Hey there everyone! I know there are probably a very few who remember
who I am, I will explain to those who are interested in my
particular situation exactly the conditon I was in at one point when
my rosacea was at its all time worse and what I did to FINALLY kick
the "beast" as Dr. Nase says, to the curb.

Due to being on steroids for 6 months, my rosacea went from mild to
very severe. It was so severe at one point during my life, 3 years to
be exact, that I became deliabated from doing anything on my own. I
had to strickly rely on my husband to do everything for me, from
helping me to put on my shoes, cleaning the
house,ironing,laundry,sweeping and mopping the floors, grocery
shopping, cooking,(which was a night mare) taking out the trash, you
name it, and I couldn't do it. He did it all! I guess you can say for
those 3 very long years, I soon became a prisoner in my own home. I
obviously couldn't go out doors, so I would always keep my front door
open, so I could at least look out. Doing that even became painful,
mostly on my eyes, so I would sometimes even have to put my
sunglasses on just to do that. The ONLY times that I went outdoors
was when I had to go to the doctor and on those days, how I dreaded
going out, knowing not only would I suffer drastically, but yet
another doctor would always tell me the same thing as the one
before. "Theres nothing else we can do for you Ann," they would
always tell me. "I'm sorry, this is the way your life is going to be
for the rest of your life. Avoid all your triggers and you "should"
be fine." AVOID my triggers they all kept telling me?? Were they
NUTS?? How in the world was I suppose to function each day by
avoiding my triggers when my triggers consisted of absolutely
everything. I couldn't do anything for myself, depending solely on my
husband, I couldn't eat most foods, couldn't sleep unless it was in
an upright position, always had to have the fans positioned right on
me on high speed no matter what the temperatures outdoors were, take
cold baths, no more excersicing,cooking,even something as simple as
brushing my teeth or smiling became a nightmare. I could barely stand
to wash my face, my hair, use any kind of products on my already very
sensitive skin, couldn't take any supplements, and very few meds,and
now there telling me to "Avoid my triggers???" What was I suppose to
do now? I had no life and became a prisoner in my own home, I was
handicapped from doing EVERYTHING I had always taken for granted
before this horrifying miserable disease took hold of me at the age
of 40.

Nevertheless, I was bound and determined to one way, some how find a
way to prove the doctors wrong. Thats when my actual fight began. I
educated myself when I finally found the rosacea forum many moons
ago. There was a lot of talk going around at that time about laser
treatments, IPL, etc, and even though I was terrified to have
anything like that done to my already sensitive skin, I decided what
other choice did I really have, so once again I did a lot more
research, continued to educate myself further, bought doc Nase's
book "beating rosacea" and finally convinced myself, as difficult as
it might be, I had to check out the doctors in my area, go for a
consult,and ONLY pray that I could get the help that I so desparately
needed.

Nevertheless it took a long time, but I FINALLY did it! I found a
doctor that was about 4 and 1/2 hours away from my home in the blue
grass state of Ky. I made my first appointment in August of 2000, and
my husband and I set out on that very hot day in August in hope for
the miracle we had been searching for all along.

To make a very long story short, I was FINALLY given the hope that we
had both been praying for. My dream of becoming a normal living
breathing individual again, was going to be a long way off, but at
least I knew NOW there was FINALLY going to be a light at the end of
the tunnel and regardless of how long it took,it didnt' matter, I had
something to live for, my life was going to be normal again and thats
all that mattered.

After having a numerous amount of very aggressive treatments using
the IPL at different wave lengths, joules, etc, a series of all
different lasers that included the dornier, the ever popular YAG,
which in my opinion was FANTASTIC as far as being given wonderful
results, the prolite, the profile, the omini lux,even a little botox
was needed a few times to help reduce the constant flushing that I
was always constantly experiencing. My treatments were at 3-4 week
intervals, and at times, I even went at 2 week intervals when the
main vessel at my troubled spot erupted the week of Thanksgiving.

3 very long years later, which included a lot of traveling back and
forth to and from Knoxville, Tn, some at 3-4 week intervals, others
at 2 week intervals, I was bound and determined that I would do
whatever it took to FIGHT the worse battle of my life. FINALLY 42
treatments later, when I was least expecting it, my doctor finally
told me that there was nothing left to treat. I was now once and for
all completely FREE from this miserable beast we all know as rosacea.

For the first time in my entire life, I became speechless. I could't
wait to tell my husband that that part of our lives were at long
last over. I had won the battle of the beast and would live my life
to the fullest, and promised myself that i would never take even the
simpliest things in my life, for granted any more.

What can I do now you ask? EVERYTHING I was able to do before hand.
Can I stand the heat? Absolutely! Can I workout out you probably want
to know? YOu bet I can! As a matter of fact, my field of interest has
always been fitness and nutrition, and now after finally being able
to take a class in that particular field, I am going for the "gusto,"
and will become certified and be the personal trainer I've always
dreamed of becoming. No more fans, or sleeping in an upright
position, no depending on my husband to do every little thing for me
any more, I can do and still can do everything and anything I was
once use to doing before hand. And yes, that even includes eating hot
and spicy foods too.

Last August my husband and I decided to buy our dream house,w hich
required a lot of landscaping that we decided to do on our own. On
Labor Day weekend, we set out to begin what was a very long and
tiresome job, and even though my husband was a little hestiant of my
helping out, I had to at least give it a try. After spending 4 hours
out in the very hot sun with the temps in the 90's that day, bending
over a lot and picking up heavy bails of hay, working like a work
horse and sweating bullets, I was able to with stand the true test of
beating my rosacea once and for all. 4 hours of sweating and being
out in the hot sun and heat was almost like a gift from GOD! It was a
gift from GOD!

If your wondering if maintance treatments are still a must for me.
The answer is yes. I go back every 3-4 months for a follow up and a
reavulation, which usually determines if I need a maintance treatment
at that time or not. One time I actually was able to go 6 months
without one single maintance treatment.

So to finally put an end to my long struggle, I have now been rosacea
free for going on 2 years this September. Still having those follow
ups and maintance treatments however, just to make sure things are
continously kept at an even keel. I continue to live my life every
day to the fullest and rarely think about how my rosacea had once
taken over my very existance.

So for those who are new out there,and by the looks of things, there
are a lot of you out there who are obviously still struggling
uncertain of what to do next, if this is going to be a way of life
for you forever, I am here to tell you, you can beat this
miserable "beast" as well. However, let me just tell you that it
takes a whole heck of a lot of constant persistance, even more
patience, and most of all a positive attitude. A lot of faith
certainly goes a long way too.

I sincerly hope that I have been able to give at least some of you
the hope you've been searching for.


A friend who has cared from the beginning and will continue to care.
Ann
unique_challenge40160@...

PS If anyone ever needs to contact me personally, I strongly
encourage you to do so.