Comments on: Skin Deep https://livingwithscleroderma.com/skin-deep/ Reflections on the Messy Complexity of Chronicity Fri, 18 May 2012 16:14:34 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Evelyn Herwitz https://livingwithscleroderma.com/skin-deep/#comment-75 Thu, 17 May 2012 16:14:27 +0000 http://www.livingwithscleroderma.com/?p=441#comment-75 In reply to Kerri Clark.

Kerri, I fully understand what you’re going through. Scleroderma is tough, especially when you’re in your 20s and 30s and your face changes so radically. Do you find that your new dietary restrictions are helping? I still enjoy chocolate and strawberries and potatoes! I do think it’s important to eat healthy, just to give your body its best shot at healing. But I don’t know of any definitive research about the impact of particular foods on the disease’s progression.

When my hands first started thickening (they have since loosened up somewhat, so don’t give up hope–it is possible for the sclerosis to ease with time), I found warm paraffin was soothing, though you have to be very careful about temperature. I also rely on herb bags that can be heated in the microwave to give my hands some relief. Maybe this will help you, too. Take care!

]]> By: Kerri Clark https://livingwithscleroderma.com/skin-deep/#comment-74 Thu, 17 May 2012 15:34:45 +0000 http://www.livingwithscleroderma.com/?p=441#comment-74 My lips look like a clenched purse, too! I was diagnosed at 25 years old and here I am, 10 years later and my nose have gotten narrow as well. I hadn’t seen my friend in a while and she went, “WOW, your nose is much thinner!” It didn’t occur to me until I looked back at the old pics from several years before. My skin is okay – I just hate the “sunken” appearance of my eyelids/eyes. Wearing make up really helps. For a really long time since I was diagnosed, I was pretty lucky that my hands were doing fine except for the bluing of the fingers. But this year is pretty tough. My fingers are really thick and tough. And they are starting to curl up. No bueno. I’ve been eating clean since March of this year since I found out that my Scleroderma was getting worse. So it’s really HARD to give up so much: regular bacon, ice cream, desserts, chocolate, soda pop, white flour, white sugar, brown sugar, bell peppers, strawberries and potatoes! Grew up with those so it’s hard to deal with the fact that other people can enjoy it just as merrily. But of course, I tell myself, anything to keep my CREST symptoms at bay.

]]> By: Evelyn Herwitz https://livingwithscleroderma.com/skin-deep/#comment-71 Tue, 08 May 2012 23:10:21 +0000 http://www.livingwithscleroderma.com/?p=441#comment-71 In reply to Kathy Pulda.

Thanks, Kathy.

]]> By: Kathy Pulda https://livingwithscleroderma.com/skin-deep/#comment-70 Tue, 08 May 2012 22:44:28 +0000 http://www.livingwithscleroderma.com/?p=441#comment-70 your skin is beautiful as are you. K

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