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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be fucked off with this dermatologist and want to cry/smack him?

173 replies

SneakyGremlins · 19/05/2018 15:18

Skin issues AGAIN Sad

I've been on immunosuppressants for a month to try and tackle a really bad eczema flare up, which got serious enough to land me in A+E with suspected sepsis. I was previously on steroid tablets which cleared it up, but was told I couldn't stay on them.

Saw the dermatologist yesterday and let him know that the eczema is coming back worse than ever, despite immunosuppressants, and that I've been experiencing side effects - nausea, and feeling extremely disoriented and woozy for hours on end Sad

All he said was "We can't keep switching you from drug to drug", and that was that Sad He handed me a prescription for two more months of immunosuppressants, and sent me away.

This is just too much to handle, I can't go through all this again Sad I have the doctor on Monday, is there anything I can say?

I would genuinely rather have 40 years less lifespan and have them be clear skinned years Sad

OP posts:
IlPorcupinoNilSodomyEst · 19/05/2018 15:24

I'm so sorry, that sounds dreadful. What are the effects of the steroids? Can you stay on them?

Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 19/05/2018 15:26

See the thing is, I was told steroids thin the skin - but I assumed steroid creams did that, not steroid tablets.. and although I was on steroids for two months, I had 0 side effects. Just under one month on immunosuppressants and I'm close to throwing up every night Sad

OP posts:
MeinNameistMud · 19/05/2018 15:27

It's shit but he's probably right, you need to give the drugs time to work. My friend is on something very very strong (can't remember its name) for her acne and the side effects are terrible and she has to expect her skin to get worse for the first two months before it gets better.

Pequena1984 · 19/05/2018 15:27

Olive oil 2x daily is good cure for Exzema.

fhefelineofthespecies · 19/05/2018 15:29

Which immunosuppressants are you on?

CuriousaboutSamphire · 19/05/2018 15:30

No, sweets. Really, it isn't!

Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 19/05/2018 15:35

The immunosuppressant is Ciclosporin, I think that's how it's spelled?

Mein I know, but it's hard suddenly having terrible skin again Sad

OP posts:
mehhh · 19/05/2018 15:51

Have you by any chance seen a private dermatologist or is it nhs? I would maybe look at going private and see if there is a difference in opinion from a different dermatologist

I really feel for you I have struggled for years with acne... I took roaccutane which is super strong for a period of time and had horrible side effects from that, I was told it would pretty much clear it up for life but here I am still breaking out... definitely try and give them time to work first if you can bare the side effects

I know it's a long shot but have you tried using child's farm baby moisturiser? It works wonders on me and dd (who has very mild eczema), if you google it there are a lot of people saying how good it is

nocoolnamesleft · 19/05/2018 15:56

I would genuinely rather have 40 years less lifespan and have them be clear skinned years

Problem is that your dermatologist would get struck off if they actually took you seriously on that one. So they're really not going to.

Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 19/05/2018 15:56

He's NHS - I don't have the money for private Sad

I wouldn't mind the side effects as much if skin was improving but it isn't!

Child's farm - tried using it to no avail.

OP posts:
grumpy4squash · 19/05/2018 15:57

Cyclosporin works for eczema because eczema is an auto-immune condition, so by suppressing your immune system, you also suppress the eczema. It takes a while though and you have to stick with it.

It shouldn't make you feel that sick though. Could you ask your GP if there's a different brand or different formulation?

BarbarianMum · 19/05/2018 15:58

OP have you ever had any allergy testing, or tried an exclusion diet or anything like that?

Wolfiefan · 19/05/2018 15:59

I get it OP. I have had the flare up of my life in the last couple of years.
Found I am allergic to MI. improvement when I ditched all products with that in
Now back to itching, scaly, bright red and burning face.
The issue with steroids is they don't just affect the skin. As you are taking a pill they can have lots of unseen side effects when taken long term.

IdaDown · 19/05/2018 15:59

If you can afford it see a private derm.

A lot of my close family have eczema (and asthma). They have been offered other treatment pathways including diet changes and allergy testing. Not that these cure the underlying problem but help to lessen the symptoms. Eg no dairy, different wash powders, skin products and even clothes dyes.

My sympathy’s - one cousin has such bad skin, if he doesn’t keep on top of his treatments, his skin just cracks open and bleeds. Which, as you know, is painful and could lead to infection.

JohnHunter · 19/05/2018 16:00

Effective drugs have side effects - there's no easy way around that. It is difficult to manage chronic conditions in patients that are prone to side effects. You shouldn't need to go private to access a second opinion - just ask your GP to refer you to someone else for a further discussion if that's what you want.

Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 19/05/2018 16:00

grumpy hadn't thought of a different brand, thankyou!

Barbarian dermatologist didn't want to do allergy testing until my skin cleared up, but it's a bit of a catch 22 Confused

OP posts:
AnnaMagnani · 19/05/2018 16:03

Unfortunately steroid tablets also do thin the skin - plus give you diabetes, thin your bones, make you fat and a host of other unpleasant side effects.

He hasn't explained it well to put it mildly but he is right, you need a long time for immunosuppressants to do their thing rather than switch around Flowers

Perhaps some mumsnetters with ezcema experience will suggest some emollient you haven't tried which will finally work for you.

Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 19/05/2018 16:05

I've tried Aveeno, Child's farm, E45, Epaderm, Simple products...

I've tried cutting out dairy for a month - no difference. Same with sugar. I only wear 100% cotton clothes now, and I haven't switched detergent as I have found one that doesn't aggravate me.

Just want it to go away, I just need to moan really Sad

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 19/05/2018 16:11

Dermatologist said lots and lots of people with eczema are allergic to MI. it's in Fairy Liquid and liquid washing detergent and softener. Worth cutting out.
Not many of the emollients you mention are ones a dermatologist would use. My kids use dermol. I use diprobase and hydromol. Mum uses doubkebase. The right one applied properly and very often can make a massive difference.
Can you use steroid cream if you're not on steroid tablets? You need a good strong one.
It's miserable isn't it? We have the holiday of a lifetime booked this summer and I can't imagine being able to put suncream on at the moment.

MeanTangerine · 19/05/2018 16:14

Hc45?

fhefelineofthespecies · 19/05/2018 16:21

I don't know ciclosporin so not sure if this is applicable to you but the immunosuppressant I'm on takes 6-12 weeks before you start to see an effect. Mine also have horrid side effects (thankfully I only take them weekly) which took nearly a year to go away but I'm now fine. A quick google says there's also an injectable version if ciclosporin which they might be able to offer you if the nausea/vomiting is a problem. It sounds like the drug itself might well be worth persisting with but the dermatologist really should be talking through all of this with you and explaining why this is the best course of action. Good luck! Flowers

SecretStash · 19/05/2018 16:27

You’re absolute priority after this spate of eczema is to get allergy tested. You need to find the cause.

Although I’m probably telling you how to suck eggs.

Duprasi · 19/05/2018 16:30

Only just been through this with Dd2 she has awful eczema which flares up if she has egg she has a mild allergy.

This is the advice I was given
Stick with the medication dd2 was on (betnavate) but do try an exclusion diet this isn't just cutting out one thing at a time it's everything at once for 6 weeks at least 8 is better get your body clear of allergens then slowly add in food groups again one by one.
Basically just eat fruit veg, meat and rice no sauses no wheat no dairy this is just till 6-8 weeks then slowly start adding things back in give each food stuff a good 2 months of a tiny bit each day and building up the amount if you don't react
You'll be surprised what's hidden I some foods
And worst case this doesn't help at least you'll know it's unlikely to be an allergy

Si1ver · 19/05/2018 16:41

I had a terrible eczema flare up round my eyes a year back. It probably wasn't as bad as yours,but the skin was cracked and bleeding, I looked like Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars. The only thing that worked, after six months of my doctor making it worse was Dream Cream from lush. I'm a massive convert and my eyes and face are back to normal.

Racecardriver · 19/05/2018 16:46

He's right, you can't take steroids long term, they are very bad for you and used more as a temporary damage control method. If you have only come off the steps it is likely that your skin worsening is a reaction to that rather than your new medication. Give it time to work. In the meantime I would recommend trying dermalex to try to manage your skin problems. It is amazing.