As our family prepares for a complete dietary overhaul, I've decided to document the events that have guided our lifestyle shift. Soon I'll be adding meal plans, recipes, supplements and treatments we are implementing, tips for a healthier lifestyle, along with glimpses into our daily chaos.
Our oldest has had some puzzling health issues for years. I first noticed what we refer to as her "white spots"--patches of depigmentation on her skin--early in 2010. They were small and did not seem to cause problems, so we ignored it for awhile. As the year progressed, not only did her depigmentation spread, but it also became much more noticeable as she acquired a summer tan. In September we decided to consult a dermatologist. I suspected a possible fungal infection (tinea versicolor), but the dermatologist quickly diagnosed her with vitiligo, meaning that the cells producing her melanin were either damaged or dying. (Michael Jackson is probably the most popular sufferer.)
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| Some of Sissy's white spots |
At her followup appointment we noticed some possible improvement, but it was also evident that more white spots had developed. The doctor remarked that Sissy's spots were spreading very rapidly, which is uncommon for the condition. She advised me to continue the treatment and followup again. As this was considered merely a cosmetic issue, we decided to discontinue her treatment. A simple Google search of vitiligo suggested a connection to autoimmune disease, but I didn't want to overreact. Looking back it appears that the steroid use may have exacerbated a health issue we were unaware of...
Have you ever ignored a doctor's treatment/advice? Are you glad you did, or did you regret it in the end?
Linking up at WFMW!
My parents allowed me to ignore the orthodontist's advice that I endure several years of braces and two surgeries (rotation of a tooth and permanent implantation of a false tooth in place of one for which I had no permanent tooth) to make my teeth look standard and perfect. Instead, I opted only to wear a retainer at night to hold the space for the rotated molar (its sides are facing front and back) which was slow to emerge after the baby tooth came out.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a few years later when my dentist recommended removal of all 4 wisdom teeth although only the bottom ones were impacted, I chose to have only the bottom ones removed. Why throw away healthy teeth?!
Interestingly, once all of my permanent teeth had settled into their places, their alignment became much straighter than it had been. My front top teeth had been in a V, but with the extra space created by the 2nd tooth on one side having no permanent replacement, my front teeth straightened out! Yes, if you look closely at my smile you'll see that on one side the canine tooth is right next to the front tooth, and I have a slight gap between my front teeth. I don't mind having a distinctive smile! I like the way I look--and I'm glad I didn't suffer through years of painful orthodontia and glad that my parents spent that money on my education instead.
I hope you can find a good treatment for Sissy. I feel that "continue the treatment and follow up again" is what doctors say when they don't really know what's going on, so it may be wisest to trust your instincts about the steroid, continue doing research, and get a second opinion or more.