Newbie with private healthcare!

[yorkshire_lad]

Hi everyone, 

new to the site so first of all just wanted to introduce myself. 

I am 30 and have suffered with severe psoriasis for about 16 years now... I've pretty much got it everywhere.
Up until a couple of years ago i had managed to control it with light treatment after spending a small fortune on a aramid B (i think) sunbed, unfortunately the treatment slowly stopped working and now doesnt work at all. 

Since my psoriasis came back it has affected everything i do, can't sleep, can't shower at work, can't play football anymore because of the pain, its awful, its basically ruining my life at the moment. My doctor has been prescribing me all sorts of steroid ointments and creams that have been having no affect whatsoever..... I'm running out of patience, i want to try something stronger and have been reading about biologics and systemic treatments but my doctor for some reason seems reluctant to prescribe me anything.

So the reason I've signed up is to find out if anyone has had any joy getting any of these kind of treatments through private healthcare??? I am insured through work with axa private healthcare and am contemplating giving it a go..... i can't take anymore ruined clothes/bedsheets from the ointments anymore with 0 results!!

Anyway... any shared experiences would be much appreciated 

Cheers

Jamie

[jiml]

Hi everyone, 

new to the site so first of all just wanted to introduce myself. 

I am 30 and have suffered with severe psoriasis for about 16 years now... I've pretty much got it everywhere.
Up until a couple of years ago i had managed to control it with light treatment after spending a small fortune on a aramid B (i think) sunbed, unfortunately the treatment slowly stopped working and now doesnt work at all. 

Since my psoriasis came back it has affected everything i do, can't sleep, can't shower at work, can't play football anymore because of the pain, its awful, its basically ruining my life at the moment. My doctor has been prescribing me all sorts of steroid ointments and creams that have been having no affect whatsoever..... I'm running out of patience, i want to try something stronger and have been reading about biologics and systemic treatments but my doctor for some reason seems reluctant to prescribe me anything.

So the reason I've signed up is to find out if anyone has had any joy getting any of these kind of treatments through private healthcare??? I am insured through work with axa private healthcare and am contemplating giving it a go..... i can't take anymore ruined clothes/bedsheets from the ointments anymore with 0 results!!

Anyway... any shared experiences would be much appreciated 

Cheers

Jamie

Hi Jamie first let me offer you a warm welcome to the club and tell you that you have come to a great place for advice regarding the available treatments and the best way to go about getting them.

We are a growing band of sufferers like yourself, and from all over the world, and happy to share our experiences of what works and what doesn't

As far as going " private" there shouldn't be any need for that,  but your doctor can only give you creams any other treatment need a dermatologist to prescribe it.

So your first thing to do is go to your doctor and tell him that the creams aren't working, and you want a referral to a dermatologist, he cannot refuse this, but he may tell you it will take months, then you could throw in that you have private insurance and get an early appointment with a dermatologist privately.....it's usually the same one who covers the NHS clinics anyway,   He will be able to move you on to one of the systemic drugs that should help .....
Look around the site there will be others here tomorrow with advice for you

Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions

You are also welcome to join us in the off topic section where things are a bit more light hearted
And I am the sensible one there.

[Bill]

Welcome Jamie,

I would second Jim and say that you need to go onto systemic treatment without delay. You are wasting time and money and risking your health with your current treatment. I'd have gone on systemics a decade earlier with the benefit of hindsight. The difference is huge, but you will have to find an effective treatment for yourself by trial and error.

All the best,

Bill

[yorkshire_lad]

Thanks for the fast replies! 

Sorry I meant my dermatologist is reluctant not doctor, I've sort of convinced myself that the reason he hasn't put me on humira or one of these type of treatments is the cost, hence why I thought private may be a better option.

The latest treatment I've tried was I think called puva (bathe in solution then straight onto light treatment) another waste of time. 

I have an appointment on Friday with my derm so am just going to ask for systemic treatment, which one is usually the first One to try? 

I'm guessing they wouldn't just put me straight onto the injected ones without trying others first.

[jiml]

So you've failed on creams and potions, puva, the next step is not more creams ....be assertive and demand an oral treatment

they are unlikely to put you on biological treatments until you gave failed on oral systemics, the most likely first one will be methotrexate it can work very well, and although it's not a drug I like and I had to stop because I couldn't tolerate it. But many on here get good results with it .....I am on a different systemic called Fumaderm you could ask about that when you see him it's kept me clear for over 4 years  


Don't let him fob you off with steroids as they are for short term use and will thin your skin ( I speak from experience of years of repeat prescriptions without question)
Tell the dermatologist how it's affecting your self esteem and ruining your social life, lay it on, if they can get away with a cheap option they will....but they have a duty of care which they should be taking all things into account your mental health ( how it's affecting you) as well as the pain and the plaques

Look through the health boards they are packed with advice and information, unfortunately you are stuck with me tonight

[Bill]

Methotrexate, cyclosporin or acitretin usually. Fumaderm sometimes. Then biologic drugs if need be. I take dimethyl fumarate, the active agent in Fumaderm. It has been very effective for my p and psa, but given that Fumaderm is not an accredited treatment for psa you would probably be put on methotrexate if you are healthy enough.

Cheers,

Bill

[jiml]

Some links for you to look at in the order you may be offered them

Methotrexate

Acitretin

Fumaderm

I would try to stick with one of these, read up about them and ask questions then when you see your dermatologist you will have some knowledge and be able to argue your case better  

[Turnedlight]

Gah! What part of 'ruining my life' do doctors not hear?

Yes, tell your doc you want a private referral (my doc is even reluctant about this, though I can't work out why!)
I had a private appointment for my first derm visit, he transferred me back to nhs as they didn't have the light treatment facilities but it definitely got the ball rolling. He was the same derm I see at nhs hospital anyway.

However, I have since figured that private healthcare has a ceiling limit on costs so if I had stayed I might have ended up paying for the Humira.. So my suggestion is just use it for the initial consultation and read your healthcare contract.

[D Foster]

Good morning and welcome to the forum Jamie ,we are a happy band of inmates and we all know what the problems are with P/PsA so you know you are talking to people who have the experience of the problem not health staff who only think they know what it's all about. Fred has made this site fantastic with probably more information on our P/PsA problems than anywhere else in the UK.
You need to put your case strongly to your derm that you need something positive to happen not just sodding about with creams etc.
The thing you need to take into consideration when looking on the site is that what works for one does not necessarily work for another, we are all different and our reactions are different so don't get worried when what you are doing works for someone but it's not doing the same for you.
Next time you have an appointment you need to really cover all your problems, how it's effecting your life and insist that something is done, they are all on the money saving kick at the moment and you need to give them some stick.
Going private may be a good way around it but you should not need to do this at all, it should be covered on the NHS and you are entitled to good healthcare so have a good look around on here and I would go back to him with a list of possible treatments. It sounds like you have quite a lot of the P and I cannot understand why they are still messing about with PUVA etc apart from the cost aspect , I see you are in UK and from your reference to Yorkshire can I assume that you live in gods own county .
Take care and any questions just ask away we are all on here to help one another.
Dave

[jiml]

Gah! What part of 'ruining my life' do doctors not hear?

Yes, tell your doc you want a private referral (my doc is even reluctant about this, though I can't work out why!)
I had a private appointment for my first derm visit, he transferred me back to nhs as they didn't have the light treatment facilities but it definitely got the ball rolling. He was the same derm I see at nhs hospital anyway.

However, I have since figured that private healthcare has a ceiling limit on costs so if I had stayed I might have ended up paying for the Humira.. So my suggestion is just use it for the initial consultation and read your healthcare contract.

Great advice Turnedlight best to check your healthcare contract small print.
Although I found when I had family cover they were happy to pay for all initial consultations  

@Dave   Gods own county