Day 18 - Doctor, Doctor...

This blog is to help others contemplating this treatment.

Day 18 - Doctor, Doctor...

I've just returned from the doctor this morning and the general opinion was that I have had a solid reaction to the drug and that everything seemed quite normal. He did not expect to see me again but was happy to at my discretion.

I'm almost out of Efudix and not sure I'll get to Day 21 before running out and this was OK with Doc - just use remaining and then go into repair.

I have a prescribed cream for when repair starts: Advantin. It contains some form of low level cortisone to get things moving.

I went to the appointment with no cream on so Doc could see 'the real me'.

Today's learning is that it was much worse with the cream off than on. Things have completely switched around. With the cream off, your skin dries out rapidly and tightens very painfully. So I couldn't wait to get the cream back on! I have bought some neutral Aqueous Cream to keep the moisture up when the Efudix runs out.

Incidentally, today's blood pressure, measured twice by Doc's desktop blood pressure pumpy-doover was: 🙌 120/80 🙌 - not bad for an old guy. Could be better but I'll take it.

Not sure if the best or worst is yet to come...

Pictures below Day 18 with cream on, post doctor visit:

Day 18 right

Day 17 right

Day 18 left

Day 17 left

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Day 39 - Pink!

This blog is to help others contemplating this treatment. Day 39 Final Post - Pink! This is my final post and the past week has just been about recovery. My face is still very pink and I suppose that will slowly fade, but it's still disconcerting. There is no itching or pain anymore. Shaving is back to normal too (thank God). I'm still applying Paw-Paw ointment as noted in the previous Blog post, hence the 'shine' in today's photos. I'll be using it for some months yet. In summary: This was a tough gig for long periods; Staying indoors and out of the sun was difficult, that surprised me more than I thought it would. I may not be suited to living in Canada in the winter 😊; I still have to get a blood test to check my Vitamin D levels as a result (yes, seriously); I'm glad I'm through it, that I made it, and I'm glad I had the sense to read other Blogs before starting, to get the lay of the land; The reason I'm glad,

Days 28-29 - Blotch!

This blog is to help others contemplating this treatment. Days 28-29 Today's photos are taken on the 8th day of the healing phase, May 20, in the morning, pre-cream, so no glossy facial sheen. This is what I mean by spontaneous bleeding: these spots have opened up after a gentle wash down with a face washer, just warm water, no soap. They bleed for a few moments and I just compress them with a dry face washer and they stop after a little while. They can start whenever they want, the very definition of spontaneous! The unfortunate thing is they can happen at night too. Perhaps I'm scratching my face while sleeping, but I don't recall that obviously. The pillowcase in the morning can look a bit tragic. Call in the CSI Unit sort of situation. I'm feeling like there is progress - skin is very flaky today - it's peeling like a typical sunburn. Very scaly around the chin. I'm becoming blotchy. Next Blog will be on Wednesday, May 23.

Days 19 -20 - All things Tenzing

This blog is to help others contemplating this treatment. Days 19-20 All things Tenzing If Day 19 was base camp, then Day 20 is summit. What a road! As you'll see below I'm finally out of Efudix - didn't quite get to 21 days but the drug will be active in my skin for another 18 hours, so near enough. Day 17 to now have been very dark days for pain and itching. Each night I'm only getting 3-4 hours sleep and I'm an 8-9 hours guy, always have been. I've taken two Ibuprofen on the 18th night leading into Day 19 - it may have taken the edge off a little, while I was lying in bed, but not significantly. The tricky thing I find is the pressure of the pillow on your stubble - each little hair seems to catch and scrape and seems directly wired to an itch generator in your skin. But that's all the pain medication so far. I'd advise anyone considering pain medication to discuss the matter with your Doctor as to what their recommendation is, an

So let's see how this goes...Efudex/Efudix

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