Hello Pyzchiva (from Stelara)

[Fred]

Thanks Fred

Its called Ochronosis.

Don’t think I will get an appointment for a couple of years 

Angie 

Thank you for the clarification

A couple of years

Drink more Drambuie that should sort it.

[Caroline]

Thanks Fred

Its called Ochronosis.

Don’t think I will get an appointment for a couple of years 

Angie 

Thank you for the clarification 

A couple of years 

Drink more Drambuie that should sort it. 

Hi Angie,

Nice to hear from you again.

Agreed with Fred… the rheumatologist will not bring you any further, they are focused on Rheum and think that PsA is a form of Rheum. But we all know that it is a form of psoriasis.
Stick with your derm and indeed a good biologic that also works for PsA, like Stelara, but Fred knows a number more, he is aiming to try them all.

Cheers,
Caroline

[Fred]

Fred knows a number more, he is aiming to try them all. 

Apart from the biosimilar's I think I have.

[Angie]

Thanks Caroline

Yes, not holding out much hope with them really, let alone get an appointment.

I will keep note of issues and see if they coincide with times of injection due etc.

I have always thought there is no way of telling if it is PsA, but remember reading
one of the threads where I think you mentioned a blood test?  I did say to my derm
about blood test and she said, we don't do that on the NHS!

Is there a test which can tell you?

Thanks

Angie 

[Turnedlight]

When I was diagnosed with psa they said did it based on clinical observations ie what issues I was having, plus the fact I already had psoriasis - I don’t know if there’s a specialised blood test available but it might be worth investigating.

I didn’t have swollen fingers / toes either though they are supposed to be the main sign. I had a string of tendon related issues - carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis.
I get headaches arising from my neck and sleep too.

I don’t know if any of that helps. Hopefully if you want it, you’ll get a referral - mine was done internally to the hospital by the derm, and went through a lot faster than the referral from the gp to the derm.

However as the others say, I don’t really get that much out of seeing the rheumy. The derm prescribes my bio (Skyrizi atm) and the rheumy goes along with it.

They have given me X-rays and scans to check for signs of arthritis - so I’ve had my neck looked at when I complained about it, however they said there’s nothing visible and that was that.