Attempts at treatment: Clobetasol, betamethasone, diprosone, cor-tar-quin (worked pretty well, but not made any more), other cortisone creams (work for a week or so and then quit), anti-biotics (short and long-term), anti-histamines (so far only Zyrtec works and I seem to be getting a resistance built up to that!). Anti-depressants. Prednisone and cortisone shots (makes my personality rude and it’s just plain nasty being on high dose prednisone anyway). Elidel (good if I can catch it before it really breaks out, nice for a while, then I become sensitized to it). Oatmeal baths and soaks (takes the heat out, but also dries horribly). Aquaphilic compounding base as a lotion every time any of my skin gets wet for any reason (works reasonably well unless I am acute, then it just sits on top of the crust and won’t soak in even if I wear wet gloves occluded with vinyl gloves).
Elimination (to the best of my knowledge and ability) of dairy products, wheat products, soy products, egg products, citrus products, red meats, feather pillows, commercially produced household cleaning and personal care supplies (I make all of that on my own now), avoidance of latex and man-made fibers and dyes in my clothing, wearing loose clothing only, no cosmetics or perfumes or jewelry, have my husband vacuum when I am out of the house and mow the lawn while I am inside the house.
I have come to the conclusion at this point that I can try all those things, but this will not go away, but become manageable when it feels like it. I went to an allergist today to begin a series of tests to hopefully identify what I have recently become sensitized to cause this latest flare (or maybe not?). After I finish more antibiotics, cortisone creams, elidel and use only Benadryl for an anti-histamine, he’ll do the skin test and we’ll see.
Contact breakout – heck yes! Handling money is a Very Bad Thing! I reduced my contact with money to checks a few years back. I also have recently stepped up my sensitivity to fungus and molds, though.
I am already making all my household cleaning and personal care products (except for shampoo – haven’t found anything that works properly for that! The “laboratory” experiments were interesting and humorous though!)
Am now on H1 and H2 blockers. Told the ER Dr I am going to a naturopath tomorrow. He encouraged me to do so. I canceled my appointment with the allergist as I am on too many medications.
With the rash now over the entirety of my extremities, I am wondering if maybe it isn’t dust mites? I will ask the naturopath tomorrow. Gotta go. Itchin again. Gonna soak in cold water and baby oatmeal. Say a prayer my drains don’t clog!
There have also been a lot of postings on people's reaction to molds. Another area to be seriously considered is all molds, fungi and yeasts. I have had an acquaintance for the last 6 months that turned out to be a naturopathic doctor. Didn't know what he did for a living until I ran into him this last week. When he saw my hands, he told me to come into his office as soon as possible. He identified the root of my problem as being a systemic yeast infection in my digestive tract, causing leaky gut syndrome and therefore causing "allergic" reactions to items in my digestive tract that have been getting into my bloodstream via yeast generated tubules through my intestinal walls instead of the villi. He explained the reasons for my having such a severe case of yeast is because of all the antibiotics and cortisones I have been given over my entire life, and especially over this last year.
He gave me several herbal remedies that have attacked mal-absorption, yeast infection, viral and bacterial infection (WOW! THAT stuff is working FAST!!!!), leaky gut syndrome and bowel cleansing.
He also gave me a diet to follow along with the medication for 30 days. I am to totally eliminate sugar of EVERY kind, all artificial sweeteners except stevia, ALL caffeine (withdrawal time!!!), ALL pork, ALL grains, ALL beans and ALL yeasts. Fruits except for green apples, berries, avocados, grapefruit, lemons and limes are also off limits. However, just about every kind of vegetable (most of which will NEVER get to WY unless I grow them myself!), most poultry and their eggs, fish, lamb, buffalo, venison, eggs, butter (NEVER margarine or butter substitutes), most raw nuts, goat's milk and goat's milk yogurt are all allowed. Water must be distilled or at least filtered (even though we actually have very good water here!), food cooked in oils must not be breaded and I have to choose from cold pressed olive, grape-seed or flaxseed oil.
Of course, this is all supposed to be organically grown and handled. Again. I live in WY. We just don't do that fu-fu stuff here. OK. So I will make do with what I have until I can grow it, or just go to CO for an organic food store. Several exist only 45 miles away.
I have been using the medications and following the diet for 4 days now. There is a marked improvement in my skin, energy levels and attitude. I realize I may still relapse yet again, but at least I am not poisoning myself with prednisone, cortisone creams and oral antibiotics.
I hope to be able to finally put this all to bed sometime in the next year or so from what this doctor has told me. While it deviates from traditional medicine, it still makes a lot of sense to me remembering back to some of the things I vaguely remember my grandmother doing or talking about when I was a small child. Unfortunately, she died before I could mature enough to ask her anything about it. Furthermore, traditional medicine has never been able to give any of us anything other than "I don't know. Try some more of something that didn't work the first dozen or so times."
I will definitely use the information you passed on to me. And yep... this whole thing must be approached with an attitude of experimentation. There have been many times I where I have been attempting a new approach in bathing or other skin care and told my husband I was off to the lab and not be too concerned if he heard a blood curdling scream (I have discovered that egg shampoo will cook into your hair with body heat alone, cold water rinses make no difference!).
In regards to the cleaning products, I have created an entire "cookbook" regarding various ways to clean my home, yard and car without being toxic to myself. I only thought my tub was cleaned with a commercial produced product. Baking soda and white vinegar showed me exactly what was left in the tub and I don't think there is a word in the English language that actually describes what I saw other than eeeewwww! NOW my tub is clean!
While we all have a common disease, we have different levels of involvement. Beyond the detoxification process, there were several other areas I had to address, ie.. type of soaps, shampoos and specific levels of various herbal remedies for a couple of toxicities that not everyone of us will have. Dr. Dan's site does have a contact option. You may want to ask him how to find a naturopath in your area so you can have the testing done to customize your treatment for your own needs.
I know it is VERY frustrating and almost impossible to provide for a naturopathic doctor if your health insurance (assuming you even have it) doesn't allow for this service. I had to get to the point where I simply HAD TO prioritize it and just MAKE it happen. My first visit to this doctor cost me $425.00 for the consultation and herbal medications. If I had gone back to a dermatologist, it would have cost me $200.00 for the doctor (my deductible had not yet been met) and another $200.00 per week in prescription medications (that never worked anyway) after the insurance had paid their part. Either way, I spend, I spend and I spend. The difference this time is that I have a tangible return on my investment in my health.
I also know from attempting herbal remedies in the past that to purchase all the ingredients to replicate a formula is exponentially more expensive than just buying the formula to start with. The formulas I am using are just that: a long list of herbal and chemical names. Many of the ingredients do not show an amount or doseage. Furthermore, they also have been prescribed to work in tandem based on my personal chemistry.
I can tell you I am using Country Doctor ICF 1 and 2, NutriWest Core Level Heath Reserve, NutriWest Homosysteine Redux, NutriWest Total Systemic D-tox, NutriWestTotal Virx, NutriWest Total Probiotics, NutriWest Total Yst Redux and Christopher's Glandular System Formula. They can be found on either on www.youngcountrydoctor.com, www.nutriwest.com or www.drchristophers.com. Some of them will show a list of ingredients. Please keep utmost in mind that the individual's doseage of each of these formulas are variable to each person and their level of toxicity they are experiencing. Some of them can be toxic on their own if taken in the improper volumes.
Unfortunately, some of the items included in these formulas are extremely difficult if not impossible for the average consumer to obtain. Additionally, the market where the herb has been obtained can greatly affect the effectiveness of its benefit. Have they been grown in a nutrient rich soil? Have they been treated with fungicides, pesticides and other toxins? Is the ground or water supply clean or toxic? How long were they stored and under what conditions? Were they imported and if so, from where and under what conditions? I wish EVERYONE the BEST of health and success in their endeavors to obtain it. Please use the sites listed above to further your reasearch into a successful treatment for your experience with our disease.
Gathered by Vera Bradova, written by Cat © 2004
Updated 3-1-2006
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