Still in a flaky phase, which I don't mind, but it is a bit embarrassing, as my face is really dry. I'm not going to be gracing the cover of Vogue any time soon.
The skin seems relatively calm, but tight in the flexures of my elbows and knees. My neck is still the worst area, although it is looking less red. It is very flaky and is still oozing at night, although perhaps a little less than previously.
I went to visit my mother in law and she asked if I had a stiff neck. I was laughing and explained it was my skin on my neck. It was so tight I couldn't turn my head and I was holding it stiff. I used a lot of steroid cream on this area in the past, so I know it will take a long time to heal.
It is quite scary how my eyes have been swollen. This is a common symptom of TSW. Somehow the steroid creams used on the face must have affected my eyes too. I'm glad I got off the creams, otherwise I could have ended up with glaucoma. My eyelids are weepy and saw and my actual eyeballs are swollen, like when you have an allergic reaction to something and the cornea swells. It isn't so bad today though. Antihistamines help.
A friend of ours said I should just use the steroid creams and get my life back. I don't agree. When I heal, whether it be a year from now or maybe more, I will have my life back. A life without eczema. If I had stayed on the steroids, my body would have just gotten used to them and needed stronger and stronger preparations. Besides. although the steroid withdrawal is quite disabling, I still try to lead as normal a life as possible. I go out, fetch the kids from school, go shopping and socialise. Steroid withdrawal isn't the end of the world by any means, although it can be a tough road to travel. Having so many skin friends on the google group who are travelling the same road really helps. They are such great people, all at different stages in the healing process.
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