Progress, part III: Dead people don't get eczema

24 June 2011 - San Bruno

After a night in near-tears, I finally decided I've had enough with being thrown around by my father's decision-making thus far, so I asked him to take me to a hospital where I can find myself a dermatologist. He instead went online to find a Chinese doctor who specializes in dermatology.

Called ahead, no one answered, but decided the office was close enough that we wouldn't lose much by heading over anyway. Turns out the doctor wasn't in, but the receptionist there introduced us to the standard medicine they sell for eczema. Bought the pills, the soak, the cream, and the spray. The receptionist also recommended Benadryl for sleeping, which we went to get on the way back.

The next 12 days would have to be classified as a general success as my hands got better for the first time since I went to play badminton some time in May. The large blisters began to lose dry up from the inside after two days, the redness and swollen parts slowly receded to managable levels, showering and hair-washing is no longer a four-finger operation. The progress was tremendous.

Because I soaked in the herbal soak three times a day, put on cream and spray carefully all over the affected areas in addition to petroleum jelly and antibacterial cream in cracked areas, I spend at least 4 hours a day taking care of my hands and feet, out of maybe the 12 hours I'm awake and not in bed.

I still was having trouble sleeping and staying asleep even with 50mg diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl), but it gave me a little bit of help. I fluctuated between getting around 3 to 12 hours of sleep. With my skin getting better and shedding, though, the days were a lot less difficult.

But this is also the period when I was not preoccupied enough to look stuff up about eczema. Father also did the same, and soon I got frustrated at what I could not eat, and was having huge cravings for all the snacks at Trader Joe's. I usually never crave snacks like cookies or biscuits, but all that stuff looked inviting in my vitamin/fats deficient diet. I had been only eating steamed or boiled foods, with a very limited selection of food in general. I started to read about how some eczema patients avoided touching print material, wore light cotton gloves to sleep, avoided contact with water, and on, and on. I started to freak out when they mentioned avoiding soy and gluten products( and chicken and meats, according one slideshow), at which point I went, "fuck that." T commented, "I'm sure dead people don't get eczema."

With the soak running out, it was time to go see doctor. The doctor seems to have two offices and is not at the office during half of the week, so an appointment was made and I compiled a list of things to ask, mostly regarding what the hell I can eat and survive.