Cleansing reactions

I am now day 9 of 21 for my internal cleanse.  The first week was not too bad but the last few days have proven to be more difficult skin wise.  Like before I knew I would flare with this cleanse.  I was at a good point skin wise going into this.  Now....not that things are bad by any means but there are moments when I wonder why I did this while working full time!  I have moments where my skin just itches and burns - one night I thought for sure I was going to wake up to red hot inflamed legs!  They itched and burned so bad at bedtime!  But the next morning other than a few scabs, they were perfectly normal.  These are called healing reactions.  I've also had some emotional healing reactions where I just cry or even get really upset like yesterday morning for no apparent reason.  I become irrational and am not myself - this lasted for about 30 minutes then I was fine as if nothing happened. My skin continues to have these healing reactions in various areas - face, neck, arms, legs.  Nothing horrible but just irritating.

The last time I did this cleanse 9 years ago, I remember my skin getting way worse, so again this is all expected and I do not associate these flares with my TSW flares.  I also remember during the lung part of the cleanse coughing up junk that freaked me out given I never smoked.  Well I just started the lung part yesterday and today I am coughing - nothing horrible and nothing scary coming out of me, but I am expecting some more scary junk to start coming up in a day or two given how bad my asthma as been the last few years.  It amazes me how much toxic stuff our bodies build up especially when we suppress our immune systems with steroids!  It's a good feeling to get this stuff out!

As for my one finger that's still giving me grief....had to be seen in the ER a few nights ago - it literally ballooned up and poured out ooze.  I had a dry dressing on it all shift and it remained dry - then all of a sudden I felt it soaking wet and felt my finger throbbing.  I took off the dressing only to have a purple finger!  Scary I tell you!  The doctor did not think it was infected - he thought I had banged it against something and burst quite a few blood vessels.  I was scared for a few days but it has finally gone down in swelling and no longer oozing.  I wonder if it was a freak flare given the cleanse - I can't seem to remember banging my finger on anything, but then again I do get awfully busy at work.  Either way it is healing with warm salt soaks and dry dressing changes.

Life otherwise is going well.  We are hoping to be moving in a month.  But that is all depending on the job situation and our plans to move forward with renting in KY versus trying to get a house on the property over the next 3 months and then move right into the house.  So many decisions and everything I am sure will be all last minute!  :)

I am continuing to eat healthy and make lots of fermented foods even while working full time.  Hubby has really been helping me a lot with this.  He helps to "feed" the sourdough starter each night.  The kids are super helpful with all the dishes!  I have been making sourdough bread which initially came out really strong but the second batch was way better.  Banana bread has been so yummy and nutritious!  Made oatmeal this morning after soaking my oats all night.  My kombucha scoby is finally taking shape and should be ready for making kombucha soon!  :)  I want to start on fermenting veggies next but that may have to wait until we move.  I don't want to do more than I can keep up with.  It's not good for me as I get overwhelmed and then just don't do anything.  So far I am not overwhelmed and want to keep it that way!  :)

No pictures this time - I don't see the point as my skin changes day to day with the cleansing and again I don't feel it is related to TSW - just the cleanse.  I will post pictures in a few weeks when all this is done - which will be right around my 2 years TSW anniversary.  With my last cleanse I remained in a flare for about a week after I was done then things got way better!  So I am praying the same happens after this cleanse.  I am praying for better healing and more energy.  I will need it especially for moving!

Hope everyone is having a good skin day!

Pictures!

Today I got to get my pictures up on the computer.  I also have started back to my other blog...the one about my life before TSW dropped in and took my life for an unpredictable spin!  You can see it here:  http://whateverhappenedtothesimplelife.blogspot.com/

Skin overall is healing very nicely.  Right ring finger however seems to have not gotten the message that healing is supposed to be occurring!  Darn thing won't let up still!  Oh well....all in good time I suppose!

Face overall remains very good.  Yes I still have slight pink areas with dry areas here and there.  But they do not bother me and for the most part not bad considering the constant below freezing temps we have had here this last month.

Hair line still thin, but hair is growing back ever so slowly.  

Neck and chest like face do not bother me....dry scabby areas continue to slowly heal.

Left arm doing much better than last month.

Right arm much better - scabs are almost all healed.

Legs remain fantastic - a lone scab here and there and that's it

Back behind the knee has these small areas that appeared a week or so ago but are now healing up nicely.  

23 Months and Apologies!

Today I hit my 23 month TSW anniversary!  It passed with nothing exciting happening!  I continue to do well and even took pics this morning - just have to download to my computer.  But right now I'm on my way to bed.  Just wanted to pop in as I actually remembered it was an anniversary day!  I tend to forget the last many months given I don't focus on my skin so much anymore.  I am more active on the FB support groups to support others.  I will however be devoting some more time to blogging soon - more on that next post.

Skin is doing the best it ever has I think.  I have some lingering dry scabs from where I would get hives daily and scratch them open a bit.  I have some on my left forearm.  Nearly gone on right forearm.  Some pink dryness on neck.  Face is almost all clear with a few pink patches.  Left leg with a few scabs as well as a few scabs behind the knees.  I have a few dry patches on my fingers and the only TSW spot is my right hand ring finger....still red and swollen and excoriated.  That's the only place I still get intense itching.  Otherwise I have surface dry skin itch.  Not sure what is up with that finger!  I did once have a horrible time with my right hand index finger for over a year.  It was a horrible mess back when I was around 25.   This sort of mimics  that.  It started back in October with 2 fingers....the ring and the middle.  The middle finger cleared up all on its own a month ago and has been fine since.  Not sure why the ring finger hasn't followed suit.  But nothing seems fair in TSW.

Fatigue is improving once again.  Back to work and still getting lots done lately.  Feels good.  :)

As for apologies....I have a few comments from my dear readers that I have not responded to - I want you to know I have seen them and appreciate them.  Will get back to them soon!  I just wish there were more hours in the days!  :)

Now off to sleep as I must be up at 8 for work.