Anna has had a rough health year. She's fine - it's nothing major - but challenging for sure.
She deals with severe eczema. Just to give you a tiny piece of it - her hands can get so severe that she can't move her fingers (bad for a violist) and they have cuts and bleed while she sleeps at night. They ooze after she washes her hands, etc. It's a real pain for her and something she has been managing for years.
We obviously go regularly to a dermatologist. She's been on and off and on and off every medication available.
This year it appeared on her face. Different than her hands in that there were rashes and swelling. It was a frustrating {and uncomfortable} year for her medically.
Last week we had her tested for chemical allergies. She had to wear patches on her skin from Monday til Friday.
After the week, they were removed and we got to check out which of the 29 chemicals caused a reaction. Many were red and swollen, some were raised and had a clear reaction.
We were so hoping for answers - to finally help her. I won't go into details but yes, we found that she has many severe allergies to chemicals often found in products and medications. Several of them are in EVERYTHING she's ever used even though it was for 'sensitive' skin or to help with eczema. Even her prescription medications!
We are grateful for answers and hoping that the changes in everything she uses helps to relieve her discomfort - some chemical allergic reactions can take up to 8 weeks to improve - so we are hopeful!
The next week this peaceful little patient (below) had dental surgery. She had to have a wisdom tooth (still up in her jaw) removed. She did great during the surgery and was a trooper for the next week of a sore jaw, swollen cheek and general pain.
Right now for Anna we are still researching what she can and can not use. It's very complicated and Scott and I have been up late at night with products, a 125 page document from the allergist and dermatologist on the different names of these chemicals/ingredients. We are in contact with an allergy specialist for possible more patch testing - since she is still reacting - we will see. It feels like I can manage a chronic digestive disease (Abigail's Eosinophilic Esophagitis) so much better than these contact allergies with Anna. Every day I analyze how her skin is doing. One day her face is itchy, the next its red, blotchy and swollen. On and on for a year. I have to remind myself that we have learned a lot through this first batch of patch testing and we are {calmly - I'm trying} to have her off these chemical ingredients to see if it helps. Baby steps when this mama just wants it all to go away.
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