We all may be walking beside each other, but our stories are never the same.
Name: Janelle Harris
Age: 63
Work: Retired
Date of Withdrawal:
October 1st, 2017
What type(s) of steroids did you use?
Every steroid, topical, injections and internal known to man. Was born with eczema and given topicals when leaving the hospital. I think the craziest one is steroid tape that when placed on my skin released them into my body!
Are you on any other medication?
None
Do you have a supportive doctor?
Yes
What is/was your favorite comfort product?
Cotton clothes and baths until I started NMT
What is the hardest thing you’ve had to endure during your withdrawal?
The pain was horrific but not seeing my family or friends was the worst! I was babysitting two of my adorable grandsons and had to stop because I could no longer hold them, that was heartbreaking, they are now 6 years old.
What is one thing you are grateful for during the withdrawal process?
ITSAN, this amazing community, the Preventable documentary, and my husband.
How did you discover you had TSW?
TS was the only un-natural product I was using. I decided to stop and within a few weeks started to withdrawal. My husband found ITSAN and Dr Rapaport’s video and that’s how we discovered I was going through TSW.
What were the first tell tale symptoms you experienced?
Burning red skin
What is one memory during the withdrawal that you will never forget?
Two years in my arms cleared a bit and one of my grandsons that I had to stop watching walked into my house and said “Grandma, you can hold me again.” It both filled and broke my heart at the same time.
How is your TSW journey going?
I feel like I’m really close to the end. My skin is baby soft and I haven’t flared for months. Five years of bloody, oozing, peeling, pain was almost to much to bare, there were 3 times I just really wanted to leave this earth and thankfully my hubby brought me back. Dr Rap told me he really didn’t know how long I would be in TSW as I was his longest user (57 years). I was petrified!
If you had a call to action for the medical community, what would it be?
Stop giving buckets of steroids! Add TSW as a side effect and educate doctors! I really wish the FDA would just ban them!
What is a pastime you use to help during TSW?
Meditation, essential oils and listened to a lot of audible books.
What is something you wish to share with the community?
Stay positive, stay close to the ones you love and know you will heal.
What is a quote you live by?
Change is inevitable, growth is optional.
What resources help during TSW?
- ITSAN
- Preventable Documentary
- Cara Ward’s Book
- Kelly Barta’s “To Eczema, With Love” book
What is your instagram handle?
@JanelleTSW
Thank you, Janelle.
We love you. We see you. We are you.
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