Dreams DO Come True!

I’VE BEEN REFERRED TO A SKIN DOCTOR!

IT HAPPENED.

I’VE WAITED ALL YEAR AND IT FINALLY HAPPENED.

Pictures of my skin throughout the past week.  Very red, itchy and sore!

I don’t remember the last time I came out of the GP feeling as happy as I did today. 

I told the doctor about all the troubles I’ve been having over the last couple of months, (it was a very nice woman whom I have never be seen by before, and so it always helps to give some background info.)  I told her all about the different treatments I’ve tried, the creams, the steroids, the ointments, the swapping of my daily cosmetics and shower essentials, the vitamins, yada, yada, yada. 

And she got it.

She looked at my notes and almost instantly told me that the next step was the specialist.  Because she personally didn’t specialise in the area of skin, there wasn’t much she could do for me other than to refer me and offer some short term solutions – which today, I was more than happy to take! Although it’s not likely that I will be seen before the end of this year, it does please me that I have managed to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

In terms of what she did for me today – she’s prescribed me a steroid ointment (shock horror), alongside a different antihistamine that I’ve never used before.  The steroid is quite mild compared to the one I was given on my last visit, however it is still to be used thinly across the affected areas.  She’s also requested that I only use it when necessary – which, let’s be honest, with the luck I’ve seemed to have over these last few weeks, will be most likely every other day for the foreseeable future.

The antihistamine she gave me is much stronger than the two I had before.  I’ve to take it every 4-6 hours, provided that it doesn’t make me drowsy.  If it does, then I’ll have to keep it for night time only – which will suck if my skin itches during the day, but that’s just the way things go sometimes!

I know that it is still early days yet, but I think the use of the sauna has been a good thing for my skin after my gym and swim sessions.  I don’t tend to stay in long, between 10-15 minutes max, however my skin hasn’t felt itchy or stingy after my workouts – which needless to say, has been a relief.

Hopefully over the next week, with the use of the steroid ointment, moisturiser, vitamins and sauna, I will see a drastic change in my skin for the better.

*Touch wood*

Nothing Is Working

So I have yet another appointment with my GP tomorrow due to my skin flaring up again this week.  I've been walking around like a giant red lobster.. And it's not been pleasant.  Although I'm not hopeful that the doctors will be able to give me much relief (other than the steroid creams that they insist I use, despite the fact that they only work for a week or so), I am hoping that they will be able to give me some dietry advice as to what could be causing me to flare up so regularly.
I know cows milk can be an issue for some, but seeing as I have been drinking it from such a small age, I doubt this is the case.

I guess I will just have to fill you's in tomorrow.
Signed - a very itchy Lauren.

Not The Results I Expected

Hello again my lovelies!

It’s been just over a month and a half since I started taking my daily vitamins in a bid to try and heal my skin.  If I’m going to be completely honest, do I think it’s helped my skin in any way?

No.

I’ve seen no good change in my skin at all, and over these last couple of weeks, I’ve actually noticed that my antihistamines have not been as effective as they once were.  Alas, good things don’t always last very long!

I will however comment on how good I have been feeling this past month.  With winter finally upon us, I’ve been half expecting to catch this god awful plague that has been lurking around the college and sneaking up on everyone in sight.  So far, I’ve managed to avoid it – despite being around my constantly ill friend *cough* Kirsty *cough* and it doing the rounds in the family. 

I’ve switched most of my fizzy drinks for fruit juices, smoothies and herbal teas, and for the mean time, I think my body is enjoying its increased dosage of vitamins and nutrients.   I’m still taking the capsules for vitamin C, D, omega 3 and evening primrose oil every morning, and because I’ve read so many good things about the primrose, I’ve upped my dosage to 3 a day – which hopefully, over time, will help my eczema to come to some sort of calm.

This week, me and my boyfriend signed up to the gym just down the road from us.  The aim is to get at least 2 gym and swim sessions in a week, both followed by a wee chill in the sauna.  I’m not going to lie, I’m a little worried about how this is going to sit with my skin.  In the past, exercise has caused it to become aggravated and very red – however, since having read and having been advised that the sauna may help to relieve these problems, I’m willing to give it a go!

So for now, I’m just going to have to play it by ear and hope for the best.