My Fumaderm Journey

[Fred]

Thank you for the kind words Fleurgiddy it's nice to get feedback, and I'm pleased to hear you have been made welcome.

I shall be following your journey on Fumaderm and subscribing to your updates, thank you for sharing.

Fred.

[Fleurgiddy]

The pleasure is mine Fred  .

Update: 

Week 5, Day 1. The last couple of days have been almost side effect free, taking 1 x 120mg dose at lunchtime.

Today however, I developed and unpleasant stomach cramp shortly after waking up, very unexpected but brief, now feel good again.

Today I am due to increase my dose to 2 x 120mgs. I had initially decided to postpone the Increase until the weekend in an attempt to avoid side effects during the start of my new job tomorrow. However the new job start date has been postponed for a week (with pay  ), so I am now increasing my dose from today.  Took the first this morning with some yoghurt, the cramps dulled my appetite, and so far so good. Will take the next in an hour.

Some good news!! I am now start to notice some real improvements in my skin  . They are subtle but my hands are showing signs of clearing and other areas are scaling less and feeling smoother. Needless to say I'm delighted and very encouraged to see changes in just 4 weeks 

That's all for now folks.

[jiml]

The pleasure is mine Fred  .

Update: 

Week 5, Day 1. The last couple of days have been almost side effect free, taking 1 x 120mg dose at lunchtime.

Today however, I developed and unpleasant stomach cramp shortly after waking up, very unexpected but brief, now feel good again.

Today I am due to increase my dose to 2 x 120mgs. I had initially decided to postpone the Increase until the weekend in an attempt to avoid side effects during the start of my new job tomorrow. However the new job start date has been postponed for a week (with pay  ), so I am now increasing my dose from today.  Took the first this morning with some yoghurt, the cramps dulled my appetite, and so far so good. Will take the next in an hour.

Some good news!! I am now start to notice some real improvements in my skin  . They are subtle but my hands are showing signs of clearing and other areas are scaling less and feeling smoother. Needless to say I'm delighted and very encouraged to see changes in just 4 weeks 

That's all for now folks.

I'm glad you're sticking with it, at least you know what to expect, later tonight will be the test for you, hopefully it won't get to be too bad and passes quickly .
Good that you have got an extra week ( paid) to get used to the side effects and try to control their timing.

So pleased you are beginning to see results with your skin  it will add to the encouragement to continue, and the knowledge the side effects will get less as time passes

[Caroline]

That is already very quickly Dawn !
If you now already see the effects, than it may be worth it not to build up anymore, but stay for a while on this level and see what happens.
Certainly I should discuss this with your dermatologist.

Cheers,
Caroline

[Fleurgiddy]

Hi Caroline, the same thought has crossed my mind too - maybe I can still build up gradually and continue to avoid the evening dose - I'm hoping to speak to my derm nurse today,  had Bloods taken yesterday so would be good to know the results. Alternatively, I have an appointment scheduled for 22nd December, which will provide me with another 3 weeks of analysis with which to discuss the way forward...

How my body responds this evening will be interesting...

I'll be sure to post the effects.

Thanks for your continued support folks   X

[Fleurgiddy]

Week 5, day 3.  It's been an interesting couple of days...  Firstly,, skip back to day 1 evening - no side effects from the increase of dose - very pleasing and welcome  .

Day 2, woke up with no problems, felt particularly well, which was another welcomed surprise.  Later, however, cramps attacked around 1.00, this time more in my belly area (around belly button) but without nausea, lasting approx 20 mins. Also felt very tired.

***** It's worth noting that until now the cramps have been felt in my upper abdomen (just below ribcage), and accompanied with nausea. *****


Continued to feel tired for rest of the day, to the point that by 7.30 it was go to bed or fall asleep on the sofa... So it was a very early night for me as I headed to bed!

Which brings me to this morning....  Woke around 6.15 with nasty lower abdominal pain, shortly followed by a particularly unpleasant dose of diarrhea, which was soon accompanied by sickness. Very similar to a nasty stomach bug, but I suspect was a side effect. Now, an hour later it has passed and I feel just like normal again, only still a little a tired though that isnto be expected.

There appears to be no rhyme or reason with the side effects so far. However I do suspect that they may be associated in some part to hydration - or more precisely dehydration. The worst of the side effects are in the morning, following a long period of no fluid intake. It's too soon to be conclusive, particularly in my case, but I'm going to monitor my fluid intake more carefully. I already drink plenty, but with these drugs, is it enough?  Plus we are warned to take plenty of fluid intake with this treatment. 

I shall continue to post the events of my journey, and for now, this is all  .

[Caroline]

Very interesting and partly recognizable Dawn.

The diarrhea... yes, correct can happen, certainly in the morning, together with the nausea sickness feeling, once out of your intestines, all's well again..
Therefore I decided for myself to psychologically ignore the nausea sickness, as it each time appears to be no real sickness.

Cramps on belly button height, no never have them, but I of course don't use Fumaderm, that must be the difference.

I have never experimented with drinking much or less, as I normally drink quite enough during the day, a bit too much coffee though. Always happy when my colleague arrives as she forces me to drink much more water


You have one big difference with me.... I never feel tired....

[jiml]

Hi Dawn .... You are having a slightly different time with your side effects than I had, with me, as you are now experiencing, they are not at the same time each day and I don't know why that is , could it be to do with the food you eat it with... I'm not sure. Or the amount of fluid taken

It's at times like this when I wish I had my experience written down to look back on

For me the side effects were randomly timed , they usually happened as I remember in the evening with odd small cramps when I was working ( I had a physical job so constantly moving ) I don't know if that helped me or not. But I do try to keep myself hydrated with plenty of fluid, and don't sit around much

I know all my cramps were in the lower part of my abdomen, I don't recall having pains higher up my stomach. But we are all different and whilst yours are similar to mine there are subtle differences...

Also I never got any tiredness although fatigue is listed as an uncommon side effect....which should get easier as the treatment continues

[Fleurgiddy]

Hi Jim  . Yes, so far the side effects are very unpredictable.... I'd hoped that omitting the evening dose would prevent any morning problems, and although less frequent they have yet to cease completely.  I suppose everyones experience of this treatment will vary as we are all different, but I am very much looking forward to the day when the side effects stop! I'm drinking lots of fluid -I'm a big tea drinker! - maybe I should take more water...?

I'm eating normal foods -avoiding anything spicy or rich...

The more the side effects continue the more I can prepare for what happens next, and I'm now accepting that is all part of the process.  However, its not detering me from continuing with the treatment! 

[jiml]

Hi Jim  . Yes, so far the side effects are very unpredictable.... I'd hoped that omitting the evening dose would prevent any morning problems, and although less frequent they have yet to cease completely.  I suppose everyones experience of this treatment will vary as we are all different, but I am very much looking forward to the day when the side effects stop! I'm drinking lots of fluid -I'm a big tea drinker! - maybe I should take more water...?

I'm eating normal foods -avoiding anything spicy or rich...

The more the side effects continue the more I can prepare for what happens next, and I'm now accepting that is all part of the process.  However, its not detering me from continuing with the treatment! 

You are doing well Dawn, at least you know that persevering should prove effective and you will be able to live a life without the scales and itching ......and very few side effects... At least that's my experience of the drug and of others who have tolerated it, I think being aware of what is likely to happen makes it less scary when it does happen...and more determined to persevere

I'm so glad it's not deterring you from continuing and I look forward to your updates and hope soon we will get one where the side effects are minimal and the skin is clearing

On another note I went for a blood test this morning and the nurse who always does it asked why I was still on tablets as I didn't have any visible signs psoriasis... And I explained about our tablets and told her that is why I am clear..... She had not heard of Fumaderm before

Good luck and keep updating