I got back on Dupixent 3 months ago, and I didn’t clear up and have perfect skin like I expected. Like I thought happened last time. It didn’t. I still had mild to moderate flareups, according to my own blog, which I had to re-read to find out.
But I didn’t remember needing Tacrolimus. I did. It helped save me a few times, including while I was in Dupixent.
But people scared me off Tacrolimus (the generic version of Protopic). I worried I’d go through withdrawals again. And I’ll do anything to not go through TSW again. So, I stopped it.
I focused on my skin allergies and avoiding triggers. And it worked for a bit. But, it turns out that the bubble I must live in doesn’t exist. My skin allergens are impossible to manage. And I tried hard.
Fast forward, and I reached the moderate to severe chronic eczema threshold I always said would trigger my restarting Dupixent. But now Dupixent is turning on me. Giving me terrible facial and neck flareups. My FACE!
I don’t remember this from last time.
But I had Tacrlimlus last time.
Fungal infection it turns out - and it’s pretty common with Dupixent users. Anti-fungal ointment and nightly Benadryl helped this last week, but only to a certain point. Then it started spreading again, even though it was not as severe anymore.
And it kept spreading.
My next Dupixent shot is due soon. And I have an onsite leadership meeting with my job in 1.5 weeks. I can’t keep hiding by backing away from my zoom camera at work. And I really don’t want to wear my eczema fight on my face with my work colleagues.
I’m also so tired and thirsty. I swear, when I have bad flareups, it seems that it zaps all the moisture and energy out of me. I end up looking and feeling like a dehydrated zombie.
Well, I caved tonight. I used Tacrolimus again, after working hard to stop a year ago.
Well, what’s the point of stopping something because it may do what it has proven to help stop?
Anyway, that’s how I feel about it today. I reserve the right to think differently tomorrow or in a month or in a year, because that’s the way it goes in this lovely game of eczema life.
Now I just hope Tacrolimus helps the way I remember it helping …