Some of my worsterer moments

[IowaDavid]

Here are some pics of me when my rosacea was pretty bad. Thought this photo section should have some pics like this. :wink:

Me right before I was admitted to the ER two years ago (my core temperature was 84 degrees from staying in the AC all the time, using a fan, and drinking iced water to avoid flushing).

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/Condolezzak/Beforehospital.jpg

This is me in the hospital after my face exploded because they used a body-warmer on me for 8 hours or so my face went crazy in response.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/Condolezzak/DavidHospital1.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/Condolezzak/DavidHospital3.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/Condolezzak/DavidHospital2.jpg

Okay. Here's me today, actually, after I got home from my gemini laser treatment. My doctor and I decided to take it up a notch because I'd been bouncing back from past laser treatments pretty quickly. It hurt quite a bit, left the raised "welts" on my face, and I had burning/stinging sensations for a few hours afterward, but, it's calming down now (12 hours later). (sorry for the odd angles--had to take these myself).

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/Condolezzak/Post-laserfront.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/Condolezzak/Post-laserside1.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b179/Condolezzak/thumbsidepostlaser.jpg



Anyway, just wanted to share those. I'm getting much better of late, and my skin is clear of p & ps (I have subtype 1, tho) though I do still flush and have diffuse redness and telangiectasia. It's much better than it used to be, though, so I'm able to get out of the house much more without thinking too much about the rosacea.


David

[lobster222222]

Wow
Man I feel for you, Although I have looked like that before. Have you had 20 + treatments with a laser or lasers? Have you any clue why they did not work for you? what kind of lasers were used on you? Do you think it is because of the person using the machine on you or is it your skin, or do you think it was the machine? Sorry bout all the questions, but Iam going through IPL right now and going through a real bad stage right now, its kind of clearing but sometimes I worry it may not help. It is only my second tx.
-L-

[IowaDavid]

The main thing I've found to be helpful with lasers is get a doc you trust; space your treatments appropriately--allow your skin the time to heal that it needs; PREFLUSH--very important, even if your doctor looks at you like you're nuts; view results over months, not immediately after a treatment--it takes me 3-4 weeks for my face to cool down to the point where I see how the laser treatment went; start with lower energies and work up from there; if you can get ahold of a macrolide antibiotic to take during treatments and between treatments to help knock back angiogenesis.

Overall, I've just had to step back and not rush things--skin heals relatively slowly with this disease. Give yourself time because we all know this disease bounces around in its symptoms and I've jumped to conclusions and treatment modalities that were rushed and, in the end, harmful.

David

[Ajay]

So sorry but SO galed things are better these days,and they say Rosacea is cosmetic!!!!

[Kelli]

WOW! Man... I feel for you. I'm glad you're getting good treatment.

Big Hugs!

[smudge]

David,

Thanks for sharing your photos. Im glad to see that you are getting some decent help for your rosacea and youve been able to get some relief.

-liz

[SpencerK]

Yeh, respect for posting those David m8.

I'm glad to here things are improving for you my friend. Get rid of those welts and your back to normal.

Nice one.

Spence

[Jonesy]

David, massive respect to you for posting those. Looking at the bottom side-on picture, I reckon once those raised areas go down you'll look fantastic. Go get 'em mate :D

[polster]

David - have you thought about using a humidfier at home? With Rosacea and seb derm it drys out the skin and makes it flake. I think a cold air humidifier running at all times will help bring down the inflamation. Also you may want to look into a mosturizer for rosacea. I have been using one from skinstore.com, but I dont want to spam this thread with a product referal. I know most creams and crap make rosacea worse and that I why you need to consult a qualified physician in inflamtory skin problems who can recomend a good mosterizer.

Good luck with your progress and let us know what is helping you and what is not.

/polster

[IowaDavid]

Thanks for the posts everyone.

Yeah--this last laser treatment was a _bit_ aggressive. But it should settle down soon.

And yeah--I do use a humidifier almost year-round as I don't use moisturizer. Works pretty well, I've found, if your face doesn't break out from no washing (I think the antibiotics sort of help with this--not sure though).

David

[fanta]

Are you sure you havent got a demodex problem? your upper eyelids and forehead looks a bit like they are demodex infected to me. I feel for you man, my face looks not near your face, my eyes are not good though, somehow just as bad as yours or worse, but your rosacea is really bad.

[IowaDavid]

I'm pretty sure it's just rosacea. Recalcitrant subtype 1.

I'll post a photo of myself when I'm healed up from this laser treatment for some comparison.

[fanta]

yeah yeah sure you have but still I would ask Dr Nase to look at your first pics, its like you had a demodex problem secondary to your rosacea, its your upper eyelids and forehead that indicates this, you dont have rosacea on your forehead, but secondary problems like demodex and seb derm, also acne vulgaris may infect the forehead.
I can see that you have very severe rosacea like Mermaid and Dr. Nase and my ocular neuropathic symptoms, thats one out of 1000s.

[Max]

hoho, david, brave step, respect ...

if one takes last pics (after laser) and imagine how you'll look if you substracts swelling & redness caused by laser - i'd say that's a really big step forward.

really glad to hear that.

so you can finally focus on getting rid of subtype I, target flushing...

your eyelids seem to have been hit as well - have they been treated too?

[IowaDavid]

My eyelids have settled down a decent amount. Part of the reason I was so red in that first pic is that I'd been using a fan to control my flushing, which in turn made me addicted to the fan. On top of that, I was using topicals that I thought* were okay but were adding to the irritation. I was in terrible shape. But I've noticed that, like with ocular rosacea, and my ears, the more you take away the central-face flushing, the less the "peripheral" flush areas act up.

Also, though, I'm using the red light on my full face and ears now, so it's helping calm things down all over.

David

[Iotrez]

Thanks for posting the pics, I'll look forward to seeing the latest results.

PREFLUSH--very important, even if your doctor looks at you like you're nuts;

Yeah i've experienced the doc thinking that preflushing is not important and looking kind of bemused when i've been trying to get flushed before IPL. It's unbelievable that they can be so ill-informed when it comes to getting the best out of IPL.

[Jordan]

Great pics, awesome addition to the photo section. I guess the thing that came to mind when I saw your pics is that it reminded me that I am not in this thing alone. It really did comfort me to see those. Thanks for posting them, you are in my thoughts, one day you will be clear! You look alot better in the last photo you posted. (the big one) thanks again!

[fanta]

Thanks for posting the pics, I'll look forward to seeing the latest results.

PREFLUSH--very important, even if your doctor looks at you like you're nuts;

Yeah i've experienced the doc thinking that preflushing is not important and looking kind of bemused when i've been trying to get flushed before IPL. It's unbelievable that they can be so ill-informed when it comes to getting the best out of IPL.
Some docs must have a mental block for something that will send their patients out of the door sooner. Its the same administration to make 8 treatments as 4, so its pretty convenient to tell your patients that pre-flushing is not important. It has to be monetary motives behind all those discouragement cause it really makes no sense. Rosacea is dysfunctional bloodvessels that dilates too much, so how on earth should you destroy them effectively if you dont dilate them?

[drnase]

Thanks for posting the pics, I'll look forward to seeing the latest results.

PREFLUSH--very important, even if your doctor looks at you like you're nuts;

Yeah i've experienced the doc thinking that preflushing is not important and looking kind of bemused when i've been trying to get flushed before IPL. It's unbelievable that they can be so ill-informed when it comes to getting the best out of IPL.



6 years ago my doctor, who has a good sense of humor, literally laughed each time I came in with a different flushing agent or activity. The last time he had to take a few minutes to stop laughing before he treated me because I was in the corner of the treatment room doing a nandstand (against the wall of course). They should purchase those spinal decompressors that flip you upside down for awhile.

With every single bone in my body, I cannot recommend pre-flushing more highly.

[Winnie M]

Thanks a lot for sharing your photos with us David!! It needs courage to show the not so good side of the face, you are brave!! Those redness couldn't cover your handsome look, you will be even more handsome soon when all clears up. Rosacea can't beat this brave guy down!!!

Best wishes, Winnie

[miggymiester]

Hey man, do you have any current pics of your progress??