Whoever heeds life-giving correctionwill be at home among the wise. Proverbs 15:31 (NIV)
Here is evidence that while I am considered a forward thinking and organized leader at work and church, when it comes to my personal life, I generally have my head in the sand (or up my butt) and move blindly through time with no planning or direction. Upon reading my last two posts whining about the effects of Carac, my friend Vicki, who owns my dream house in the mountains, called in deep concern about my condition. “That’s what the doctor wanted me to use but after research, I told her no. It’s a horrible drug.” Okay then. I do remember the conversations with Vicki as she debated what to do. She has had several surgeries on her face which she bravely posted about on the Internet. The comments to those posts are still coming in as people look for hope as they face melanoma. But, in my “la la la” stick my fingers in my ears approach to life, I didn’t think that the medicine Vicki’s doctor would give to her would be the same one my doctor would give to me. After all, while I have had a couple of surgeries and zaps with the liquid nitrogen, I haven’t had nearly the travail and treatments Vicki has endured. Why I would just assume that I would be given a milder dose is as unclear as why I was not, but I am living proof that Vicki’s fears were on target and I am an idiot not to be more careful. But, as is my want in my all or nothing sort of way, I am now bound and determined to never let another drop of sunlight touch my skin particularly my face. I think 50 years of living carelessly is enough. Let’s live the next fifty safer. I am researching full body swimsuits, Tilley hats that cost a hefty price but come with an insurance policy if you lose them, and facial creams with an SPF of 110. So, far, it’s been mostly cloudy this week so I have ventured forth on brief forays for dog food and new underwear and to weigh my suitcases already packed for Guatemala. In my suitcases are hats and sunscreen even though July is the rainy season. One never knows and I want to be prepared. I am praying that nothing will keep me from going. After all, the sores on my face could morph into flesh eating bacteria. Ok, now, maybe I am too prepared. Don’t click on the pictures below if you haven’t eaten lately or if you have just eaten. They are pretty gross. The first one is the day before my face swelled up so bad. I didn’t take a picture that day, too busy crying, but the second two are today after the skin has mostly all peeled off and left me with skin as soft as a baby’s butt. At least before I slathered it with shiny oily ointment to keep the germs at bay. I will post an update in a week or so when the redness is gone and the final scabs drop off. In the meantime, wear your sunscreen, unless your head is up your butt like mine was, then Preparation H might be in order.
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| Day 12 |
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| Day 16 (no Carac for 3 days) |
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| Day 16 Peeling Face |
Who on earth prescribed that? My dermatologist will not have me use Effudex on my face. She says it's too harsh. That looks perfectly awful. I've had the blue light therapy three or four times, and it only hurts a little while, then peels like a sunburn. I'm sure my skin is as damaged, if not more so, than yours.
Okay- I have several comments about this. First of all, this is about what I was seeing online that made me say I wasn't willing to go that route but wait for this new med- Picato- which is also very very harsh but much shorter duration. Secondly, you clearly DID have a lot of precancerous tissue so the good news, hopefully, is that this stuff worked they way it's supposed to in attacking that tissue. Third, my baby's butts never looked like that. Ever. Fourth, as usual you are taking too much personal responsibility. I think this has some to do with not using due diligence as far as sun protection goes, but a lot it has to do with your skin type. With all the wonderful things that are you, so is the DNA that gives you (and me and Beverly, for example) this skin that just falls apart with over exposure to the sun. So. Feel better, post more resolution photos, stick it to the man for another couple days and rest up before you go to be with your beloved babies. I love you and I'm sorry you are going through this.