Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Where to go from here

The doctor from Cincinnati referred me to a doctor in California. He was very informative. After sending him pictures of my vitiligo he estimated the cost of surgery to be $14,000, not including hospital stay. Of course insurance will not pay a dime because it is considered cosmetic. I have since then written the Ellen show and Tyra show to see if they would talk about this topic and I have heard nothing. The reason I am now coming out about this more than ever is beacause I am just tired of living like this. I am getting older and I know that anything is possible,dreams can come true and I am not going to give up just yet. People that do not have vitiligo may not understand, but those of us that do knows what it feels like to have people stare and say things under their breath. If anyone reading this has vitiligo please send me your pics, maybe you can give me some advice.

45 comments:

  1. hi kelly,

    im althea from the philippines and i have vitiligo, too. lucky you, you only have it on your right leg. Me? I have it all over. Can you believe that? My face, neck, arms, torso, back, all overrrr!!! but i cover it up with a fake tan, it works a bit well for me. pls email me at altheatuano@yahoo.com and lets share some thoughts. thanks kelly.

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    1. pwede b ishare u skin ung ginagamit mo?im ronel frm caloocan.mr.ronelsantocildes@yahoo.com yan fb ko tnx!

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    2. Pydi ba malaman anu gamit mo emai me doris86.dp@gmail.com

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  2. Hi kelly,
    I'm David from the UK. I'm 25 and have vitiligo on my chest, elbows and knees.
    I have had some success with UVB therapy.
    I don't know if you have tried this but if you want to chat then feel free to email on dwozzi@hotmail.com

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  3. great job on that tattoo i be honest you are hot as hell who cares about a little white marks on your leg

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  4. I had a melonocyte transfer procedure for my vitiligo here in California. My picture is on the site Vitiligo net. I am the eyelid example.

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  5. Hi Kelly!
    My name is Ricardo Martinez, iam from Mexico city. My experience with this disease is for a long long time....started with me in my right foot...but i didn't put much attention....then appears in my left hand....and i started to feel a little bit uncomfortable....in those days i started to dance, a hobby that provided me a lot of happiness...and suddenly my left-hand mark started to dissapear!...well.i think this disease can be faced finding some inner pace...doing something you like the most....i am still having this..but the doctor says that for the time i has been with this marks i am doing great...i have practiced Aikido,Mountain Bike, Dancing, Guitar lessons...and a lot of things...if you want to contact me...here is my email: ricks.mtz@hotmai.com

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  6. Hello Kelly,
    I left you a message on youtube, I dont know if you saw it...
    Anyway, I almost cured my vitiligo, I have couple of small spots left. As I told you, I bought a herbal tea and a creme from a man practicing traditional medicine. For me it really worked as well for the woman that recommended this treatment to me.
    This "pack" is not available... anywhere actually, this man is not producing it in big ammounts nor he has a brand.
    For all of you guys, I suggest to try to find something in traditional medicine, cuz I think that we can all agree that classical medicine has no long term cure. I saw some products in UAE as well. Here in Serbia, only couple of ppl know how to make this stuff.
    Also I have heard of treatments in some clinic or smtg by Dead Sea, but I think its too long and too expensive.
    So, my vote goes for traditional medicine and wish you all best of luck...
    Sladjana

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  7. Hi Kelly! I've had vitiligo for 21 years and it's about 60 % covereage on my body now and still growing everyday. I like your tatoo idea, i've gotten one on my back for fun. I'm sorry you feel you need to cover up your vitiligo you're very beautiful and have nothing to be ashamed of. Your unique and nobody is like you in the world! I do understand though, i've just always embraced my vitiligo.

    Nice tattoo work, you picked a very complimentary one :) If you want to talk more, there are some awesome support sites for vit, one i'm a part of is vitiligofriends.org

    Good luck and stay happy!

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  8. Hi there,
    I know exactly how you feel... Mines started about 5-6 yrs ago... I started getting a few white eyelashes... and I thought it was due to stress... you know how they say.. people get white hairs when they get stressed.. anyway.. then i started getting white hairs on my eyebrow ( only right side ) and then the whole right side of my face around my eye turned white.. sometimes i feel okay with it.. i guess.. and then there are other times where i just really wish it would turn back normal.. and i'm not one of those girls that like to spend hours in front of the mirror putting on make up.. so i never bothered really to cover up.. unless it was for weddings and what not.. and yes I know how it feels where nothing seems to work.. creams, light treatments.. god i actually had light treatments for a whole YEAR.. 3x a week.. and the waiting to actually get treatment was HORRIBLE... i think that whole experience made me stress out even more so than the disease itself... sometimes i think i am okay with it because i tell myself that i have to be.. rather than to stress out so much about it.. when theres nothing i can really do? since i've tried almost everything.. Anyway so I was reading up on it again since the whole healthcare bill passed and haha it just reminded me of it i guess, anyway.. i actually read about a new treatment? atleast i think its new.. since i've never heard any doctors talk about it.. its called the " excimer laser" ? im not sure if you've heard about it.. but heres the site.. i know that this clinic is located in California. this is close by my location.. and i really would like to try it.. one day... haha like you.. i can't afford it right now.. I called in the other day to get a quote.. and they said it would be about $2000 for 6 weeks? http://www.laskinmd.com/psoriasisvitiligolosangeles.html ... i can't tell you this works because i havn't tried it, and obviously everyones different.. but if i should ever try this, i will repost and let you know how this goes.. and maybe you can find a dr. that does this treatment where you live and find out more about it as well. I know i'm a very optomistic person.. and gosh.. it sucks because I feel like i've been scammed a LOT of money from previous pills or creams, and random crap i've found on the internet.. so Hopefully this time around.. its' legit.. but hang in there.. youre not alone, and yes it does suck sometimes when people say " oh its not that bad..." or " i barley even notice it" its like OK if you don't have it, you don't really have a right to say its NOT THAT BAD.. haha but i guess they just tell us this because they care.. so keep your head up.. and hopefully i can try this treatment soon and let you know whats going on with it.

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  9. wow i wrote this long post.. but i don't know if it worked..

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  10. BTW, haha those tattoos are awesome.. and great idea for covering it up.. :)

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  11. its me again from the previous post... I forgot to add.. i'm not sure if your tattoos help protect your skin or not.. but don't forget sunblock when you are out in the sun just in case! :)

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  12. I just saw a new product called MICROSKIN on tv. A lady had lots of vitiligo spots on her face and it completely covered her up. Also check out Airbrush Makeup like DINAR. good luck :D

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  13. gud day to all, im deejay, 18 years old from philippines, i have a vitiligo on my face, i have try a lots of treatment for this disease but my vitiligo is not response, still here. i want to remove this and to live a normal, i hope some one can help me..
    thanks.

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  14. Hoowwdyyy, I'm Janie, 43 y/o from Texas, I read Kellys' blog after seeing her video on youtube and just had to reach out to all with vitiligo. I've had it since I was 10 and I know it's not easy but just hold your head up smile, greet everyone that stares and have pride in yourself. It makes it easier.....contact me if you want d1panthina@yahoo.com... or here. Hope to hear from some of Ya'll....

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  15. Hello, my name is Alana and I have some vitiligo on my back,
    I want to get a tattoo on my back, not really to cover it up (I dont mind the look of it) but to protect it from getting burnt and from me getting sking cancer, does anyone know if a tattoo would protect it? please let me know

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  16. kelly
    if you have segmental vitiligo,this responds best to melanocyte transplant surgery,i have been doing this for 12 years now, it is not expensive at all,
    you can check out my web site
    www.noblevitiligoclinic.com
    it is unfortunate that people affected by vitiligo in usa do not have a lot of treatment options at all
    dr vivek

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  17. hi i am also vitiligo affected person i treated these white patches but no better result i get i am very disappointed but i believe on Allah that one day he will recover me soon

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  18. Hi Kelly, I am 38 years old and have had vitligo for 20 years. I started out on my face and spread from there. believe it or not the spot on my face (which was about 1 inch around on my forehead) repigmented about a year after realizing I had vitiligo. Vitiligo is an auto-immune disease and as of now has no cure so please don't let anyone tell you that there is some special medicine or homeopathic remedy to cure this. There is however many options available for treatment. There are topical creams that may help, PUVA Photochemotherapy, Oral medicine and of course coverup options. The first 3 options actually help your patches repigment using ultraviolet light or natural sunlight in addition to a topical cream or oral medicine. The final option is simply makeup. One makeup that I have read some great reviews on is a product called Dermablend. It can be found at Macy's and online but apparently there are many different shades so I suggest just going to a place that actually stocks it so you can get the right shade. It is a difficult disease to deal with at times and anymore I laugh when people look at my patches onj my arms, legs, and yes back on my face again.

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  19. hi to all followers of this blog and also to kelly..i'm jr from philippines...i thought i have a vitiligo too..but i'm not 100% sure if it's really a vitiligo..i have it in my knee and feet..it was very white and the biggst one have a small round brown patch in the middle...but i'm sure it's not a fungi or a ringworm..i just want areply from all of you if it's a real vitiligo..and may you give me an info how to cure it..specially using tradional or natural treatment..pls help me..it greatly affect my social life..contact me at jr14_cabal@yahoo.com

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  20. Yes, surgery cost but it is effective. I had it done at International Vitiligo Center (most experienced in the field) and therir price is slightly lower than the one you refered to. See www.vitiligocenter.eu

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  21. hi guys, i been searching a group of people having a vitiligo any where in her body coz i thought that we can share a lot of experiences on how to adopt this kind of skin color disorder, actually i have it in my face it started with a small white spot the it scattered into my face it just like a map for now from my neck and to my lower of my mouth is been affected with whit color... for the other who post this blog thanks but can you gice us a little info about the herabl medicine that some of you take maybe they have here in the philipines. hope guys we can creat a blog that only a vitiligo and also non-vitiligo also can join.

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  22. hi guys,, maybe i can help u,,

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  23. hi i have white spots under y nose and both cheekbones.....and hands...i do not actually search for medicines that would cure my vitiligo....avoid direct sunlight, beaches and the moist of it. O boy, this disease is not contagious only that the nody affected will aurely suffer tje cosequences of having it....be yourself , honest and proud....there are lots of good traits within you that would trample of having this whites....we are beautiful in so many diffetent ways....don't let the spots defeat you....we are special...the beauty of an individual comes within....

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  24. hi i have been experiencing a lot of depression because of my vitilago.so its true that when you're stresse out you tend to have a lot of white hair. I have vitilago like a map from my neck up to my lower lips.. and Im really having a hard time to put up with it because I have to stay infront of the mirror for so long and cover it up with make up. Im not a fan of make up's but after having vitilago I was forced to used make up to cover my vitilago. It made a lot of impact about myself because it affects my job. I cant seem to face other people because I was too shy becuase of my vitilago..If theres any cure at all please let me know,,, :(

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  25. you can't hide this disease with tattoos or any other art better you should start treatment for this disease with herbal medicines in which ayurhealthline will help you and guide you with our expert guidelines.

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  26. The truth is that I tried everything to cure my vitiligo problem, creams, laser treatments, medicines. After spending six years with vitiligo in most areas of my body, I found this treatment: www.naturalvitiligotreatmentsystems.com , could not believe what was happening to me, the first 2 weeks I was noticing the change. After 2 months I was almost cured. today I am completely healed without surgery, or exercise, or lasers, just with this natural diet treatment.

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    Replies
    1. visit CLINUVEL site about SCENESSE for vitiligo...cheers!!!

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  27. My daughter has vitiligo
    I want to help her, we went to a doctor. Ge prescribed an ointment but it didn' t work. Please help me
    Thanks

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  28. Hi, my name is Ruth, I was no difference than you lot, I used topical corticostiroids for a long time, and more other steroids cream I had used believing that it will produced brown into the spots of my skin that had depigmented by vitiligo, I had 72 uvb sessions - the light treatment that I was placed inside a machine that shrouded with warm and blindly light, but this resulted me only into weeping because of distress! I was in great horror too because I looked myself in the mirror I thought I turned myself into a Zebra! the brown skin became lot darker and the depigmented area of vitiligo were highlighted and stands out more! During the stage of my suffering, I have to spend lot of time in Philippines because I have to undergo a project there, the weather there is not vitiligo sufferer friendly, my colour become like a burned toast, only the depigmented area had remain brilliantly white! Of course this had cause me hell of embarrassments especially on public eye points of view, could you imagine the ridicule I had been through, even my relatives thought someone had thrown acids into my hands, some believed that maybe I happened to dip it into boiled water - similar to what you do to boil an egg! Young, adult, specially children, thrown their eyes at me, puzzled why a human being like me has managed to look similar to a Zebra. A girl of 5 has been asking non stop what I have done to my hands, there was a couple from my church I can see how I become a laughing stock to them, they said they believe that what I'm lacking are vitamin B and C, if I will take it maybe the whiteness above my lip would be less visible, they didn't realised how annoyed I was instead I should receive comforting word here I was being ridiculed. So enough is enough! Last year, I decided to go back to my Dermatologist to ask for a total depigmentation, and to make the story short, he obliged to prescribe it to me, but to begin with only to apply it on facial,area, hands and arms. As soon I got my prescription, I used it right away and within just a month I notice the difference - my face become clearer and smoother then over a period of 3 months my face achieved a complete radiant and even toned result. I was in Philippines recently and while there every single adult and child who paid ridiculed comments to my look in the past, are now making complimentary comments to how I look, Tintin, who is now 8 said, 'why are you looking so pretty and young? A 6 years old called Mimi asked 'Mam Ruth, you do look now radiant and beautiful', and you know those couple I mentioned earlier, I can only sense the envy in their look especially the wife, at church she sat next to me and she could not remove her eyes away from staring at my face, maybe she tried to figure out what I did to achieved such radiant and flawless skin, that all what she'd knew in the past that it was damaged with vitiligo. There were more queries how I did it, and maybe that is same question from you as well, but I wont answer that in here, because I don't have a lot of space, but I decided that I will write a book about my vitiligo and how I get cured so that you too, if you happen to suffer with vitiligo, could get your skin cured especially if you aim to get your skin depigmented like I did. So I encourage you, my co vitiligo sufferer to keep eye for my book because it will be made soon ready for order.

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    1. Hi, I'm glad you already found a treatment that suits you right. I have patches on my forehead and it's really frustrating. I just got this for like 5 years already. I tried different doctors and different methods, but none of them seems to work. I hope you can release your book as soon as possible. Maybe your experience could help a LOT of people including me. I'm from Manila, and I tell you the weather here really isn't vitiligo sufferer friendly. Also, it would be really nice if you could leave any name or hint on the book title you're going to make for us to know when it's going to come up :) Thanks for your comment here.. now I'm thinking there's a huge hope for a cure for all of us here.

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  29. There are some of the Vitiligo Natural Treatment that you can experiment with to keep the malady from quickly influencing on your skin and hair. 

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  30. Natural Treatment for Vitiligo that will support you gets your clear and smooth skin for not also extended. It is vital to see a health professional to evaluate your specific situation, offer an exact diagnosis and for treatment.

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  31. Is this problem of Vitiligo or Leukoderma affecting you physically and mentally? Vitiligo Natural is an herbal oil containing natural herbs that helps to make you feel better about your skin. Our product is made up of naturally producing herbs and plants that are carefully selected and exported from different parts of world.vitiligo treatement

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  32. Now you need not to worry about your problem of vitiligo as you can get the best white patches on skin treatment in India to remove the white patterns from your skin.If you want the treatment then you can contact with us.

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  33. Dear Kelly,
    I am Maria from Philippines, I am 27 years old now and had my vitiligo since I was 7. You are right, everyone who has vitiligo feels insecure. And often, I questionned God, of all people, why me? Do I deserve this?
    I couldn't even wear skirts. And i feel embarrassed when people looked at me wearing pants while swimming in a pool.
    I ordered Oil and Tablets in California but i only had little progress.
    But I have to thankful atleast because my vitiligo doesn't spread so fast. And I observed, it stopped spreading now.
    Well, for me, I know this is very hard but I guess, I just have to accept this. They say, everything has a reason but I don't know what is God's reason of giving this disease to me.

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  34. Some patients just rely on  Natural Treatment of Vitiligo  to manage their skin condition. Let me share to you some of the popular natural home remedies for vitiligo with Aloe Vera gel.

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  35. I want to give a testimony on how I got cured from Herpes Virus. Few months
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    tests was done on me, later on I was told I had Herpes. My doctor told me
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    possible cure for Herpes Virus, I saw a post of Dr.sylvester a herbal doctor
    that's helping people get cured from HPV, HIV, HEPATITIS B, e.t.c.
    i contacted him and told him how I'm feeling he said his herbal medicine can
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    contact via (Drsylvesterherbalcure@gmail.com) call him via +2348158829724 or whatsapp him.

    ReplyDelete
  36. There are a number of therapies for Vitiligo Natural Treatment. But unfortunately not all of these therapies are reliable. Rather these therapies leave some side effects. These side effects might be major and these might be minor. There might be headaches and pains.

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  37. Am Laura Mildred by name, i was diagnosed with Herpes 4 years ago i lived in pain with the knowledge that i wasn't going to ever be well again i contacted so many herbal doctors on this issue and wasted a large sum of money but my condition never got better i was determined to get my life back so one day i saw Mr. Morrison Hansen post on how Dr. Emu saved him from Herpes with herbal medicine i contacted Dr. Emu on his Email: Emutemple@gmail.com we spoke on the issue i told him all that i went through and he told me not to worry that everything will be fine again so he prepared the medicine and send it to me and told me how to use it, after 14 days of usage I went to see the doctor for test,then the result was negative, am the happiest woman on earth now thanks to Dr. Emu God bless you. Email him at: Emutemple@gmail.com Call or Whats-app him: +2347012841542 

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  38. I'm Celina Gomez from the UK, I have been cured from genital herpes with herbalist Sakura herbal Remedy.
    I have been infected with genital herpes for 1 years now , I have done so many medical treatments from different hospitals still
    not cured. On a very good day , I decided to do research on my computer on how to get rid of genital herpes, I found a post of Sarah Wilson on how she was  cured from herpes with herbalist Dr. Sakura  herbal remedy.
    The Herbalist email/contact number  was there as well dr.sakuraspellalter@gmail.com/ +2348110114739. I contacted him because of my illness .He needed few of my information which I did, and also sent me his medicine through FedEx courier service.
    which I received  after 3 working  days of shipment, I drank the  herbal medicine the same way Herbalist Dr Sakura instructed me too. But now my genital herpes is gone totally without any side effect or harm, may God Almighty continue to bless him abundantly .
    you can contact him on mail/what's app dr.sakuraspellalter@gmail.com +2348110114739 or follow him on Instagram @Herbalist_sakura .you can also mail me for more information celinagomez784@gmail.com

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  39. I have had two spots of vitiligo on my face since I was about 5 years old. I am now currently in my late 20’s. There were times in my life where I was very self conscious about my appearance growing up. At that time there was nothing i could find for it.

    So after doing a recent search and being overwhelmed with so many products that claim to help with this skin condition, Doctor Irene post caught my eye. For the fact that it was made from all organic ingredients and there were so many reviews, I decided to give it a go.

    It has only been about 2 weeks, and I am already seeing results! New patches of colored pigmentation where there was only white before. I am shocked and in disbelief that having suffered with this my whole life the results are already starting to show.

    Thank you Doctor Irene for a solid product! I hope this review helps other users who are debating on getting the product – JUST get it, you will not be disappointed! Contact him on this platforms. http://drireneherbalhomeblog.wordpress.com or WhatsApp :+2348078793935

    ReplyDelete
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