update on my life
Nov. 9th, 2004 12:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alikiSo at 24, I got diagnosed last week with eczema. I thought that was something that started in childhood like chicken pox, and if you made it past a certain age, you didn't have to deal with it. The worst was hearing my doctor say: "Well, you can never cure eczema, you just have to learn ways to deal with living with it." ARGH! It felt like you could've substituted any given sexually transmitted disease like herpes into that box. I almost visualized those herpes commercials on TV where the woman goes kayaking, mountain climbing, and snuggles with some guy with low occurences of outbreaks... I cringe. Eczema is way gross. I look like an alligator with serious red and inflammed skin.
Also, as I walked to work this morning at 4am, I realized this is why I hate fall and winter. The sheer fact that I go to work before the sun rises, and don't leave work till the sun sets (I left yesterday at 7pm) is really depressing. Really. When I have to turn the front porch light on as I leave the house so I can get my keys into the car, and return at night, thankful that I left the porch light on because now I can find the keyhole in the front door-- it's sick! Sick, I tell you! My one neener-neener comment would have been that I don't turn into a deathly-pale vampire because I work outdoors and keep my tan, but the stark reality is that trying to have dexterity in your fingers in 28 degree Fahrenheit weather (sub-freezing!) in the dark, on a rocking boat, with splashing, wet, ocean waves, that six warm thermal layers of clothing don't keep the chill off you and your toes felt like they fell off after two hours is nothing to brag about.
Also, as I walked to work this morning at 4am, I realized this is why I hate fall and winter. The sheer fact that I go to work before the sun rises, and don't leave work till the sun sets (I left yesterday at 7pm) is really depressing. Really. When I have to turn the front porch light on as I leave the house so I can get my keys into the car, and return at night, thankful that I left the porch light on because now I can find the keyhole in the front door-- it's sick! Sick, I tell you! My one neener-neener comment would have been that I don't turn into a deathly-pale vampire because I work outdoors and keep my tan, but the stark reality is that trying to have dexterity in your fingers in 28 degree Fahrenheit weather (sub-freezing!) in the dark, on a rocking boat, with splashing, wet, ocean waves, that six warm thermal layers of clothing don't keep the chill off you and your toes felt like they fell off after two hours is nothing to brag about.
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no subject
Date: 2004-11-09 10:10 am (UTC)The most commonly (to the best of my knowledge) prescribed remedy is a hydrocortisone cream. You can get them in non-prescription strengths over the counter.
The Allopaths I've seen about my eczema tend not to spend too much time rooting out the cause, but just throw remedies at the symptoms. Bottom line, something is causing your eczema. Assuming you haven't developed an allergy, eczema could be an reaction to dehydration, a build up of toxins in your body or to an overload of stress. The skin is a filtering organ.
Good luck. Sucks to deal with.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-09 02:50 pm (UTC)My doc ruled out allergy because I have it primarily on one foot and not the other, hence it wouldn't be a factor of laundry detergent, carpet, and I didn't wear any toe rings (she did ask!).
Stress is probably a big factor-- I'm about to take my quals, which in graduate school, is a "do or die" scenario where my entire life may crumble before my eyes, no exaggeration.