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My solution?

Posted , 7 users are following.

dawn69708
dawn69708

I have had GA for at least 12 years (I'm 38) and have recently noticed an improvement.  Over the years I've tried changing my diet, changing lotions/laundary detergents, and have used both topical and oral steroids.  Nothing helped.  I do not drink or smoke but still had GA in the past when I did drink and smoke.  After doing minimal research about treatments for GA, I decided to start taking vitamine E (400 I.U. liquid soft gels - 2/day) about two months ago.  I do not know if this is the actual cause for improvement of my GA but it is the only thing that I can come up with that I have done differently.  Also, I didn't take it for about a week and a half and I started to get a couple of itchy, red bumps.  I put the topical steroid on them and resumed taking the Vitamin E.  I am virtually symptom free! I still have some bumps that are barely visible, but they are gone otherwise and I don't have any rashes, itching, bleeding or pain.  Anyway, I just wanted to post this in case it could help someone else.   

2 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Willowfox
    Willowfox dawn69708

    Posted

    Hi Dawn

    Great to hear about your success with the vitamin E you are taking. I have taken various vitamins over the years in the hope of treating my GA, but have found no real improvement but will definitely be giving the vitamin E a try now. I will keep this group updated if I have any improvements smile thanks 

    Claire

    • dawn69708
      dawn69708 Willowfox

      Posted

      Yes, I figure it can't hurt to try. Best wishes for a good outcome and I look forward to hearing about your experience smile 

      Dawn

  • patty98033
    patty98033 dawn69708

    Posted

    Hi Dawn,

    Thanks so much for reporting about your success!  I think that the length of time you've been taking vitamin E is enough to be able to see a change in your GA.  I've been working on eliminating foods that I tested an intolerance to & it was at least a month before I could see a difference.  I am 8 months into this & while my GA is not gone (I've had it about 4 years), it is very significantly better for the first time since I had my first outbreak.

    Definitely keep us in the loop.

  • Maryliz
    Maryliz dawn69708

    Posted

    Hallo Dawn

    Delighted for you - its good of you to share your news re Vit E.

    My GA which started in May last year - has improved too particularly on my knees and less red under and around my arms.     I still get moments of extreme itchyness.      I have taken Evening Primrose Oil for last 15 years which has Vit E included so I might take an extra amount to see if there is improvement.     I have not taken any steroids - although they were prescribed for a month.  Nobody with GA has yet seen any improvement with these drugs.    

    Hope your improvement continues.   Keep in touch.

    Maryliz.  

  • Embalmiwill
    Embalmiwill dawn69708

    Posted

    I have not tried the vitamin E. I wonder how it would be to take it internally and also rub the oil into the spots. .. hmmmm. Since I have it all over my body I would definitely need an economy sized jar. smile
    • dawn69708
      dawn69708 Embalmiwill

      Posted

      Ugh. I'm lucky to have a small localized area only. I know that any other oils I've tried have only exacerbated my irritations but I haven't tried topical vitamin E oil. So best wishes for a good outcome if you decide to try it!!
    • Embalmiwill
      Embalmiwill dawn69708

      Posted

      Will definately let you know.  However, I wont be trying anything for the next 3 months.  My dermatogist started me on 2 new meds to try.  Plaquenil and minocycline together for 3 months. He said patience... and that it might take a full 3 months to see anything.  *sigh*

      Best wishes for you also.

  • dawn69708
    dawn69708

    Posted

    So I told some of you that I would keep you updated.  I recently posted that I believed my colution to GA has something to do with the fact that I started taking Vit E.  I started taking Vit E daily and it lessened and even disappeared.  When I didn't take it for a few days I had a flare up, but it went away again after taking it regularly.  I can tell, however, that it is suppressed and not cured because every so often I will get an itching blistery bump in random places, but they don't last and don't spread.  So anyway, I still have had no problems recently after about 12 years of having GA.  I still attribute it to Vit E. 
    • jay16348
      jay16348 dawn69708

      Posted

      Dawn, I may have missed it elsewhere in your posts, but have you had this actually diagnosed as GA? I don't beleive I have seen anything that says granuloma is itchy. Mine has never itched. Let me know. Thanks.
    • patty98033
      patty98033 jay16348

      Posted

      Hi Jay,  I know that your note was to Dawn but I can attest that in some cases, when the granulomas are first emerging, they can itch like crazy. This is when the Clobetasol helped me.  It didn't make them go away but definitely helped with the itching and not all were/are itchy.  Yes, mine was diagnosed by biopsy.
    • jay16348
      jay16348 patty98033

      Posted

      Thanks Patty, I am glad I have never had the itching. I have tried Clobetasol too and it didn't do much other than it seemed to weaken my skin and cause the GA areas to look wrinkly after a while. I am anxious to try the viatmin B12 and vitamin E that some have mentioned on here. Have you tried using these vitamins?
  • dawn69708
    dawn69708

    Posted

    Hi Jay,

         Yes this is a GA diagnosis.  Mine used to get so itchy that it would bleed and scab after scratching.  Like Patty, the Clobetasol helped relieve the itching but didn't help the GA.  

    Take Care, Dawn

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