nothing will keep us together

A year ago my other half was planning a holiday of a lifetime to Thailand for my 40th birthday.  The holiday never happened because of PRP. This week I moved out and our relationship of just under ten years, came to an end. The PRP wasn't the cause of the problems, but it made it a lot harder to try and fix things. So now I'm fat,forty and flakey...and living on my own for the first time in my life. Actually I'm not that flakey, the skin has definitely improved over recent months, but I'm almost expecting a bit of a relapse due to the stress of it all.  I hope I'm wrong.  

My eyes!!!

Yesterday I went to the Optitians to find out about getting laser treatment for my eyes.  I admit this is partly for vanity reasons but also because my glasses are constantly covered in a layer of emollient and flakes.  Because of my astigmatism, I was given a quote of between £3000-£3500 (ouch).  So then the Optitian had a proper look at my eyes and said I couldn't have the treatment now because my eyes were unusually dry.  This could be because of the PRP but more than likely it's due to the methotrexate.  Also because of the dryness of my eyes I would struggle to go back to contact lenses at the moment.  That's not even taking into account I have no idea how I'd put in contact lenses when my hands are constantly covered in grease and flakes.  So it stuck with the glasses for the moment. 

Feeling (relatively) good

I know I'm tempting fate by saying this, but this week I really noticed how much my skin has improved . I had a shower on Wednesday morning and didn't have to put cream on straight afterwards, ok I was a little itchy, but I survived.   

Extreme close up

I got myself a cheap and easy to use microscope for my computer.  Since getting it my skin hasn't been too flakey, so here are some scalp & eyebrow shots. Enjoy :-)

Another update

It's been a while since my last update. Since then I had a week where I was really itch and flakey all over, but that passed before Christmas. I saw my dermatologist on Christmas Eve and he advised me to stop the neotigason but continue with the methotrexate and folic acid. He also said that while it looks like it's breaking up and doesn't look as bad, it will probably be at least another six months before it starts to properly go. 

Merry Christmas 

Update

Feet:  Not bad at all, often a little sweaty/clammy (this is a good thing).  Last week my soles were a little dry and dusty but they seem fine now

Legs: Red but not hugely dusty although there is always a layer of fine dust on the inside of my jeans

Chest & stomach. Red with lots of islands of sparing (clear spots). 

Upper chest, neck & Cheeks: Itchy patches of peeling flakes

Arms. Red with pealing flakes.  Big patches of peeling flakes across forearms. Also some islands of sparing

Face.  Red with Islands of sparing, particularly on forehead and spots under eyes.  Flaky skin on forehead.  Constant band of fine dust around eyes.  Although my face is generally dry, I sometimes get a clammy nose.  Eyebrows often seem full of tiny flakes.

Ears. Ears and around the ears, constantly itchy and flaky.  

Scalp.  Constantly full of flakes

Back: always itchy and flaky (from what I can see), particularly at the top near the shoulders. 

Regeneration

It been a while since I wrote a blog post, not including the photos and map. You haven't missed much. I'm still red and flakey. The cyst was horrible and made me so tired and drained, but after lots of antibiotics and some revolting squeezing sessions, things are a lot better now.  A big thank you to Simon for squeezing. 

But back to the Prp, I don't think there are any changes.  One of the things I read when I first researched Prp was how much it can effect your mental Heath. This year I have been very low, and although I can't blame it all on the Prp, it has been so depressing living with this everyday. I have tried not to use this blog as a way to wallow in self pity, I'm not sure I have always succeeded. This is only a temporary condition for me. I have to keep telling myself this. There are others that have this condition since childhood and for their entire lives, and of course there are so many more that have to suffer so much more. 

I'm a Doctor who fan, and a good friend of mine once joked that what I am going through is a regeneration. Maybe it's true because when I do come out the other side of this I don't think I will be the same man I was going into it.