Need PsA and Ps help

[Fred]

As you are in the USA I'm pretty sure all the treatments I pointed you to are available on prescription apart from Skilarence and Fumaderm.

As for diets, be very careful as there are a lot of scams out there. If you want to try though I would suggest reading some threads by our members in the Naturel board I mentioned.

I have very bad psoriatic arthritis and the Bio's have been a life saver. I didn't last long on Tremfya and here in France you can't change the dose, so I'm currently trying a double dose of Ilumetri (Ilumya in the USA) and so far I'm very pleased.

[jiml]

Yes sorry I thought Redford was in the UK so Fred is right my treatment isn't available in your country
But hope you find a bio that gives you clearance and relief from PSA

[Fred]

Yes sorry I thought Redford was in the UK so Fred is right my treatment isn't available in your country
But hope you find a bio that gives you clearance and relief from PSA

Yes I thought UK too.

[Kat]

What has your doctor recommended? I ran into some issues with my dermatologist wanting me on one biologic for skin and my rheumatologist wanting me on another for psoriatic arthritis. I do think it can be difficult to find one that works for both at times (again we're all different)

I have changed my diet quite a bit and noticed no change. Some people have noticed improvements if they eat healthier etc but for me there wasn't any difference. There is lots of info here though from people who say they've had success.

It's really going to be trial and error I think. For me, I have been on Stelara, Cosentyx and Taltz and didn't have much luck with any of those. But members here have had success with those treatments so it really does take finding what works for you. I was looking at Skyrizi and Ilumya as next possibilities but covid hit and I didn't want to start a new biologic at that time. (I'm clear except for scalp and it's manageable right now) Lots of info here on the different treatments and you can discuss what you'd like to try with your dermatologist and go from there.

And it's nice to see a fellow American

[Functionalfool]

No problem thinking I'm British, I took no offense. I did a DNA test 2 years ago and I originate from Scotland and Britain 300 years ago. Is this site mostly British ppl? I ask because healthcare is vastly different from country to country!

I was told Skyrizi is great for skin but not so great for PsA which is why I will not try it. Topical steroids and in worst case scenario Prednisone works for skin but arthritis can be debilitating so it's EXTREMELY important to stay on top of it or you can lose full function of your hand or knee for several days. 

Is it correct that each joint flare up causes permanent damage?

[Functionalfool]

I eat relatively good and my job is labor so I work out daily. My diet is very high in salt which could be changed if I'm convinced salt is bad for psoriasis. I eat a lot of meat and gluten but honestly, that isn't going to change.

I'm open to any suggestions! Just because I don't adopt something like a total diet change, doesn't mean I didn't look into it! I can make minor adjustments and if it helps go further.

I appreciate all the info everyone has given me!

[Kat]

This site has people from all over the world and yes you are very correct in that our healthcare is vastly different. Treatment also varies a bit so it's nice to know where people are from as it helps when it comes to suggestions.

I do not know if after each flare up there is damage, I do know there is damage over time. And you're correct in my view to want to get it under control sooner rather than later!

[Functionalfool]

I spent some time looking into permanent damage caused by PsA and basically, from what I understand, each flare up does a tiny little bit of damage. 1 or 2 or even 10 isn't a big deal but 50 is. 1 guy peeing in a river doesn't make it undrinkable, but not sure I'd want to drink it if 50 guys are peeing upstream lol.

Even though I was diagnosed with Ps 18 months ago, it didn't hit me until recently how serious this disease is.

[Functionalfool]

Kat-- Thank you for your honest opinion! I know diet is important, you can't live off cheetos and Pepsi, but it took balls to come and say diet didn't help you! There are ppl who say all I have to do is become vegan and force my dog to become vegan which will 100% kill him in 5 years and likely me not long after lol.

[Caroline]

As Kat says, there is damage over time, not immediately.
But as you state, it makes sense to avoid psa as much as possible.

Wonder cures, as becoming vegan, do not exist.

There are people, Alan did that, you can find his story somewhere, did it with changing drastically his diet and for him it worked.
Most of us are not able to bring up that power and do the same.

My doctor has given me the following rules:
FOODS TO AVOID are the following as they contain pyruvic acid or pyruvate. This substance is found in (the skin of) certain FRUITS such as grapes and citrus fruits, including foods and liquids derived from them, in ORIENTAL HERBS including pepper and paprika (Hungarian for pepper) and in certain NUTS.
FRUITS:
Peels of grapes and citrus, so also machine-prepared juices and alcoholic drinks in which they are processed, such as:
WINE:
All types of.
DRINKS:
Brandy, cognac, champagne, sparkling wine, samos, vermouth, sherry, malaga, port and orange liqueur.
ORIENTAL HERBS and SPICES:
Pepper, nutmeg, cloves, mustard, cumin, anise, cinnamon, paprika and everything in which these are processed, such as ready-to-use spices, sausage, pate, soup from cans or packets, stock cubes, curry, sauces, mayonnaise and the like .
NOTES:
Peanuts (and therefore also peanut sauce and peanut butter) and all nuts processed and roasted with peanut oil (groundnut oil), such as cashew nuts, pistachios, and also salad oil.

And…
PERMITTED FOODS ARE THE FOLLOWING: BEVERAGES (not based on grapes or citrus):
Beer, whiskey, gin, rum and gin.
WESTERN HERBS and SPICES:
Garlic, parsley, onions, garden herbs (but also saffron).
NOTES:
Coconuts, hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds.
OILS:
Olive oil, corn oil, soybean oil, linseed oil and sunflower oil, fruit vinegar.
FINALLY: Pepperless pickles, cocktail pickles, and any foods not listed.

——————

I indeed do avoid a number of them, like grapes, peanuts, tomatoes, etc. And I myself feel that if I e.g. eat peanut butter, then my joints are starting to protest.

But that is so for me. And everyone is different.
The problem with psa is the pyruvic acid, that creates crystals in your joints that causes the inflammation.