Internal Battles

This may be TMI, so I guess if you don't wanna know, just skip this one.

As many people know, I have a strange skin condition that just popped up after our honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta a year and a half ago. Gross, itchy, bumpy, occasionally oozing rashes everywhere. I was completely miserable. And I was having trouble figuring out my insurance at the time - I had never had to go figure out which doctor I could go to within different networks under one HMO. When I was under my parents' insurance, all the doctors that I could see were all in one place, under one network. Anyway, all this trouble meant that I couldn't get proper treatment for my skin right away without paying for it out of pocket, even though I had proper insurance through work.

Finally, I was able to see a dermatologist. And all he concluded was that I had eczema or some kind of allergic dermatitis. He gave me a steroid shot in the butt with some strong steroid cream, and sent me on my merry way. And it worked! ...for a while. By Christmas, my face had broken out in another nasty rash that would get better for a while, then get worse, then get better, then get worse again. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to like the way you look and feel one week, and be itchy and miserable the next.

Then this past summer, the rashes got worse, and it was like I had never seen the dermatologist in the first place. So these past few months have been a struggle to get the rashes under control and get a referral from my doctor to go see a new dermatologist.

Which brings me to today! Or, rather, this past Friday. And my dermatologist is a crazy old Asian lady. REALLY crazy. And I only mention she's Asian because, in my experience, Asian ladies are a whole different level of crazy. (I know this would include me too. And you know what? I still think it applies.) But she seemed to really know what she was talking about, showing me pictures (so gross!) and pamphlets and diagrams of what my skin was going through.

She says I'm allergic to latex/elastic. Oh, and nickel. Oh, and lactose. This is in addition to my pre-existing allergies to shellfish, nuts, and pollen. Why, oh why, am I the only one in my family with all these health issues? But the latex/elastic allergy is what really concerns me. At first, you think, "Oh, that's not so bad. That just means I can't wear latex gloves and stuff." But she pointed out that the elastic in the bands of my bra and underwear and socks are making me break out. Fantastic.

I know other people have to go through these issues. A lot of people even have worse allergies than I do. At least I don't need things like epi-pens. *knocks on wood* But I started to think of all the clothes that I love that I probably won't be able to wear anymore. And underwear! Can you think of any bras or elastic sold anywhere that don't have elastic in them? I thought not.

And the amount of medication she gave me is really very intimidating. Steroid creams twice a day, and 2 antibiotic pills twice daily, and some other pill once a week, and a special shampoo three times a week, and even more creams to use with the other cream... Oy! And another cream thing that cost me freaking $50, cuz it's not covered by my insurance! The dermatologist assured me that I could be almost completely back to normal in 3 months if I did what she said and continued to avoid irritants like elastic and nickel. And that means I might never have to worry about daily steroid creams and medications (for this, anyway) ever again. So, I hope this works.

It was a little depressing at first. But after a few days to reflect, I'm feeling a little better about it. The creams will be a complete pain and take a LOT of time every day, but it's supposed to be only for a few months, so I guess I'll deal. And I'm figuring out ways around the whole clothes-with-elastic thing, and I think with time, I'll probably get used to that too. I'll be that weird lady with crocheted underwear, but hopefully I won't be itchy all the time either. And maybe I'll feel better about the way I look and want to have my picture taken again and use regular shampoo again. Hopefully, it's all worth it in the end. I really, really hope it will be.