Jim's Fumaderm and hormone treatment

[jiml]

4 March 2016

Just had a reply after my appointment with the rheumatologist which suggests I have a form of arthritis
The reply is as follows

The ultrasound scan of your hands has shown no active inflammation , but you had erosions on the X-rays of your feet. This suggests there has been inflammation here, if not now then certainly in the past. I know your preference was to increase your Fumaderm dose before considering other medications . As you are aware Fumaderm isn't something I am familiar with, but I know you are due to see Dr **** again in clinic in a couple of weeks time so you could discuss increasing the dose then. I would point out however that there is no good data for using Fumaderm in psoriatic arthritis, and my preference would be to give you methotrexate.
Please let me know if this is something you would go back on . Otherwise I'll see you again in clinical planned

I haven't replied yet as I will try to gather information on Fumaderm supporting me staying on it before I respond
But there's no way I will go back onto the Methotrexate as I have had that experience and got over it

This morning I have been for a blood test and have got my latest levels which are 1.09 which is still within the normal range

My psoriasis score Is going up to 5 and I have put acouple of small plaques developing on my back I put this down to  being on intermittent dosing and missing my tablets at the weekends...

Today I have decided to abandon that experiment and continue to take my tablets 7 days a week
This coming weekend I will increase my dose to six tablets a day then on Monday I will revert to 4 a day and see what happens

I have a dermatology appointment in 2 weeks and will discuss the way forward regarding treatment and the possibility of increasing the dose, to deal with my arthritis as well as my skin