Newly diagnosed, told to take MTX, help!

[ShaneM]

Hi everyone. Thank you so much for your responses. Just having people to talk to about it, really does make a huge huge difference. 

I am definitely veering away from Methotrexate at this rate. The bad seems to far outweigh the good. 

I don't go mad on drinking, but both having a final lads holiday, and a lot of social events with alcohol involved, it would prove difficult to avoid.

At the moment, I have come to terms with having psoriasis and on reflection to most, it is no where near as bad, even though several months after the first patch appearing, I have noticed from photos a few more have popped up. At the moneny, coal tar and a very brief sunbed once a week are keeping it tame since I started this routing 10 days back. If this continue, I will get to the other side of my holidays and review.

Did anyone have any luck with coal tar at all? 

Also, when on holiday in the sun, did this affect anyone's psoriasis in any way? 

I have seen one or two, including Jim are big fans of Fumaderm. Is this not as toxic as Methotrexate. I am just about to have a good read of it. I am also currently going through all the posts on Pingus journey on MTX. A lot of responses for this!

Thanks again for any advice.

[Fred]

I think it's a good idea to get through your holiday and then review it, sometimes having a good time can work just as well as any treatment. And yes sunshine is very good for psoriasis see here: Free Psoriasis Treatment

By all means read up on Fumaderm, but remember it's not available in all parts of the UK.

[Caroline]

Hi Shane,

I am glad you like it over here with us.

I think you could do without alcohol if it was really necessary and you really wanted to, but I admit, a glass of wine now and then tastes very nice

Yes, holidays in the sun do, at least for me, help. My PsA is then much less.

And No, DMF (the working substance of Fumaderm) is not toxic. Several people over here are already very long on it without problems, even close to ten years.
I have written how DMF works in the thread Dimethylfumarates and Psoriasis, and there is many more to find.

Cheers,
Caroline

[ShaneM]

I think it's a good idea to get through your holiday and then review it, sometimes having a good time can work just as well as any treatment. And yes sunshine is very good for psoriasis see here: Free Psoriasis Treatment

By all means read up on Fumaderm, but remember it's not available in all parts of the UK.

Very clever Fred! I shall get my chicken legs out and let the sun do the healing! Luckily, I have a holiday of pure sun about 4 weeks before I go away with the lads, in which I am less worried about my appearance. I am hoping this will really settle it down so I will be much more confident! 

I will enquire about the Fumaderm at my appointment on May 4th, get the ball rolling and then most probably save the treatment until after my second holiday, mainly due to actually getting an appointment is near on impossible!

[jiml]

Hi everyone. Thank you so much for your responses. Just having people to talk to about it, really does make a huge huge difference. 

I am definitely veering away from Methotrexate at this rate. The bad seems to far outweigh the good. 

I don't go mad on drinking, but both having a final lads holiday, and a lot of social events with alcohol involved, it would prove difficult to avoid.

At the moment, I have come to terms with having psoriasis and on reflection to most, it is no where near as bad, even though several months after the first patch appearing, I have noticed from photos a few more have popped up. At the moneny, coal tar and a very brief sunbed once a week are keeping it tame since I started this routing 10 days back. If this continue, I will get to the other side of my holidays and review.

Did anyone have any luck with coal tar at all? 

Also, when on holiday in the sun, did this affect anyone's psoriasis in any way? 

I have seen one or two, including Jim are big fans of Fumaderm. Is this not as toxic as Methotrexate. I am just about to have a good read of it. I am also currently going through all the posts on Pingus journey on MTX. A lot of responses for this!

Thanks again for any advice.

You may not get a choice from your dermatologist unless you have a kidney or liver problems they will probably ask you to try methotrexate first before moving on

I have never had luck with coal tar treatment, but to be honest it was a lot of years ago that I tried it and found it too messy and smelly and decided not to use it after a couple of days

Sunshine always used to be the thing I prayed for.....it was the one thing that always worked well on my psoriasis... But I had to find somewhere quiet to sunbathe until the plaques subsided

So yes enjoy your holiday and come back and make a decision on which treatment you would like , learn about it here so you can have a knowledgeable conversation with your dermatologist and tell him what you would like to use and a reason why..

Caroline has pointed you to her DMF thread, which explains how Fumaderm works.... It's not an immunosuppressive but does modify  your immune system ....the side effects you get from it are your body coming to terms with it..and can be harsh...
Whatever you do go on you will have to have your bloods monitored for changes ....which then can be controlled by adjusting doses

Pingu and D Foster both are happy on methotrexate ...we are all different and for some methotrexate works well

[Kit]

Shane

Welcome!  I see you have been receiving a great deal of useful info from the members.  I've had Plaque P. (on and off) for several decades - although in my twenties it was diagnosed as something else.  20 or 30 years ago it was properly diagnosed and I've been subject to steroidal creams, PhotoTherapy (UV A & UVB), Fumaderm and even substantial periods of no treatment whatsoever.  At no time however was I ever offered MTX so I'm unable to comment on that.....EXCEPT I once had to undergo Chemotherapy for cancer and I understand that one of the cocktail of drugs administered to me for 6 months was indeed methotrexate.  Not only did I survive the cancer (that was 12 years ago now) but whilst I was on the chemo not only did I have no need to shave and all my hair fell out and my nails stopped growing etc etc etc - but all my P. patches totally disappeared as well.

It's a drastic way to slow down P. but something did it.  I suspect it was the MTX element in my C. treatment.

But that's digressing (I'm good at that) Welcome to the club young man I hope you find the answers you need right here to help you sort out your best treatment path.  I'm a big believer in sun worship myself. It's kept my P. at bay for many a year.  Difficult to maintain in the UK as we dont get enough sunlight or warmth to allow us to reveal too much skin! Also sunbeds don't really radiate the same frequencies of light that the sun emits. Natural sunlight is much more effective in my case (but relatively expensive to find in the right dose!)  - but your Dermatologist may have access to PhotoTherapy treatment(UVA or UVB) - which is a bit like a commercial sunbed but is specifically designed to emit light frequencies which are known to inhibit but not totally prevent P. As Jim said: There is no 100% cure - currently.

Do let us know how you get on - especially after your impending escape to the sun.

Nice to meet you.

Kit

[pingu]

It is your choice Shane, your dermatologist tries a range of treatments and as far as I understand starts with the lower cost options for obvious reasons.As far as I know MTX is quite effective in about 80% of cases according to my derm depending on side effect which are variable.

However it absolutely has to fit your lifestyle as well, again thats my opinion.

As regards sunlight it was very effective early days in my case less so over the last few years. But it may be a combination of relaxation, minerals in the sea as iI swim a lot on holiday etc.

One thing I am aware of and reading most peoples stories is that finding an effective treatment, whether that is a cream, pills, UVB or injections, finding that treatment is a journey. Some better than others.

Good luck on that journey.

[Brighteyes]

Hi Shane

I'm on MTX at the moment and I do find it has it's problems. I get a weird taste in my mouth and, before the dose was dropped, I felt sick a lot. And I find I need an afternoon nap as I get fuzzy on it (or could that just be my age). I personally don't like it but I have quite a severe form of psoriasis (4 types in fact) so my options are a bit narrower.

Saying that, it's really horses for courses.

On question though is how come your dermatologist is putting you straight onto the 'big guns' or have you had other treatments before? Excuse me if I missed that bit as I haven't had a coffee yet so not fully awake.

[ShaneM]

Hi all! 

Just an update of how I'm doing. Not met with the doctor yet. I am heading very much against MTX. Still using the sunbed/coal tar combination. It's really settled it down especially on my legs. I am very much used to the idea now that I have it and a lot mor relaxed. For the first few weeks every time I saw it, it made me instantly stress for a few minutes, which was a fair few times throughout the day. 

The sunbed I am using is called a Sun Angel by a company called Ergoline. It is designed specifically with UVA A and B rays. Ive bought a months course and using it every few days in the hope that'll get me through both holidays, with very little sun in England to help me out. 

Brighteyes, I don't blame you going straight for the MTX. When I look around at what other people have I am actually counting myself lucky.  I went private straight off to save the ridiculously long wait and he went straight for the MTX! 
I will keep you posted and ask any questions I may have. 

Thanks
Shane. 

[Kat]

Welcome Shane! Sorry I'm late, I've been out of town and not online.

I have no experience with MTX, but thankfully there are so many treatments available now that you can research different ones and work with your dermatologist to find what's right for you (of course doctors have protocol to follow so it isn't always easy). Glad to hear the sunbed is helping!