KatT's Journal

[Fred]

Agree that if it is needed, I must take it.....flares = ER visit....entertaining but not enough to make it pleasant lol  the heart attack itself (NOT the stent procedure) was peanuts compared to a lupus.

(This is FW, trying to use the "quote" feature and failing     My comment and question follow.)
I think Lupus is the cruelest of the auto-immune diseases since it can affect so many body systems.  Would you rather have a Rheumatologist treating you for Lupus or the Internist?

I've put it right for you FW

[Kat]

As far as I can see  Hydroxychloroquine is a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD).  which is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus but never heard of it used for psoriasis

Didn't trump use it to cure his Covid-19,

I think that was one he used. Wasn't it originally for Malaria or some such? Not sure they ever showed whether it was useful or not against covid. Hadn't heard about it in awhile.


Good luck KatT, it's difficult to balance numerous health issues.

[Caroline]

As far as I can see  Hydroxychloroquine is a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD).  which is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus but never heard of it used for psoriasis

Didn't trump use it to cure his Covid-19,

I think that was one he used.  Wasn't it originally for Malaria or some such?  Not sure they ever showed whether it was useful or not against covid.  Hadn't heard about it in awhile.

There are claims for a lot of doctors that Hydroxychloroquine worked excellent for Covid, and there are opposite claims by conventional medicine that say that research has not shown that it helps.

In this yes - no - yes - no situation everyone has stayed on its standpoint and there is no final verdict detectable.

Logic: from what Jim says: “ Hydroxychloroquine is a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD)”, and keeping in mind that disease-modify drugs often suppress parts of the immune-system, and keeping in mind that the danger of Covid is a cytokine storm, an overreaction of the immune system just like with psoriasis, it does on this logical level make sense that it could work against this cytokine storm.

[KatT]

FW - the specialists apparently for lupus are rheumatologist. That being said, my rheumatologist is not that great.  I don't know the internist I am seeing now well enough but he does speak more than my rheumatologist .

The first internist I saw in 2018 said looks like it, didn't do tests and deferred to my rheumatologist. I am content with seeing both for now.

Jim - yes, Trump and Bolsonaro promoted hydroxychloroquine.  Trump was treated with monoclonal antibodies 

Kat - yes, hydroxychloroquine (plaquenil) is normally used to treat malaria.  Was approved for lupus and RA

Caroline- you're right! Makes sense but I have Simponi and MTX for psoriasis and PSA 


Anyone knows a doctor who does brain transplants?  I'll choose the body I want my brain to go in 

[Caroline]

Anyone knows a doctor who does brain transplants?  I'll choose the body I want my brain to go in 

Unfortunately I have heard that the specialists in transplantation of the brain are very scarce and that they are very busy.
This, other than with your problem of finding another body, is because of the fact that a lot of people desperately need new brains, as is mentioned over here in [Group Specific]

[KatT]

Remember back in May last year I asked my GP to refer me to a new rheumatologist?

Well....I got a call two weeks ago and had an appointment with her on March 17.

She is a rheumatologist and internist.  She spent over an hour and a half with me going through my medical history, family history and test results.  The maximum amount of time my previous rheumatologist spent with me was 15 minutes.  So I switched

She comes from Montreal and is in our region once or twice a month.  

She confirmed that I definitely have lupus.  Again, was told my case is complex as it`s rare to have psoriasis, psa and lupus ..... then add the heart attack on top  

Went for more blood tests today, next appointment in two months.  She will most likely increase the MTX and stop the hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) so I would be reducing my pill intake by 14 a week!

Psoriasis score 1: One pesky patch where the back loses it's name

Arthritis score 3: we've had rain lately so in a bit of pain. 

That`s it for now

[jiml]

Great your new rheumatologist gave you so much time that certainly gives you confidence in them, even though coming to the same conclusions as the previous one
Hopefully she will keep you well monitored and switch you away from mtx if it doesn't ease the pain more or the bloods show low readings

[Kat]

Glad you found someone you like.

My brain and my body seem to take turns on which one is going to work well or not. Whoever said old age isn't for wimps knew what they were talking about!

That's a lot going on, hope you get good results with the medicine increase and like Jim said if not hopefully she will switch you.

[KatT]

Thank Jim and Kat  

Same conclusion but with test results.

Not much available for lupus unfortunately.

I know I can tolerate higher doses of MTX...my only fear is my liver.  It was affected with the previous lupus medication I was on.

She also gave me a prescription for prednisone (if I need it, i.e. flare is starting or travelling)

[Caroline]

Well that is going the right direction. KatT.
Good that she spent so much time with you and good that she is also an internist. Personally I had my greatest advance because of an internist.
So sad that you don’t have DMF over there with you, as this also has the reputation, according to my internist, of fighting Lupus.

Anyway… this looks good for the future.