Hi there from Marcus

[MarcusScone]

Caroline, could you PM me any suggestions on where I could purchase from the Netherlands? I’m keen to keep options open at this stage

[Caroline]

Caroline, could you PM me any suggestions on where I could purchase from the Netherlands? I’m keen to keep options open at this stage

Yes, I can, but not yet now. The PM system is only available to you after you have made 5 posts.
So do post something interesting in.... I suggest the off topic section...

[jiml]

Hi all,

Thanks for the warm welcome and advice - as for the private prescription, it’s because the GP was very resistant to referring me to an NHS dermatologist - this was despite having a moderate body covering and a near 100% scalp covering - so I took it through the private route due to some insurance I have from work. The problem here is that it does not cover prescriptions at all.

My dermatologist has told me that going through the nhs is an option, although it would be unlikely that I would be assigned to him due to the size of the practice at the hospital he works at (quite a lot of dermatologists). He also mentioned that before Skilarence would be prescribed that I would need to go through light therapy (which hasn’t worked very effectively in the past, and I also couldn’t be now commit to with my job which requires regular travel), followed by methotrexate and cyclosporine, Botha of which I wasn’t keen to avoid which was why i tried acitretin.

Marcus

That's a shame that they will make you go through all the hoops to get an effective drug
. But I don't know another way to get effective treatment ...I would refuse uv treatment and explain that it doesn't work and you fear skin cancer ....go on Methotrexate  and after a week or two tell them you are constantly nauseous although it might be working by then ... and tell them you are worried about the side effects of other drugs but would happily go on skilarence which is cheaper than biological drugs  

Do remember if you are able to get psorinovo without a prescription you may be breaking the law importing it and if you take it and there are complications the NHS might not be happy treating you

[Fred]

Do remember if you are able to get psorinovo without a prescription you may be breaking the law importing it and if you take it and there are complications the NHS might not be happy treating you

[Raxyl]

Welcome Marcus, I'm in Australia so I cannot add much either except to say 

[MarcusScone]

Hi all,

Thanks for the warm welcome and advice - as for the private prescription, it’s because the GP was very resistant to referring me to an NHS dermatologist - this was despite having a moderate body covering and a near 100% scalp covering - so I took it through the private route due to some insurance I have from work. The problem here is that it does not cover prescriptions at all.

My dermatologist has told me that going through the nhs is an option, although it would be unlikely that I would be assigned to him due to the size of the practice at the hospital he works at (quite a lot of dermatologists). He also mentioned that before Skilarence would be prescribed that I would need to go through light therapy (which hasn’t worked very effectively in the past, and I also couldn’t be now commit to with my job which requires regular travel), followed by methotrexate and cyclosporine, Botha of which I wasn’t keen to avoid which was why i tried acitretin.

Marcus

That's a shame that they will make you go through all the hoops to get an effective drug
. But I don't know another way to get effective treatment ...I would refuse uv treatment and explain that it doesn't work and you fear skin cancer ....go on Methotrexate  and after a week or two tell them you are constantly nauseous although it might be working by then ... and tell them you are worried about the side effects of other drugs but would happily go on skilarence which is cheaper than biological drugs  

Do remember if you are able to get psorinovo without a prescription you may be breaking the law importing it and if you take it and there are complications the NHS might not be happy treating you

From research that I’ve done from government websites it seems that importing medication for personal use up to 3 months supply is perfectly legal in the UK, so that at the very least is a worry off my mind.

I can understand the concern on the second, but surely if the NHS is happy treating hard drug abuse, they’re not going to turn somebody away for having used a differently branded version of a similar medication?

[Turnedlight]

Hi, nice to meet you  

I think this derm might be slightly off, as you’ve had uvb treatment before there will be a record, and if you’ve tried it and been unsuccessful you ought to be able to bypass it. You would probably not avoid the methotrexate though.
But I’d probably go and see the nhs derm, it’s obtaining another opinion and you might be surprised - if you are doing well with the drug you’re on they may keep you on it, especially if it’s not that expensive to the nhs.

[Caroline]

Hi all,

Thanks for the warm welcome and advice - as for the private prescription, it’s because the GP was very resistant to referring me to an NHS dermatologist - this was despite having a moderate body covering and a near 100% scalp covering - so I took it through the private route due to some insurance I have from work. The problem here is that it does not cover prescriptions at all.

My dermatologist has told me that going through the nhs is an option, although it would be unlikely that I would be assigned to him due to the size of the practice at the hospital he works at (quite a lot of dermatologists). He also mentioned that before Skilarence would be prescribed that I would need to go through light therapy (which hasn’t worked very effectively in the past, and I also couldn’t be now commit to with my job which requires regular travel), followed by methotrexate and cyclosporine, Botha of which I wasn’t keen to avoid which was why i tried acitretin.

Marcus

That's a shame that they will make you go through all the hoops to get an effective drug
. But I don't know another way to get effective treatment ...I would refuse uv treatment and explain that it doesn't work and you fear skin cancer ....go on Methotrexate  and after a week or two tell them you are constantly nauseous although it might be working by then ... and tell them you are worried about the side effects of other drugs but would happily go on skilarence which is cheaper than biological drugs  

Do remember if you are able to get psorinovo without a prescription you may be breaking the law importing it and if you take it and there are complications the NHS might not be happy treating you

From research that I’ve done from government websites it seems that importing medication for personal use up to 3 months supply is perfectly legal in the UK, so that at the very least is a worry off my mind.

I can understand the concern on the second, but surely if the NHS is happy treating hard drug abuse, they’re not going to turn somebody away for having used a differently branded version of a similar medication?

Well that is a good piece of reseach Marcus. And valuable as it seems that there still is some sense in the government. I know from personal contact that also someone in Germany is ordering from the netherlands.

One post to go for you and I can send you a PM.

[JohnB]

Hi all,

Thanks for the warm welcome and advice - as for the private prescription, it’s because the GP was very resistant to referring me to an NHS dermatologist - this was despite having a moderate body covering and a near 100% scalp covering - so I took it through the private route due to some insurance I have from work. The problem here is that it does not cover prescriptions at all.

My dermatologist has told me that going through the nhs is an option, although it would be unlikely that I would be assigned to him due to the size of the practice at the hospital he works at (quite a lot of dermatologists). He also mentioned that before Skilarence would be prescribed that I would need to go through light therapy (which hasn’t worked very effectively in the past, and I also couldn’t be now commit to with my job which requires regular travel), followed by methotrexate and cyclosporine, Botha of which I wasn’t keen to avoid which was why i tried acitretin.

Marcus

That's a shame that they will make you go through all the hoops to get an effective drug
. But I don't know another way to get effective treatment ...I would refuse uv treatment and explain that it doesn't work and you fear skin cancer ....go on Methotrexate  and after a week or two tell them you are constantly nauseous although it might be working by then ... and tell them you are worried about the side effects of other drugs but would happily go on skilarence which is cheaper than biological drugs  

Do remember if you are able to get psorinovo without a prescription you may be breaking the law importing it and if you take it and there are complications the NHS might not be happy treating you

I can understand the concern on the second, but surely if the NHS is happy treating hard drug abuse, they’re not going to turn somebody away for having used a differently branded version of a similar medication?

Hi Marcus
I beleive the only way you will get a blood test done is through a Doctor of some description. I can understand you wanting to keep your Dermy, finding a good one can be a trial and yes you will have to jump through the NHS hoops until you get to something that works. I can understand your reluctance to try Methotrexate, I am due to start imminently. It wasn't my first choice of medication, but it has helped quite a few people Dave on this Forum had quite a few years on it. UV will only ever be a stop gap. If you have already tried it or you don't get any relief in normal sunshine then it's not for you and would be able to present a good argument against it.
As for importing medicines, there are a lot of dodgy suppliers out there - tread with caution.
JohnB

[D Foster]

Hi Marcus and welcome.
I think that it's time to change your GP , you can insist that you see a NHS dermatologist and I would go this route anyway , as pointed out all your previous treatments will be logged so why would they make you go through light treatment again. I would suggest that your GP is getting a kick back from the private health supplier.
I am under a private consultant who is on contract to the NHS and he just sees me now under the NHS contract .
I have been on MTX for nine years , acitretin and also cyclosporin which did not suit me at all but never on Skilarence so I can't comment on that one but the MTX was OK and did work but the side effects did build up.
I am on Stelara at the moment and have been for over five years , it's really good and I can highly recommend it . I know with the NHS you have to jump through a few hoops to get onto ,what I would call the effective treatments.
Best of luck and as I said give him the push if he will not do as you want, it's about you as you are the patient not him, some GPs are up their own bottoms in fact a lot of health care people are !!!!