Moving back to the UK

[ashleyoverton]

Hi All,
Just a quick question, I have suffered with Psoriasis for the last 20 years, I have finally found something that works for me Stelara. I am on the 90mg Injection and started treatment in October 2016, I will be having my first 3 monthly injection on Thursday 16th February, after having the 2 injections 1 month apart.
For the first time in 20 years I now do not have to cover up out of embarrassment and am wearing shorts and T-shirts, all be it spoilt in the Florida Sunshine,
My question is, having been in the USA for the last 18 months and returning to the UK permanently at the end of March, I have continued to pay my class 3 National Insurance throughout my time here for a meagre pension and other benefits, should I need them. 
Is Stelara readily available in The UK, particularly Brighton which is where I will be moving back to ? Or is it a postcode lottery with regard to funding ?
Any information would be greatly appreciated as having found something that finally works I would now hate to go back to being as I was previously. 

Thanks in advance,

Ashley

[jiml]

Hi Ashley and   to the forum. Yes Stelara is available here but I'm thinking you might be lucky and get it straight off, although the dermatologists here do have to see you have failed on the cheaper treatments before they give biologicals, I'm not saying that will be what happens. But my thinking is that unless you can demonstrate that you have failed on oral systemic drugs like methotrexate and acetretin. They may make you jump through those hoops before you get it. But come back prepared with a good story of failure in America and you might just get it
And yes it does depend where you are the speed and quality of treatment you tend to get

So read on here of others experiences so you can get your story right when you get here

Others may well know better about the service you might get in the Brighton area

Jim

[ashleyoverton]

Hi Jim,
Thanks for the welcome.
I Have photographic documentation as to the fantastic improvement, From being in total agony and 50 percent covered  to being totally clear.
Never tried Methotrexate, but have done Puva, Uvb, Light Box, Multiple Steroids, Chinese, Ayurveda and Homeopathy all with varying degrees of success.
One can remain hopeful  

[KyPrincess]

Hi Ashley. Welcome to the forum.

[phil]

Hi Ashley and welcome.
I live not to far from Brighton (Bognor Regis )15 years ago my Derm man sent me to Guys in London
where they have much better treatments.if you have trouble getting Stelara when you get back
to Brighton tell them to send you to Guys.

Phil

[Fred]

Hello Ashley   to Psoriasis Club.

Stelara is a great treatment and I hope you can get it when you return to the UK, but I'm thinking like Jim, they will make you go through the protocol of failing a couple of oral treatments before putting you on Stelara. I don't think they will except that you have failed on Puva, Uvb, Light Box, Multiple Steroids, Chinese, Ayurveda and Homeopathy and take your word for it. It may help if you could get your current dermatologist to write them a letter.

However there is only on way to find out and that is to see a dermatologist. Have you ever seen a dermatologist in the UK? if so I would try and see the same one, if not I feel you will need to see a GP first and get a referral.

Good luck I hope I'm wrong, and please do report back as your information could help others.

Regards.

Fred.

[ashleyoverton]

Hi Fred,
Thank you for the welcome.
I have only been in the USA for 18 months and prior to that, all treatments were in the UK. Have kept my Local GP in Brighton and visited him when I was over in July Last year,  wait times are/were not that bad for an appointment. 
I have seen numerous Dermatology Dr's over the years. The one advantage I may have is I have kept up my UK Private Medical Insurance for my time out here as it works out cheaper to fly back home than pay for some medical things out here  . 
So maybe able to bypass the wait times.

Ashley

[Fred]

Hi Fred,
Thank you for the welcome.
I have only been in the USA for 18 months and prior to that, all treatments were in the UK. Have kept my Local GP in Brighton and visited him when I was over in July Last year,  wait times are/were not that bad for an appointment. 
I have seen numerous Dermatology Dr's over the years. The one advantage I may have is I have kept up my UK Private Medical Insurance for my time out here as it works out cheaper to fly back home than pay for some medical things out here  . 
So maybe able to bypass the wait times.

Ashley

As you have private medical insurance I would have thought you have a better chance then. But I would still try to get a letter from your dermatologist in the USA as will help things along.

*Could you get a couple of syringes to bring back with you? As long as it's kept cold 12 weeks between shots could help for a while till you get sorted.

Just a thought.

[Kat]

Welcome Ashley! I'm in the US so can't help with your questions but I wanted to say hello.

[Turnedlight]

You may have to prove you can't manage on some of the other oral treatments if you go nhs, just to do the box ticking excercise (NICE pathway) plus be worse than a score of 10. I don't know what reaction they will have to the fact you are successfully being treated on Stelara - perhaps they will just decide to have you continue.

I used to have private insurance (through employers) but it had an outpatient limit (which included the cost of drugs) of only about £1,500 a year and Stelara is approx £8,000 a year. So I was not able to use my insurance to get treatment. Medical insurance seems more geared toward having tests and surgery, not ongoing conditions.
Your policy may be different though. Worth checking it out.. I hope it goes smoothly for you