Desperately desperately in need of help for my son

[Ihsan Chua]

My eldest son, 9 years old is suffering from a severe case of eczema. He was asthmatic from young and when his asthma stopped at 7, he developed eczema. He is suffering everyday from severe itchiness and his skin is flaking everyday. Every morning, I have to sweep up his dead skin from his bed and he is bleeding everyday. He is afraid to bathe as it is stinging cause there are open wounds on his body everyday. His open wounds appear on every part of his body. His open wounds are also affecting his daily movement as there are cuts on his joints.

That is only part of the problem. He is developing low self esteem. He is afraid that pp would look at his skin and face. He is developing a state where he refuse to go out in the open. He would wear long sleeves to cover his arms and legs. He is that afraid.

I have tried several doctors, western specialists, National Skin Centre and everything but to no avail. I have even purchased things like anti dust mite bed, pillow, quilt, etc. Even up to Osim Iecologi but things remain the same.

Recently, I heard that Traditional Chinese Medicine may help. Can anyone guide me or recommend me as to where to go? I would greatly appreciate it as his condition is getting on my nervess. His skin is also thining and he gets cold even on hot days/ Help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Nisa]

http://www.amkh.com.sg/services/acup.htm

Try checking this out.

My own personal opinion is still to go thru the western doc.

 

[Ihsan Chua]

http://www.amkh.com.sg/services/acup.htm

Try checking this out.

My own personal opinion is still to go thru the western doc.

The western medicine is usually thru the use of steroids or protopic. Protopic seems to have no effect on my son. Steroid treatment was kind of effective in controlling but recently, the moment my son stopped his strong dosage, it came back again just as strong. Steroid treatment is not a long term solution as it has serious side effects like impotency and stunted growth. Hence, the reason to resort to Chinese docs. I heard that there was once a very good chinese doc by the name of Tan Ah Gou but he has passed away. I wondered who has inherited his skills. I also heard of a very good doctor in rochor but not sure where.

 

[rueyloon]

Have you tried Joyce Lim ? her practice is at Paragon, she practice is an aesthetic clinic but heard she's good with Eczema.

My wife has eczema problems. The first specialist she went was Dr. G (and that's was after many visits to GPs as well as the NSC), He prescribed her some super expensive medication, when it did not work he recommend trying other stuff like supplements, all a drain on her savings. Then after a long while she went for a second opinion by Joyce Lim, and systematically she narrowed down her problem and prescribe her a medication that works.

In her case, it turned out that in the combination of medication that Dr. G was prescribing, one of it was a trigger factor.

You need a doctor who has patience, someone who you'll be willing to work with to solve the problem. As you see in the case with my wife, the Dr. who just threw a bunch of strong medicine at her was throwing her the problem as well.



cheers

 

[theRBK]

or try 寶中堂中医药中心, a TCM centre set up by SingHealth group and a Shanghainese Hospital, that is located beside SGH... they will be able to combine TCM and Western diagnosis to treat problems...

 

[Ihsan Chua]

Within a few hours, I have received numerous private messages and recommendations. It is such a wonderful community and I thank you all. It is a difficult time for me and my wife to see our son suffering from such a condition. It pains all parents to see their children suffering. He was once a very active child but ever since contracting this condition, he has stopped all his sporting activities. It is worse this few days cause he is constantly shivering even in hot weather. This i believe is because of the thinning of his skin as his skin is constantly peeling.

 

[Yatlapball]

Hello,

I also have a history of eczema (in recent years only it would seem), and for a duration of time every bit as bad as what you described your son is going through.

Protopic seemed to work well in my case, though its bloody expensive! I'm not sure if an extensive test has been done, (though the specialists at NSC all seem to be of the opinion a skin patch test, or any other kind of test is a waste of time), but the allergen/triggers might not be dust or something of that nature. It *might* also be diet-related...

I hope you are able to find a "cure" of some sorts... and from what I experienced, what had worked for one, might not work for another, so it would appear to be quite individualistic in nature as far as treatment goes.

Edit: Oh yes,and rueyloon really does have a point about the medication. Dermasone (in its varying strengths) did not help me at all.. in fact it made it even worse.

 

[Ihsan Chua]

Just to share for those who are suffering from the same problem. On recommendation from my friend who is suffering from it, I used Neem. An expensive solution derived from the plant neem. The effect is quite good and it has helped to control my son's problem for a while but recently, it has stopped working. It could be due to the toxicity in his blood. According to what my friend said, there is an oral Neem solution but not recommended for young children until the age of 12. What it does is that it discharge the toxic in the blood. My friend who used it has her condition controlled very well.

A word of caution though, my son who used the Neem gel which can control his condition could not bear the pain. Whenever, I used it during his open wound condition period would roll in pain and cried out loud. I believe that the pain is indeed excruciating. However, it does help to relieve his condition but at the expense of pain. He refuse to use it during this period.

The Neem solution comes with oil (which is smelly and should be used during sleeping time), cream and gel. Oral medication is also available. There is only a shop in singapore which imports this product.

 

[cyrilng]

Sorry to hear about your son's condition. I hope you can find some relief for him soon. It must be difficult on you & your family but try to stay strong for your son, he didn't ask to have this affliction & I'm sure he wants to be as normal as he can too. Don't give up. You have taken a positive step in coming out & asking for help & advice from others. :thumbsup:

Have you tried aloe vera gel? As you have noted, one needs to be careful with traditional 'cures' as they may have unwanted side effects as well.

 

[Ihsan Chua]

Sorry to hear about your son's condition. I hope you can find some relief for him soon. It must be difficult on you & your family but try to stay strong for your son, he didn't ask to have this affliction & I'm sure he wants to be as normal as he can too. Don't give up. You have taken a positive step in coming out & asking for help & advice from others. :thumbsup:

Have you tried aloe vera gel? As you have noted, one needs to be careful with traditional 'cures' as they may have unwanted side effects as well.

Also tried aloe vera gel before. No impact at all.

 

[contaxable]

.................

 

[hongsien]

I hope you can find a solution to relief the pain and problem, but also that you may find the cause of the eczema. Do you think there could be something that triggers the reaction? Perhaps, food, environment circumstances? Some chemical in the house? Finding the cause will remove the root problem.......

Hope you will find it out soon,
Hong Sien

 

[Ihsan Chua]

I strongly believed that it is due to some factors that are triggering it. We suspect that it was a combination of factors. His condition was quite well controlled for this year until he had a relapse of asthma. He used to have asthma when young. Was often sick (at least once a month) since the age of 3 months. Stopped asthma 3 yrs ago and now this. Dust is one factor cause at P2, his classroom was an open classroom with the road beside it. Super dusty. His condition was very bad at that time but now it is worse ever since his asthma.

 

[Parchiao]

Just curious, have your son did any travelling to cold countries recently?

I have a problem with eczema myself too.

 

[Ihsan Chua]

Just curious, have your son did any travelling to cold countries recently?

I have a problem with eczema myself too.

No not at all. We did not do any travelling recently. Based on my observations, it was bad after his asthma during Oct.

 

[Lady Ice]

I suffered badly - eczema from head to toe. Never slept well. Personally did not find hydrocortesine creams helped my atopic eczema condition. The docs kept on increasing the percentage (started from 0.01% and last used 1%). I tried neem for a couple of months - no effect (understand it cleans the liver). I tried an indian medicine and it made the symptoms really bad.

Here's what I found helped to reduce the condition (and you already have listed some of them but just brain dumping down what has helped me)

1. Chinese doctor near cluny road (sorry don't remember where he is exactly) - gave me loads of herbs and managed to clear 60%-70% of the symptoms. This is what he told me and this is what happened after a month of taking his medicines.

2. Diet

- Nuts and MSG worsen my condition (kiwi fruit makes my neck itch, apples make the top of my mouth itch, peach juice on my skin will cause hives on the area it touches). Teaching myself to eat more healthily has been important.

- Drinking plenty of water will help. I don't sweat much and expect you'll find your son also does not when it is hot (friends who are eczema sufferers find the same). Hence don't feel like drinking much.

- Taking oil of evening primrose (or star oil)

Note: You will need to discover what the trigger factors are for your son. Also my nephew suffered from eczema badly and found dairy milk to be a contributing factor.

3. Environmental Triggers
- Dogs and cats - touching them and then touching myself will cause hives. Their hairs will cause my eyes to itch and will scratch the skin around the eyes off

- Bed clothes need to be changed regularly (to remove skin debris); bedroom and house needs to be as dust free as possible.

- My own sweat makes me itch so keeping cool is important........in fact I tend to eat more "cooling" types of food.

- Taking cold showers instead of hot and do not use soap. Hot water and soap strips the natural oils from the skin. If your son finds this difficult, try a light flannel wipe to keep the skin clean to reduce infection. In fact when have been really bad, used a very dilute solution of antiseptic on my skin.

4. Taught my little nephew to control his urgency to scratch and used to hold his hand until he slept.

Also once you've got the symptoms reduced, do not let your guard down on points 1 and 2 and teach him to understand his own symptoms (point 4). Atopic eczema has not cleared completely for me.

NB: Someone recently passed me Betamethasone Dipropionate and this has kind of cleared it - but know it will be back.

Finally try here http://www.eczema.org/

 

[Ihsan Chua]

Thank you everyone for the contribution. At least I know that my son is not suffering alone in terrible pain. It is kind of unnerving when I go to the hospital and the doctors seem helpless.

 

[Lady Ice]

Thank you everyone for the contribution. At least I know that my son is not suffering alone in terrible pain. It is kind of unnerving when I go to the hospital and the doctors seem helpless.

Sorry to say that western docs are pretty clueless with this condition. At the end of the day if your son is suffering atopic eczema he will have to learn to control the urge to scratch. Do look at the URL http://www.eczema.org/ for more info.

 

[Yatlapball]

That's a very good resource. Thanks for the link Lady_Ice.

 

[Ihsan Chua]

That's a very good resource. Thanks for the link Lady_Ice.

Same opinion here. It is indeed a great resource. First thing I would do is to let him wear cotton shirt.