Psoriasis - Skin Tells The Story

[cb marcus]

This is my perspective of my condition. The skin is the largest organ of the body. It mimics or reveals what is happening within. In other words, the skin tells what's within. I suffer from liver disease, enlarged spleen, enlarged heart, epstein bar, and arthritis. All affect the immune system. For over 35 years I have had pitted finger nails. Not one doctor had a diagnosis. Not until recently have I learned about psoriasis of the fingernails. Looking back I believe that my psoriatic condition had laid dormant in the early years only to raise it's ugly head in later years. I am now 56. The good, bad and the ugly is this: 1) The good: At least I know what I have. The clearer the target, the better the aim. The bad: 2) My immune system is compromised. In some ways just shot i.e. physically, mentally and emotionally. The ugly: 3) The obvious physical manifestation i.e. scaling, the red plague, chronic itching, insomnia
etc.

Positive Conclusion: 1) I know what I have 2) I know who my real friends are 3) I have increased empathy for others suffering from any autoimmune disease. 4) I have learned how to build up my immune system physically, mentally and emotionally.

[Caroline]

On (2) I can imagine that!
On (4) that sounds great. At least you are mentally very strong.

In the Netherlands and in Germany are new experiments on "resetting" the immune system related to psoriasis. They book good results.
If you are interested?
But where are you living? Where is HI? If it is the states then it becomes difficult.

[Fred]

Positive Conclusion: 1) I know what I have 2) I know who my real friends are 3) I have increased empathy for others suffering from any autoimmune disease. 4) I have learned how to build up my immune system physically, mentally and emotionally.

It always helps to find the positive side, well done.
#1 Knowing what it is and what it can do to you is a great help.
#2 You certainly do find out who your real friends are, and those that mock you for having psoriasis are not worth knowing. You will also find a friendly bunch here.
#3 I find helping others to cope gives me a good feeling, if I feel good my psoriasis feels better, if my psoriasis feels better, I feel good, when I feel good I like supporting others. For once not a vicious circle, but a positive one.
#4 Well done, I must admit I fail a bit on the physical side. But keeping mentally and emotionally stable is another great help.

Keep up the good work.

Where is HI?

I think it's Hawaii and I think it's part of the USA.

[cb marcus]

HI is Hawaii. Despite my condition I remain positive and are grateful for kin of psoriasis. There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving. If we share...we can get through it. Who we are is not measured by the outside person but by the inner person. Aside from my philosophical bent...as psoriatic suffers, in my opinion, we need to avoid a quick fix because there is none. This is a systemic autoimmune disease...likely genetic in composition. That is not to say that there is no hope. Reduce stress in your life, adjust to a practical diet that reduces worthless carbohydrates, refined wheat products, refined salt and overindulgence of alcohol. With the latter i.e. overindulgence of alcohol...in my experience not all alcohol is bad. The tanins in red wine seem to be helpful. But I caution...misuse and overindulgence create problems in our immune system. Best to avoid alcohol...especially if you have a problem with it.

Sorry for the lecture. I am just passionate about coping with my disease and letting the world know that we are not lepers.

[cb marcus]

First off...I am not a doctor...just an inquisitive psoriasis suffer. This is only my perspective...it seems that any autoimmune malfunction/disease opens a door to various manifestations whether it be psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV etc. I am of the opinion and welcome otherwise, that the genetic composition/makeup of our immune system can be altered by one thing i.e. our lifestyle.

[Caroline]

You forget MS and Crohns disease... :-) But it is very good to read of your conclusions.

Indeed you are right, although I hesitate about HIV, that is a heavy one from what I read about it. It cannot easily be controlled by way of life, as the virus is very complex.
The problem with psoriasis seems to be more a problem with the energy cycle of your cells.

Lifestyle has influence on you metabolism as a whole and therefore it helps. There is a guy named Charles, if you search on "how to beat psoriasis" you will find his website, who was able by means of a very restrictive diet to fully control his psoriasis.

The medication I use, enhances my metabolism in such a way, that it more or less removes the effects of the PsA. This should be combined with a diet in which the more sharp substances must be avoided, NO red wine as the tannine in it is bad for your PsA (at least that are the results of the research my doctor did over more than 20 years time), alcohol does not seem to be a problem, though overconsumption is never good, but that is anyway not my style.
Recently during his research he discovered a new way of making a change in the immune system. It concerns a process on your blood, that has the result that when it is re-injected, it slowly will reset your immune system. This takes about a whole year.
I myself still hesitate to go for this method, as my medication works well, but I am rethinking it.

BTW, I forgot to welcome you on the forum. So have a nice time and great to have you here.

[Fred]

Recently during his research he discovered a new way of making a change in the immune system. It concerns a process on your blood, that has the result that when it is re-injected, it slowly will reset your immune system. This takes about a whole year.

Is that like this: Adacolumn Japanese treatment study

[Caroline]

Recently during his research he discovered a new way of making a change in the immune system. It concerns a process on your blood, that has the result that when it is re-injected, it slowly will reset your immune system. This takes about a whole year.

Is that like this: Adacolumn Japanese treatment study

No. I don't think so. If you read the [web]geneeskunst.nl[/web] there is nothing that points to this treatment in Japan. Germany and the Netherlands are busy with it.

[Fred]

No. I don't think so. If you read the [web]geneeskunst.nl[/web] there is nothing that points to this treatment in Japan. Germany and the Netherlands are busy with it.

That makes very interesting reading, but I would like to see more research into it myself before giving it a try.

You go first