Health Boards
Tue-20-03-2012, 21:21 PM
Hi Guys and Gals!!
I'm Krissie and am glad to be part of this forum. I've been following @psoriasisclub on twitter for a while now but never actually seem to be online on the PC much these days to get signed up to the forum etc.
I've had psoriasis for pretty much all of my life. I was diagnosed at age 4 and am now 35 so I can't really remember any life before/without the condition. Unlike many people mine did not ease off at all in my teenage years and I can say with 100% honesty that I have had a total of about 4 months completely free of the skin condition in the 31 years that I have lived with it (I've had 2 rounds of UVB therapy which cleared my skin up for 2 months each). At the moment my skin is fairly clear (as opposed to completely covered) and I am not using over 200g of Dovonex in a fortnight but I am suffering really badly with PSA.
I'm currently off work for the second time in 2 months (just went back to work 4 weeks ago after a bad spell) due to PSA affecting my hands, wrists and neck. I can't lift anything and have lost a lot of dexterity in my hands.
I've spent the past 6 months chopping and changing medications. The meds tried have been Naproxen, diclofenac, celebrex, cocodamol (8mg), codydramol (16mg) and cocodamol (30mg) and I have just been prescribed Tramadol today for the pain... Zombie city here I come!!
I'm waiting for a rheumatology appointment at my local hospital, had to start again after the previous "specialist" informed me there was nothing wrong with me...
I got very angry at that because I wasn't going through a flare at the time I saw him so had no physical symptoms and he had no interest in listening to the symptoms I had experienced. I'm 6 weeks into a 16 week wait for an appointment and dreading having to be signed off work until then.
Work wise I'm a microbiologist and up until recently I have been very much inclined to stay away from DMARDS due to their immunosuppresant actions.. To take these I'd have to give up work. Now though I am weighing up being in constant pain vs. changing my career and pain relief is winning.
I'm keen to offer support and a listening ear to anyone who needs it, having spent a lifetime with psoriasis I can relate to the problems faced by all ages (kids/teens/adults) and would be willing to chat to anyone about how psoriasis is affecting their lives/confidence.
At the same time I'm looking for advice and support from fellow sufferers and I'd love to hear the personal stories of your experiences with psoriasis and heath care providers.
Enough of my rambling... In advance, I'd like to say it's nice to meet you all.
Krissie
I'm Krissie and am glad to be part of this forum. I've been following @psoriasisclub on twitter for a while now but never actually seem to be online on the PC much these days to get signed up to the forum etc.
I've had psoriasis for pretty much all of my life. I was diagnosed at age 4 and am now 35 so I can't really remember any life before/without the condition. Unlike many people mine did not ease off at all in my teenage years and I can say with 100% honesty that I have had a total of about 4 months completely free of the skin condition in the 31 years that I have lived with it (I've had 2 rounds of UVB therapy which cleared my skin up for 2 months each). At the moment my skin is fairly clear (as opposed to completely covered) and I am not using over 200g of Dovonex in a fortnight but I am suffering really badly with PSA.
I'm currently off work for the second time in 2 months (just went back to work 4 weeks ago after a bad spell) due to PSA affecting my hands, wrists and neck. I can't lift anything and have lost a lot of dexterity in my hands.
I've spent the past 6 months chopping and changing medications. The meds tried have been Naproxen, diclofenac, celebrex, cocodamol (8mg), codydramol (16mg) and cocodamol (30mg) and I have just been prescribed Tramadol today for the pain... Zombie city here I come!!I'm waiting for a rheumatology appointment at my local hospital, had to start again after the previous "specialist" informed me there was nothing wrong with me...
I got very angry at that because I wasn't going through a flare at the time I saw him so had no physical symptoms and he had no interest in listening to the symptoms I had experienced. I'm 6 weeks into a 16 week wait for an appointment and dreading having to be signed off work until then.Work wise I'm a microbiologist and up until recently I have been very much inclined to stay away from DMARDS due to their immunosuppresant actions.. To take these I'd have to give up work. Now though I am weighing up being in constant pain vs. changing my career and pain relief is winning.
I'm keen to offer support and a listening ear to anyone who needs it, having spent a lifetime with psoriasis I can relate to the problems faced by all ages (kids/teens/adults) and would be willing to chat to anyone about how psoriasis is affecting their lives/confidence.
At the same time I'm looking for advice and support from fellow sufferers and I'd love to hear the personal stories of your experiences with psoriasis and heath care providers.
Enough of my rambling... In advance, I'd like to say it's nice to meet you all.
Krissie