Steve Oswick's Eczema story
Read these other fellow eczema sufferers stories
My name is Steve, and I have suffered from Eczema on and off from when I was a child.
Over the years I have been on many different types of treatments that have worked for short periods of time, then stopped helping all together.
When I was about 9 or 10 years of age, my eczema dissapeared for a few years, but came back when I started comprehensive school. Not the best time for it to start again, as kids can be very cruel at that age.
I was put on some creams which helped on my arms and legs, but the worst places were behind my ears, and it wouldnt clear up.
Then, just as quickly as it came back, it cleared up again.
Throughout my mid to late teens, I was fortunate to not suffer from any eczema at all.
I then started working with Fibre glass (not the stuff you put in your loft, the stuff they make boats from). Bad move. It made me itch constantly, and that was it.The eczema came back with avengence. It was everywhere.My GP tried all sorts of creams, and anti hystemines. I used Betnovate, Eumovate, various topical steroid creams, but they only worked for short periods.
It got so bad, that after a few years, I became depressed, and had quite alot of time off work through it.
I am now 35, and seem to have found a fairly good balance, and have come to terms with my eczema, and know that there is no miracle cure for it....yet.
Last year (2007) I had a very bad time of it, and again ended up having time off work. It was just about the worst my eczema had ever been, and I was thouroughly miserable.
Fortunately, my GP offered to enquire about a specialist consultant, and I took the offer up to go along.
There was one problem though. Through the NHS I had to wait weeks for an appointment.
The only way to see this person quickly was to go private.
I decided that it was worth a try, even though it could be expensive.
I was completely amazed at the difference between the two services.
My consultant had plenty of time to speak to me, and check on my progress. He listened to everything I said, and gave me so much good advice.
He also took the time to offer me many different routes of treatment, but I was given the choice, rather than be told what to take.
I ended up using Immuno suppressants. Not really the way I wanted to go, as they are potentially bad for you if handled incorrectly, and also had some very strong anti hystemines, and was given a cream that I had not used before called Locoid.
After just 2 months, and regular blood tests to check that the Immuno supressants were'nt doing too much damage to my white blood cells, the results were fantastic.
I now seem to have some sort of control over my Eczema.
I use very little in the way of steroid creams, and only suffer lightly through extemes of weather.
I have not been back to see my consultant for a long time, but I know that if I do need to, he will be only too happy to see me.
It makes you realise that paying for the service can be far more beneficial in the long run.
