My Oncologist freaked out on me when he realized I was using Taclonex, a topical steroid. I was given it by my dermatologist to treat what I know know was Reiter’s Syndrome. I didn’t realize any of it was a problem. My oncologist freaked out so much that I went into a full dysesthesia attack. Fun.
So I stopped the Taclonex, even though it was working on the Reiter’s Syndrome.
Today, I told my dermatologist this story, and he pooh-pooh’ed the concerns of the oncologist, citing several studies that showed that topical steriods do not make it into the bloodstream. And at the same time was a touch defensive, trying to reassure me that he would never have give me something if he was not 100% confident it was safe.
So it doesn’t make it through my skin into my bloodstream… but I had *skin cancer*. Or am I falsely relating the surface with the site of the original cancer. When the real risk are those rogue cells floating in my bloodstream?
So whose instructions do I follow? How much pain can I take from my fingers? How much of the pain is the infections (which I go a prescription for)? With the infections under control, will I get some of my fine motor skills back? (I’ve been having trouble picking up pills, keys, gummi bears, and other small objects b/c the tips of my fingers are so sore and my finger nails are mostly gone. Also, opening the magnetic clasp on my computer is a comic affair: I find some spoon, or USB cable, or the corner of my iPod Touch, slip it in, and lift it up two or three inches, and let gravity pull the bottom half away from the top half (it usually lands on the table with a thud)
So whose instructions do I follow?
ugh, what a mess.
I’ve had horrible experiences with topical steroids, like, really bad, where they seemed to help for a minute, then the whole thing got exponentially worse (eczema). I’m sure you’re in a more extreme situation than I ever was, but what eventually cured my eczema was so simple: a cup of oolong tea every morning. I guess it’s something about the fermentation and the antioxidants. Who knows.
I used to wear gloves a lot, pre-oolong, and it helped. Those little white cotton ones like art handlers wear, lol…
and you can get these special bandages, they’re for people with Epidermolysis Bullosa. I’ve never tried them, b/c my hands were only occasionally a true mess, but maybe that would help.
oh doctors. good times.
I have always had really bad eczema in the winter, I get the same thing on my eyes as you have now and every year the derms give me ‘riods and every year they do nothing really in terms of making it go away or stop hurting/swelling.. .
did the lard stuff work at all? otherwise the bandages that LK spoke of worked really well for my legs- which were usually so raw I couldn’t fold them and usually didn’t heal for months (sorry TMI but now you know).
If you want to go the natural road I found a great option (if you have the energy/time to find ingredients)
Hypericum oil/ointment or Burdock seed oil. Another good options is vegetable oil (olive or almond) infused with plantain leaves and comfrey root, which both contain allantoin helping with rapid cell regeneration. I discovered this in Susun Weed’s “Herbal for the Childbearing Year” when I was going through my moms books.. my mom used it during her melanoma treatment and it took care of rashes, eczema, and any itching. It is perfect to put on small wounds and scratches (put a drop on the band-aid or wound wrap).
these are all good suggestions. i can’t do the tea, b/c of the caffeine, but i’ll make a go of everything else.
I’m actually already taking Hypericum Perforatum in a dissolvable pellet form. Not sure if that is the same thing.
I’ll run all this by my naturopath, and see if there is anywhere i can get this stuff.
I have also worn the white gloves a few times. JC suggested I cover my hands w/ neosporin and put on some gloves when I sleep. I might try that with these other salves as well…