hormones. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone, which is kind of like an inbuilt alarm system. It basically puts your body fight or flight mode.<br /><br />Once you have calmed down and the stress has passed, hormone and blood pressure levels return to normal and other parts of your body that were prepared for fight or flight return to their regular activities.<br /><br />When constantly feeling stressed or pressured, this alarm system is always turned on which could lead to an overexposure to NATURAL cortisol and other stress hormones, this is why it is so important to remain as stress-free and calm as possible and to become more aware of when your stress levels are rising.<br /><br />Naturally produced cortisol from your adrenal glands does not only control stress though... It also helps maintain your body’s anti-inflammatory processes.<br /><br /><i>So, what about a person going through Topical Steroid Withdrawal… ?</i><br />Corticosteroids are supposed to mimic the effects of naturally occurring cortisol in the reduction of inflammation… Well I guess we all believed the doctor when they prescribed us that first tube of Topical Steroids…<div>
<br />But what happens when we stop using the steroids?<br />
<br />
Our precious little adrenal glands that we have neglected to use for so long have probably decided that it may not be so necessary to continue producing cortisol at normal levels. Which means that any stress that we are put under during the initial part of the withdrawal probably seems so much more intense than when we were previously still using TS. <br /><br />I guess the words to describe your under-utilised adrenal glands would be ‘adrenal fatigue’. <br /><br />So this is where stress-reduction becomes an absolute necessity for folks suffering TSW. Until your little adrenal is up and running again, to much stress will just put that extra ton of bricks onto your bodies already heavy load.<br /><br /><h3>
A natural Adrenal support…</h3>
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For the past 6 months or so I have been taking Licorice Root capsules to support my adrenal glands while reducing my TS usage. Im not to sure how well they have been keeping me less stressed but there was one occasion where I ran out of the supplement for about a week and I was just so unbelievably, ridiculously, like couldn’t stop yawning or my eyes open all day at work tired… So I guess it must have been doing something good for me.<br /><br />Still very popular in Chinese Medicine, Licorice Root has been proven to boost energy levels as well as regulating the production of hormones in your adrenal glands. It has been said that long term, or overuse of this supplement could have serious side effects, but in general, low or occasional use of liquorice root is considered by many to be a beneficial treatment for adrenal gland issues.</div>
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So I guess when it comes down to it... when you get stressed your adrenal gland just isn't quite up to the challenge of keeping you in fight or flight mode AND maintaining your body's anti-inflammatory processes. </div>
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All things come in good time though I suppose :)</div>
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murielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990699333352781328noreply@blogger.com0