Anitha A, 42 talks about her experience of living with a sudden onset of eczema and its various triggers. She shares the various solutions she tries and what helped her manage the triggers of eczema.
When were you diagnosed?
It started as a tiny spot in the month of January 2019
What were the early symptoms? What triggered eczema?
Itchiness, spots on the skin and rashes were the early symptoms.
When I reflected on it, I realized that I was losing weight for which I did not know the reason. Later I came to know that there was an infection in my left ovarian tube. This also could be one of the reasons for the anxiousness in the body and mind that triggered the eczema flare up. It soon transformed into a vicious cycle between the body and mind.
I had not gone to the doctor for a formal diagnosis till I had a relapse. That is when the doctor told me about my condition and gave me medication for about 10 days.
Please describe your experience of managing the condition?
Initially I did not scratch the itchy areas for a few months, only rubbing the sides and around the spot. Later I started scratching which led to an increase in size of the area affected by eczema and it also spread to different parts of the body.
This hit its peak, making me itch like mad, especially on days that I had certain food, like mushroom or chapati. When I stopped this food, the itchiness also stopped. I noticed that I was gradually drifting to a space where food that I was never previously allergic to was now becoming a matter of concern for me.
This made me try out changes in my diet. I went on a water fast. I used to drink warm water, even when I felt hungry. Next, I started on juice intake and then on green leafy vegetables. During the process I saw that the itchiness had subsided and the marks on the hand were getting cleared. This protocol is not something recommended by a doctor. I slowly started eating solids. I still did not see any adverse reaction. Then I started eating a normal diet. There was a return of the feeling of itchiness.
I went to the doctor immediately. He gave me an anti-allergic tablet for 10 days. I took these tablets, and continued to eat normal food as I always used to. Until now I have not got eczema . However I need to be careful while I am in the sunlight.If I am exposed to the sunlight for a long period, I begin to get a light sensation of itchiness. I should not expose myself for long hours. During this journey I practiced Yoga and breathing techniques.
PatientsEngage Note: Dehydration, sunlight, stress and anxiety are some of the triggers for eczema. Read more about eczema here.
Did you take medications? Any side effects?
I took the Anti-Allergic tablet prescribed by the doctor for 10 days
What were some of the challenges you faced and what is your advice to patients who face similar challenges?
The challenges of handling Eczema are manifold. As and when I felt like itching my body, the pain was very intense. This made me wish if only I had detachable hands which I could take off. As this feeling continued, the body is forced to enter a cramped space. The body turned sensitive and vulnerable due to eczema. At the abdominal region, there was heaviness, a knotted feeling of anxiousness.
As the body continued to remain anxious, even little things triggered the itching attack. When someone talked loudly to me, it felt like sounds of arguments. And this increased my anxiety.
To avoid this attack, I did not want anyone at home to talk loudly or argue. If someone started, I wanted him or her to stop immediately.
When the itchiness became unbearable and went beyond my capacity physically or psychologically, I preferred to stay alone without talking to anyone. Itchiness led to anxiousness. Intense activity or drinking water helped me relax. Walking or running, some sort of an intense activity helped me. My experience with eczema also taught me that drinking water was helpful. It feels like it is flushing out the anxiousness.
Did you have to make some changes to your lifestyle because of your condition?
I stopped eating food that aggravated the itchiness. I was practicing Yoga and Pranayama even before all this started.
Has it been difficult emotionally to cope with your condition?
When the body goes into such an unbearable state of pain, it automatically becomes protective about itself, and it goes into intense anxiousness.
When I needed to divert this anxiousness into something that consumed me completely, I indulged in intense physical activities. When my body was used up, my mind stayed away from the itchiness.
I experimented with walking, digital medium and many more activites where all the senses are engaged. I found myself relishing it, as it was silencing,calming the mind.
At home, the lack of space did not permit me to meet my need to walk fast. So, I choose to swing my arms and walk until I got a settling feeling.
It's not easy, you need loads of strength internally and externally to ride over the tide. While nothing was working, I chose to do those activities that drew my attention completely, be it sports, walking, running, cycling, jumping, drawing, dancing, climbing the stairs, coloring, reading, writing, traveling, cleaning the house, repairing a machine, being with nature, or even having a conversation with someone on a topic of mutual interest.
How has your family supported you?
They have been loving and caring. But it is difficult for them to comprehend the magnitude of pain that I was going through.
What is your present condition?
I am healthy and happy. But I need to take care not to be in the sun for too long as that can be a trigger for a relapse.
