Medical Journey Part Two

Summer of 2022 

Brutal, Brutal Summer

With the heat of the Alabama summer came eczema like we had never seen. All his little fat rolls just became so much worse. We actually had to use burn bandages in the creases of his arms and legs. They would ooze so much that his clothing would stick to them. 

May 2022

April left us with a path to begin our first elimination diet that would lead to some type of relief. I changed my diet, and we waited throughout the month of May to see the results of eliminating all of the allergens found. May of 2022 the cleaning began to be a priority throughout the day. Russell would be crawling soon. Since he was allergic to dust, we would be ridding the house of anything that collected a lot of dust and mopping every two-three days.

June and July of 2022

In June, we had a follow-up with the pulmonologists where he examined Russell to see any improvements. Nothing was really giving him relief 100% of the time. The doctor was able to make the necessary changes so that we could get him his epipens (that was a process that took way too long).

Although not a lot happened medically in the summer, we found some items that really worked for us: little sleepies, Eucerin, cold baths outside, and the humidifier. 

Little Sleepies are bamboo viscose-based pajamas. They have a double zipper, which is great, but most importantly they work like a wet wrap on his skin. We immediately notice a difference at nighttime with his sleeping. Russell actually wears them all the time because they have mittens that allow us to cover his hands if he starts itching (more on little sleepies in another post). A lot of the time people would see his scratches or notice him scratching and suggest he wear his mittens all the time. Well, that really isn’t an option if you want a child to learn motor skills. 

Aquaphor is used in certain places, but for the most part, I was all but ready to get rid of it altogether over the summer. The oil-based eczema helper does not help us at all if it is hot or if his eczema is heat induced. I also notice that he itches whenever I put it on his face. 

August 2022 

At the end of the summer in August, we made an appointment with the pulmonologist because we liked him the most as far as people who had been the most proactive. This is when we were referred to a dermatologist. Dr. Davidson was concerned about the eczema around Russell’s neck. The doctor also thought that this was a good time to see a dermatologist and get another opinion of what is really going on with his skin. 

*The eczema around his neck is still extremely bad and one of the hardest places to keep clear. A lot of people think he has a farmer’s tan, but it is really bad eczema. 

September of 2022 

Almost a year has passed before we see the dermatologist. 

We sit down and are asked to strip Russell of his little sleepies, and the dermatologist says that his eczema is extremely severe. Meanwhile Blaine and I think this is a “good day”. A topical steroid of high potency will not do, so we are approached about using Dupixent for the first time. 

October 2022 

We have been approved for Dupixent, but he gets strep right after his first birthday party. We postpone doing the Dupixent because it can make him more susceptible to other illnesses. We consult with another dermatologist and call the pulmonologist to seek their opinions on Dupixent too. 

We have a lot of people at the time discourage us because this has just been approved for children Russell's age. We are still very new to the routine, and at this time, the steroids seem to be the safer option. My husband and I are still asking a lot of the right questions, but we are becoming discouraged because we continue to find triggers for Russell's eczema.

I really hope that you as an eczema parent have a great team to support your child's health. Make sure to explore all of your options. Again, I think it is still hard to understand just how much time it can take to see results. But Do Not Give Up!

YOU are your child's best advocate, especially when they cannot do anything for themselves.
Products mentioned:
Dupixent Cetirizine Eucerin Little sleepies
Products we tried during this summer: Tubby Todd Graham’s Eczema Lotion KellerWorks- Elliot’s eczema cream