Time for this lurker to introduce herself!

[FoxxyCleo]

After lurking here the past month or so, I've decided to take the plunge and introduce myself! 
I've spent the last 20 years living with psoriasis being diagnosed at age 15. Of course went through all the creams and such for quite a few years. But the psoriasis gradually spread from my arms to my legs. Pregnancy 11 years ago completely cleared the psoriasis up, but alas it came back with vengeance! Arms, legs, hands, feet and face were all affected. Thus started my journey with MTX. 
MTX worked fairly well for me for quite a few years. It keept everything clear with the exception of my arms which I could live with. About 3 years ago the side effects of MTX seemed to start to get worse. Instead of being tired and nauseous for one day it was stretching into two or three. And the psoriasis started to pop back up everywhere. But I contined taking it until last summer. I started feeling sick and tired all the time. Psoriasis was getting worse and worse. A lot of pain which was really really starting to impact my every day life. 
So back to my derm last fall where she switched up the dose of MTX, but that didn't help. She then set me up with Stelara, which my insurance has decided not to cover but thank goodness I was approved for long term compassionate care. I just had my second injection on friday, and can't even begin to believe the difference this drug is making in my life!!!!! 
No one else in my family not do any of my friends have this disease. A lot of times I feel so very alone, like no one can truly understand what it is I go through on a daily basis. Coming here and reading all of your posts have helped me feel like I'm not so alone!
Thank you!!

[jiml]

After lurking here the past month or so, I've decided to take the plunge and introduce myself! 
I've spent the last 20 years living with psoriasis being diagnosed at age 15. Of course went through all the creams and such for quite a few years. But the psoriasis gradually spread from my arms to my legs. Pregnancy 11 years ago completely cleared the psoriasis up, but alas it came back with vengeance! Arms, legs, hands, feet and face were all affected. Thus started my journey with MTX. 
MTX worked fairly well for me for quite a few years. It keept everything clear with the exception of my arms which I could live with. About 3 years ago the side effects of MTX seemed to start to get worse. Instead of being tired and nauseous for one day it was stretching into two or three. And the psoriasis started to pop back up everywhere. But I contined taking it until last summer. I started feeling sick and tired all the time. Psoriasis was getting worse and worse. A lot of pain which was really really starting to impact my every day life. 
So back to my derm last fall where she switched up the dose of MTX, but that didn't help. She then set me up with Stelara, which my insurance has decided not to cover but thank goodness I was approved for long term compassionate care. I just had my second injection on friday, and can't even begin to believe the difference this drug is making in my life!!!!! 
No one else in my family not do any of my friends have this disease. A lot of times I feel so very alone, like no one can truly understand what it is I go through on a daily basis. Coming here and reading all of your posts have helped me feel like I'm not so alone!
Thank you!!

Hi FoxxyCleo and a big   welcome to the club, I'm glad you have had a good lurk, and read a lot of the posts here. You will have noticed that we are a friendly bunch of psoriasis sufferers. Happy to help each other with encouragement and exchanging experiences ....

You sound as if you have had a rough time with psoriasis and it is difficult when you have no one to share your frustrations of the disease with
Family don't really understand although they do try......but here there is usually someone to listen to concerns and although we don't profess to have all the answers we will try and have built up a great library of treatments both natural and prescribed, together with fellow sufferers experiences

There's no one being judgemental or trying to sell anything ....all members are sufferers just like you and me

I hope you get on well with Stelara Fred who runs the site is on it as are several other members ...
So enjoy reading through the threads and if you need any help just shout

As a member you will see you have more boards to browse so never be alone again, come and join in on any of the threads , and if you feel like relaxing a bit join us in the off topic section
Good luck

Jim

[Bill]

Welcome to the forum. What narks me is the all too common fight to get treatment. There are serious and debilitating consequences for not treating the disease. It is not a cosmetic illness. Glad to see you are getting effective treatment.

[Fred]

Hello FoxxyCleo to Psoriasis Club.

Thank you for joining us and not remaining a lurker, you will find us a friendly bunch and there is always someone willing to listen so No you are not alone.

Good to hear you are already noticing Stelara taking effect. I'm a big fan and have been using it for 6 years, and it gave me back my life.

Don't hesitate to start your own thread about your journey on Stelara here: Prescribed Treatments For Psoriasis It's a good way of keeping track and your input could be helping others.

If ever you do feel alone just shout out or visit the Off Topic board, you will soon find you're not alone.

Regards.

Fred.

[Grizzly Bear]

   FoxxyCleo  


Your avatar looks nothing like a fox

Enjoy yourself you lurker you

Any questions you may have, feel free to ask





GB

[JohnB]

 to the gang FoxxyCleo
The one thing you will never be with this mob is alone   . There are many of us spread worldwide, so you are bound to catch someone awake if you need to offload at any time. 
Join us off topic for something more light hearted - we don't bight.

JohnB

[Kit]

Hi Fox,

I hope you don't mind me shortening your username?  Please let me know if you don't like it and I'll revert to Foxxycleo!

I'm a recent joiner of this merry band of sufferers too - been here just over a month (seems like years I have been made to feel so welcome!) and have had and enjoyed the BEST support. Forget family, forget the medical profession - this is where you'll learn the most about your, sorry, our condition get the best advice.

There's a wealth of information here - I am beginning to believe that the info here is much more  than you'll find is available to the normal General Practitioner (that's what we call Family Doctors in the UK) or to many Dermatologists.

There's an invaluable repository of info about psoriasis here and I urge you to have a browse. As a lurker I'm sure you have had a look around but as a member - once you've got a few posts under your belt -you'll find more of the site opens up to you.

Personally over the past few decades I've been prescribed all sorts from lotions and potions as well as UV treatment - (I've had P. for over 4 decades) but right now I'm on a drug known as Fumaderm.    aka DMF in some countries.   

For me it seems to be having a fantastic effect - After 7 weeks I'm not only flake free but flattening and fading. Another few weeks on this treatment and I hope to be "Clear!   Once you have enough posts you are more than welcome to follow my journey in the members only section. (Kit's journey)
But one thing I have learned since joining this site is that we are all different and what works for one, when it comes to psoriasis, does not always work for another.

Welcome to the club....  although I feel it's really not my place to say that as I'm such a newcomer myself! But you certainly did the right thing by introducing yourself!  Nice to meet you..

Kit

[FoxxyCleo]

Thank you so much for the warm welcome! It's like a breath of fresh air to be able to chat and hear from others that are walking a similar path. I really look forward to "digging into" the site more as I feel there is a wealth of information to be found here. 
I look forward to getting to know all of you better as we continue our journey together!

Foxxy

[Caroline]

Hello Cleo,

Welcome to the forum.
Have a nice time with us.
Want to know something, just ask.
Seen from your location the forum is at its busiest in the mornings as lots of members are from Europe. But certainly there are also a number from your continent.

Cheers,
Caroline

[D Foster]

Hi Foxy . you and I seem to be similar in many ways.
I was on MTX for nine years ,six by tablets and three plus by injection and just like you the side effects got to much and the results went down so again like you I went on to Stelara over three years ago and it's been fantastic ,it's changed my life and it sounds like that it will do the same for you.
Never feel alone as we are all know what it's like to have P and PsA and any questions will be answered from experience not theory so just jump in and look around . Fred has done a fantastic job with the forum and you will never get bothered with idiots trying sell dubious "cures" .
Welcome and take care.