Thursday 14 June 2012

Conclusions

Well hopefully that's the end of my Efudix treatment. My appearance is now almost back to normal and anyone who doesn't know me would never realise how bad I looked two weeks ago. If you can compare the picture taken on day 22 with that on day 35 you can see how great the transformation is.

My main conclusion about the treatment is that, in my case, it was not anything as bad as I had expected. Having said this my appearance became pretty bad but I probably only had two or thee days of major discomfort, and I do mean discomfort and not pain. Severe irritation is probably a better way of describing it. At no time during the period did I have to take pain killers and even the itching and tenderness of the skin was never so severe that I had to contact my doctor.

At the beginning of my blog I suggested that it may have been a mistake doing so much research on the internet as I was getting the impression that the treatment would be very unpleasant. I hope that anyone who might stumble on this account of my experience with Efudix will be slightly reassured that the treatment could well be not as bad a it looks.

All the Best
Alan

22 comments:

  1. Thanks for taking the time and effort to journal your experience mate.

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  2. I'll second that, having discovered this blog just as I was starting on Efudix. It was a great help and encouragement as the treatment progressed.

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  3. Today is day 21, the last day of applying Efudix cream twice daily to my chest. I read all the blogs and used every scrap of information I could find.Wash skin with cool water and no soap. Apply thin layer of cream after waiting 15 minutes for skin to dry completely. I can honestly say this hasn't been as painful as I expected. Everybody has a different reaction to this cream, some will be worse than others. I spent a month plucking up the courage to apply Efudix because of what I read. If there is ever a next time I won't be so scared.

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  4. I am glad the experience has not been too bad for you. You will now, I am sure be amazed at how quickly your skin recovers. It's now some three and a half years on since my treatment and I am happy to to report there has been no recurrence of the problem.
    All the best

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    1. Thankyou Alan. I'm using the Nystaform-HC cream now and hopefully in another nine days, I can put all this behind me. I think I'm one of the lucky ones but I've read your blog and and the stoic way you handled it all. I think facial skin might be more delicate and here's hoping I never have to tackle that. Thankyou for your blog, I read every comma and full stop. It helped.

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  5. Did your skin ever go back to being completely uniform color? Did the redness ever go away completely? I regret this experience so much. I stopped treatment on bottom part of my face nearly 2 weeks ago and it is EXTREMELY red and unsightly. It seems to be getting worse, not better. I am very concerned that my face will never be a uniform color again.

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  6. Thanks Alan. This is a brilliant blog and has helped me so much. I didn't know what to expect and your photos and written commentary helped me enormously. Just going into recovery.
    Thank you for taking the time to do this.
    Pete

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  7. You are fine example of courage in what was at times a distressful and delicate situation. This day-by-day portrayal has given me a full account of the process AND the progress with Efudix. I thank you most sincerely for this account, which has boosted my trust in Edufix (I am now in week 4).
    John

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  8. Many thanks for your comments. I only rarely think of my blog now but it is very satisfying to realise it is still of some help to others about to commence this treatment.
    Alan.

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  9. Hi Alan, Thankyou for your blog, it gave me a better understanding on what to expect on my new journey to get rid of my Solar Keratosis spots on my face which were discovered by Skin patrol that came to my work site last swing.
    I am a 47yo female and last night was my very first application on efudix, felt no difference at all. I just had my second dose this morning and can already feel a warm sensation, but comfortable. I work FIFO on a mine site in WA, so was advised not to go to work as the dust may irritate and infect my face..
    I initially thought it was just some cream that made your skin a bit red, killed the SK’s and life went on.. Now, after reading about it, I’m absolutely petrified and have let my boss know that I may not be coming back to work this swing as it will be from day 7 to 15.. I know in the Long run it will be all good, and looking forward to my new smooth skin ��

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  10. Thanks for your blog story. I am two weeks in and several spots are open sores now, but looks similar to your experience. So I'll press on. Because I am armed with your information.
    Best regards,

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  11. Hello Alan
    After all the treatment, were you satisfied with the result of your skin?
    Thank you

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    1. Yes Martin. My skin returned to normal and I have had no recurrence of the problem.

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  12. Thank you for posting the blog. I am at day 15 of the treatment and the blog gives me hope that it will not be in vain. At least we are still remaining at home a lot due to the Coronavirus so we don't have to join a lot of people at church, etc, so at least a lot of people don't have to see me like this.
    On the other hand, since we live close to where they film "The Walking Dead", and my wife just had neck surgery, maybe we could go to that area and fit in with the cast members.

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    1. Everything turn out as expected Radar1?
      Im at day 18, with lots of brown crusty things where my face was damaged by the sun... didnt realise I was so bad. Doctor wants me on another week after this week :(

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  13. Hi Alan,
    Enjoyed your blog. I also researched intensively before applying the cream. I wished I hadnt in a way.I showed my wife the images on the internet and she was happy to move out for a month ;). (but hasnt)

    I took an hour staring into the mirror the first night before appying the cream, thinking.. there is no going back once I start this. But like you, the sooner it was the sooner it would be over.

    Like radar1 said, thankfully I am working from home, and happy to be in isolation. Im happy that I can see the same images as you had roughly the same time.
    I hope you have more grandkids as well. I have 5 and another 2 on the way (twins). They came over on the weekend and I warned them the week before what I might look like... they didnt even care, but made sure I stayed out of the sun and no one touched my face :)

    You blog made me feel better about the process. And I am lookng forward to seeing the result.
    Dave (sydney Australia

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  14. Hi Dave,
    Thanks for your comments. It's good to hear that people are finding my experiences helpful. It seems to have been a long term cure for me as now 8 years, and four more grandchildren, on I have had no recurrence of the problem so the few weeks of discomfort are well wort it.
    All the best
    Alan

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    1. thanks for getting back Alan. Good to hear there have been no re-occurrence. 2 weeks today, and the face is now all red. Yesterday I had a rough evening, where the face was extremely itchy... however, had a great sleep for a change, and woke with a different face.. worried Im running out of cream though... rather have too much left over then not enough.

      Well done on the grandkids Alan.

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  15. Great blog and very useful - thank you

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  16. Alan, can I copy some of your post on Efudix to help inform doctors of what to expect? I will reference your site on that I copy and publish it on an NHS page that is intended to help GPs and dermatologists manage skin conditions? I'm a GP who also works as an NHS Commissioner. Thanks

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  17. Hi Alan. Thank you so much for this blog. I am a GP in the North East of England and I use your blog most weeks when I am starting someone on efudix. Your photos are so helpful and I think encourage patients to continue through with the efudix.

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  18. Thanks Dad for sharing your story and helping others. I have also shared this on twitter on my account @JohnGale1983 and my Dads @alaneg1

    I hope this blog can support others moving forward with this treatment.

    John

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