Jade Pickard's Eczema story
Read these other fellow eczema sufferers stories
Ever since I can remember I have suffered from eczema and my Mother can account for it on me from only 6 months. It’s scary how something like a skin rash can consume your life and even though it has the ability to ruin my life (and in momentary self pity phases has) overall it has made me a stronger person and if anything made me value everything in life even more.
My first real memories of having eczema was when I was only 6 – These are also my first ever memories. I was covered from head to toe and mixed with my ADHD I was always hyper and itchy. To say it was a nightmare for me and my family would be just looking at the surface. I am in no doubt it contributed to my parents split as I was a lot to handle. At the age of 21 I still struggle to no scratch even though I know better but when I was 6 it didn’t matter. I itched, scratching stopped it. Simple.
By the time I hit primary school I had seen my doctor at least 20 times in 4 months with several courses of antibiotics and steroids for my skin which just made me sicker and the best days I remember involve summer where I sat in a cold bath and itched very little. After demanding to change my doctor 4 times they final gave me a female one. The first time she saw me she burst into tears and sent me straight to the hospital which I ended up being an in patient for 3 weeks while they gave me antibiotics, wet wraps and a special diet. It was intense and I struggled to understand but my skin did improve…only for it to get back to its original state once back in the polluted air.
While at primary I was an in-patient at Addenbrookes several times, spent days worth of time in the day clinic, went though UV treatment, antibiotics and too many steroids to count. Amazing it didn’t really affect me and I just went to primary with wet wraps on which so how made me cool!
Secondary school and puberty was where my life changed dramatically. Doctors believe that most children grow out of eczema after they have hit puberty so I was the only girl I knew looking forward to growing up and getting periods. I never experienced spots like the rest of the kids in school and I was clearly an outcast. Teenagers are cruel and I was an easy target. I was constantly ill as a result of bullying and my skin and including all the time I spent in hospital I feel seriously behind. I passed 4 of my GCSE’s but failed the rest and hated the place so much I couldn’t wait to leave. The final winter of my GCSE’s I became so infected I was rushed into A & E and placed in a contamination ward and closed off from everyone else... It was really scary but when I came out I was a lot better and I feel leaving the school filled with stress was a big reason for this.
The next stage for me was College. I enjoyed my course and over two years didn’t have more than a patch at a time on my skin at one time.
A couple of years ago when I was 19 I worked in Virgin Mega stores which was the course for my next break out. The air con was so bad and all the dust caused me to spend the November of 2006 in hospital with a sudden skin infection and then Christmas day in the emergency GP with the same. Over two months I had 6 skin infections and 2 eye infections. I felt like I was back at high school again and struggled with mild depression. I was forced to quit my job but 2 months after with intensive wet wrapping and steroids my skin was manageable...
Unfortunately the outbreak has never fully recovered but I am managing it (aged 21). I still use wet wraps and steroids. I am now more aware of my diet and avoid caffeine and dairy. My job is at a hospital so I am in a infection controlled area. I have an amazing supportive boyfriend and he gives me the confidence to not care what others think. My local support group is also another amazing thing which helps me cope and not feel alone.
I am scared that my children will inherit what I have and will have to go though it all too but now I feel more in control of my life I think I will be able to help them and make their experience of the illness more manageable.
