Health Boards
Tue-19-11-2019, 15:47 PM
We discussed Skyrizi and Ilumya, but they are not yet recommended for psoriatic arthritis.
The rheumatologist gave me a simple explanation (which I always appreciate) He told me to think of it as a river with branches. At the end of one branch is skin psoriasis and the end of another is psoriatic arthritis. Where do you build the dam? Some biologics target one or the other, and sometimes it helps both but a TNF inhibitor works "further back" as in before the river branches. One of the reasons it has more warnings. Somehow, I understood the meaning. But then I once had a hematologist using people getting on and off of a bus to explain what was going on with my blood levels once, I really am a bit of a dunce when it comes to medical science!
I pretty much already have my mind made up on methotrexate.
After Acitretin cleared up the psoriasis on my body, I've been left with scalp psoriasis. I thought I could manage it on my own until I flared two years ago. When I'm all itchy which is most of the time, and looking at the scaling on my shoulders, I think I need to find something that works for me. Sometimes it eases up and I think that it's not too much worse than a bad case of dandruff, but admittedly those times have been slim. Also, I've been fortunate to be here and know that psoriatic arthritis isn't something I want to have get worse as so many of you share what you've gone through with it. So I know I shouldn't ignore things until they get worse.
HOWEVER, I also feel lucky at times as I do not have it to the extent that so many people struggle with. And that makes me question sometimes the risk vs gain. If I had it worse (so to speak) then the risks is worth it.
So some days I think it's worth it, and others days not so much.
To me it seems something should have already worked! I'm a tad bit disappointed honestly. But that doesn't get me anywhere.
It's just a wait and see what I find out from my other doctors, then moving forward from there. It will all work out.
The rheumatologist gave me a simple explanation (which I always appreciate) He told me to think of it as a river with branches. At the end of one branch is skin psoriasis and the end of another is psoriatic arthritis. Where do you build the dam? Some biologics target one or the other, and sometimes it helps both but a TNF inhibitor works "further back" as in before the river branches. One of the reasons it has more warnings. Somehow, I understood the meaning. But then I once had a hematologist using people getting on and off of a bus to explain what was going on with my blood levels once, I really am a bit of a dunce when it comes to medical science!
I pretty much already have my mind made up on methotrexate.
After Acitretin cleared up the psoriasis on my body, I've been left with scalp psoriasis. I thought I could manage it on my own until I flared two years ago. When I'm all itchy which is most of the time, and looking at the scaling on my shoulders, I think I need to find something that works for me. Sometimes it eases up and I think that it's not too much worse than a bad case of dandruff, but admittedly those times have been slim. Also, I've been fortunate to be here and know that psoriatic arthritis isn't something I want to have get worse as so many of you share what you've gone through with it. So I know I shouldn't ignore things until they get worse.
HOWEVER, I also feel lucky at times as I do not have it to the extent that so many people struggle with. And that makes me question sometimes the risk vs gain. If I had it worse (so to speak) then the risks is worth it.
So some days I think it's worth it, and others days not so much.
To me it seems something should have already worked! I'm a tad bit disappointed honestly. But that doesn't get me anywhere.
It's just a wait and see what I find out from my other doctors, then moving forward from there. It will all work out.