Greetings all

[jiml]

I can't believe I haven't found you guys (and dolls) before now. If the rest of you is as welcoming and friendly as those that have sent me a welcome message, why, my psoriasis has just turned into a blessing.  

Funny about that - recently, my hands have been so painful - and of course, always itchy, and I want to SCRATCH-SCRATCH-SCRATCH-SCRATCH (i'm guessing that many of you know that feeling?)...and so I started "kissing" them, every time I wanted to scratch them open...seemed like it might have lessened the itch a bit.  So wouldn't that add to the wonder of it all, if by finding a group of fellow sufferers, my ps just got better?  Something for the philosophers, scientists, brain surgeons, and the rest of you to contemplate, lol.

Is there actually anything that can be done for the itching?  I recently bought some 5% xylocaine and mix it with my fucidin antibiotic and smear it on the worse open cuts on my palms.   Not sure that it really helps, as when it wears off, the itching seems even worse, but I don't know what else to try.

I cut my nails as short as I can, but I swear, when I get an itch going, I can literally rip new shreads of skin off my palms before I even realize I am doing it, and then the pain and the healing take twice as long.

best,

Kersty

I can't believe you haven't found us either, this place is the next best thing to a cure for psoriasis, I believe if we keep talking about it positively with our fellow sufferers it's a kind of placebo effect

. However I like the idea of kissing it better ..I know the rest of the members are friendly, this site to my mind is unique, it's funded entirely by Fred, so there are no outside influences, it's just a bunch of fellow sufferers, enjoying each other's company, and learning along the way
So now you are a member of the club feel free to join in , nobody bites here and no one is ridiculed ( except me) but you will notice that as you find your way around .
And do shout if you need help

[Fred]

I can't believe you haven't found us either

That's because we make it hard to find us Jim. Think of Psoriasis Club as a very rare gem.    

no one is ridiculed ( except me)

Who ridiculed you Jim ?

Let me at em I'll sort em out, but for now can you go and tidy up the cellar I noticed you forgot today

[Kersty]

I have been taking this new drug since April.  Initially, it seemed to not do much, then about 2 months ago, I feet got better for about a week.  They now are bad again, although I am telling myself they ARE NOT as bad as they used to be.  I still have to band-aid my feet to walk, and wear two socks to cushion along with the giant bandaids I use (typically 3x4 inch), at least three per foot.  


Anyone else taking this stuff?

Kersty

[JohnB]

I have been taking this new drug since April.  Initially, it seemed to not do much, then about 2 months ago, I feet got better for about a week.  They now are bad again, although I am telling myself they ARE NOT as bad as they used to be.  I still have to band-aid my feet to walk, and wear two socks to cushion along with the giant bandaids I use (typically 3x4 inch), at least three per foot.  


Anyone else taking this stuff?

Kersty

Hi Kersty and a warm if not belated welcome to the Club and more importantly to the Acitretin Gang
Like yourself I have been on the stuff since April, starting on 25mg being upped to my current dose of 30mg. I think I can just about say I am at a place where my Ps is under control it is a very, very slow acting medication but has not been without its side effects, peeling hands and feet sticky hands dry lips itchy back and Shrek volumes of earwax, to name just a few. Fortunately I think I am just about safe in saying apart from the wax and lips the rest has all but retiurned to normal.

For the itching have you concidered taking anti-hystamines? I have used them in the past with good results. My chosen were the local supermarkets own label non drowsey (Loratidine)

If you need any more information I will do my best to help but it may take a day or so for me to answer, I'm a little time poor at the moment.
JohnB

[jiml]

Hi Kersty couldn't help noticing you online today ...got me to wondering how you are getting on with the Acetretin ...and are your feet any better ?

[Kersty]

So, last time I posted that I was somewhat better, although my feet were still having a rough go of it.  When I saw my dermatologist in late December, he recommended I stop the Otezla.  My feet were actually much worse...I guess having such severe psoriasis on the bottom of my feet, combined with the side effects of peeling feet caused by the Otezla, made him decide it was time to stop and to try something new.

I just got approved for a trial of Stelara (ustekinumab) - geez, where do they come up with these names?  But in between seeing him and going to get my first shot of Stelara, I saw a specialist at the arthritis clinic, who suggested that with all the infections I get, Stelara might not be the best suggestion for me.  


So, now I am torn between going for my first shot, or holding off and seeing what the arthritis doc is on about.  He did suggest a newer biologic, but he has no resources for me to get on a trial (like my dermatologist does, who is always involved with one drug or another in a clinical trial).  I feel like a 61 year old guinea pig that they are simply experimenting with.

So, now I don't know what to do.  I have to cancel my appointment for the Stelara injection by Tuesday or else pay $150 for the appointment.  I jumped on here tonight to see what I could find out about it and am now going to go search.  If someone has direct experience,please let me know.  Just so you know, I have been hospitalized at least three times for sepsis, usually from cuts on my feet, but once for a cut on my hand.  All the cuts are from the plaque psoriasis.  I seem to get ifnections quite easily.  I am always the first with a cold in my house, and three days ago, came down with something called pink eye.  Only now, it's pink EYES, and they are way more red than pink, with horrible pain, watering'tears constantly, itching that makes me want to scratch them out, and swollen so much that I am unrecognizable.  There is also a discharge that cakes them over when I am sleeping.  I have been on an antibiotic, but the doc said that if it didn't clear in a day or two, it was probably "viral" and that antibiotics wouldn't help it....I would just have to "wait it out".
  
Hmm, just writing that makes me realize that I had better at least postpone the Stelara injection, as I doubt this eye infection will be gone by then.  He said it typically takes one to two weeks to clear if it is viral rather than bacterial.  

Can I scream here?   ARRRRRGHHHHHH!!!!!!

phew...that felt better.  Thanks for listening.

[jiml]

Screeeeeaam away Kersty yes this is the place to come and scream at the top of your voice .....

Stelara isn't a new drug and get on it if you can it is good for psoriasis and  psoriatic arthritis , fred here was on it for about six years ( I have not been on it myself ) I think they just advise not to have the injection if you have an upper respiratory infection, but can't be sure.. but others in the morning will know better than me
There is a thread about stelara here Stelara (ustekinumab) have a look there and pop back tomorrow when you will get better advice about whether or not to postpone the injection

[D Foster]

Conjunctivitis is very easy to pass on so be careful with towels etc.
You are between a rock and a hard space , Stelara , based on personal experience, is a fantastic drug and with me it started to clear the P from the second shot at 4 weeks and by the time I got the third shot at 12 weeks I was 99% clear.
This should work well for you and would eliminate the possibility of infections from the P on your feet however sepsis is a very dangerous infection which is really blood poisoning and can easily cause limb loss so not to be taken lightly. Stelara can drop your resistance and not to be recommended if you have already got any infection so I would think that your pink eye will clear up in 5 to 7 days so you can take the Stelara then. Until the Stelara clears the P it will be prudent to be double careful with your feet etc to make sure that no infections kick in but once clear you will be amazed how good Stelara is hopefully.
All the best in what ever you decide to do.

Dave

[Fred]

Hello Kersty, yes you can scream on here if it helps. I have my sound turned down.

Stelara and all the Bio treatments can weaken your immune system a little and that is why they say to be careful with infections. I see Jim has pointed you to a post that explains more about Stelara, you can also read more about the other Bio's here: Biological Treatments For Psoriasis

If you are prone to infections I would avoid Stelara as it is 12 weeks between shots. So if you take the shot and then get an infection it may make things worse, whereas one of the other Bio treatments you would only have a maximum of 4 weeks or in the case of Enbrel one shot per week.

It's a difficult one for you and normally I would say go for Stelara, but in your case I would ask about one of the others just for peace of mind.

But that's just my own opinion.

[jiml]

I sort of agree with Fred and think it's a good idea to see if you can get a different one .... Cosentyx is outperforming most other treatments, so if you could get that, you would have an injection every 4 weeks which is good
It also is one of the newer ones that targets interleukin 17 and may give less problems ....in my opinion but check with your dermatologist