Grouppe Kurosawa: HIV - Letters From Blanche Vol. 2, Part 3 (print)

Letters From Blanche
Vol. 2, Part 3

Blanche,
It sounds like the Noxema skin lotion you are using is the best. Some people like you love doing experiments like this, but others are going to be too intimidated to make an anti-itch lotion that has too many steps.

Keep plugging, kiddo. Glad you are having fun. Good news on the wart.

Keep me posted. This is fun.

Oh, after the bumps disappear and the itching is gone, do the lesions come back after a few days? I have this funny picture of your circling the bumps you treat with a Magic Marker. Instead of shingles, you'd have little black circles all over your body, a walking talking test platform.

Steve

Note: The anti-itch, anti-wart topical formula referred to in these emails was developed by Dr. Steve, The Big Cheese. The formula is proprietary and it’s not commercially available. It stops itching in about 5-10 seconds, and continues to work for a prolonged period of time.
Dear Dr. Steve:
Some of the outbreaks have reappeared, others not. None have progressed to the point of breaking the skin (unless they had already done so before all this started). The wart appears to be permanently gonzo. I've been dealing thus far with _body sections_ so haven't badly lost track of who did what and to whom. As the number of lesions decreases this may become a problem. I have actually considered a magic marker, but one of the purposes behind all this is to stop looking like a plague victim. I don't think "target" would be an improvement. The lesions do not disappear _per se_ so much as reduce in size, color. The itching stops. Also, I'm working with lesions in different stages of development, from "slightly red and itchy bump" to "who's been burning this poor woman with cigarettes?" Some of the larger deeper lesions look like I've been tortured, honest. Thankfully, they don't feel as badly as they look. All are fading nicely, regardless of treatment. -- Blanche

Dear Dr. Steve,
I've been trying to determine the answer(s) to your question about whether the treatment is temporary or permanent. The "ballpark" answer is semi-permanent. Sorry.

Okay, let's see. In the case of "old" lesions with some residual swelling and probable infection, one application seems to do the trick. Itching stops and swelling departs. It is important to remember,

however, that these are open lesions and therefore the skin barrier is already broken. It says nothing about penetration. Also, the "one-shot" approach may work here because the virus is exhausted at that particular

site, and there are only a few stragglers to shoot. This does nothing to otherwise change the appearance or behavior of the lesion.

Any of the potions I've tried seems to work well on brand new outbreaks. This is where the skin is somewhat swollen and red, but no bumps are really evident yet. At that point 1-3 applications will stop the

outbreak. Once raised red bumps have formed the condition is somewhat more stubborn. They seem to remain regardless, but itching is quickly suppressed. They have about a 50-50 chance of full eruption vs. subsidence. I don't know what that means.

The biggest problem is a lesion in its "prime," a fully-filled pock with unbroken skin. This seems to be the heartiest phase of the outbreak, and repeated applications are needed to keep things from getting worse.

Inevitably an itch will strike at an unguarded moment, and subsequent scratching will open the pock, which results in instant relief. I guess there is some pressure in the affected nerve bundle. Or maybe the virus

is deliberately irritating the skin area until the pock is opened and new virus is released into the world. Crafty little devils. Once the skin has been opened, treatment stops the itching and seems to heal the remaining lesion much more quickly than otherwise. Of course, I'm beating the shingles anyway, so each outbreak is probably losing steam.

So far, the Noxema stuff seems to be most practical. It does a very good job of suppressing itching, and application is followed by lesion improvement at the site. Incidentally, Noxema is MOSTLY water, but is

actually an emulsion. The contents include linseed and other oils. In case you are concerned about a water-based absorption, that should handle your worries. The moisturizing component of this compound is very soothing, also.

No untreated outbreaks remain, so it's now only a matter of stamina -- mine or the virus. Little immature sites are fading back into the woodwork. Old lesions are healing as best they can. The remaining "active" sites are the front and back of my thighs (large clusters of very small bumps, not much swelling) and my darned butt. I don't know the anatomical term; it's at the point where the buttocks fold in to meet the central fold, right on the edge, as it were. A few scattered across the glutes, hips. I'm putting the Noxema stuff on everything now.

The Noxema preparation works very well. I kinda have to slather myself with the preparation and then stand around until it dries. Otherwise it winds up on clothes or sheets. Sometimes this requires a midnight application; these seem to be more active at night. Vampire herpes? Argggh.

The most peculiar and irritating symptom of all is the fact that the outbreak on my behind appears to be tied into nerves that run through my genitals. (If I scratch my ass, my bippy starts to itch). Go figure. I have put the Noxema concoction on my labia as a precaution; this is not a spot I particular want to shingle. This is where the water-solubility of the Noxema stuff is a real drawback. I'm at the age where nocturnal bathroom trips are inevitable. Pee most of it off and wipe off the rest. Then I have to re-apply the Noxema or the itching starts up again. I do the outbreak on my behind at the same time, so this does not give any insight into the precise cause of the itch. Trust me, the most important thing in this particular case is to stop itching! Some itches don't scratch well at all.

There do not appear to be any classical outbreaks on my genitals, just the itching. I think it's nerve sympathy from the surrounding herpes, but who can say? How's your anatomy these days, as in plumbing and wiring?When that is gone I'll consider my self to be well on the way to recovery, regardless of how many healing lesions I'm still sporting. This is the most irritating, unpleasant and potentially scary symptom of all. Keep yer fingers crossed – Blanche

Dear Dr. Steve:
You are weird...

That's probably why we get along. Blanche's Scab-Be-Gone Deherpifier and Wart Remover is working really well. Now I'm waiting for the darned things to stop cropping up to get stomped upon – Blanche

Dear Blanche,
Oh, I am weird. That's precious coming from Blanche, Queen of the Desert.

I heard from one of my HIV clients who had a low CD4 count. His lymph nodes have returned to normal, he is sleeping better, and he doesn't smell "sour" anymore. His sexual drive returned to normal also. All he is taking is quercetin and the load of anti-oxidants you are taking. Plus n-acetylcarnitine. I thought his T count was too low to risk EGCG and curcumin. I'll hit him with that later. Then he will really hate me.

Steve

Dear Dr. Steve:
... and I don't even own a camel!

Good. The lysine "decomposes" the Noxema somewhat also. I think it eats the bubbles or something. (Still would like an explanation of this).

***Incidentally, what I'm using is "Noxema Cleansing Cream Plus Moisturizers." It comes in a 10.75-oz blue plastic jar. I don't know if the "regular" stuff would work the same. This has more oils in it, I believe.***

Congrats on your client. Actually, he shouldn't hate you until he's good and sick of the taste of coconut. It helps to add some brown sugar to the kocktail, by the way; cuts the bitterness from the EGCG.

Okay, first we have two different "species" of lesion.

The later type is pinhead size in clusters. These came up late in the outbreak, after I'd taken the Famvir and the shingles were coming under control. When hit with the topical at any point they stop at the point when they were hit. They don't develop and don't disappear. I have a nice collection on the outside of my left foot that look like measles; they never developed heads and have no scabs. They are just red enough to be seen and do not itch. Go figure. Maybe I have the Revenge of Measles too. I don't know quite what to tell you about those puppies.

The "normal" variety of herp started as an itching area and broke into lesions about 1/4" in diameter. Itching broke the skin and they of course scabbed. Some are far deeper than others, as continued itching encouraged scratching which removed the scab and so forth. So: A big bump with a scab on it, hit with Noxema, behaves thusly:

1) Itch: Any itch disappears anywhere from instantly to in about ten minutes. The Noxema, of course, softens the scab. This feels almighty good and is a source of itch reduction all by itself.

2) Bumps: Any residual swelling goes away within an hour or so in most cases I have observed. The red area around the lesion also disappears or is reduced in size and color. How much reduction seems to vary under a formula I have not as yet been able to determine.

3) Scabs and final healing: I have a couple of "majors" on my right forearm that have reduced to "yeah, there's something there, all right." This took about 3-4 days to occur. The spots are basically somewhat shiny and about the same diameter as the previous ORIGINAL scab (before any shrinkage). I also have a few mysterious white spots that are probably scars from smaller lesions.

4) More scabs etc.: Some other "major" spots are still barely visible as what look like bruises from being hit with a verrry small hammer; that's the best way to describe them. A little purple. A little pink. A little brown. A little strange, but obviously on their way out. I still have scabs on my forearms (the first outbreak site), but they are shrinking and getting shallower and lighter all the time. Other places are right behind this in the timetable.

5) Uncategorizable: I've also got a couple of "humongous" lesions on my shins. I have no idea where they came from or why they are so damned mean. This are covered by an incredibly thick layer of scab and are going to be there for quite a while, as there isn't one damned thing I can do about them. The topical has stopped the itching but the scabs are large enough to require a goodly amount of time to fade, I fear. I mean we're talking months here!

6) Other weirdness: I mentioned the itching bippy syndrome in other emails. The first time this happened to me, the worst lesions were on the verrry edge of my labia majora, not spots anybody particularly wants to scratch, I assure you. I've been itching and waiting for the inevitable. This really stops me because I can't even really wear clothes without considerable pain, so as you can imagine I've not been looking forward to this outbreak. Well, it's not happening. The itch remains and must be treated and re-treated with the topical, but the skin is smooth. If there are any little red spots I can't tell you 'cuz I haven't got a good mirror for that. Feels "normal," however. You know how shingles travel along the nerve path? Well, I've got bumps on my behind and coming around the inguinal area -- big on my butt and smaller as they go. I suspect that the itching labia are part of this nerve complex (so many damned nerves in that area!) and the shingles is trying to find another way out. So far it hasn't managed to do so. Fascinating (but itchy).

Don't ask about the bumps on my butt, either. They _feel_ better but are a little hard to see. – Blanche

Dear Dr. Livingston:
It's monsoon in Phoenix. Actually, more like non-soon, because we have yet to see a drop of rain and Arizona is turning into a charcoal briquette.

Still, the humidity's up. The next month or so is why people leave Phoenix. Argggh! Thank you for developing the topical lotion for me, because if these damned Shingles hadn't been almost gone when this hit I'd have wound up in a rubber room! Humid air, against all logic, is worse on Shingles than dry. Go figure. I guess it makes you more "aware" of your skin or something.

Those bad boys are fading almost perceptibly; it's like watching time-lapse photography! Most certainly every morning the difference is obvious. Yay! The only itching comes from the "healing itch" and even

that is reduced by the Noxema mix. No PHN unless I don't remember to use the lotion often enough (about twice a day seems to do it). Bear in mind that it's sweaty weather here now, even indoors with just a swamp cooler, so there will be outward movement at the pores and loss of topical. When I do itch (and scratch) it's normally just to remove a scab that wanted to leave anyway. Underneath is all pink; some scarring but healthy nonetheless. Even the "deep" lesions are almost gone.

Blood test next Monday (July 19). I should have just enough time to get my numbers back up after The Revenge of Chickenpox! -- Blanche

Blanche,
Sounds great, Blanche. I hate to ask but what is PHN?

Steve

Dear Dr. Steve:
Post-Herpal Neuralgia. That's what all the websites call it. It's a cute name for "the herpes are gone but I'm still hurtin' "

Blanche,
Got it.

Dear Dr. Steve:
It's finally raining in Phoenix! This isn't really an improvement in comfort because everything is of course just as hot and sticky as before, but at least I feel like we're getting something out of it. Really need the rain.

A short cautionary note: Diluted the Noxema mix every time I needed more, as I mentioned earlier. The last time I appear to have gone tooooo faaaaar with the dilution. Stopped working. So we're not getting homeopathic here; there is a lower limit to the concentration of the stuff in the topical necessary to do the job. I am, alas, unsure of the proportions any more because of the multiple dilutions. You'll have to punt. Sorry.

Starting to feel vaguely human. Woke up last night with some intimate itching, and thought "Shit! I can't take much more of this. When are these damned things going AWAY?" before I realized that it was, yes, an

itch, but a "normal" one, not the kind that inspire me to peel off all my skin to make it stop. (I've had to train myself to jump outta bed and apply the topical before things get out of control).

This indicates to me that I am actually winning!

I also credit part of the progress to the fact that I am back on 12mg melatonin per day, as we discussed. I confess that I am taking the 6mg a little before bedtime rather than in the morning, because night is the time when things become intolerable. I stress much more easily then because my sleep is interrupted. Since my metabolism slows down a lot during sleep, I question whether this is not the way to go. Taking 6mg in the morning made me fall over a lot; too sleepy at the wrong time of day. Also, the serotonin business works better in the dark, I believe. Just a thought.

I have tried to stay calm about all this, knowing that stress is my worst enemy. I am normally nearly "un-stress-able." I let circumstances get away from me a bit, I'm afraid, and did not act in my own behalf soon enough, which started this problem. Shingles itself is of course far more stressful than the original stressors could ever be. Melatonin is a great help, although Valium would probably be a winner, too!

Currently using only Vitamin E oil on arms to (hopefully) reduce scarring, since they are currently still quite unsightly. If the rest of my skin gets dry and the scabs start pulling, I'm going to use straight Noxema (without any additives) and see what happens. -- Blanche

p.s. "Score at the half: Lions three, Christians nothing."

Dear Dr. Steve:
Monday, the 19th and I've just gotten back from my blood test. Should have results in about a week. I'm really nervous about this one; it's the first since my treatment change and then there were the Shingles, the cortisone shots, and whatever else set the Shingles off in the first place.

Shame on me. Truly chickened out this morning and took antihistamines before going in for blood test, podiatrist office visit. Just couldn't bear the thought of itching or burning and unable to scratch or fix

(current late-bloomers are... well... in my bloomers). Argggh. No opportunity for public scratching. Sorry I'm so weak-minded, but the Noxema stuff either washes or wears off intimate portions of the anatomy. I've been running around the house with no britches, not an option at CIGNA. Also not a sight for children or those with weak hearts. The antihistamines work perfectly and cancel everything, but I'm minded of cell-mediated immune responses et al. Cimetidine is not adequate; it makes things better but they don't go away. Also Ibuprophen, same thing. I need a bigger hammer.

What would you recommend (for next time, obviously) to kill off the Shingles from the inside out? (And please don't tell me to just not get stressed). I could also use some help deciding what to tell the Plan doctor if my numbers are less than optimal. I'm not sure "I'm not taking your stooopid meds" is gonna be the right answer. Of course, the Shingles are fading, so perhaps I've gotten my numbers back to acceptable range anyway. -- Blanche

Blanche,
Where the hell are you Blanche? Did you burn up in the heat. Check in dear. If I don't get a weird email from you periodically, I begin to worry. Did Blanche kill Stanley ? Did Stanley kill Blanche? Did they both burn up in the heat? Inquiring minds want to know.

Dr. Livingston

Dear Dr. Livingston:
... I presume.

I'd been bugging you so much with the Revenge of Chickenpox that I figured I should give you a break. Nobody's killed anybody, nor have we fried as yet, although that remains an option. Actually this time of year "steamed" is more appropriate.

I got my blood test on Monday, and should be hearing the results sometime next week. Keep yer fingers crossed! I'm a little nervous about the results, what with the Shingles and all. I don't know what a second infection (does a Shingles outbreak count as an infection? After all, I've had it for half a century) does to encourage the damned HIV. A little nervous around here.

The Shingles is clearing up nicely for the most part, although my forearms still look awful, between fading scabs and the scarring. I also have a very sore butt, where the last of the herps are congregating. It's a bummer because the Noxema doesn't stay put. Every time I sit down I leave tea stains behind (from my behind, you see) and the stuff's on the chair, on the bed, and not on the Blanche. Dennis has suggested getting an old-fashioned diving suit, stuffing me into it and filling the space with the anti-itch formula.. Then if he gets tired of my bitching he can just put the helmet on and watch me jump up and down in silence.

I am getting impatient with the final healing business and am really looking forward to putting this behind me. Ha. I mean in the past and not behind as in anatomy. Between the Shingles and the monsoon, I've taken to running around with just a long shirt on. Pity the door-to-door salesperson who knocks on _my_ door! It's funny, but each time the itching fades or the pain recedes, it uncovers another layer of

discomfort. I guess I'm getting worn down because this has gone on so long. I'm starting to snivel. I'm having as much trouble with the lightweight symptoms as I did when the outbreak was fresh and froggy.

Have you found any itching victims to test the formula on yet? I don't know if I ever mentioned that the Noxema has menthol, camphor and eucalyptus in it, and can be a real experience when first applied to open lesions. Doesn't last long 'cuz they're both very volatile, I guess, but wow! The more delicate among us may want to use a more neutral carrier. -- Blanche

Blanche Dahling,
I get very serious emails from people, but yours always make me laugh. Yes, the thought of you jumping around in silence is a great image.

Most people with shingles are experiencing an outbreak from an infection they had as kids. You had a massive outbreak due to the compromised immune system so you have much more latent virus to deal with. You also have a stress prone personality and that doesn't help. I am not lecturing you Blanche so chill out, but you do have a rather excitable personality, as do I. You should have seen and heard me yesterday, attempting to change a faucet in a bathroom. Stuffing my 6 foot plus, 260 lbs frame through a small vanity to get under a bathroom sink in an attempt to disconnect a rusted faucet that had been there 30 years was not a pretty sight. I’ve got 5 college degrees, a genius IQ and an ego the size of Brazil and I can’t get that damn faucet disconnected. God must be fucking with me today. The entire right side of my body feels like someone punched it for 30 minutes.

Did that wart ever come back?

Change to Vaseline Intensive Care lotion, advanced healing formulation. It is oil based but it’s not greasy. The topical stuff will dissolve in it. I've had other complaints about the Noxema.

You have every right to be worried about the test results. You aren't going to get AIDS again, I absolutely guarantee it. I've already had test results on this protocol and it drives the CD4 count up. Keep a good thought. These test results are a big deal to lots of people besides yourself.

I want you to write up your entire current treatment protocol for me today. Everyone's is a little different.

Stay cool.

Steve

Dear Dr. Steve:
The Noxema's "bite" doesn't actually bother me all that much. Right now, the only remaining lesions are in very personal, hard-to-reach, impossible-to-see places. When I put on the Noxema stuff, it lights me right up. I can tell if I got all the pertinent spots. In a minute everything's fine. It's just the first 30-45 seconds that make my eyes go "cherry---cherry--lemon!|

You're like me; always wanting to things for yourself. Stuck plumbing is why they invented plumbers. I wouldn't expect a plumber to advise me on HIV treatment protocols and I don't think you should play with your plumbing. People might talk. Next time hire a professional and let _him_ stuff himself in around corners.

The wart is still gone. That's good. There are still a lot of scabs and scarring on both forearms and on ankles, shins and butt. Some of the original lesions were quite deep. The only apparently active site is smack in the bippy. Argggh. Both sides of the spine and around the rectum. Inside of thighs and around where the legs "screw in" as it were. The very back of my labia. I can't walk. I can't wear clothes. This is truly depressing.

This is a very difficult area to treat and is complicated by the fact that I am female. More folds & such plus I manage to dribble on myself on a regular basis. When that happens it's another occasion for dancing, believe me! I can't really wipe because the skin's too damaged, so am reduced to mad blotting. If it weren't for the formula I'd be in a rubber room for sure. It's still a royal pain in the... yep, where else? I really want this to go away now.

I'm not really worried about the CD4's. It's the viral titer that has me a leeetle worried.

I'm on the kocktail (49% saturated fat coconut milk, 95% curcumin, 70% egcg) That's 5grams of curcumin and 2 grams EGCG per day. Also per day:

1.8 grams ALA (600mg caps)

1.5 grams acetyl l-carnitine (500 mg caps)

3.6 grams N AC (500 mg caps)

100 mg 5-HTP (note I just started the 5-HTP about a month ago)

DHEA 25 mg

Melatonin 12mg

I think that's it

I am not currently taking any inosine; I am terrified of exciting any histamines that may be prone to same. I cannot continue to deal with the Shingles as they were in the beginning; only the drop-off of the outbreak and the application of the topical has kept me from running down the street screaming and banging my head on buildings. I will do absolutely nothing to make it any worse. I'm burning out on the Shingles fight, dear. I really want it to go away now.

Otherwise I take a multivitamin (Centrum Silver) and the magnesium, although I confess that recently I have been forgetting it more often than not. I spend most of my time playing with myself. I don't like to bitch because I have never seen the least evidence that the universe gives a damn, but snivel, whimper, whine anyway. – Blanche