Its been well over a year since I stopped my treatment, due to problems with my eyes. Still have problems but very mild.

Last night, I had my fist injection of ilumetri. See how that goes. Scared it will affect my eyes, if I tell the truth

ANYWAY. 
A few weeks ago I was given oral steroids (prednisone) for inflammation in my nose. Had them a few years ago. Not a problem.
Only a short 5 day treatment but boy did it clear my skin .
After 5 days its pretty amazing. I didnt even know Prednisone was used to clear Psoriasis. Apparently its only short term and works way better in men.
I cant find anything about it on here.

Hi everyone, it's been a while since I last posted.

So I've been trying to dodge covid while slowly getting covered in psoriasis. My derm convinced me to hold off going on to any meds while covid was in full swing and over the last year or so im now at a point where I have no choice. 

I was previously on Fumaderm which was a miracle drug for me where I got full clearance on just 1 full strength tablet. I then got moved to skillerence but I  had very bad stomach pains and ended up stopping them.

So a year later im in need of more meds and for my sins I asked to try skillerence again. I got on so well with Fumaderm I want to give it another go. 

So I'm now on 3 initial tablets a day and although I've had stomach pains im determined to see it through. 

Second time lucky? Fingers crossed.

Along with my regular psoriasis I now have sebopsoriasis around my nostrils and down the sides of my nose. It is so sore (obviously not helped by having to wear face masks - but not for much longer!), dry, itchy, unslightly. Dermatologist prescribed protopic but that’s not helped. Does anyone else suffer from this and has any tips on how to manage it? I’m really self conscious of it.

Hi all. I have a question for those who are familiar and have personal experience with TALTZ. I got on TALTZ because I have inverse psoriasis in the under carriage area. My face (though it’s flared in the past) had been clear for about 6 months before getting on TALTZ. I have had 2 injections. My face is now flaring pretty bad. Is that a temporary side affect? Should I press on? Or quit immediately?

As I reported in my introduction topic, I would talk to my rheumatologist about starting Mtx. His assistant nurse had called me a few weeks back, about de Mri results, and she had said that they would start with Mtx and if that didn't help they would switch to Humira.

But why start with Mtx if you're not sure what it does for PsA? I also told in my introduction topic, that I had found a video on Youtube in which my rheumatologist himself indicates that it is unknown whether Mtx actually works for PsA. 
Given the many negative reports, but also positive reports about Mtx, I myself had a hesitant attitude towards it. Why start with Mtx if you, as a rheumatologist, don't support it yourself? And why not immediately start on the Humira?

So last Tuesday I went for a consultation with my rheumatologist and told him what my reluctance was towards starting Mtx. 
Of course he indicated that it is an insurance policy thing and also the guidelines within the Netherlands, so Mtx is the first choice of treatment, blabla bla bla...

To which I indicated: Yes that's a good story, but not enough for me, because I read that several studies indicate that Mtx does not do much for PsA, that they do not know what it does anyway. And besides, there is a video of you on Youtube in which you indicate that you also do not know whether it really works. So how do you substantiate the choice to start with Mtx?

He looked at me in surprise 
I said: I told you that I have Autism and that I am not a patient like others, I research everything in advance, down to the semicolon, so substantiate your story  

He started laughing really hard and he said “shit, I'm getting caught on my own words here, very good!.
 
He didn't mind at all that I confronted him about the research end video and was impressed that I had sorted out so much information.
He said, “As a rheumatologist I can bound the rules, my assitent nurse is not allowed to do that. I understand that she stated to start with Mtx. But I can deviate from the rules. Obviously is by Mri and also diagnosed, you have axial PsA, and if you don't want to use Mtx, I immediately will let you start with Humira, which I also think is the best option for you.
So I said: that's what I want, no Mtx, but the Humira.

And today I will start with the Humira. I have to pick up the injections at the pharmacy of the hospital later this day. Than go to the rheumatism nurse for a injection instruction and my first injection of Humira will be immediately made.

I'm glad I got into the discussion with my rheumatologist and he went along with it. I'm realy glad I chose him as my rheumatologist. When I told him that the pain is sometimes unbearable, my quality of life is really F.ckedup , that I sometimes couldn't stand it anymore, he also indicated that he understood that very well. (sometime it's very nice to be heard).

If the Humira does not help me, the pain in my neck remains unbearable, he has promised to send me to the pain clinic. So at least he won't let me down and won't send me away like all the other rheumatologists in the past nine years who send me away to the psychologist 

I am curious, I hope the Humira will work for me, that I will hardly get any side effects and that I will finally be freed from stiffness and pain after more than 9 years, I hope so! The most important thing for me is that my quality of life gets better than it is now, that's what I'm going for! 

Y’all, I’m scared!!   

I’m about to do my first auto injection of Taltz and I here it hurts like a mother. I had a regular injection of the stuff at my derm’s office 2 weeks ago and THAT even hurt more than a regular shot. Autoinjecter is supposed to be much worse.

So my questions: 

Which site on the body is best??
Any tips for making it less painful?? 

Thanks all!

Hey, everyone. I’ve never been in a forum before, so I hope I’m doing this right (not over sharing or whatever )  .

My skin issues started in 2019, with scaly crinkly skin under my eyes and around my mouth… and also on the lady bits (hence the concern with over sharing). I had no idea wtf was happening because while I’d dealt with occasional eczema patches between my fingers, at 42 years old I’d never had anything like psoriasis. Also, it’s not in my family. 

I had just stopped using a very strong cortisone cream. I think using it for so long (which apparently I wasn’t supposed to do) and then quitting it is what triggered an autoimmune disorder that most resembles inverse psoriasis down below and plaque psoriasis on my face. Which is why I’m here. 

My latest doc got me on TALTZ. I’ll go to the treatment page to ask questions about that. 

But as far as intros go: I’m 42, married (though I cannot fathom why he hasn’t hit the door yet since my issues have kept us from…. Over sharing again, sorry). I have 3 kids. 

Anyway, I hope to not feel so alone by talking to other people who deal with this, as well as get answers about how to cope. 

This months poll asks: How embarrassing do you find psoriasis

*Thank you to Jim for the suggestion

Members and guests can vote in the poll above, and our members are welcome to post in this thread too if they wish.

*Members usernames will not be shown in the poll.

This might be a silly question, but I'm going to ask it anyway  
Hopefuly users of Methotrexate can tell me more.

If you use Methotrexate, it has an effect on your immune system, the chance of contracting viruses and bacteria and resulting infections is greater.
But what about saying hello to people? Do you have to take this into account? I mean shaking hands and kissing? 

Unfortunately, here in the Netherlands we give eachother three kisses when we see eachother and also when we leave... 
For me thats on a weekend with friends, and there are always around 30 men, it will be 90 kisses when i see them and then usually also 90 when I leave. .. I also try to sneak out ... but thats not always possible  

But have you received any advice about this when using Methotrexate? I can't find anything about this form of contact.

I've been reading on this Forum for a while now, it was Caroline who told me about this Forum, so thanks Caroline!  And now I'll introduce myself. My name is Yvon and I come from the Netherlands.

I have psoriasis since I was a child and I got physical complaints when I was 38, I am now 48 years old.
Complaints like back pain, terrible fatigue, painful knees, all my joints hurt, at least the attachments/tendons.

Hospital in and out. I got diagnoses like fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and the worst "it must be psychological go see the psychiatrist".
Last year the pain became so bad, that I once again went to visit the general pratitioner, who wanted to send me away again, she said that it would be muscle overload. At my insistence, I was referred to the rheumatologist (the fourth), this time a rheumatologist who specializes in psoriatic arthritis.

During the first conversation he immediately confirmed my own suspicion, I also have psoriatic arthritis. He found it unimaginable that I was sent away so much in those 10 years because the signals for PsA were obvious.

Because here in the Netherlands it has to be demonstrated on the basis of redness and swelling and possibly confirmation via an ultrasound and this was all absent with me, I could only get the nsaids/painkillers.
This didn't work and I kept calling the rheumatologist, also because I got an unbearable nerve compression in my neck. Then they did an MRI of my neck and pelvis. It showed that the vertebrae were inflamed, deformities on my vertebrae and there were many spots on my pelvis and sacrum that indicated that there had been inflammation in the past.

In a week I will start with Methodextrate by injection, which I am not looking forward to. But Mtx is also the first choice in the Netherlands for treating PsA, only if that does not work well or you get too many side effects, you can switch to biologicals such as Humira. That's an insurance story here. While research here in the Netherlands indicates that MTX does not work sufficiently for PsA.

Anyway, I hope it will work, because the pain is driving me crazy. And in the meantime, I enjoy reading this Forum, to read your experiences. It's nice for me to see so much recognition, then you're not alone.

What are your thoughts on the covid vaccine having an affect on the efficacy of your psoriasis treatment. ?

I'm on Tremfya and have noticed the psoriatic arthritis isn't doing so well with my last two shots, and as usual I always try to understand why. But apart from thinking the Tremfya isn't working as well as it did, I'm stumped for an answer.

But I started looking at when I took my Tremfya in comparison with the dates of the Pfizer covid vaccine to see if there could be a link.

Tremfya:

24 April
19 June

Pfizer

05 May
14 June

When I look back at my journal it's 15 May that I said the psoriatic arthritis score had shot up from 7 to 12, since then my score has slowly gone up and it's now on 16.

Here is what I'm wondering.

Tremfya is slowing things down and doing it's job, but then along comes Pfizer which wants to create antibodies. So there is a boxing match going on in my system and both drugs are knocking hell out of each other.

The psoriatic arthritis is getting worse because Tremfya is now having to punch away at Pfizer whilst at the same time fight off psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

If this is the case its going to go on for a while as I have my third Pfizer jab on 15 July less than 4 weeks after my Tremfya. 

Thoughts ?

I was wondering what the worst area has been for people for psoriasis.  Not necessarily the longest, but either the area that has been most resistant to clearing or just the area that you feel has bothered you the most.

Mine, definitely ears, scalp area.

This months poll asks: Have you ever achieved psoriasis remission

*Thank you to Turnedlight for the suggestion

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I thought I would share this as I have been told I need three covid jabs.

France have recently reviewed their covid jab strategy and have put patients receiving an Immunosuppressant on three jabs of covid vaccine.

Today Mrs Fred went for her first jab this morning and met our old retired GP, he told her that I should ask about the third jab. As it happened I also had an appointment with my new GP this afternoon and she confirmed that it is being rolled out that anyone taking an Immunosuppressant is to have three shots.

#1 First shot

#2 Second shot 6 - 8 weeks later

#3 Third shot 4 weeks after the second.

When you book here you book your first and second jab dates together, that is about to change and there will soon be an option for those using an Immunosuppressant to book 3 dates. I have had my first jab so I have to phone my GP two days after my second jab and if I have had no problems she will talk to my dermatologist and write a prescription for my third jab 4 weeks later.

Any other countries doing three jabs for patients on an Immunosuppressant ?

Some of my fingernails are lifting off the nail bed. I am active and do yard work, repairs of all sorts etc. I wear nitril rubber gloves as much as possible but even then they split, and even when they don't somehow I seem to get dirt lodged down in the middle of my fingernail. I am looking for ways to remove the dirt that a nail file won't reach. I have read that it's not good to scrape the areas that the nail is supposed to be attached.

Any suggestions how to clean them once they get some dirt under them?

Any suggestions to help keep them clean when I am active?

Thanks

Over the years we have built up a lot of threads and the news articles were pushing our members threads down the pecking order, so I have moved all the news articles to a new board and you can find out more about it here: About this board

As you will see the "Health Boards" now has 5 boards inside, all are in the public domain.

Introductions

Psoriasis And Psoriatic Arthritis Topics

Prescribed Treatments For Psoriasis

Natural Treatments For Psoriasis

Psoriasis In The News

This should make it easier for our members and guests find the information they are interested in.

I have a derm who is very helpful. I have Ps and maybe PsA. I would like to try a drug that will be good for both ailments. She has given me the option of requesting what drug I would like to try.

If you had your choice what would you choose?

In the early stages of my affliction, I paid it no mind. My skin was discolored, but it wasn't painful. I let it be. A year later (2017), I noticed that my knees were reddish. Again, I paid it no mind because it wasn't painful. 6 months later, It started on my elbows. Now I was concerned. I went to a doctor, and he gave me a corticosteroid cream. I used it and I was good to go. There was still redness, but the plaque disappeared. 

As time went on, I was seeing more and more inflammation. It popped up, here and there, so I used the cortisone cream and again had some results. By 2018, the cream wasn't working any longer...at all. I went back to my doctor. He gave me dovobet ointment. Wow! I was impressed. It worked so well. Inflammation was at a near zero on my body. I used the ointment. I had to scrounge to get the money to pay for this med, in spite of it costing me $250 a tube. My doctor kept on refilling the prescription for Dovobet ointment. I kept on using it. He even sent me to a dermatologist where I started to get phototherapy. That was the only thing he did in addition to the Dovobet. in the spring of 2020, the dermatologist told me to take the summer off from the phototherapy and told me to come back in the fall. When I tried to return and make an appointment, the receptionist told me that I had not been to see him in 3 months, so I had to be referred to him again by my family doctor. To date, this dermatologist has yet to return my calls, in spite of 2 referrals from my GP. 

In recent months, I have not been able to afford the ointment, due to being unemployed (government shut down my job due to Covid). My psoriasis exploded! Hands, arms, back, legs, chest, behind the ears, in my ears, on my forehead/eyebrows, eyelids, nose and cheeks were affected. Now I am constantly scratching causing lesions on my body. Blood on the inside of my shirts and pants is a common occurrence because I can't seem to stop itching. Everywhere I go, I leave a trail of skin flakes. When I get up from the couch, get up out of the bed, get out of the car, I see tons of flakes and I wasn't even scratching! I feel so ashamed. 

Passersby stare, kids point and ask about it. I have had the experience of having being singled out at work because of the mess I leave behind, unintentionally. I am embarrassed and shattered by this disease. I feel depressed. I secretly wonder how my wife can even stand to be around me, because I can barely stand to be around me. As a result, depression is a large part of my life.

Fast forward to today, and I am working to remedy my psoriasis. There is actually a new dermatologist in the practice that my general practitioner (GP) is in. I have an appointment on the 13th and am looking forward to it, anxious for it. I am learning lots here and now have some info about what I might need or want for treatments. I am actually feeling hopeful for the first time in a long, long time. 

My commitment to you folks, is to document my journey in hopes that it may help someone else in the future. If I can do that for someone, then all my suffering will have been worth it.

Cheers!

This months poll asks: Have you ever been asked if psoriasis is contagious

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