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Finally something that worked!!

Posted , 35 users are following.

Thankful6288
Thankful6288

I am 55 yrs old, a healthy, active woman with well-controlled anxiety.  I have had GA (diagnosed by biopsy) for over 10 years, mostly on my legs & thighs and in 2016 starting on upper arm.  Like many on this site I tried numerous rounds of topical medical interventions such as steroid creams, to no avail (other than reduction in itching, but lesions continued to grow in size or spread) and spent lots of money on supplements, etc from well-intentioned wholistic practitioners.   I have been dismayed by how little concern my PCP and Dermatologist showed about addressing this issue, despite its significant impact on my quality of life.  I could no longer wear shorts or a swimsuit due to the stares from strangers wondering if I had some awful contagious disease.   

Fast forward to a posting on this site in Mid-2017 from a husband on behalf of his GA-suffering wife (I did not register, just read postings.).  THANK YOU! THANK YOU!  He said she had tried MSM/sulfer crystals daily and he could tell the GA lesions were fading.  I had always believed GA was some kind of auto-immune reaction, and I have sensitive skin in general to makeup products, etc. so I began researching sulfer/MSM and discovered it is one of the trace minerals our bodies need but that is lacking in modern diets.  I decided, “What the heck, it can’t be any worse and the cost is low.”  I began usage in late August 2017 and within weeks my lesions no longer itched and by the 3 month mark my husband noted a visible fading. I returned to wearing shorts & swimsuits this May.  I am here to tell you there is absolutely NO TRACE of a lesion (and I had many, large ones) anywhere on my body now! That’s one year for anyone reading!  After 10 years of suffering with this strange affliction I am beyond thrilled!

My usage: 1/2 tsp each morning in a 10-12 oz. cup of black tea (any variety).  It has a bitter taste so you don’t want to overdo it. If I had more than 3 refills of tea, diluting it, I would add another 1/2 tsp.  My profile picture has the specific brand I ordered on Amazon but there are many others available I believe would likely be effective as well (this is NOT an advertisement for this brand-just trying to be helpful).  I chose organic because I hoped it would be the purest form.  I continue to use it in my tea each morning; I have never been a coffee person but that man’s wife used it in coffee.

Good luck to all my fellow GA sufferers.  I hope this helps at least one of you out there!  Food really is the source of both our health and our lack of it.  God speed!

10 likes, 45 replies

45 Replies

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  • cgoodner19
    cgoodner19 Thankful6288

    Posted

    Definatly going to try this. I have tried many things from my dermatologist

    He has wanted to try Humira but I have so far opted out because of the side affects. Mine does not itch and is mostly on my arms and trunk but the last several months have developed on my legs one spot on each. Thanks for posting this I can't wait to try it.

  • frances87895
    frances87895 Thankful6288

    Posted

    Thanks.  I have a packet which I've been using to make MSM eye drops hoping to avert cataract op.  Also, GA & LS sufferer, suspected Lyme (insect-borne illness).

  • grant30115
    grant30115 Thankful6288

    Edited

    Hi Thankful6288 I think it may have been me who posted about my wife's GA after using MSM this is the link.  https://patient.info/forums/discuss/granuloma-annulare-for-almost-a-decade-535887?page=0#3025996 ; She is still clear of severe GA she says she has a few little spots but she only has about 1 teaspoon per month when I remind her. Its probably 2 years now and it still seems to work. I'm glad it has helped someone else as there doesn't seem to be anything else that works as I said in previous posts she had it for 40 years and MSM is the only thing that made any significant change.  

    • Thankful6288
      Thankful6288 grant30115

      Edited

      Thank you so much for sharing back then!  It was the only thing that gave me hope of ever getting rid of the lesions.  What a change I feel in confidence finally having clear skin again.  Thank you, thank you!  Best regards to your wife; I am happy for her success with MSM.
    • lynnz
      lynnz grant30115

      Edited

      Thankyou grant30115 , your wife sounds like me, I have just ordered MSM I hope I can get the same result as your wife has.

      I will everyone posted on how this works for me,

      thankyou again

  • tia8989
    tia8989 Thankful6288

    Posted

    Hi, I am so appreciative of your post!  I have one question, do you have to dilute it in black tea or can you dilute it in water or another type of tea that doesn't have caffeine? Did you use 1/2 tsp twice everyday or just sometimes?  How did you determine how much to take?

    Again thank you for caring about other people,

    Terri

    • Thankful6288
      Thankful6288 tia8989

      Posted

      The materials I read all said you can dilute it in almost any liquid.  I learned through trial and error that it doesn’t dilute as well in cold beverages so that is why I chose my morning tea to administer it consistently.   The instructions on my MSM suggested 1/4-1/2 tsp, 1-2x/daily as a starting point.  I settled on 1/2 tsp mostly because putting more in my tea tasted too bitter and would sometimes upset my stomach if it was empty.  I only occasionally (maybe 1-2x/week) would use a second half teaspoon; on those lazy Saturday mornings.  Good luck!

       

  • Leezack
    Leezack Thankful6288

    Posted

    Thank you, I'm going to order now and will let you know if it works.

  • ba712
    ba712 Thankful6288

    Edited

    I was diagnosed with GA when I was 18 (biopsy confirmed). Over the years (I just turned 60 in July) I have tried every possible medication (Dapsone and various steroid creams). The only thing that worked was injections (in the arm), but my dermatologist is very conservative and will not consider injections.

    In June (honestly overnight) my entire body became covered with the lesions. My feet, calves, back of thighs, abdomen, arms, elbows, and hands. I called and made an appointment with the doctor and she took another biopsy which confirmed GA. The summer was brutal in PA and I could not wear shorts or a swimsuit. I worn ankle pants when taking my daughter to the pool and suffered in the heat.

    I am currently taking Plaquenil and getting bloodwork every 30 days. I have been on it for one month and no difference in the lesions. In fact, it's getting worse. I will stay on it another 30 days and if there is no change the doctor has one more medication that she believes is worth trying. I have to give her credit because she is doing research and seeking advice from other doctors about alternative treatment. But as we all know, there is not much you can do for this. Since it is not painful or life threatening, there is basically no research to understand the root cause. I just starting taking Qunol because I read it is good for inflammation. I have been taking it for a few weeks and no change.

    I saw my doctor this past week and she feels confident my severe outbreak is due to stress. At this point, I don't disagree and will have to deal with that. But it is depressing when your entire body is covered with large red lesions.

    Thankful6288, I am thankful that I found this site while doing a search for GA. I will try the MSM/sulfer crystals and hope it helps me.

    • smivey
      smivey ba712

      Posted

      My experience is very similar to yours. I, too, am 60 years old and have been battling GA, confirmed with a biopsy. I was diagnosed about ten years ago. It was generalized - all over my body except my face. I had it subcutaneously, and it was itchy. I went through the same treatments as you, with no success. Finally, I saw a dermatologist from UCSF, and she prescribed Humira. I inject every two weeks and am completely clear. Some people may feel that the treatment is pretty extreme, but it is such an incredible relief to have clear skin.

  • Thankful6288
    Thankful6288

    Posted

    Best of luck to you! I hope you get some relief. Keep us posted.

  • kym13738
    kym13738 Thankful6288

    Edited

    Thank you so much for your contribution Thankful6288! I've been suffering for 4 years now with GA. I am now 56. A year ago I had about 8 patches. I now have 32 ranging from small to large. The worrying thing is that I know the smaller ones will soon be middle size then large. I've read they only grow to 2 inches and disappear within 2 years, which definitely isn't the case for me. I'm opting for Bath PUVA mid November but am slightly concerned about the potential side effects of skin aging and greater risk of skin cancer, albeit very low risk still. I tried the steroid injections last year on 2 of my patches and it worked for me. The patches have pretty much disappeared and not returned. However the consultant has told me because I now have so many on my arms, trunk, legs, ankles and feet, they cannot treat me with steroid injections, hence me opting for PUVA.

    I'm definitely going to order some Sulfer /MSM today and hope I have some relief soon. I will keep you all posted on how I get on with my PUVA and more important the Sulfer Crystal's MSM. Thank you once again for posting! It's so nice to be able to share this with those who know how distressing and worrying this skin disorder is, so thank you.

  • nora94022
    nora94022 Thankful6288

    Posted

    Has anyone else had any success with the MSM? If so please post your experience. Thanks.

    • Leezack
      Leezack nora94022

      Posted

      I have been taking the sulphur crystals in tea every morning for about 2 months and so far GA is still spreading. I'm going to try cbd oil and see if that helps. it's still spreading.

  • lynnz
    lynnz Thankful6288

    Posted

    thankyou for your post. I am 64 and had GA for most of my life, as we speak I have still have many. this summer I wont be able to wear shorts or sleeveless tops.

    I read your post and have just ordered my MSM . I am not expecting miracles, but if they would fade a little that would be great.

    I wonder if you have tried the gluten free approach - I have not as yet. but maybe I should give it ago.

    thankyou for your posting.

    • Thankful6288
      Thankful6288 lynnz

      Posted

      I have not tried going gluten free,mostly because I haven't had any of the other symptoms of gluten sensitivity. good luck with the MSM.

    • Thankful6288
      Thankful6288 lynnz

      Posted

      I have not tried going gluten-free although I understand there is a possible similarity between the inflammatory properties of GA and those with gluten sensitivities. Thankfully I have never had problems with gluten (a blessing since I love my bread & pasta)! Best of luck!

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