My Journey to halt/end my psoriasis

[Sheila]

Get a referral in Winnipeg.....first one that calls is where you should go.

You can always transfer your file later

It all depends how your GP wrote the referral!

My question is, why he sends letters in the mail for appointments?????  How old is this dermatologist????

That's just how the medical system works. On Thursday, 8 days after my appointment with my GP (or so), I got a letter in the mail saying my MRI is going to be on July 21. This will be to diagnose my pinched nerve in my lower back (L3). In the meantime, I have to put up with loss of muscle control in my lower back, front left leg, and toes not to mention the great pain it is causing me. I can only stand for about 5 mins before the pain starts. It grows stronger and stronger until I can't take it any more and have to sit down. Usually about 8 mins. My wife, who can barely stand at all because she has osteoarthritis in her knees and rheumatoid arthritis  in other joints. Doctors tell her she has to have a double knee replacement operation. So I have to manage to cook, clean up, do floors, vacuum often because our dog is shedding, plan meals and shop as best as I can. Thank goodness for curbside pick up. Anyways, this is my life, such as it is. Both my wife and I in constant pain. My wife can barely get into the shower so we are having to do renovations. Ain't life grand?? Some days, I just sit and cry because there is nothing I can do for my wife.

Back to your question of how old the dermatologist is? I recon about 33 or so.

Cheers,


Wintrman

[jiml]

Seems like you're on a hiding to nothing wintrman and whichever way you turn you hit a wall . I think KatT s idea is good try to get an appointment in Winnipeg and whichever is earliest take it and hope the Winnipeg guy is more receptive to your needs.

Sorry to hear your wife is not well and struggles with bad pain issues putting more strain in you

[Sheila]

Seems like you're on a hiding to nothing wintrman and whichever way you turn you hit a wall . I think KatT s idea is good try to get an appointment in Winnipeg and whichever is earliest take it and hope the Winnipeg guy is more receptive to your needs.

Sorry to hear your wife is not well and struggles with bad pain issues putting more strain in you

Hi Jim.
Tomorrow I have an appointment with my GP and this is something I will put to him. I  will have him refer me to a dermatologist in Winnipeg. If he wants to see me first, then I am gone! My wife and I truly enjoy the road trip when it comes. 

Second on the list is dealing with my pain, so that I can care for wife. I just wanna be able to buy groceries, cook and clean up supper dishes. Is that too much to ask?? I won't be leaving his office tomorrow without a solid plan for pain relief and how we are going to move forward for my psoriasis.

Cheers

Wintrman.

[KatT]

OMG Wintrman!  Both of you are not having it easy    

I really hope you get a good plan for pain relief and get that pinched nerve resolved as quickly as possible.  I find GPs today are reluctant to prescribe pain relief medication.  I am very lucky with my GP as she clearly sees that I do not abuse the meds therefore I have more than I need (I try to endure most the time).  It was not like this at the beginning as she didn't know me well.

I have pain meds for day time which is simply Tylenol 3....very mild (the ones with caffeine so they don't cause drowsiness and I can function at work) and some for night time, dilaudid.  I take them as needed but most of the time I endure....except lately as per my situation outlined in my journal.

In my province, they just call you to make the appointment.  No snail mail!  I thought it was an old doctor who kept his old methods 

I also hope your wife has a good pain management plan and I would assume she is on treatments for her RA to slow down the progression

Good luck tomorrow

[Sheila]

OMG Wintrman!  Both of you are not having it easy    

I really hope you get a good plan for pain relief and get that pinched nerve resolved as quickly as possible.  I find GPs today are reluctant to prescribe pain relief medication.  I am very lucky with my GP as she clearly sees that I do not abuse the meds therefore I have more than I need (I try to endure most the time).  It was not like this at the beginning as she didn't know me well.

I have pain meds for day time which is simply Tylenol 3....very mild (the ones with caffeine so they don't cause drowsiness and I can function at work) and some for night time, dilaudid.  I take them as needed but most of the time I endure....except lately as per my situation outlined in my journal.

In my province, they just call you to make the appointment.  No snail mail!  I thought it was an old doctor who kept his old methods 

I also hope your wife has a good pain management plan and I would assume she is on treatments for her RA to slow down the progression

Good luck tomorrow

As far as my wife goes, she is in the same boat as me in one regard. Her GP tells her, "Let's try this. This medication takes about 2 weeks to work to it's full potential. So I will see you in one month." 

This was the start of December of 2020. She has been on nabilone, tramadol, and 3 others plus one other for inflammation that did not work after the 6th week. She is at her wits end. She is depressed. She cries....often. Today she goes into that same GP. I told her to lay down the law. That she will not leave his office without some kind of guaranteed relief. she just wants a break from the pain, if only briefly. I mean, seriously....she can barely get to the bathroom on her own.  So alot of the house work is left to me, as much as I can do. It's a horrible situation we are living in and we are praying we can get both get some relief from meds we are taking. 


Cheers,

Wintrman

[KatT]

Sending the both of you positive vibes    

Hope the both of you get some relief very soon and a treatment to improve your respective situation.

[Sheila]

So, today was another day of stress. I went to my GP and he agrees. I should seek the help of a derm in Winnipeg. Trouble is that the derm in Winnipeg may take up to 3 months to see. So I said make the referral and whoever pokes his head up first, gets the pleasure of dealing with me! My GP also told me I have diabetes now because my blood sugar is at 9.3. When I mentioned this to my pharmacist, he said 7 is ideal but 9.3 isn't terribly high. My GP had me freaked out! Anyways, I am the proud new owner of a blood glucose meter, metformin for meds and a nice yellow sharps box I have to find a place for. 

As for pain, he has put me on diclofenac tabs. Hope it helps. Oh did I mention I am looking forward to diarrhea from the metformin? Where! Good times!! (Shoot me now!)

P.S. anyone know of good drugs for pain relief from osteo arthritis??

[Sheila]

P.S. Did I mention I hate my life right now??

[Fred]

P.S. Did I mention I hate my life right now??

Try not to hate life Wintrman, we only get one go at it and the older you get the more valuable it becomes. I understand life isn't great for you at the moment and I get your frustration, but you have to try (as hard as it may be) and find the positives in life.

Even one little tiny positive helps, 5 minutes doing something you enjoy will take your mind off things.

Life may be rubbish sometimes and will continue to throw things at you, but you sound like a decent person and we all have our positive points we can use to our own advantage.

[Kat]

P.S. Did I mention I hate my life right now??

Understandable as you are going through a lot right now. 

Sadly sometimes there are storms in life, some of them bad.  But those sunny days sure are nice when they happen! Try to focus on those when you can.

Take care Wintrman and know that we are all here willing to listen if nothing else.