End of my tether

[Caroline]

Sandra,
I agree with the guys and good that you went to the GP.

My order of working would be to go for fumaderm, DMF, with some painkillers the first weeks before it starts working.
DMF is quite harmless and you have a 70% chance of working.
If it does not work try to go for Stelara.

Why this way, well it seems that if you start with Stelara and for some reason stop with it, that than the psa comes back quite heavily. It then seems quite difficult to restart or change to another therapy.
In my proposed way there will always be Stelara on the backup side, if DMF would not work for you.

Indeed as Jim says, just throw everything off you that you need to in the forum. We will always be here to listen to you and react to you.
Most of us have been in alike positions. Me too have been not able to lift a coca cola bottle, because of the pain in my fingers.

[Sandra]

Thank you Caroline
It is really helpful to hear others experiences as lately it has seemed that, it is just me! For me, my hands can no longer open jars and sometimes my hands shake with the weight of a cuppa! I have it all over my feet including the soles, I can't get my shoes on and am in flip flops. I just, in general ache.
Until today, I don't think the g.p. was viewing it seriously and as I have said previously, have been diagnosed with all sorts, including general wear and tear! I can't thank Jim enough for encouraging me to go back.
At least I no longer feel like a hypochondriac!
Sandra

[jiml]

Sandra it's so much easier looking at other peoples problems, than it is looking at your own.
I'm just glad that you were able to get some help today, and we at the forum were some comfort to you when you were down
Jim

[Kat]

Sandra,
So glad your gp is taking things seriously and hope you get relief soon!

[Fred]

Sandra,
I agree with the guys and good that you went to the GP.

My order of working would be to go for fumaderm, DMF, with some painkillers the first weeks before it starts working.
DMF is quite harmless and you have a 70% chance of working.
If it does not work try to go for Stelara.

Why this way, well it seems that if you start with Stelara and for some reason stop with it, that than the psa comes back quite heavily. It then seems quite difficult to restart or change to another therapy.
In my proposed way there will always be Stelara on the backup side, if DMF would not work for you.

Indeed as Jim says, just throw everything off you that you need to in the forum. We will always be here to listen to you and react to you.
Most of us have been in alike positions. Me too have been not able to lift a coca cola bottle, because of the pain in my fingers.

I would just add Caroline, Fumaderm may not be available to Sandra as it's still early days with the UK as is Stelara and they probably won't offer it yet. And as far as I know your form of DMF (Psorinovo) is not available in the Uk, I only mentioned this as I didn't want to build up her or anyone's hopes of getting said treatments offered after light therapy.

[jiml]

Sandra,
I agree with the guys and good that you went to the GP.

My order of working would be to go for fumaderm, DMF, with some painkillers the first weeks before it starts working.
DMF is quite harmless and you have a 70% chance of working.
If it does not work try to go for Stelara.

Why this way, well it seems that if you start with Stelara and for some reason stop with it, that than the psa comes back quite heavily. It then seems quite difficult to restart or change to another therapy.
In my proposed way there will always be Stelara on the backup side, if DMF would not work for you.

Indeed as Jim says, just throw everything off you that you need to in the forum. We will always be here to listen to you and react to you.
Most of us have been in alike positions. Me too have been not able to lift a coca cola bottle, because of the pain in my fingers.

I would just add Caroline, Fumaderm may not be available to Sandra as it's still early days with the UK as is Stelara and they probably won't offer it yet. And as far as I know your form of DMF (Psorinovo) is not available in the Uk, I only mentioned this as I didn't want to build up her or anyone's hopes of getting said treatments offered after light therapy.

You are right in some respects Fred in that it is not widely available but there have been one or two Scottish members that have been prescribed I noticed when they have joined although I don't think they have posted, it's certainly getting prescribed more as the cost is not great

[Fred]

Sandra,
I agree with the guys and good that you went to the GP.

My order of working would be to go for fumaderm, DMF, with some painkillers the first weeks before it starts working.
DMF is quite harmless and you have a 70% chance of working.
If it does not work try to go for Stelara.

Why this way, well it seems that if you start with Stelara and for some reason stop with it, that than the psa comes back quite heavily. It then seems quite difficult to restart or change to another therapy.
In my proposed way there will always be Stelara on the backup side, if DMF would not work for you.

Indeed as Jim says, just throw everything off you that you need to in the forum. We will always be here to listen to you and react to you.
Most of us have been in alike positions. Me too have been not able to lift a coca cola bottle, because of the pain in my fingers.

I would just add Caroline, Fumaderm may not be available to Sandra as it's still early days with the UK as is Stelara and they probably won't offer it yet. And as far as I know your form of DMF (Psorinovo) is not available in the Uk, I only mentioned this as I didn't want to build up her or anyone's hopes of getting said treatments offered after light therapy.

You are right in some respects Fred in that it is not widely available but there have been one or two Scottish members that have been prescribed I noticed when they have joined although I don't think they have posted, it's certainly getting prescribed more as the cost is not great

That's interesting Jim and no I hadn't noticed, I do wish a few more would update as it helps others. I wonder if it's something to do with Scotland? the reason I say is because I was watching one of those debate things the other day and they mentioned that Scotland runs part of it's own NHS.

*Sorry to our Scottish friends if I've got it wrong, but it would be interesting to know if they do have more control than England on what gets prescribed.

[jiml]

Fred I'm sure it is being prescribed fairly widely in the uk now. I don't know if it's because of the price or because the dermatologists are finding it successful. Most people if they are prescribed it and it works. Won't be looking for a website for help. Forums like this get to hear of the difficulties their medications throw up.
I would not have looked for this site if It hadn't had my search for answers regarding the mix of things I was on .

[Sandra]

Hi, well slept a little better last night only woke twice and itch has reduced a little with the new meds.
Just wanted to say Scotland does manage and set it's own NHS budget, which is why it's most annoying hearing it being used as a referendum tool! Westminster does not control how Scotland chooses to purchase or spend this budget. We get more per head than our southern counterparts.
Thank you for all the info, I am going to become much more proactive in my care and treatment prescribed. I have looked up NHS Scotland guidlines sign.ac.uk/pdf/sign121.pdf and the recommendations for The treatment of those with psoriasis and was shocked to discover that my G.P. Practice has not been following the majority of the guidlines! I should have had a rheumatology appointment years ago! So I am going to print them off and take with me to every appointment.
I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone, I can honestly say the other night was possibly one of the worst I have experienced with pain, itch and mood etc. I also felt there was no point in going to the G.P. as it appeared that an itch, scale, joint pain was not high up on their list of conditions to be concerned about. Also it's great that they prescribe heavy duty painkillers but trying to explain you can't take them whilst working as they make you stoned off your face! (Tramadol) However I neglected to say the G.P. that I saw yesterday is new to the practice and younger. He does appear to be more interested and on the ball and was making all the right noises. Which is why he signed me off so I can be stoned for a few days and pain free! So fingers crossed.
Sandra

[jiml]

Hi, well slept a little better last night only woke twice and itch has reduced a little with the new meds.
Just wanted to say Scotland does manage and set it's own NHS budget, which is why it's most annoying hearing it being used as a referendum tool! Westminster does not control how Scotland chooses to purchase or spend this budget. We get more per head than our southern counterparts.
Thank you for all the info, I am going to become much more proactive in my care and treatment prescribed. I have looked up NHS Scotland guidlines sign.ac.uk/pdf/sign121.pdf and the recommendations for The treatment of those with psoriasis and was shocked to discover that my G.P. Practice has not been following the majority of the guidlines! I should have had a rheumatology appointment years ago! So I am going to print them off and take with me to every appointment.
I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone, I can honestly say the other night was possibly one of the worst I have experienced with pain, itch and mood etc. I also felt there was no point in going to the G.P. as it appeared that an itch, scale, joint pain was not high up on their list of conditions to be concerned about. Also it's great that they prescribe heavy duty painkillers but trying to explain you can't take them whilst working as they make you stoned off your face! (Tramadol) However I neglected to say the G.P. that I saw yesterday is new to the practice and younger. He does appear to be more interested and on the ball and was making all the right noises. Which is why he signed me off so I can be stoned for a few days and pain free! So fingers crossed.
Sandra

Fingers crossed indeed......I'm glad to see that you are taking control and not allowing the medics to fob you off....... Psoriasis is a chronic disease and should always be treated as one...
Good that you slept some last night it's all positive stuff , if you sleep better and feel in control the better chance your psoriasis will start to reduce. You are beginning to climb out of the downward spiral..... For that I applaud you.
Stay stoned on the meds if they help it's only a temporary thing.
I noticed you weren't on late last night and hoped it was because you were sleeping ..... Well done you. Let's hope the relief continues
Jim