Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Saturday, June 24, 2017 - Anniversary Flare #4


Well, I guess I deserve a bit of a setback after making claims I was "98% healed", but damn, this is turning out to be worse than last year.  I am going to have to redo my chart.

I went back and checked, and I did predict that I would have another flare about now, but I honestly did not feel it would be this bad, and if truth be known, I was hoping I would not have one at all.  Based on how I feel right now I am guessing that I will be having a flare every year for years to come.  I recall someone reading that it takes from 10% to 20% of the time one was on topical steroids to be completely cured, and since I was on them for more than 50 years, 5 years would be optimistic, and it may be another 5.  Sigh.

Some symptoms are worse than ever.  My privates, for a way TMI example, are affected worse than ever, to the point of uselessness.  This may be the hardest part to handle, so to speak, and no pun intended.  I probably shouldn't mention this, but I do know quite a few TSW blokes read this blog, so I feel I should be honest.  No pics though!

My hands are a mess, although no deep cracks like before, more of an all-over rash that is tender and unbelievably itchy.  My arms, chest, and neck are affected again to a lessor degree, along with that frantic feeling that I missed so much.  The doc gave with prescription eye drops and pills for a fungal infection, but I do not think I have either and the drugs had no positive effect.  Thankfully, I am not having thermoregulation issues nor am I sweating or having zingers (okay just one little one).  Knock on wood.  Well, not that wood.  Haha!  Oh, and I am taking hydroxyzene again, and it does seem to help me sleep.

I am post-dating this to match when the flare-up occurred, as today is actually July 4th.  My wife Robin and I have been married for 16 years today.  Robin has been incredible during this ordeal and has been there for me absolutely 100%.  I read so many accounts in the forums of TSW placing a burden on relationships and in this regard I could not be a luckier man.  As we get older and deal more and more with her muscular dystrophy my goal is to hear her say this to me some day.  That's what love and marriage is all about.  In a cheesy Reno chapel in 2001 we vowed to each other "To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part".  I love you Robin!