Signs of clearing

[Kat]

I know that we are each going to be different on this as there are different type of psoriasis and different types of treatment represented here on the forum but as someone recently starting treatment, I'm looking each day at signs of improvement. Some days I think things are looking up and other days I don't feel I'm closer to getting clearer. Since treatment takes time and I doubt anyone woke up to say "I'm clear!" I thought I'd ask if anyone wanted to share what they noticed was happening while they were "clearing up". Did you still have bad days when it looked worse, did it just gradually over time keep improving or did it maybe get worse before getting better?

For me, I haven't noticed a huge improvement yet and yes, I know it's still early for me. Less itching (although sometimes I wonder if that's just me being overly hopeful) and my ears almost cleared... but I was on a steroid medpac and I'm guessing it helped with that as they have since gone back to how they were before. My scalp is peeling more than ever I think, but I don't know if that is a good sign or bad. The "redness" still comes and goes, goes as in not away just not as red some days as others.

Also, maybe how long into treatment before you noticed an improvement? (Again, I know that will vary according to treatment, type of p and just individual person)

[Caroline]

For my treatment there was an increase of medication of 30mg/week, after getting to 6x120mg there was result, so it took 18 weeks... Then I had the same 18 weeks for stabilization, and then i went down a little now on 5x120

[Fred]

Well for me having had it for well over 30 years (I've lost count now) I've tried most things and although some treatments like Light and some Topicals worked for a while they just never really got the job done.

I have an opinion that when you go onto a new treatment it will work and I put it down to the placebo effect (you believe it's going to work, so it will), but for me the Bio treatments have been fantastic. They All worked quickly for me, ok most failed in the end but I noticed a huge difference in a matter of a couple of weeks. Stelara my current treatment also worked quick and within a couple of weeks there was improvement, which continued at a fast rate.

Nothing has ever worked so quick and given me such good results as the Bio's and I can't thank them enough for giving me back my life,without them I would be a wreck.

Kat you are right in what you said, we are all different and what works for some may not work for others. But I would say don't give up there is something out there and things are moving on much faster than they did in my day.

[Kat]

Thanks Caroline and Fred. I'm optimistic it will work, I'm just looking for some signs that it's starting to work. It may be a bit early to hope for some signs of that though.

[jiml]

Kat I'm like Fred I have been through every treatment our Heath service had ( except biologicals) I found steroid ointments never cleared it up but did reduce it and kept it under control.
I found light treatment very effective on me and it worked quickly I saw results within two or three weeks of a six week course which was three times a week. When I was clear I then got a brilliant all over tan.
My current treatment Fumaderm it was slow to work on me mainly because of the low dose to start with but it did not take long around 7 or 8 weeks before I was convinced it was going when I found less scales in the bed, less snowstorm on my shoulders. It was then I started believing it was working and the rest as they say is history

[Kat]

Thanks Jim. It helps to here the success stories and also be reminded it can take a bit of time.

[Kat]

Jim reminded me of this thread and I realized I never updated it.

It seemed to take a long time to notice improvements, I should have kept a better journal but it was around 8 weeks. But once I started clearing, it went fairly quick. I did have some places that just took longer. I'm not 100% clear, I don't know if I'll ever be that but now I only have a few areas and they are much improved.

What it comes down to is.... different people, different treatments and a different time table. So, anyone starting a new treatment, try to be patient as it may not be as quick as you'd expect. And remember sometimes the first treatment you try just might not be the right one for you. It's all trial and error for each of us.

Happy clearing!