Day 81. Another interim post.

I'm between injections.

Not a big deal. But I've had AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF STRESS.

Stress is the number 2 component of atopic dermatitis. One being inflammation.

So my readers have a frame of reference:

1. I had a car accident on July 18.  This put me in the ER, banged up, bruised, but nothing broken. Thankfully.
2. I took July 19 off from work as sick to recuperate.
3. I got my insurance provided rental car and returned to work.
4.  Started packing my office pending our move.
5. Assisted a couple of friends for their final details of their wedding.
6. Rested. A lot.
7. Filled out accident paperwork.
8. Received my last Dupixent delivery at the old office,
9. Loaded the moving van on 7/27.
10. Packed all my gear into mine and a colleagues vehicles.
11. Helped her pack the rest of her gear.
12. Washed down all the desks.
13. Moved into new space that us 20-30 minutes longer than the 20-30 minute drive I already have.
14. Sprinted out the door, to get home in time to change and cleanup for the rehearsal of the wedding
15. Went to dinner
16. Was dealing with a lot of work stress internal to our company post move.
17.  Still doing insurance accident paperwork and calls
18. Went to wedding, where I played wedding coordinator. And sang.
19. Taught all lessons unaccounted for during the week.
20. Crawled in bed exhausted at 3 pm.
21. Started my first full week in new office. Took my first Dupixent injection the first day.
22. Got collision check for totaled car.
23.  Had band rehearsal
24. Worked a memorial services.
25. Brought my bff birthday brunch.
26. Looking for new car.
27. Found new car
28. Financed new car

A complete mish mash of stress.  I had some itching that was anxiety related and a charming bruise from my knee to my toes that didn't make it into the wedding pictures.  I wore full makeup! I was able to wear contacts! Oh yeah I felt like crap, by then, but I looked Ok.

My feet and ankles remain affected but mildly. I have some patchy areas where my skin tone is lighter and won't tan. But it is soft. I can shave. I can use aveeno products.

The point is, normally, this level of stress probably would have put me in a hospital. Staph, cellulitis whatever.

But it didn't.

I still practice excellent skin care. I'm less self conscious.

That's the real gift.

I'm managing the anxiety and stress as best I can,  I'm still dealing with muscle pains. I have a knot on my knee. But the skin is healing well.

 My god. It's a freaking miracle. If only my John had lived to see this.

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