Health Boards
Fri-30-03-2012, 21:36 PM
Interesting reading from other psoriasis sufferers.
I have had this rotton condition since 2006, starting out with spots on my lower legs and blind boils under my arms (not actually in the armpit thou) armpits were like itchy red welts. My back used to drive me nuts itching. This really got me down as I was wearing a silky halter top to get married in and was paranoid about my spots, boils and crunchy back being on show.
I saw the dermatologist who prescribed dovobet ointment, wrapping the legs in clingfilm at night. Well to say my legs felt like they had permanent sunburn all the time the ointment was on is an understatement! So cream was prescribed, again, once in contact with my legs, which by this time were basically covered (75% of both lower legs) with thick scaley psorasis, the same burning sensation and continually itching. It also affects in my hair, when it flares up, itches and then looks like cottage cheese in the hair, capasal shampoo seems to take it down, but that makes you smell like a coal tar tub!
After 6 months ish of creams and ointment, I went onto uvb treatment, what a lovely all over tan i got from 3 treatments a week for 11 weeks! Took the psorasis back to nearly normal. But within a week of stopping the uvb, the crunchy legs, back, bum, elbows, tummy and bikini line were covered again. Wanting to scratch yourself continuiously all day, never quite making the itch stop made me feel like i was lousy! Next was Methotrexate, what a waste of time that was, saw absolutely no change whatsoever whilst on it. By this stage, my fingernails and toenails are now affected. Now i keep my fingernails short due to scratching in my sleep, but the toenails are so hard with it, makes it extremely difficult to cut them, so i get left with sharp bits. yes you've guessed it, i scratch my legs in my sleep with my toe nails!! Next I had uva treatment, twice a week for 12 weeks, lovely tan and nearly clear skin til it stops then boom, within a week, scaley scabby itchy skin all over again! Next was Cyclosporin, high doses, took it down a bit, but it seemed like my body just got immuned to it or rejected it, whichever it was, did nothing for the psorasis! I went on holiday for a week to Lanzarote, hoping the sunshine in winter would take it down a bit - no such luck, i walked into the sea, dunked my shoulders and more or less came out crying due to the stinging of the salt water on my skin. The last straw came when I saw the dermatologist last july (2011) and practically broke down in the office, depression was starting to set in. I'm a woman and have lived in trousers since 2006 to cover my vile legs. I cant take my daughter swimming to the local baths, as soon as the water hits them, they go blood red and itch like hell, making me more paranoid that everyone is looking at them! Which now brings me up to the subject of this topic, Stelara. I had my first implants in October 2011, but I have found that they only last between 6 - 7 weeks then the spots/scabs/flare ups start to reappear. Dont get me wrong, its not a patch on what it was this time last year, but just not clearing the permanent redness behind the psorasis or lots of the spots. The itching becomes more intense again at this stage, so this either wakes me up in the night where i have scratched myself sore, or i cant sleep due to itching. I have antihistemines to take at night, but they make me feel like death warmed up the following morning and if i have to drive, i dont dare to take them the night before, it would be an accident waiting to happen.
I get assesed from the consultant in june (should have been april but they changed the appointment) they dont assess until you have had 3 treatments. well by the time i get to see them, i will be 7 weeks into my next lot of stelara, so hoping they will prescribe a more frequent dose to see if this has better effect.
sorry if i have bored you with my tale of psorasis, but its only other sufferers that can really appreciate what we go through!
Tracey xx
I have had this rotton condition since 2006, starting out with spots on my lower legs and blind boils under my arms (not actually in the armpit thou) armpits were like itchy red welts. My back used to drive me nuts itching. This really got me down as I was wearing a silky halter top to get married in and was paranoid about my spots, boils and crunchy back being on show.
I saw the dermatologist who prescribed dovobet ointment, wrapping the legs in clingfilm at night. Well to say my legs felt like they had permanent sunburn all the time the ointment was on is an understatement! So cream was prescribed, again, once in contact with my legs, which by this time were basically covered (75% of both lower legs) with thick scaley psorasis, the same burning sensation and continually itching. It also affects in my hair, when it flares up, itches and then looks like cottage cheese in the hair, capasal shampoo seems to take it down, but that makes you smell like a coal tar tub!
After 6 months ish of creams and ointment, I went onto uvb treatment, what a lovely all over tan i got from 3 treatments a week for 11 weeks! Took the psorasis back to nearly normal. But within a week of stopping the uvb, the crunchy legs, back, bum, elbows, tummy and bikini line were covered again. Wanting to scratch yourself continuiously all day, never quite making the itch stop made me feel like i was lousy! Next was Methotrexate, what a waste of time that was, saw absolutely no change whatsoever whilst on it. By this stage, my fingernails and toenails are now affected. Now i keep my fingernails short due to scratching in my sleep, but the toenails are so hard with it, makes it extremely difficult to cut them, so i get left with sharp bits. yes you've guessed it, i scratch my legs in my sleep with my toe nails!! Next I had uva treatment, twice a week for 12 weeks, lovely tan and nearly clear skin til it stops then boom, within a week, scaley scabby itchy skin all over again! Next was Cyclosporin, high doses, took it down a bit, but it seemed like my body just got immuned to it or rejected it, whichever it was, did nothing for the psorasis! I went on holiday for a week to Lanzarote, hoping the sunshine in winter would take it down a bit - no such luck, i walked into the sea, dunked my shoulders and more or less came out crying due to the stinging of the salt water on my skin. The last straw came when I saw the dermatologist last july (2011) and practically broke down in the office, depression was starting to set in. I'm a woman and have lived in trousers since 2006 to cover my vile legs. I cant take my daughter swimming to the local baths, as soon as the water hits them, they go blood red and itch like hell, making me more paranoid that everyone is looking at them! Which now brings me up to the subject of this topic, Stelara. I had my first implants in October 2011, but I have found that they only last between 6 - 7 weeks then the spots/scabs/flare ups start to reappear. Dont get me wrong, its not a patch on what it was this time last year, but just not clearing the permanent redness behind the psorasis or lots of the spots. The itching becomes more intense again at this stage, so this either wakes me up in the night where i have scratched myself sore, or i cant sleep due to itching. I have antihistemines to take at night, but they make me feel like death warmed up the following morning and if i have to drive, i dont dare to take them the night before, it would be an accident waiting to happen.
I get assesed from the consultant in june (should have been april but they changed the appointment) they dont assess until you have had 3 treatments. well by the time i get to see them, i will be 7 weeks into my next lot of stelara, so hoping they will prescribe a more frequent dose to see if this has better effect.
sorry if i have bored you with my tale of psorasis, but its only other sufferers that can really appreciate what we go through!
Tracey xx