Surviving The Fire

Educating, sharing and living my life as a burn survivor

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Hiding

A whole new challenge presented itself once I was discharged. My skin grafts were thick and unsightly, I had gained over 10kgs, when I walked I shuffled slowly with my shoulders hunched forward. How was I expected to face the world?

The next 14months comprised of me staying indoors unless I absolutely had to leave the house, in which case I would be covered head to toe...(my burns do not go below my knees or elbows and from the neck up you can’t see anything) but I was the definition of self conscious and felt safer when hidden

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Keeping your skin hydrated and moisturized is an important part of recovery 🔑

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Skin Care

It is important to note that everyone's skin is different, so work find what works best for you and your skin grafts/ burn wounds. It is a process but once you find what works, you'll be glad you did

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Epizone E ointment is light, easy to apply and is better suited for hot, humid summer weather. A big disadvantage of using this product is that you will need to consistently reapply the ointment throughout the day, as it dries out very quickly and easily rubs off on your clothes.

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Eucerin Aquaphor is a great moisturizer to use in the autumn season or when the temperatures are slightly cold. It is a thick consistency and the best way to apply it, is to massage it into the skin until it is fully absorbed. This will avoid it rubbing onto your clothes. Unfortunately it does not last for long so you'll need to apply it a few times throughout the duration of the day.

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In the winter, when the air is dry and temperatures are low my skin gets dry very quickly and often. Dry skin grafts can be itchy and uncomfortable. To avoid this I use Eucerin cream. It is thick and can either be massaged into the skin or a thin layer can be applied and absorb as you go through the day. It keeps your skin hydrated for long periods of time.

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This is the body wash I use daily, it leaves my skin feeling moisturized and soft. On the downside, it doesn't fully scrub the skin and if you're not careful a build up of oils can occur.

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Skin Care

With burns, it is likely that your skin will become more sensitive than before. With the changes in seasons, temperatures and humidity it is advisable to change your skin moisturizers based on your skin needs. In the next few posts I'll list the various moisturizers I use, hopefully they'll help you.

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If you or your clothes catch fire and you can't remove them or douse the flames...STOP. DROP and ROLL. It will save your life

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Background

I've been contemplating starting this blog for a while now. What if no one reads it? What if it doesn't impact anyone's life? But it is important to share my experience and how I survived. It hasn't been an easy road and almost two years later, I still experience pain. Certain triggers give me anxiety, pull me into a dark place or result in me hiding my wounds. I AM A BURN SURVIVOR. 3rd degree burns to 30% of my body. 30 days in burn ICU. 10 days in rehab, learning how to do the most basic of tasks again. This fire accident doesn't make me a burn victim but a burn survivor, I went through all of that and I'm still living my life today. I still smile. I still dance. I'm still alive.