Aha! This looks good, A psoriasis forum for fellow sufferers.

[Kit]

Hi folks, I've just literally stumbled across this forum, took a brief tour, and decided to join in.  I've had plaque psoriasis for several decades now - being diagnosed on the early 1980's. I've had various treatments - and the psoriasis come and goes in between treatments.
Treatment regimes in the past 30 years have varied between creams such as betnovate, dovonex,dovobet etc. and Fumaderm and UVA and also UVB.

I was recently 99% clear following a few sessions of UVB but within 3 weeks of ceasing that treatment I was 85% covered again! The quickest return ever! (for me anyway)...    I'm now back on Fumaderm Initial (after a 10 year break) and am just into my third week. I start on the full strength  tablet this coming Thursday. After only 3 weeks I'm already starting to see a reduction in the flakes I am producing and the plaques are slowing flattening.  I'm very encouraged.   Not side effects as yet.

Last time when I was on these tablets I reluctantly felt obliged to give them up - not because they didnt work, they did, but because the stomach cramps I was getting when I reach 4 tabs a day were just unbearable. 
Somehow I'm hoping to avoid that this time.  Not only am I ten years older and my body may have changed? but maybe I can find some hints and tips in order to reduce the "gastrointestinal" side effects?      I was on an Indian website earlier today which suggested taking the Fumaderm with milk rather than water was a potential way forward.

I hope to pick up some useful ideas and tips here  - it looks like a well used and respected site  and of course I'll be very happy to share my progress (or lack of it) with you all as time passes.   

With tongue firmly in cheek - I only have one negative comment to make so far :  I was only allowed to enter a username which was longer than 3 characters and my given name only has 3 - so I have been obliged to add a dummy character on the end of my name.    (Which is fine by the way!)

Cheers

Kit

[Fred]

Hello Kit   to Psoriasis Club

Thank you for the kind words about Psoriasis Club. We do work very hard to keep it a friendly and informative, and you will find a good bunch of members from all around the world using various different treatments.

There are a few tricks to avoid the gastro whilst taking Fumaderm, but I'll let the DMF Gang tell you all about that and they will be along soon I'm sure.

Re the 4 characters for usernames. Without giving to much away it is an anti spam measure, we are very proactive against spam and make the sign up process difficult deliberately. Our thinking is that genuine people will put up with the measures or contact us if they have any problems registering. Unfortunately there is nothing I can do and you will have to put up with 4, though I could change it to a full stop if you rather?

Oh and yes you will see we do have a member Kat. But she joined before I put the new measures in place.

Regards.

Fred.

[Grizzly Bear]

Kit:

I'm the insane one on here so don't worry  

They all pick on me here Kit mate sadly, the rotten so & so's    

You enjoy yourself on here Kit Kat  

GB

[jiml]

Hi folks, I've just literally stumbled across this forum, took a brief tour, and decided to join in.  I've had plaque psoriasis for several decades now - being diagnosed on the early 1980's. I've had various treatments - and the psoriasis come and goes in between treatments.
Treatment regimes in the past 30 years have varied between creams such as betnovate, dovonex,dovobet etc. and Fumaderm and UVA and also UVB.

I was recently 99% clear following a few sessions of UVB but within 3 weeks of ceasing that treatment I was 85% covered again! The quickest return ever! (for me anyway)...    I'm now back on Fumaderm Initial (after a 10 year break) and am just into my third week. I start on the full strength  tablet this coming Thursday. After only 3 weeks I'm already starting to see a reduction in the flakes I am producing and the plaques are slowing flattening.  I'm very encouraged.   Not side effects as yet.

Last time when I was on these tablets I reluctantly felt obliged to give them up - not because they didnt work, they did, but because the stomach cramps I was getting when I reach 4 tabs a day were just unbearable. 
Somehow I'm hoping to avoid that this time.  Not only am I ten years older and my body may have changed? but maybe I can find some hints and tips in order to reduce the "gastrointestinal" side effects?      I was on an Indian website earlier today which suggested taking the Fumaderm with milk rather than water was a potential way forward.

I hope to pick up some useful ideas and tips here  - it looks like a well used and respected site  and of course I'll be very happy to share my progress (or lack of it) with you all as time passes.   

With tongue firmly in cheek - I only have one negative comment to make so far :  I was only allowed to enter a username which was longer than 3 characters and my given name only has 3 - so I have been obliged to add a dummy character on the end of my name.    (Which is fine by the way!)

Cheers

Kit

Welcome Kit I'm glad you stumbled onto us, and yes your title says it all, that's all you will find here fellow sufferers, sharing experiences
Fred has built up a tremendous store if information about the disease and it's treatments, this has been complimented by members adding their experiences for others to learn from

We are a friendly site you will notice it's not got a single advert or live link, this helps keep the site totally independent and friendly and a safe environment for us all to post in.

You will never be asked to donate ...Fred refuses any assistance funding the site and has it covered for over the next two years , so feel free to join in any of the conversations, we try to make everybody feel comfortable

On to your Fumaderm, I'm glad you have come back to it , I think it's a super drug and have been on it over 4 years and been clear most of that time..

A suggestion to you about the stomach cramps, which I used to get .....if you can tough it out they do give up as your body gets used to the stranger invading it,
But when they start ...try going back a step, take one less tablet for a week before stepping up...that might help, but let's cross that bridge when and if it happens this time

once more Jim  

[Kit]

@Fred, Grizzly Bear & Jiml

Magic!  Thanks ever so much for the warm welcome.

Fred:  Great site. I really appreciate what you are doing here, as I'm sure many others do too.   Thanks also for the kind offer to change my name from a colon to a full stop - but - I'm really fine with the 4th character.  I was having a bit of a leg-pull.   (But I'm jealous of Kat of course)
In fact as I'm back on Fumaderm I suspect a colon will become most appropriate soon!  

Grizzly: I don't think I've ever received an email as "full of life" as yours! Thanks for that! I'll try and help you keep everyone off your back.  
 
 Jiml: Hi and many thanks for the welcome too.  Your point about pushing through the stomach cramps is well taken - I have already resolved to try and do so - should they return  - and I'll also take note of any hints I see regarding the mitigation of the cramps.  One big difference for me this time is that I've recently retired.   Those cramps 10 years ago invariably hit me when I was either driving around or sitting in meetings at work - not at all convenient - but these days I should be able to ride any uncomfortable sessions without risking other road users lives or ruining meetings.  The idea of taking a backwards step for a week seems fair too.  As I said earlier it's early days for me as I don't actually start the "full strength stuff" until Thursday.  Forewarned is forearmed however - and that's an advantage I have this time too. I wasn't properly prepared 10 years ago.

Cheers

Kit:

[Fred]

Fred:  Great site. I really appreciate what you are doing here, as I'm sure many others do too.   Thanks also for the kind offer to change my name from a colon to a full stop - but - I'm really fine with the 4th character.  I was having a bit of a leg-pull.   (But I'm jealous of Kat of course)
In fact as I'm back on Fumaderm I suspect a colon will become most appropriate soon! 

 

 You're welcome Kit.

As for leg pulling we enjoy a lot of that in the [Group Specific] board. If you do venture in there you will see I Am the only sensible one.

*Tip Don't offer to help Grizzly, you will end up with Glitter pictures left on your locker door each morning.  

[jiml]

Like your style Kit  
When I started on Fumaderm I was still working and it was awkward when the cramps came on at work, but was lucky in as much as they usually happened in the evening and first thing in the morning

I have always flushed mine down with plenty of fluid and you may find milk helpful Caroline on here suggests a yogurt with your meal helps

I'm sure it will help being retired, but hopefully the cramps won't be so bad this time ......it also helps knowing that there is a place like this where you can talk about the effects and not feel as if you are going through it alone

As Fred said we also have an active off topic section for you to enjoy

[Caroline]

Hi Kit:

Welcome to psoriasisclub! Nice to meet you.
I see you already met Grizzly and Jim as well as Fred.

I am also one of the so called DMF gang  
Indeed i heard that you could take the pills with yoghurt. This should help in passing it through your stomach.

As always I will ask you are they stomach pains or belly pains?
For me they are totally different. And luckily also not recognisable. I am on DMF but not on Fumaderm, but on a Dutch variant which has a slow release in the intestine which virtually prevents the intestine cramps.
You might ask why don't they have that all? Well that is because of the stupid patenting system that exists.

I can also advise you to read the posts of Bill, our local professor from down under. He uses pure DMF on a fraction of the costs of our medication and he is doing very well on it and has several very good suggestions.

Enjoy yourself on our forum, mingle in but I don't have the impression that you will have a problem with that  
The Off Topic section is a nice place to be. If you happen to arrive in the bar, be prepared that the first drinks are on you    

Caroline

[Kit]

Hi Caroline

It was 10 years ago since I experienced the stomach ache from Fumaderm, but if my memory serves me well then it was Low down and DEEP.  In the next few weeks I may be able to confirm precisely (but I hope not!)
Thanks for the Yogurt tip - I'll keep that ammunition in my back pocket and I will also look up the prof from down under too.  Patents and Intellectual Property....   literally leading to an unnecessary a pain in the rear end!   I can certainly believe it.  

I'll have a look in the off topic area and see if I can find the bar. (Whoops - A whole new topic here?  Alcohol vs Psoriasis?) I'll certainly get a virtual round in if so required.  

What is it the Americans say:? "What goes around, comes around" 
or something very similar.  
In my experience - very true.


Once again, many thanks for your response and advice, I hope your own condition is both manageable and under control? 

Cheers
Op uw gezondheid!

Kit:

[Grizzly Bear]

Of all the stuff i've ever taken since leaving the armed forces, Fumaderm is one i've never taken thank god.

GB