Health Boards
Sat-31-03-2018, 01:17 AM
Hi all,
So I had a day yesterday. I went to my rheumatology referral and the doctor literally said, "I don't treat psoriasis; I treat psoriatic arthritis, but you don't have that." However, she said the awful outbreak and heard me tell her I have limited time to see doctors due to my job. She was the University of Tennessee group, and she got me into a UT dermatology clinic that afternoon. They tried to draw blood that morning, but I was severely dehydrated because I had bottomed out the night before due to low sugar and my ex had to come stay the night with me to make sure I was ok. So they couldn't get any blood; they said the derm would get it.
So i get to the dermatologist--he understands how severe this is--however, he said he couldn't start me on anything until the blood tests came back and made sure everything was OK. He did say he believed I needed a biologic treatment, and in order to get that, I needed to see him at his other practice. He tried to get me in Monday, but it's Wednesday. Derm nurse couldn't get blood and told me to go back to rheumatology to get it drawn. Drove back across town, begged and pleaded, told them I could not return Monday because of my job, and they called a nurse who got it the first stick and drew 8 vials.
Not sure what they will put me on, but the dr also said he saw the severity of the situation and asked if I could make it downtown 3 days a week for light treatment... I'm assuming he meant UV, he said it was like a tanning bed... I told him no, I can't do that because of my job.
they also told me the ER should never have put me on predisone because it can actually make psoriasis worse! I told them it didn't, it actually cleared it up. Then they gave me a scrip of topical steroid OINTMENT, not cream, to use until I start actual treatment.
So.... knowing they are looking at the biologic route, depending on bloodwork, etc. ... can anyone tell me a little more about that? Is it oral, or injections? If you have taken biologics, how effective have they been? Are there multiple different biologics? Has anyone experienced more help with one versus the other? etc.
I appreciate any pointers... I told the dr thanks to the board here I knew about biologics and he said "Sounds like you have done your research," which I thought was funny since I actually don't know exactly what a biologic is or how it's taken! but... excellent derm. Am still shocked my PCP kept sending me to rheumatology then I got there and the rheumatologist was like, "I don't treat this." I think she saw I was on the verge of a breakdown, hence the same-day appt with a derm.
thanks for all you guys advice and support....
So I had a day yesterday. I went to my rheumatology referral and the doctor literally said, "I don't treat psoriasis; I treat psoriatic arthritis, but you don't have that." However, she said the awful outbreak and heard me tell her I have limited time to see doctors due to my job. She was the University of Tennessee group, and she got me into a UT dermatology clinic that afternoon. They tried to draw blood that morning, but I was severely dehydrated because I had bottomed out the night before due to low sugar and my ex had to come stay the night with me to make sure I was ok. So they couldn't get any blood; they said the derm would get it.
So i get to the dermatologist--he understands how severe this is--however, he said he couldn't start me on anything until the blood tests came back and made sure everything was OK. He did say he believed I needed a biologic treatment, and in order to get that, I needed to see him at his other practice. He tried to get me in Monday, but it's Wednesday. Derm nurse couldn't get blood and told me to go back to rheumatology to get it drawn. Drove back across town, begged and pleaded, told them I could not return Monday because of my job, and they called a nurse who got it the first stick and drew 8 vials.
Not sure what they will put me on, but the dr also said he saw the severity of the situation and asked if I could make it downtown 3 days a week for light treatment... I'm assuming he meant UV, he said it was like a tanning bed... I told him no, I can't do that because of my job.
they also told me the ER should never have put me on predisone because it can actually make psoriasis worse! I told them it didn't, it actually cleared it up. Then they gave me a scrip of topical steroid OINTMENT, not cream, to use until I start actual treatment.
So.... knowing they are looking at the biologic route, depending on bloodwork, etc. ... can anyone tell me a little more about that? Is it oral, or injections? If you have taken biologics, how effective have they been? Are there multiple different biologics? Has anyone experienced more help with one versus the other? etc.
I appreciate any pointers... I told the dr thanks to the board here I knew about biologics and he said "Sounds like you have done your research," which I thought was funny since I actually don't know exactly what a biologic is or how it's taken! but... excellent derm. Am still shocked my PCP kept sending me to rheumatology then I got there and the rheumatologist was like, "I don't treat this." I think she saw I was on the verge of a breakdown, hence the same-day appt with a derm.
thanks for all you guys advice and support....