Home / Health / From Footballer to Bedridden: The Agony of Steroid Withdrawal
From Footballer to Bedridden: The Agony of Steroid Withdrawal
26 Jul
Summary
- A 21-year-old experienced agonizing skin reactions after stopping steroid cream.
- Topical Steroid Withdrawal left him bedridden and in severe pain.
- He is crowdfunding for a new therapy to manage his condition.
A 21-year-old man from Gwynedd has detailed his harrowing experience with Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW), a severe reaction to stopping prescribed steroid creams for eczema. He described his lowest point as feeling 'electrocuted every second,' which left him bedridden and unable to enjoy university life.
TSW symptoms, which can include widespread inflammation, intense itching, and nerve pain, emerged after he ceased using topical steroids he had used since infancy. These reactions occurred even on areas where he had never applied the creams, highlighting the condition's unpredictable nature.
Research into TSW is ongoing, with experts noting patterns not fully explained by current understanding of eczema. Meilir Rowlands is now fundraising £3,000 for Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) therapy, a novel treatment not yet recognized by the NHS, in hopes of managing his condition and reclaiming simple life activities.
He emphasizes the importance of raising awareness for TSW, a condition he and his mother were not adequately warned about. Rowlands also credits his girlfriend's unwavering support throughout his challenging journey.
