Recent longterm stress causes new problem....

For the last few months I've been under enormous stress about my sister and her recent bout with mental illness. I even spent 6 weeks with her after her hospital stay of 31 days. The stress was terrible for me and I was in flares constantly.

Unfortunately the stress triggered my autoimmune diseases too and caused a whole new problem...vitiligo.

My skin is losing pigments on my face and hands.

Since I'm very fair it's not too noticeable on my face except in bright sunlight, but my hands are another matter. They look like I've got dirt on my hands that didn't wash off entirely.

With lose of pigments I can sunburn easier and get skin cancer easier.

Soon I'm going to have to walk around with an umbrella and sparkling gloves like Michael Jackson!

Thank goodness it doesn't hurt. Just another shrimp on the barby......

Ouch, Joy, so sorry to hear about this!

I'm not at all familiar with vitiligo. Hope things are better for you very, very soon, and "ditto" to what puppylover said. Hope you find time just for YOU for a while and you can relax and revamp.

((HUGS)) and best wishes.

Ljm, the only thing they can do is finish removing the pigments from the affected areas to give me a smoother coloring. I'm not sure I want to do that due to the face it involves high doses of UV lights (which is bad for me due to my photosensitivity).

To add to my stress level my oldest brother died of a heart attack today. He leaves behind a wife, 2 daughters, a son, and 4.3 grandchildren. Not to mention his parents, 2 sisters and 2 brothers.

Joy, I'm so sorry about your sister and your brother. You are getting piled on. But stressing over things that you Have no control control over can be a killer. When I've have major stresses pile on, a good cry always helps release the pressure that builds inside. I also close my eyes, picture myself loading all the problems that I have no control over into a basket and handing the basket to God. I know I can't handle it so I give them to Him. This has really helped me and helps me be calm and peaceful.

There are alternative things you can do for yourself. According to the Mayo Clinic site, limited studies have shown Ginko biloba may return skin color in people with slow-spreading vitiligo. Other studies show that folic acid and vitamin B-12 plus sunlight may restore skin color for some people. You could eliminate the sunlight and see what happens because these things shouldn't hurt you. I take folic acid two times a day.

They also suggested make-up and self-tanners. They said if you decide to try a self-tanner it might take a few tries to find one that blends well with your skin. They also said if you do this to select one that has Dihydroxyacetone in it because it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

I'm so sorry you are going through yet another health issue. It has got to be hard. But just face it head on. You will find what works successfully for you.

Sherrine

Joy,
You are in my thoughts and prayers. You are going through too much loss at one time, and my heart breaks for you. May God's unending peace fill you despite this hard journey.
HEART

Hi Joy. My sympathy for your loss. I agreen with Sherrine in that you are being piled on. I sure feel for you.

I got vitiligo too, after so much stress from the other illnesses. Like you I'm very fair skinned so it's not too noticeable. I don't have it on my face but it's on my hands and thighs. There really isn't much you can do for it. Sunscreen when outdoors but that's about it. I take vitamin D because I'm in Canada where we are cooped up indoors for a good chunk of the year. I also get vitamin B12 shots because of Pernicious Anemia. I haven't noticed that any of this helps the vitiligo. Everyone reacts differently though so you may want to give it a shot.

I decided that the vitiligo is the very least of my helth worries. It won't kill me, I can't feel it and it gives my hands character! We have so much to deal with - fibromyalgia and other painful illnesses plus the rigors of daily life. My advice is to just decide that you don't care about the vitiligo. Let it go... get some 60 sunscreen and call it a day. After all, what's a little 'patchiness' on top of everything else? Not important.

Also, I advise you to learn what I am currently learning. To say no without feeling guilty. You are wonderful for what you did for your sister but you need to be as kind to yourself. You don't have to fix everything and take care of everyone. Give yourself permission to be selfish and do for you what you clearly already do for others. It's okay to say no. It's okay not to be there for everyone. You havery a real illness so some personal boundaries in order to care for yourself might be needed.

Hope you get some rest.

You are a star couchtater! I couldn't have done what you did and still be upright. Your family are lucky to hAve you.