Need PsA and Ps help

[Caroline]

Yes it's a very strong steroid. For me, it works well enough that I only use it 3 or 4 times a month. Less if my psoriasis is behaving. Steroids are bad news for long term use but they are a miracle drug in a pinch!

Anyone have any thoughts about taking vitamin D supplements?

I every day use a few drops of concentrated vit D.
Don’t know if it helps, but I am very low on medication right now.
(I do also have quite a different diet compared to you… )

[KatT]

I take vitamin D also but don't know if it helps.  I started taking vitamins due to my lupus.

[Kat]

Yes it's a very strong steroid. For me, it works well enough that I only use it 3 or 4 times a month. Less if my psoriasis is behaving. Steroids are bad news for long term use but they are a miracle drug in a pinch!

Anyone have any thoughts about taking vitamin D supplements?

Been taking them for awhile as my Vitamin D runs low but I've noticed no difference in my psoriasis.

[Kat]

Medicaid probably covers a lot of drugs, I've never had it so unfamiliar with what it may cover but usually medication is no cost I think.  As of Jan 1 of this year both Mr. Kat and I are on Medicare only so I have some experience with it.  (His job ended, he's old enough to retire but doesn't plan to so we may be back on commercial insurance as our primary soon, we'll see) It's illegal for pharmaceutical companies to offer discounts for medications purchased through Medicare which is why they can't offer those discounts.  Medicare has it's own way of dealing with it to keep costs down although it's going to cost more than most of the company discounts offered.  My first prescription of Trulicity (retail is around $1000 was $344.00 -for 3 months.-  My refill however was only $47.00 for 3 months.  My next refill is also listed at going to be $47.00 - right now I'm using free doctor samples from my last doctor visit. I'm still trying to figure it out as far as  how it works with Medicare and prescriptions.    I've spent more on prescriptions that my husband and so I checked his plan on one of his prescriptions and it was $18.00.  I checked my plan for that same prescription and it was 9.00.  We're on the same plan!  So it is very confusing.

Adding that when I was on biologics (commercial insurance so I was eligible for the company price plan) I asked the nurse at the doctor's office what would happen once I was on Medicare.  She said they would work with me to get it set up as I wouldn't be able to get the same deal but that they have people on biologics on Medicare.  So I'm guessing it's affordable still.  Hope so anyway.

[Forest Walker]

Thank you for sharing that, Kat.  Being in your 40's, 50's, 60's and relying on expensive medications to quiet active auto-immune diseases is one thing.  Work and life are busy if you're lucky enough to have the disease quiet enough.  Looking ahead is alarming, to me, at least.  Not sure how the aging body will tolerate different medications, how will I afford to continue using what is working now.  Your experience with Medicare helps me begin to understand a confusing system and also offers some reassurance that medication will still be affordable.  Thanks for taking the time to write it out.  

I think it's relevant to Functionalfool's experience, too, since he lives in USA, also.  Ff, you are lucky to have good health insurance through your employer.  

Ff, have you had blood tests to check your Vitamin D levels?

[Functionalfool]

My doc wrote script for bloodwork checking for B12, vitamin D, uric acid, iron, ESR, CRP. I'll get blood drawn this weekend or Mon. I wanted a baseline before I take supplements and since my psoriasis is bad right now, it's a perfect time to get tested.

I can request other tests if anyone thinks I should get more. Keep in mind people only have 1.3 gallons of blood so I can't give 73 vials lol

[Kat]

Thank you for sharing that, Kat.  Being in your 40's, 50's, 60's and relying on expensive medications to quiet active auto-immune diseases is one thing.  Work and life are busy if you're lucky enough to have the disease quiet enough.  Looking ahead is alarming, to me, at least.  Not sure how the aging body will tolerate different medications, how will I afford to continue using what is working now.  Your experience with Medicare helps me begin to understand a confusing system and also offers some reassurance that medication will still be affordable.  Thanks for taking the time to write it out.  

It is scary, I agree!  We're still trying to figure out the pharmacy coverage honestly.  It's a bit confusing and I remember my Mom complaining how it didn't cover her medicines as much as she felt it should.  So far we haven't ran in to any major issues as far as getting prescriptions filled.  I'm not totally sure how it works with biologics but there must be something in place.  I personally don't know anyone who could afford paying retail price long term for those! 

My doc wrote script for bloodwork checking for B12, vitamin D, uric acid, iron, ESR, CRP. I'll get blood drawn this weekend or Mon. I wanted a baseline before I take supplements and since my psoriasis is bad right now, it's a perfect time to get tested.

I can request other tests if anyone thinks I should get more. Keep in mind people only have 1.3 gallons of blood so I can't give 73 vials lol

Definitely make them stop before #70! 

And yes, I find weird things interesting so found this:

Lab testing The average blood vial holds a scant 8.5 milliliters. You’d have to have about 88 of these vials of your blood taken before you begin to experience side effects.

[Caroline]

My doc wrote script for bloodwork checking for B12, vitamin D, uric acid, iron, ESR, CRP. I'll get blood drawn this weekend or Mon. I wanted a baseline before I take supplements and since my psoriasis is bad right now, it's a perfect time to get tested.

I can request other tests if anyone thinks I should get more. Keep in mind people only have 1.3 gallons of blood so I can't give 73 vials lol

Folic acid?