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stringer97
31st January 2006, 06:17 PM
hi my names Daniel and some of u may have spotted me on the other forums but most likely not as i have been very quiet for the last year.
I will probley ask a few questions that have been asked already but i hope at least to have some replies.
As im new i will describe everything and start from beginning. i developed hh (exsessive sweating) at the age 16. really brough my confidence down. 2003 i started to flush and blush. as u can imagen this brought my confidence down a lot more. I was going deep red for no reason at all. like some of you. this disease took over my job as an electrician and at the age of 20 i quit my job. been jobless and swimming in my self pity for the last 2 years feeling sorry for myself and woundering why im always going red as well as the hh but thats not for this froum. It got to the point where i got so low in depression that i was ready to shut the pain as in my eyes this was too much for me to handle. As u all know its a nightmare to deal with. It was a huge confidence blow for me, i could hide the hh but the flushing is a different story. hot rooms bending over, eating certain foods, laughing, coughing, standing up in front of crowds, questioning someones and many more cause me to turn so briight red that it causes me pain. My cheeks as most of u describe have this sensation that starts to hurt minutes after the flush. my face would turn to normal after but 3 years of having ff has now marked me for what i have belived for life. but having read drnase posts and website, im starting to belive i have some hope.
after falling so low i decided to seek some help. but this was more to help my social phobia and get me out of the house than to help me deal with the ff. I am now back in a job its not a job im proud of as all im doing is cleaning up rubbish for a living. im 23 now. this disease took my dreams away took my confidence away and put me on the streets to clean rubbish. I now have as i said permanent redness which i think is mild. moderate rosacea, not to mention from last year around april i suffer from painfull migranes 5/7 days a week. along with these headache come with eye pain. Sometimes i wanan scream. im waking up every day and goign to this crappy job. i feel im fighting everything in me not to lock myself up in my room and become depressed. i can laugh and smile at work but its all just an act. many times im finding im simply crying when im alone. I dont know what to try i have been to my doc and i even was up for ETS but i ran from it for fear of side effects. I am watching my image change. when i know im in a full full i avoid the mirror at all costs as i fear it will only pull me into feeling more depressed. Im going on cause i want something of my life. but its hard as u all know. i want to go back to my gp to try and put a hold to this disase getting worse. i will give him drnase website and ask him to read up on it to find me something that will hold this problem back for as long as possible. i hope you guys and drnase can recomend me some products to give him. i belive he dont understand what im going through. i feel trapped. At this very moment i right this i can feel the burning sensation in my face. I dread summer.

I feel nasty with this disease, in some ways i feel selfish as i cannot die from it but sometimes i wish for it. Im a strong person and have doen amazing things in this year to pull myself up. In some ways i belive the improvment is a miracle. but its only a matter of time before i fall down again and i fear i cannot get up after. I read lost of this froum and will continue to read and post. but my attiude is go to wrok and come back and hide away.

look forward to some freindly posts. i wish everyone the best of luck, i understand u all so well. with dr nase help we can beat this. its only a matter of time, i just hope we can all wait for the next 2 years. btw IPL is it worth a shot?

thanks.
daniel
:oops: :oops:

keisha06
31st January 2006, 09:06 PM
Hi Daniel,
I know how you feel although I'm almost twice your age and couldn't imagine dealing with it so young). I was a very severe flusher but have managed to start getting it to more moderate with a variety of methods (laser definitely being a big component for me)

Never be ashamed of your job - the fact that you got yourself out and working is an accomplishment - this "condition" sucks and can make a mess of life. You'll work your way back to the job you want . . . hard as it is to believe right now, it can be done.

There are things you can do . . . some more costly than others and it is always difficult to know what will work for you (and I'm not patient so trial and error drives me nuts, but slowly, ever so slowly . . I'm learning more patience).

First of all, if you're not already on one, please consider an anti-depressant. They will help emotionally and can sometimes help with flushing itself. I don't know if you've seen the posts by Natalja but she found Remeron worked well. I have been on Paxil for two years (since the rosacea came out with frightetning speed for me) and am just now trying to wean off it.

If your flushes are painful (and you mention you get burning) - I'm finding that Lyrica does help with that (I also have found that as the pain decreases, I am less aware of the rosacea overall - hard to ignore when you can feel it all the time). Clonidine helps with flushing too - nothing is the cure all but can mitigate things (as clonidine is an antihypertensive I'm not sure if lowering blood pressure a bit might help with migraines????).

Personally - I think IPL/Laser is worth it - the trick is finding the right doctor and machine. I had some IPL done with Aurora (fotofacial RF) and it wasn't nearly as effective as the Genesis YAG/IPL treatments I have ad from Dr Darm. My primary syptom is flushing and it has definitely helped with that - just wish it didn't cost soooo much. One think I do like about Dr Darm is his condensed protocol (some haven't had great success but other have had wonderful results as you've probably seen from posts) - one of my reasons for liking it is you go, get the treatments and go home and have one recovery period - rather than doing it once a month over a period of time - after fighting the flushing for so long getting the treatments like "now" - was for me, a mental boost.

I know where you're at- I've been there (sometimes still are there). When I say that there is more than once I've thought I'd rather have cancer - you'll either get over it, or it will kill you - but rosacea just keeps making you miserable. Many can't undertand that - but at 41 I have had periods of time where I look and think - this will be the rest of my life? It is depressing and scary - so from your age . . . . can't imagine it. But, as I've improved, and I see information posted on upcoming treatments (one reason I like Dr Nase's posts - hope!) I realize that view doesn't have to be so gloomy .. . some things in my life will have to change and stay changed - others I'm getting back!

If your GP will work with you - try a few things, see what helps. I can't speak alot to permanent redness as I dont' have much of that (and after the IPL/Laser - shouldn't have much). Anything that gives a little relief, is one step forward!

It can get better - not always easy but it does. Sounds like you've already started by getting yourself out. A year ago I came to work and couldn't wait to leave to go home - now I'm enjoying my work much more, feel much better when I have to be in meetings etc (although I have a portable fan I take with me - and I use it if I need to). I've found that it is amazing how understanding some (certainly not all) will be if you take a few moments and explain. I have no probem (now) saying - I have rosacea and getting too warm can make me flush - so please just ignore the fan - and they do (I've taken it to restaurants and the most comment I've had it is "that's neat").

Use the group to "vent" a bit - and if you need an "ear" to listen - I'd be more than happy to. Being able to converse with others that understand is a big boost.

Best of luck to you - and as one Internet friend I have made due to this "condition" likes to say - sending good skin thoughts your way!

Eric
3rd February 2006, 11:52 AM
Hi Daniel,
i am fairly new here and in dealing with my Rosacea so i can't offer as much advice as some of the others, especially as i can't say that i have my condition under control yet.
But these forums have shown me that there is hope as many people find a way to control their rosacea. It is just a question of patience and trial and error, and perhaps at times, luck.
Every day i find out something new on these forums and add it to my list of potential helpers. If i am down, i look at this list, and think that there is still about 10 or 20 things i haven't tried yet and that makes me feel good. And time passes, and one hopes we get closer to a cure. Of course, in the meantime, we must find ways to deal with the ups and downs. As suggested, try anti-depressants. Absolutely try to exercise within the constraints of your condition. Or try Yoga. Or breathing techniques, or all of them!
I must say that, in spite of a pustule problem that seems to have increased since my treatment, my 4 IPLs so far have been very beneficial for my redness. Perhaps you should indeed consider this.
And regardless of how difficult it is, do your utmost to stay social. Being around people does wonders for the brain.
All the best,
eric

stringer97
4th February 2006, 05:54 PM
thankyou guys. these warm words go a long way for me and its what helps me keep fighting.

you take care of yourselves.