The End of Rashes

The End of Rashes

The 15 November conference in the previous post started what became a three week period during which I was present at each Nystatin treatment. It was absolutely necessary that the “the affected area and around the area be treated.”

Some 75% of recorded observations were ranked either GOOD or BETTER after being extracted from notes over a month old. None were ranked totally CLEAR. I did not know what totally CLEAR was. The area was usually swollen and red for months with an increase in the upper inner thigh rash during the last two months.

Her condition was slowly getting better but in a very random fashion. It was now winter. A change from powder to crème by the dermatologist and a daytime toileting schedule changed this in the next four days (yellow) in the groin area.

Each morning her groin condition was ranked GOOD. Each evening not GOOD. The abdomen showed a greater improvement with the first CLEAR and has remained so during next two weeks. The yeast infection was gone.

The first sight of totally CLEAR groin area skin was an experience. The swelling was gone. It looked normal. Suddenly a spark ran through my body. A tingle rattling around in an empty shell from head to toe. It radiated from deep within my body to the surface of my skin everywhere. In an instant it was gone.

For a moment I was weightless. I was once again looking down from over my right shoulder at the four of us. My body reacted far faster than my mind. My experience in the guided meditation class did not prevent this happening.

Now all the caregivers were reporting dryness around the clock. The rashes were coming to an end. The groin area during the next few days became so dry that it itched and was scratched. The fan was no longer used to dry.

With the yeast infection gone for over a month and the groin rash responding in a few hours, we were at last at the stage of management. Use Top Care and/or the fan as needed. We now know that wetness over four hours produces an odor and skin irritation, any time during the day or night.

A two-hour dryness check is the simplest way to promote healthy skin and odor control. The 10:00 pm and 2:00 am checks may be skipped if there are no skin problems (or MoliCare with pH control fiber is used). The night becomes two four-hour sleeping periods. Being up every two hours with a virus is exhausting. 

The pink blush on Christmas Day is a third cause for coloring on fully CLEAR skin. It is still not clear if this blush is just where the skin has been scrubbed or it is an allergic reaction in the general area.

The 95% cotton/5% spandex camisole replaces brassieres now and may help dry next summer. Now back to normal grooming with the fan and Top Care ready for next summer. A big thank you to the group of caregivers who helped out and now know that each shift has an important part to play on a winning team.

We now know that my wife's body is a far better monitor of the rashes than Arlo's video clips. A rash is an alert to health care practice. I am still puzzled that the yeast rash was so easily expected to last for a long time by both doctors when the packaging and other information imply that two to three weeks should bring it to an end with Nystatin. The implied dryness needed for it to be effective should prevent the infection in the first place!