Gotta love the rules of 3 for things going wrong...especially when it’s my health

Was honeymooning in Bali 2 weeks ago and got ringworm on the tops of my feet pretty badly

Got home a week ago and must of caught covid on the plane home

Now as I’m sitting here I have a cluster of small blisters on the left side of my upper lip and will have to take my antivirals

7/2/22

14 hours difference between photos.

Took 6 Lysine tablets daily as said in the bottle and could feel more tingling still. Started valacyclovir next day - had only enough supply for 2 days and then asked for a GP to refill on the 3rd day.

Currently 10/2 and blisters have scabbed and fallen off..

As for the trigger this time; we are moving out of our house for a week after ripping up all the carpet (skin has not liked that) and issues trying to quit one if my workplaces

16/1/22

I went on a trip away and drank alcohol for over 3 day straight (not getting smashed or anything but 2-3 standard drinks a day)...of course I've copped 1 bug coldsore on my lip and small blisters on the right armand on my knees.

Back to meds - can't remember how many I had to take but I think it was 2g daily for 5 days

9/12/21

The first time I've had coldsore lesions in over 1 year :O

And it's because I'm 3 weeks post covid 19

My first 7 days with covid-19 (most likely delta strain)

Day 1: Monday 22/11/21 like any normal day I woke up and got ready for work. I didn't feel 100% and was umming and ahhing about getting a covid test. Symptoms: dry throat and a bit of a cough. Decided to get a test and have a day off work.

Day 2: Expected to go to work but no negative text...usually comes the next day and a little frustrating. Symptoms: dry throat and some difficulty breathing. At this point have assumed it's allergies and thunderstorm asthma.

Day 3: Still no text so I call the covid testing hotline for my results before work. Was told they haven't received anything yet. Not more than 10 minutes after I got a call from the pathology place and I have tested positive for covid. I am advised on isolation periods for myself and my partner and told to await a call from the state department of health. I burst into tears with shock. I call my bosses and family. I am called by contact tracers and the local hospital. Due to by breathing difficulties the hospital sends medication to my house (Budesonide inhaler). Symptoms: breathing difficulties, sniffles, eyes watering.

Day 4: More talks with the local hospital, I now have to log my symptoms once or twice a day. Due to my breathing and risk factors, I'm going to go to the hospital first thing tomorrow for a Sotrovimab infusion. Symptoms have not changed much and still have some breathing problems.

Day 5: Friday 26/11/21 (pictured) was escorted through the hospital to a private room for the infusion. The cannula took 3 tries to insert properly. The infusion itself took less than an hour and then I was monitored for another hour before I was released. I was also provided an oximeter to monitor my blood oxygen levels and heart rate. Symptoms: got worse throughout the day and resembled the first day of a bad cold (runny nose, breathing difficulties, chills, fever, loss of appetite, HR 100+). In hindsight I should of reported a decline but felt too crap to remember. Later that night I also had a 5 minute blood nose that took too long to stop.

Day 6: Woke up feeling a little better and didn't feel like all I wanted to do was sleep the day. Symptoms had eased to a slightly runny nose, difficulty breathing, HR 80+.

Day 7: The moment I woke up I would feel a difference in my breathing for the better. Today with my partner's help we out the Christmas tree up, rearranged the living room furniture and some light yard work. Symptoms: resting HR 60+, could feel my HR and breathing quickly raise when exerting myself.

13/11/21

I never reported back on the whole eczema journey...

2 weeks after my last report I went back to the dermo very itchy and eczemary. Got qualified and started my fortnightly injections.

It has been an amazing time. Skin has improved, haven't had any herpeticum flares and I haven't had any side effects other than some dry eyes.

So thankful and lucky to have access to this medicine

25/3/21

Well it's been an eventful week for my health.

I've been on antibiotics for a sinus infection that's been lasting more than a month.

I went for a specialist ultrasound and my lumpy birthmark is just a bunch of fat but not special enough to be a lipoma. Treatment is liposuction but honestly it's not bothering me enough to follow through yet.

Yet today is the cherry on top and the kicker. Went to my dermo and the Aus government has added an eczema medication to its PBS. Dupilumab is a fortnightly injection you give yourself and is specific to eczema. Great news because it'll be a hell of a lot better than the current meds I'm on that are used for literal transplant patients. BUT there's a bunch of paperwork and my skin is currently too good to qualify. So I have to stop my medication cold turkey to get it bad enough to qualify. Good fun. I'll report back in 3 weeks.

18/2/21

Back at it again with the infectious diseases outpatients visit. My dermo was worried about my outbreaks I had last month so has decreased my mycophenolate to 3 tablets daily. Thank goodness it's on telehealth now so I didn't have to wait in a waiting room.

I had the option of continuing symptomatic care or doing a daily preventive dose. I chose to continue symptomatic care but he altered my dosage when needed.

1 tablet 3x daily for 3-5 days until the lesion has scabbed/disappeared.

On a side note I had a specialist look at my birthmark and treatment is liposuction for the fatty tissue (probably not what I'll be doing any time soon but if it gets uncomfortable enough in the future. Nothing to really worry about for now

29/1/21

My right eyelid the day after 4g of valacyclovir

28/1/21

Well surprise surprise my stress has caused blisters running along the fold if my right eyelid. Coincidentally today I also had a follow up with my dermatologist.

She's happy with my eczema progress so she's going to decrease my immunosuppression dose to 3 tablets a day and blood tests once a month.

However, she's not happy about the hsv1 flaring up and wanted to put me back on antivirals but there was a drug interaction happening between the 2. SO I'm going to have to go back to infectious diseases outpatients...:((

Otherwise I'm going okay apart from stress and I had a laugh about the actual handfull of 8 tablets I had to take last night lol

31/12/20

Some blisters have appeared in my left eyebrow and I suspect I have some in my hairline on the back of my head too. Started taking half of my 4g antivirals tonight

28/12/20

Today I doubled my dose of immunosuppressants. I'm now taking 2g of mycophenolate daily.

Last week I had a checkup with my dermo and she said that my skin is in fact improving. I wasn't sure if the medication was for me because I had a UTI and had thrush twice since being on it for 4 weeks. Going forward I'm on ongoing thrush meds and every time I have an infection I have to get it swabbed or tested. Frustrated and wanted to cry but at least my skin is getting better right?

Oh also my strawberry birthmark is swelling outside from its borders, I had an ultrasound that showed nothing and I have to be referred to a vascular dermatologist. Good fun.

12/11/20

1 week ago I thought I was going to my dermatologist for a regular checkup. I was not ready for the "this isn't working" talk. My options were: do another patch test, light therapy again or take medication.

Patch testing I wasn't keen on, I did it 3 years ago and it didn't show up too much.

Light therapy isn't an option when you have to go every day and I work 8-8 some days.

So that leaves us with immunosuppressants. Had full blood tests last week, took my first pill today, blood tests to continue every 2 weeks and dermatologist again in 1 month. Honestly I'm a little scared, I'm on the same meds as people going through organ transplants for goodness sakes. Willing to try it though if it ends my eczema journey.

Oh right also when I'm on them there's more chance of me getting the coldsores more often so I could have to get back on medication for that...yeah the thing that got me into hospital in the first place...

26/10/20

Last week had a small cluster to the Lt of my mouth. Took my 4g of meds just as my forehead was exploding. I didn't think I was that stressed but I think I've started clenching my teeth in my sleep and my skin might be telling me something ...

Update: I'm going well, I have a little bit of scarring on my cheek but that'll go away eventually. My GP was able to get me some medication since I'm an inactive outpatient at the hospital. She also spoke to a specialist and the game plan is to take 4g of meds when I get a lesion and that's all

27/8/20

Skin has definitely settled down now.

Had to go into the GP today and got a new prescription and some antibacterial cream.

She spoke to infectious diseases and since I'm am inactive patient they can't fill another script up. However,

Game plan in taking 2x tablets 2x a day when needed and that's all. I don't have to take it to prevent

26/8/2020

Photo from last night and then this morning. No spreading and lesions are calming down a little bit.

I have a phone consult with my doctor today and I'll seek some advice with medication moving forward. I'm also calling in sick to work today because I need the rest.