To want to scream

[ItchyBitchFace]

I'm posting for traffic really

In the past fortnight I have had infected eczema on my whole body. Last week I had tonsilitis and now I have conjunctivitis and allergic eyes.

I've had a course of steroids, three lots of antibiotics and am now on eye drops from the pharmacist.

I've been waiting for a referral back to a dermatologist since Feb. Because of some process which is new to me I have been told I need patch testing before I get to see a consultant, but haven't heard any more about it. My GP has chased the dermatologist via letter last week.

I've had severe eczema since toddler age but it cleared up significantly after I had my youngest child and has been getting worse for the last year or so. I often have to wet wrap bandage and I'm awake for most of the night itching. I work 4 days a week and this situation is far from ideal.

AIBU to see an out of hours dr about my eyes as they aren't improving at all on the drops which I have been taking for 48 hours every 2 hours?

And AIBU to ask what else i can do to speed up my dermatology appt? I can't afford to go private so thst isn't an option.

Mumsnet how can I get this moved to autoimmune diseases please?

Sorry you're going through this. If you want it moved 'report' it and ask MNHQ to move it in your message.

Thanks alot

Have you tried dietary changes such as ditching dairy, egg, soya? These can be big triggers of eczema.

I was covered is eczema (terrible in creases) until I went dairy/egg free in order to breastfeed my baby who had severe allergies. I haven't had eczema since!

Oh crap that's awful.
I have developed dreadful eczema. Turns out (like many people) I'm allergic to MI. in my shampoo and shower gel and washing detergent and washing up liquid.

What is MI? I am wondering if Fairy have changed their ingredients as I have used their detergent for clothes washing for years but this reaction seems quite sudden and severe without me having changed anything

I've cut dairy out before but not since teens/early twenties. It didn't help then but I could try it now I suppose.
I've done most alternative therapies and most of the medical stuff too.
Been told methotrexate is the likely treatment option now but obviously needs consultant to prescribe that

Thanks for your replies

You're going to make me spell it?!
Ok. Here goes!
Methylisothiazolinone
Think that's it!
Used to be used just as a paint preservative. Now it's in loads of liquids. Fairy washing up stuff. Liquid washing detergents. Liquid Calgon. Shampoo and conditioners and shower gels and hand washes.
The increased exposure means more people are reacting (according to dermatologist). She reckoned about a quarter of those with eczema reacted to it.
Worth a look?

I've suffered eczema too for years, and it's so awful when it gets infected. I gave up on all the steroids etc years ago, they never sorted it properly and the side effects weren't great. So I went to an acupuncturist - eczema gone within a week! I know it doesn't work for everyone, and there may be a certain amount of psychological effect there, but she was wonderful and it was like having a new lease of life! She also recommended a few changes to my diet (cutting down on onions, dairy and alcohol), might be worth finding one in your area and trying it out.

Fairy changed the ingredients of their laundry detergent quite a while ago. They added "optical brighteners" whatever they are. We had to stop using it because of eczema reactions, but found that Persil non-bio liquid is fine.

@wolfie thanks, I'll have a look. I don't use shampoo, minimal conditioner and baby bath stuff from asda. Worth checking though

@sendgin I have tried Chinese herbal meds and homeopathy but not acupuncture. Money is quite tight. Is it expensive?

@onlyhere when you say a while ago, could it be around a year or 18 months ago? Would make sense if it was that

It's made a HUGE difference to me. I used a shower gel with it in and was back to burning and itching and wanting to peel off my own face.
Good luck. It's awful.

@ItchyBitchFace you can actually get it on the NHS (although mine was private), I think you should be able to get a referral from your GP. Mine had a sliding scale depending on your earnings, it started off costing me about £25 a session but over the years it got up to £40 for an hour. When it was really bad I had a session every week for about a month, but otherwise I'd only go every 6-8 weeks (she also treated my hay fever and asthma). I'm up north so it might be more expensive down south, I don't know though. Check out the acupuncture council website: www.acupuncture.org.uk

On another note, I find anything from the body shop has me screaming with the itches!

Me too. The raspberry shower gel I bought has MI in. The other one I had from there didn't but still sparked a reaction.
L'Occitane almond shower gel is lovely.

I get a lot of my skincare stuff from ThisWorks - they seem to be really good (although it is a bit pricey, worth it for calm skin though)

Ask to get your tonsils out. My son was hospitalised several times with chronic asthma, infected tonsils and extreme eczema. He got the tonsils out and everything cleared up practically overnight.

Sorry, late reply but yes it's been at least a year since we changed the laundry liquid. My skin reacts immediately to stuff like that so I have to find out what it is straight away.