Holy smokes! The last time I wrote was July 15, 2015?! Shame on me! I've been busy and have been dealing with this little thing called life and some of the curve balls it has thrown my way.
As some of you know, my blog was centered about the crazy weight loss journey that I embarked on. I was close to 200lbs and managed to work out and diet myself back down to a healthy 125lbs. I was able to keep to that weight until around September of 2016...
Let me explain...
In November of 2015 I noticed that my skin was changing. I had these strange patches of red that were starting to pop up all over my body and I thought that I had developed dandruff because I was noticing flaking in my hair. If you find this gross, I apologize, but I have promised to always be honest on here... so that's what I'm doing.
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| This is NOT me nor is mine this severe but this is what psoriasis looks like |
Turns out, I have psoriasis. I had no idea what it was or what it could/would turn into... but I found out shortly after that. I also found out that it's pretty common, affecting 1 in 6 people. I went to the doctor and was given topical treatments up the wazoo which resulted in a tedious nightly routine of having to put these creams/foams on. On top of that I was given multiple different shampoos that were supposed to treat my scalp. It helped for a little while but as it continued to spread, I realized that I needed to do more to keep this under control. I started light therapy...3 times a week... in an office that is 30 minutes out of my way. This threw a huge wrench into my daily workouts and naps because it was basically another hour and a half that I had to dedicate to the therapy.
(I'm sorry if this sounds like a lot of complaining... I know it's nothing compared to what some people have to deal with but again, just explaining my process)
After being sick of having my schedule totally screwed up, in October of 2016 I decided to give Otezla a try. It is a new medication on the market and it is a pill which was a huge selling point because I HATE SHOTS.
Within a week of taking the pills... I was nauseous everyday throughout most of the day, my motivation was SHOT and I was totally depressed. With hopes that this would eventually go away, I continued to take the pills until December 13, 2016 when I just couldn't take it anymore. All of my muscle mass was gone, I had gained weight and my anxiety was out of control. Per advice from one of my doctors, I stopped taking Otezla. (Now I will say, this pill has worked for some people so if you're one of those folks, don't let my personal experiences ruin yours. This was just how it affected me.)
So here we are in February/March of 2017 and I am once again not stoked with my weight or how I look.
I have decided to bring back the lifestyle I had before all hell broke lose. I am going to get back on track and if you all don't mind, I would love to share this journey with you again.
Current weight: 136lbs with zero muscle.
Goal weight: 125lbs with lottttsa muscles. :)
You guys have always been such a support system, and for that I thank you.
The Journey Starts Now....
READY - SET - GO!
What topical treatment were you using? I too have psoriasis, though it is mild, and I use an ointment called Fluocinonide that has helped a bit more than previous treatments. I also started using a different body wash called Defense Soap, which I noticed helped improve the condition of a secondary condition (eczema), even though it's not listed to do so. For the scalp, none of the shampoos I ever used really did anything, but what did really help was unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar (I use Bragg's) topically on the scalp in the shower every other day and it has had a noticeable impact. You will smell like vinegar for a bit after you use it, but I found the results well worth it, and I've never looked back. I have no idea if these things will work for you, but if they help relieve some of the condition and thus the stress, then that's worth it. They also aren't horribly expensive to try.
ReplyDeleteNotalltogether - Thank you SO much for the recommendations! I am going to get some Bragg's today and start using that. I have been using Enstilar foam on my skin and a eucalyptus Dr. Bronner's soap in the shower. It seems to help! I am going to check out Defense Soap! I really appreciate you reaching out. Thank you again!
DeleteThe eucalyptus will probably be better than the Defense Soap, since Defense Soap is not intended to help with psoriasis. But you can try it out and see how you feel about it. The Bragg's I originally got to try as a home remedy for warts (which it actually worked well on) and then I decided to look into if it was good for any other skin stuff. Technically what I have on my scalp and face is called seborrheic dermatitis, which was improved by the Apple Cider vs the various shampoos I've used (I've used at least 4 different kinds). I don't know about it's impact on psoriasis since I never used it directly for that. When using the vinegar, be careful. It does sting a bit. Most other people I've seen dilute it when they use it on their face. I personally don't, but I also use it in the shower so it's somewhat diluted naturally.
DeleteI so appreciate your amazing honesty. You are an open book and I admire you for that. Are you doing the challenge with me on the 27th? I would LOVE to be your accountability partner. ;o) LOVE YOU SISTAH!!! XOXO-C
ReplyDeleteSome other OTC topicals that work well for my psoriasis are coal tar ointments, creams, and lotions. One of the best I have found is MG217 ointment because it isn't greasy, it actually dries but helps immensely. Another good product is Psoriacin ointment, but it is greasy so I use it at night on my hands and then put on Nitrile gloves to keep it off the bedding. My psoriasis is so acute sometimes that the skin splits with painful cracks. Which is bad news because depending on where on my hands it is, can make it impossible to play any of the many stringed instruments that I play. (PS I am in a rock band at the ripe old age of 64!) Keep up the fight! Someday, some where, someone will develop an actual cure for this condition, and then we can all laugh about how bad it was in the olden times! B-)
ReplyDeleteI went from 214lbs to 185lbs and holding. It is a life changing thing to keep it off. No secret way just cut out what was bad and started drinking more water and eating better. And work outs.. yes it took a few years but I am happy at the new weight and feel a lot better. For skin I use 100% pure Aloe Vera gel.. Works great for Most skin issues... good luck on your journey.. N.W. Indiana
ReplyDeleteMy father had psoriasis and the thing that makes it come out, spread - look like the picture is stress. He tried everything and what really worked for him was sunlight, swimming pool and baby oil. He also had really oily skin. The chlorine helped and then baby oil to keep it from cracking. He had a friend from England that would bring him a special cream back from there when he went, but nothing really did a whole lot. De stress is most important. Michelle, Morgan Hill, CA
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I saw your blog, I started getting psoriasis ads on Facebook. It was from metaderm.com.
ReplyDelete