Efudex Day Eighteen

Day 18

May 31, 2013

I think I'm on the mend! This morning, I exfoliated my face (very very gently with a warm wash cloth in shower) which removed all of the dry and dark scabbing. My neck is still raw and seems to become more sensitive and irritated at night, making it difficult to get some good sleep.

After exfoliating, I let my face dry about 10 minutes and then applied the Eucerin Aquaphor to my face, but not my neck. I'm trying to keep my neck dry so it starts to scab and then will hopefully become less sensitive.

I'm feeling good about the progress. Compare today's pictures with day 15 pictures, sun damage spots GONE! I hope the healing process happens quickly. 

Day 15

Day 18 

Efudex Day Seventeen

May 30, 2013

Another rough night with my neck. It feels like someone is holding a curling iron to it...the pictures speak for themselves. I applied an antibiotic ointment because it had lidocaine in it, thinking it would numb the burn, and an ice pack...it didn't help.

Today, my face is feeling very prickly, especially where it is the most red, and I stopped applying the Efudex to my forehead, nose, and cheeks. Now it's time to heal.

Feels like someone held a curling iron to my neck

The dark spots you see on my face are scabs, soon to be gone.

Efudex Day Sixteen

May 29, 2013

Last night was something else! You know when you pull your shirt off over your head and the static electricity zaps you? Well, multiply that by 10 and constant over your face and neck. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep last night. Tried the Eucerin Aquaphor and an ice pack...didn't help.

On a more positive note, when I was in the shower this morning, I used a soft wash cloth and gently exfoliated the dry scabbing around my mouth and chin. Then applied the Eucerin Aquaphor...what a difference, my chin is totally soft, not leather-like and doesn't burn today. When I can stand to exfoliate the other scabbing areas I will do the same. It's amazing because where I exfoliated I use to have tons of freckles and they're now gone and skin appears to be baby smooth! Still needs to heal, but hopefully baby smooth will be the result :)

The redness seems to be lightening up and the burning is less. But this nerve-like, static electricity zaps are unreal. Yesterday, I had a major nerve zap in my cheek and when I looks in the mirror I have a new sore that looked like it had erupted from the inside out...crazy sci-fi stuff?

There are a few areas on my face that I decided to continue applying the Efudex cream for 2-3 more days. It just seemed like my nose, cheeks (just under my eyes), temples and forehead hadn't progressed like the rest of my face, neck and chest. So we'll see what happens.

In these pictures, you can really see a transformation in my skin. This is exciting.

Looks like a mug shot, LOL

Efudex Day Fifteen

May 28, 2013

Last night's sleep was interrupted a few times by burning and nerve-like zaps (more aggressive than the tingling I described in earlier posts). My face felt like a plasma globe with tendrils of electricity racing around my face. I got up and looked in the mirror and my neck and chest had welts all over, a few were weeping. I should've taken a picture, but I was half asleep and just went back to bed. Another time, I woke up and contemplated getting an ice pack to calm it down, but fell back to sleep.

So, today is my last day of applying the Efudex cream and from what I've read online, I am about to embark on the "tumor disintegration phase" where lesions resolve as the skin exfoliates. Then the last phase is healing...YAY!

I'm not surprised, but just blown away seeing the amount of skin damage and pre-cancerous stuff I have. I will be glad to be rid of it soon!

Efudex Day Fourteen

May 27, 2013

Welcome to day 14, a whole new ball game. Still not painful, but after washing my face, neck, and chest the air drying process has become unnerving. And applying the Efudex cream burns like holy hell, but it's all temporary and goes away after several minutes. My cheeks (just under my eyes) are the most sensitive and are almost driving me to insanity today...probably because my skin is raw, scabbing, and cracking. It feels like little biting ants are crawling across my face (this is the nerve-like tingling) The Eucerin Aquaphor is a miracle soother!! 

I've had some friends tell me, "I find it hard to believe that isn't painful" and "Sally, there's no need to be stoic." I'm just not a big complainer and I guess I have a different definition of pain or maybe it's my high tolerance for it. Pain for me is a migraine for 3 days, bone spurs and arthritis in my shoulder, or rehabilitation after having my shoulder joint replaced, twice! This Efudex treatment doesn't come close to pain for me...and I am grateful.

Efudex Day Thirteen

May 26, 2013

My face is so dry and tight I don't think I could crack a smile if I wanted. Feeling a little more burn and nerve-like tingling today, especially where some spots are starting to "erupt." I don't know if all of the pre-cancerous spots are going to do this, but I wanted to show you a close up of my neck (see below), where a dark dry spot erupted into a blister-like sore.

Feeling a lot more irritation and swelling, but still wouldn't describe as painful. Washing my face and neck was less sensitive today, probably because the scabbing is protecting my skin, but patting my face and neck dry was like scrubbing it with sandpaper.

My face feels like it's going to crack, similar to leaving a mud mask
on too long, except with crazy burning and nerve-like tingling.

This is the spot on my neck that has erupted.

The originally flat spot above the eruption
looks like it's being pushed out of my neck.

Very red. Feeling like leather face.

Here's my favorite unfunnyzz video.

Oh, and I want to thank my nephew, Brett, for spending the whole day with me. We stayed inside and messed around on the computer making silly videos, examining and laughing at my face, and just hanging out.

If you like to laugh, check out Brett Fisher on his You Tube channel: unfunnyzz

Efudex Day Twelve

May 25, 2013

I'm feeling the same as yesterday, with the exception of waking up with a cold! My face, neck, and chest are still really red, and some areas are getting brown and scabby. I'm not sure what phase I'm in, but I feel like my face is starting to heal in some spots, other spots are still sore and raw.

Washing and drying my face is not pleasant, and applying the EFudex cream is no longer soothing. But I must say, to date, this has not been a painful experience for me. Although, I do have a 3 year old that has been distracting my every moment and now this stinkin' cold. Two and a half more days of applying cream.

Looking extra lovely today :)

Efudex Day Eleven

May 24, 2013

I think everyone can relate to this...remember when you were a kid and you skinned your knee or elbow (just that top layer of skin) on the pavement and it was painful to touch, water, ointment, and a bandage? Well, that is what my face feels like today (neck and chest are itchy and red). 

This morning my face was a little swollen, and after showering it was very dry and tight especially around my mouth and chin. Water is not as soothing as it was two days ago. Some areas feel like they are starting to scab.

I just wanted to point out again how much worse my left side is (the side that is always exposed when driving).

Did you know?
20 MINUTES. This is how fast skin can get damaged from the sunlight passing through a window.
Because glass blocks UVB rays, you won't develop an obvious red flag, such as pinkness or a visible burn. This can create a false sense of securtiy: More than half of UVA rays sneak through glass, contributing to wrinkles and skin cancer. Anytime you are in a sunlit office or car, you're exposed to UV rays. ~ New York Dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman

My left side

My right side

Efudex Day Ten

May 23, 2013

I'm feeling pretty good for day 10. Although my face is more red and the itchy prickly feeling is more intense, I really don't have any pain. And as far as it feeling like a sunburn, I've had worse (which is why I'm here now). Honestly, after reading other Efudex blogs, I thought I would have my doctor on speed dial for pain meds.

After washing my face, my skin gets very tight, dry, and itchy. I look forward to applying the Efudex cream for some relief.

I'm feeling quite motivated to complete this treatment as I see the cream doing its job (4 more days of applying Efudex). It's interesting, yet not a surprise, to see that the left side of my face and neck (the side that is always exposed when driving) is worse than the right side.

At this point, I'm taking it day by day. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

==> By the way, a friend of mine made a comment about how serious I look in these pictures, and why can't I smile (you know who you are :). The reason I'm not smiling is because I wanted a good representation of my changes from day to day and smiling could possibly interfere with that, and the other reason is because I think smiling is going to be painful soon.

My left side

My right side

Efudex Day Nine

May 22, 2013

Pretty much the same as yesterday, feels like a major sunburn (without the heat). and maybe a little more redness and prickly feeling on face and neck.

I've been using a cool rung wash cloth to dab on my face and neck and then the Eucerin Aquaphor healing ointment to help soothe the itching and prickling.

Efudex Day Eight

May 21, 2013

Ok, Efudex has kicked off week two with a little more burn. I really feel it on my cheeks and neck, but still tolerable. I'm feeling better today, not as tired, and have to remember to take my vitamins, drink lots of water, and get lots of rest...my body is working hard to fight against the Efudex attack.

Efudex Days Six and Seven

May 19, 2013

Day 6 was tough in the sense that I was a little sick to my stomach and just wanted to sleep. I'm not sure it it was related to the Efudex or I was just exhausted. No pictures for day 6, and really no significant change from day 5.

May 20, 2013

Day 7 my face is more red. It is burning, itchy, yet tolerable...it is my neck that is driving me crazy with the itching. Day 7 was another sleeping day so I just laid low and took it easy. The warm weather (even in the shade) intensifies the burning and itching, and have notices my face gets "sweaty" for lack of a better word. It's not drippy sweating, but more like when you put sunscreen on your face and then you go in the sun and your face beads up with sweat. I've been dabbing gently, not wiping, with a tissue.

Note: The Eucerin Aquaphor is really helping to keep my lips, eyes, and nose creases protected from the oh so drying Efudex! I highly recommend it.

Efudex Day Five - The cream is kicking in

May 18, 2013

Things are starting to flare up, face is a bit red, itchy, dry (after washing and before applying cream). The area between my eye brows feels like a road rash (sorry the pictures is not showing what I'm talking about, but trust me, the cream is kicking in). Every area I've applied the Efudex cream (face, ears, neck and chest) is sensitive to the sun and heat (warm weather).

Areas with significant changes due to the Efudex cream:

• the area between my eye brows closest to the right brow
• spot to the right of my nose, just under my eye
• cheeks

Efudex Day Four - My Morning Routine

May 17, 2013

My morning routine

6:15 shower, wash face, neck, and chest (giving a little scrub with a soft face brush while I can).

6:45 coffee, watch the news, and get my 3 year old ready for school while my face dries thoroughly.

7:30 apply Efudex on face, ears, neck and chest

As my face was drying, I realized how dry and itchy my face and chest was. I was actually looking forward to applying the Efudex cream because it makes it greasy.

Here are day four pictures with Efudex applied. Not much change, but getting a little itchier (is that a word?)

Efudex Day Three

May 16, 2013

Washed face and took pictures before applying Efudex cream.

This morning I did notice some rough spots around the inside of my eyebrows (closest to my nose) and on the darker spots on my cheeks, just under my eyes...exactly the areas of my concern! Not much redness, and some itching. Oh, and by the way, I started using the cream on my décolleté...that is really itchy!

Pictures later in the afternoon with Efudex cream on...makes face look greasy. I think the cream amplifies the redness, plus the lighting makes a difference. But still not too much change.