Hi all,

I have joined this board in hopes of finding some info on the treatments for psoriasis.

I first experienced psoriasis when I was a teen. At the time, I didn't realize what it was. I just itched a lot on my arms and legs and didn't know why. After a change in detergents, it went away. I've had various short episodes since then. Most of the time my flare-ups are triggered by an allergic reaction to detergents or fabric softeners. That alone has limited me to using only All Free & Clear to wash my clothes.  I have a reaction to ALL box soaps and anything scented. Recently, All released their new Free & Clear softener and I was hoping I could use that since I pretty much live off the detergent. That was a big fat NOPE. It resulted in a flare-up that I'm currently dealing with.

How do I know it was psoriasis you ask? Besides a Dr's diagnosis, my mother is a lifetime psoriasis sufferer as well. We have worked through this fight together to find out what works and what doesn't. I also have an aunt and an uncle on my dad's side who has psoriasis but I don't interact with them very much. 

I have had inverse psoriasis most of my life. I live in Texas and the heat (sweating) makes it worse. Sweating, in general, makes it worse. It makes me miserable, unhappy, and in a lot of pain. So I tend to avoid exercise because sweat = pain. When I say I have had a flare up I'm referring to plaque and guttate psoriasis. The inverse is ever-present in my life and quickly rears it's head if I sweat too much. 

With this new and most recent flare-up, I was finally able to get a real dermatology referral. Past dermatology experiences have had me doing creams only. A few times, I had done light therapy. With my current schedule of kids, being a full-time student, and a full-time job, light therapy isn't an option. So, I am now on methotrexate as the "first step" towards biologics. I feel like I am struggling with this medication and so here I am hoping to find support.

Hello SnarkyTexan   to Psoriasis Club.

One thing we have loads of apart from all the information is bucket loads of support. You will find a very friendly bunch of people from around the world and if you want to get to know some of our members, I can recommend the [Group Specific] where you will find all sorts of conversation going on.

It's great that you have finally got a dermatologist that is starting to treat you better. Yes they usually start on one of the Oral Treatments For Psoriasis before moving on to Biological Treatments For Psoriasis

Just dive on in and if you get stuck finding your way around just shout out and someone will find you.

Regards.

Fred.

Thank you Fred. Y'all are awesome. 

(Mon-20-05-2019, 16:12 PM)SnarkyTexan Wrote: Thank you Fred. Y'all are awesome. 

We like a happy ship.

Hi SnarkyTexan,

Welcome to Psoriasisclub from the Netherlands, which you probably don’t know where it is located..

There is a lot around here on the forum.
You are on the standard “start” medication of systemics. Over here we have two sides, the ones who can cope with it and the ones who hate it. I am in the last category as I have used it.

Anyway, lots of things to talk about.

Enjoy yourself over here with us.
Cheers,
Caroline

Hi snarky and welcome - methotrexate can be a bit hard to get along with and you can feel tired and washed out but if it works you may be able to reduce the dose to maintain, and at lower doses can be not too bad (well, preferable to the psoriasis.)
Anyway nice to meet you, hope you like it here!

(Mon-20-05-2019, 16:55 PM)Caroline Wrote: You are on the standard “start” medication of systemics.  Over here we have two sides, the ones who can cope with it and the ones who hate it. I am in the last category as I have used it.

I was on the "cope with it" team when I started 5 weeks ago. I was excited to finally get somewhere beyond creams! But I am quickly moving over to the "hate it" team. I made a post of my symptoms already in the treatments section. However, my Dr seems to be loathed to take me off the MTX before our follow up in July. She did say she would if it affects my job further. But I don't know how it could get worse than it is now.    She said it takes a while for improvement but IDK if I can last that long.

(Mon-20-05-2019, 17:04 PM)Turnedlight Wrote: Hi snarky and welcome - methotrexate can be a bit hard to get along with and you can feel tired and washed out but if it works you may be able to reduce the dose to maintain, and at lower doses can be not too bad (well, preferable to the psoriasis.)
Anyway nice to meet you, hope you like it here!

Thank you! Love the kitty in your avatar. It looks like my kitty!

(Mon-20-05-2019, 17:07 PM)SnarkyTexan Wrote:

(Mon-20-05-2019, 17:04 PM)Turnedlight Wrote: Hi snarky and welcome - methotrexate can be a bit hard to get along with and you can feel tired and washed out but if it works you may be able to reduce the dose to maintain, and at lower doses can be not too bad (well, preferable to the psoriasis.)
Anyway nice to meet you, hope you like it here!

Thank you! Love the kitty in your avatar. It looks like my kitty!

Thanks! he’s called Humbug (like the mint sweet) and is a bit nuts.

(Mon-20-05-2019, 17:06 PM)SnarkyTexan Wrote:

(Mon-20-05-2019, 16:55 PM)Caroline Wrote: You are on the standard “start” medication of systemics.  Over here we have two sides, the ones who can cope with it and the ones who hate it. I am in the last category as I have used it.

I was on the "cope with it" team when I started 5 weeks ago. I was excited to finally get somewhere beyond creams! But I am quickly moving over to the "hate it" team. I made a post of my symptoms already in the treatments section. However, my Dr seems to be loathed to take me off the MTX before our follow up in July. She did say she would if it affects my job further. But I don't know how it could get worse than it is now.    She said it takes a while for improvement but IDK if I can last that long.

Long time ago I already wrote my experiences in post MTX.
I have gone a totally different way that worked for me.