Stelara round two

[Caroline]

OK I'm back from my appointment with my dermatologist, and she was as disappointed as me to see the state of the psoriatic arthritis.

My bloods have shown there has been an inflammation flare up, what caused it we don't know but it is slowly going back down again and I did manage to drive today which was nice as I'm not a good passenger. Mrs Fred was pleased too and she said she noticed I was moving a little better toady.

Well that is at least a little bit of something, so you have a kind of proof that there was an inflammation, but also the good point that apparantly it is going down again.

So back to the appointment, she gave me 5 options.

#1 Yep you guessed it Methotrexate. I refused.

Couldn't agree with you more , it is a medication which I also will never use anymore.

#2 Small Methotrexate injection. I refused.
#3 Go to Rheumatology and see what they say. I've booked an appointment for April to coincide with my next dermatology appointment, as I already know the answer from the last time I went to see them "You have psoriatic arthritis and we prescribe Methotrexate" so that will be a waist of time.
#4 Stay on Stelara and ride out the inflammation with some anti inflammatory pills as and when I feel I need them. I've taken the prescription for the pills just in case I do feel like giving in and taking them.

Seems an option.

#5 Give Stelara another try on a double shot again over 3 months instead of 45mg on two months. I wasn't keen as last time I tried 90mg it made me feel like a zombie, but this is what I'm going to do.

Ok so you have made a clear decision for yourself. Also seen what is below, I understand this step. I think I would do the same.

I asked about Simponi (only available via Rheumatology) she phoned them and had a chat, but they said NO as I have had a reaction to both Remicade and Humira in the past and they felt the risk was to much as it's a similar product.

I asked about Fumaderm and it's not available in France, and as far as I could work out the trials have been stopped.

That is a pity.

I asked about Psorinovo and that is not registered for use in France.

It is nowhere registered, so I am not surprised on that.

So I'm stuck really, and unless I take Methotrexate with Stelara just to help the psoriatic arthritis there isn't much else they can do for me.  

I'm a stubborn old sod and will not take Methotrexate, I may not even take the anti inflamotories (but will hold onto them for amunition) but another thing I can be is determined and that is what I,m going to do.

  That is at least the good spirit !!  
Surely good to be stubborn on MTX

I will be concentrating on getting myself back into positive mode, I will take my 90mg of Stelara at the weekend, possibly take an anti inflammatory if needed and just get on with it.

 

I really understand that you want to stay in the French medical system and don't want to step out of that in e.g. a try on Fumaderm or Psorinovo.

Over here in NL things are more flexible. I said goodbye to my rheumatologist, but he said that I always could come back.
And over here in NL, DMF because of its Z-index number, is on the list of covered by the insurance. So it doesn't matter which type of DMF medication you choose, there are more versions of it available.

Anyway I am still a bit worried over your wellbeing, but I also see that you are going for it.


Caroline