I hope you enjoy this lighter post, just to try to explain what it’s like to be sick at Christmas. I’m not saying anything about my skin, I don’t want to harm myself or encourage another Christmas eczema flare-up!
12 days of Christmas – the eczema skin version
The first day of Christmas
TSW gave me
a rash that spreads and gets worse.
The second day of Christmas
TSW gave me
two raw sleeves,
and a rash that spreads and gets worse.
The third day of Christmas
TSW gave me
three days of itching,
two raw sleeves,
and a rash that spreads and gets worse.
The fourth day of Christmas
TSW gave me
four hours of sleep
three days of itching
two raw sleeves,
and a rash that spreads and gets worse.
The fifth day of Christmas
TSW gave me
five open wounds
four hours of sleep
three days of itching
two raw sleeves,
and a rash that spreads and gets worse.
The sixth day of Christmas
TSW gave me
Six unwelcome comments
five open wounds
four hours of sleep
three days of itching
two raw sleeves,
and a rash that spreads and gets worse.
The seventh day of Christmas
TSW gave me
Seven days of crying
Six unwelcome comments
five open wounds
four hours of sleep
three days of itching
two raw sleeves,
and a rash that spreads and gets worse.
The eighth day of Christmas
TSW gave me
Eight shocked looks
Seven days of crying
Six unwelcome comments
five open wounds
four hours of sleep
three days of itching
two raw sleeves,
and a rash that spreads and gets worse.
The ninth day of Christmas
TSW gave me
Nine times rinsing
Eight shocked looks
Seven days of crying
Six unwelcome comments
five open wounds
four hours of sleep
three days of itching
two raw sleeves,
and a rash that spreads and gets worse.
The tenth day of Christmas
TSW gave me
Ten sachets of skin flakes
Nine times rinsing
Eight shocked looks
Seven days of crying
Six unwelcome comments
five open wounds
four hours of sleep
three days of itching
two raw sleeves,
and a rash that spreads and gets worse.
The eleventh day of Christmas
TSW gave me
Eleven sleepless nights
Ten sachets of skin flakes
Nine times rinsing
Eight shocked looks
Seven days of crying
Six unwelcome comments
five open wounds
four hours of sleep
three days of itching
two raw sleeves,
and a rash that spreads and gets worse.
The Twelfth Day of Christmas
TSW gave me
Twelve zingers
Eleven sleepless nights
Ten sachets of skin flakes
Nine times rinsing
Eight shocked looks
Seven days of crying
Six unwelcome comments
five open wounds
four hours of sleep
three days of itching
two raw sleeves,
and a rash that spreads and gets worse.
I had so much fun writing this, it’s a bit funny but it helps illustrate the complete and utter shitshow that is topical steroid withdrawal. It’s a disease that keeps giving you false hope, worsening symptoms, then some healing, and then getting even worse.
It’s a nightmare. Many people suffer in silence because they cannot cope with sharing how terrible it is on a daily and hourly basis. So we fight in silence.
If you would like to know more about topical steroid withdrawal, please visit ITSAN, the global charity for TSW, for information, research and support.
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