Sorry I’ve been rather quiet recently. I actually spent last week hospitalised with a sudden and extremely dangerous bout of Eczema Herpeticum and Periorbital Cellulitis. For those not in the know, EH is when the herpes simplex virus occurs, but unlike a healthy person who would get a cold sore or two, the virus spreads dramatically throughout the skin where eczema is prone. If not diagnosed and dealt with immediately, it can become a very complex series of affairs. Due to the fast spreading nature it can advance to and shut down various organs and cause even more serious infections such as septicemia.
In my individual case, it started within my eyes. In fact, 3 days prior to the outbreak I assumed my hay fever must have been playing up. It wasn’t until the Saturday morning 3 days later that I woke up with my eyes literally glued together. I assumed it to be conjunctivitis. Only an hour later I then began to see the telltale signs of Eczema Herpeticum. It must be said that I am somewhat of an expert with this illness, given that this is now the 7th time I’ve contracted it since April 2012 but nevertheless, when the eyes are concerned it’s best to seek a high level of medical advice. As it happened to be a Saturday I was forced to go to A&E as EH is considered to be a dermatological emergency.
I was then issued with the usual Aciclovir tablets that I have become accustomed to taking on a regular basis and off I went expecting it to work as it usually would. Only it wasn’t working quickly enough. Over the course of the day my face was completely covered with EH. I went to bed, dreading to wake up the next day because I just knew it would be even worse.
It was of course dangerously worse. My right eye had swollen completely shut and in fact I looked unrecognisable.
Back off to A&E I went. I was fast-tracked to the outpatients department to see a GP who claimed to have never seen anything like this before. He even asked if he may take a photograph for medical teaching purposes, which I was more than happy to oblige to as people need to learn about these often unseen and infrequent, debilitating and sometimes life-threatening conditions.
I was admitted there and then as it was decided I would need to be administered treatment through a drip to try to slow down the vastly spreading infection.
Tests showed that I had developed a secondary infection of Periorbital Cellulitis! I couldn’t believe it. I knew how awful a condition Cellulitis was and I also was aware of how long it could take to heal. Frightened was an understatement.
It took 6 days for the swelling to subside and for my face to return to a more normalised state. It was hell. I’m now home after being discharged on Friday evening and under strict doctor’s orders to rest in the hope that it does not rebound.
You can read a more in depth story of it over on my blog: I Have Eczema which includes images of my progress and a video of me in my hospital side room.
Jenny – I feel so sorry for you! This is so nasty. My daughter had a very mild version of this when she was younger. I really didn’t realise it could be so bad. You really do need to rest and relax and let your body recover. I am full of admiration for you particularly telling your story and posting the pictures. Get well soon – big hugs
on June 18, 2013 at 11:48 am DeborahThank you Deborah 🙂 I hope and pray I never get it to that extreme again! Typing Eczema Herpeticum into Google image search is a shocker. I have nothing compared to what some other people have gone through and in fact others haven’t been able to get a diagnosis for days and end up being ridiculously ill and on life support. Illnesses like this need more recognition so doctors know what they’re looking at when presented with it.xx
on June 18, 2013 at 12:18 pm Jenny SYou are absolutely right in that illnesses like this do need more recognition – I’m sure by putting your story on this site and your own blog will help raise awareness.
on June 19, 2013 at 10:13 am DeborahYou are a brave soul, keep on trooping xxx
on July 8, 2013 at 12:54 am Chelsea Terryhello,
on September 3, 2013 at 7:23 pm elizabeths2012are you going through topical steroid withdrawal?
Hi Elizabeth,
Yes I am 🙂 you can read more about it on my main blog: http://i-have-eczema.blogspot.co.uk
on September 3, 2013 at 7:29 pm Jenny SThanks for posting this. I’m in Canada and I get this as well. It’s the worse! I’m glad you’ve recovered. Thank you also for your posts regarding cortisone withdrawal, I felt like I was looking in the mirror. I have never seen anyone with eczema like mine. It made me feel less alone in the world. Well done Jenny thank you very much.
on August 12, 2015 at 5:49 pm Theresa