First eczematic rash appeared when I was 4 months old., but it was not at once accompanied by the merciless itch that has persisted for nearly 62 years. According to my mother, the rosy red rash that covered both cheeks- which on a baby's face gave an impression of exceptional beauty--began to fade and lessen over the next months--reassuring my parents, as had the doctors,of its temporary and benign nature.Then one night shortly following my first birthday my mother was awakened by a crying that was marked with pain and exhaustion. Thereafter, I was given phenobarb as prescribed by the doctor because it could not be controlled and I could not sleep. At some point later-perhaps by years, I was prescribed pyrobenzomine and for many, many years took it on a regular basis. It never helped the itching--b/c as discovered later--eczema is not an allergy. I suppose I continued with it b/c of its sedative effects.Now I wonder about its long term effects--and also the effects of years of allergy shots--because I went on to develop hay fever, asthma, clinical depression (age 6 to age 18) and at age 55 connective tissue disorders (autoimmune)--Sjogren's, lupus, and still evolving. Any cause and effect studies done or theories put forth on effects of this med and alergy shots as given to a young child in the early 1950's through the mid-sixties..
