My new tea

I don't know what it is exactly that has recently calmed my eczema. But I thought I would share this tea since it is the latest change. I drink it twice a day, if I remember in the evening but every morning for sure. It is supposed to support a healthy liver and kidney function. My skin feels pretty good lately. My eczema is still in the usual places but no as itchy. Maybe cleansing with the tea has brought on some good affects.

Steroids

I am still not sure what to think of my allergies or gluten. It's an ongoing dilemma. I've so far decided to stay vegan mainly to cut out cheese and eat as green ad possible. There is no difference in my skin but it hasn't been long enough to tell. I have been reading a lot about steroid withdrawal. I think this may be contributing to the problem or exactly what's making it worse! I don't use the steroid topical cream that often but I do take (orally) prednisone. I'm not sure if what people are saying goes hand in hand. If you put it on your skin and taking it orally will cause the same withdrawals. I do feel that I shouldn't have never started either one! I have a feeling from looking at other people's pics that its going to be a painful summer.

Here it comes...

I'm done with the prednisone it's been about a week. My eczema feels less itchy this time but is coming back in full swing. I know I will be fully covered in less than a week. The allergist I'm seeing has no great solution of course. He said it would be better this time and not as bad as the las round. Well he's wrong. I can see the patches that were gone for weeks now filling back in red and blotchy. His next idea was to wait a little while and then when it gets unbearable go on the prednisone again for a longer more drawn out duration. Great. That's very helpful. And how about getting to the cause of the problem? I'm researching allergy shots even though he doesn't see a link with them and eczema. I just have to keep on going and trying different ideas.

Allergist...follow up

Today I am going to the allergist for a follow up. I'm hoping this will go better than the last visit. I have some issues, (when do I not) to go over with him. I'm coming off my prednisone so my delusional world of bliss will soon be coming to an end when my eczema comes back full force. It's creeping back today and I stopped taking it two days ago.

My list if questions:

Xyzal - may I try some, what are the side affects, and does it really work. It's supposed to reduce the itch.

Prednisone - I have been on it 3 times this year. Does it cause my eczema to get worse when the next flare comes? He will probably say no..cause he's a doctor loving prednisone prescriber. 

Allergies - He doesn't believe I can have as many chemical allergies as I do. BUT I had the test done which tells people if they have allergies so how is the test wrong?!? We need to go over this again.

Shots - He doesn't think allergy shots will have any positive affect on me. That's awesome. What the hell are they for then? I am severely allergic to dust mites and there's a shot for it so why shouldn't I be getting them?    * Insert exhaustion and frustration right here

Air purifier - will this help? Not that I obviously value his opinion that much. I would rather read other people's blogs and hear their opinions. But it is a question so will see what he says.

So those are the topics for the day. We almost moved out of our place because the one next door has no carpet, and I suspect mold in our place. It would be nice to move but not yet...

Making skin Vegan

This weekend we came to a decision to try a plant based diet. Basically a vegan diet because we are excluding dairy also. For a month I am going to stick with this. My prednisone will be out in another week and I am hoping by changing my diet I can ween off of it without a flare. It's a big dream but hopefully my work will pay off. I have my boyfriend doing it with me so I have great support. He doesn't really love meat like I do so it should be easier for him.


I am also staying away from alcohol and coffee. I'm going to substitute coffee with warm lemon water. That should be the hardest part..I love my morning coffee. But coffee is supposed to be bad for eczema and I'm going to do all I can to help improve myself from the inside out.


We are basing our diet off of the book forks over knives. There's some great recipes in there and I need something to follow so I don't get bored!

Good bye meat..I will miss you..

Wish me luck!


http://www.forksoverknives.com/

Allergist

So, I went to a new allergist this week. I thought that I needed a second opinion. I was tested with the TRUE test previously by my dermatologist and this is the second allergist I have had look at the test results.

His conclusion:

He believes there is no way I am actually allergic to 18 different chemicals. He thinks that since my skin is so inflamed it wouldn't have mattered what we had put on it anything would have caused a reaction. His question was why I hadn't reacted to all of the test patches that were put on.
My skin was so inflamed and out of control that he put me on another round of prednisone and some stronger antibiotics that are supposed to fight infections related to eczema.

Along with this, he did a prick skin test on my arms. (Which I have had done several times before) although this one included wheat and dairy. Which both came up negative.

The positives were dust mites, grass, pollen, cats, and dogs. All of these I have previously tested positive for allergies. Dust mites proves to be the most severe.

The questions I did not get answers for:

If my skin doesn't test positive to gluten or dairy should I still be staying away from it?

If I continue to go on prednisone throughout the year when I have a flare will my eczema get worse every time? (I have heard this but I'm not sure if its true)

Is there a possibility that where I live, my condo, could be worsening this problem? Mold possibly? It's very damp all the time. I have been there a year and have never had eczema so bad in my life. To add to that we are considering moving soon.

He would also like me to be on fluconase for the next year. It's a steroid inhalant as far as I know. I don't want to be on steroids for the rest of my life! Is this supposed to be the end solution for this?

Another question..he said that the allergy shots may not even help me with the dust mites, pollen etc. I was told before it would make a huge impact. Has anyone seen great results from allergy shots with these allergies?

Needless to say I still don't have all the answers, and I have not yet found an allergist who can explain to me what is going on or what my future outcome looks like.

This is a pic of where I was at last week..now that has completely healed and I am eczema free. Thank you steroids...I think.

Having a good attitude on a bad day...

I try and stay positive and not let it get me down but today is not good. I have eczema on my cheeks. It burns and hurts. It's covering almost my entire back, arm pits, stomach, arms, and my hips. I have been doing all I can to research what could be causing the latest uncontrollable wrath that has taken over me. Having eczema on my face is where I draw the line. It's painful and viewable by all to see. Sucks.

I'm going to have to put some pics on just to document how bad it is right now.

I am seeing an allergist on Monday who will hopefully give me more information on how to control all of my allergies. I'm hoping to start allergy shots.

I am also on the look out of how to buy a nickel testing kit for my nickel allergy.