Healing My TSW in Thailand

Hello hello hello everyone!

My name is Natalie Merchant.

For those of you who wonder why I fell off the face of the earth 3 months ago, I have been bed ridden since December 12, 2022.

I have a condition known as Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) which, to put it simply is what happens when your body becomes dependent upon topical steroids (like over the counter anti-itch creams such as hydrocortisone) for healing instead of healing itself as God created it to.

Now you may have known that, but what you probably don’t know is that this can happen after just one use. And unfortunately, I started using those creams when I was just a few months old and I have been suffering with this condition my ENTIRE life. I used those creams on and off until about August of 2017 and I have been suffering the WORST withdrawals on and off ever since. It thins your skin and causes a bone deep, insatiable itch. I have been clawing myself raw for 20 years. It has hindered me at work, in school, and in life. I cannot even touch water because it feels like lemon juice in a cut. I can’t sleep. My body can’t self regulate, so I am ALWAYS way too cold or way too hot and I am ultra sensitive to texture! It has gotten so bad I can’t even wear clothes or use a blanket.

Some flares are worse than others but the one I am currently going through (and have been going through since 12/12/22) is by far the worst I have endured.

We have tried EVERYTHING

If you know me super well you KNOW this is true.

When I had to leave work in December because of this, I went through what was probably the darkest time I have ever had to endure in my life. I continued to worsen and became so depressed. There were days it was so bad, I couldn’t get off the sofa. One time, I was on the sofa for so long, I peed myself. The depression, lack of motivation, hopelessness, and self neglect were REAL and HEAVY!

My wonderful family, friends, and boyfriend did everything they could to be there for me but unfortunately there was next to NOTHING they could do.

People brought flowers and coffee and despite going through literal HELL, I felt so loved.

It has now been over 3 months and I have STILL not recovered!

HOWEVER!!!

We found a treatment! Not only a treatment but a treatment SPECIFICALLY for TSW! This treatment is called Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) therapy. It is highly effective and has no side effects! But there is one catch… It is only available in 3 places in the WORLD: Singapore, the uk, and Thailand!

I have suffered with this condition for over 20 years… which is long enough to make me crazy enough to fly to Thailand for treatment. I am at the point of desperation where no measure is to far. I want my life back. I have been in bed for over 3 months.

I have been in contact with other TSW warriors overseas who have been treated by the doctor I would be using and they all saw improvements immediately. Absolutely every single one of them got their life back, which sounds like a dream come true to me. Honestly, it sounds TOO good to be true.

But it is!

Sooooooooo

My sweet boyfriend and I are going to fly to Thailand! And live there for a year (or until I am better) while I undergo treatment and spend time recovering.

The plan is to get married and then leave a few days after in early April.

We ask that you would please pray for us and for this trip!

To make this happen, we are trying to raise $30,000. This will cover treatment, plane tickets, and living expenses. If you are able, we ask that you would please prayerfully consider partnering with us financially. Absolutely EVERY cent counts and we- hekk… I CANNOT express how much it would mean to me and how much I would appreciate your support.

I plan to post about the entire experience from start to finish and keep y’all up to date on my healing journey.

I’m getting emotional writing this because I TRULY believed the only way healing would EVER be possible was heaven after death, and now its only a plane ride away!

Thanks for reading this far if you made it, goodness gracious!!!❤️

Thank you thank you THANK YOU for all the love and support so many of you have already shown me over these last 3 months. I am SO excited to look back on this in a few months, for the first time in my LIFE, as a TSW FREE woman ❤️

With great appreciation and love,

Natalie Merchant

P. S.

This would mean more to us than ANY wedding gift! Thanks again! ❤️