Time for this lurker to introduce herself!

[jiml]

After lurking here the past month or so, I've decided to take the plunge and introduce myself! 
I've spent the last 20 years living with psoriasis being diagnosed at age 15. Of course went through all the creams and such for quite a few years. But the psoriasis gradually spread from my arms to my legs. Pregnancy 11 years ago completely cleared the psoriasis up, but alas it came back with vengeance! Arms, legs, hands, feet and face were all affected. Thus started my journey with MTX. 
MTX worked fairly well for me for quite a few years. It keept everything clear with the exception of my arms which I could live with. About 3 years ago the side effects of MTX seemed to start to get worse. Instead of being tired and nauseous for one day it was stretching into two or three. And the psoriasis started to pop back up everywhere. But I contined taking it until last summer. I started feeling sick and tired all the time. Psoriasis was getting worse and worse. A lot of pain which was really really starting to impact my every day life. 
So back to my derm last fall where she switched up the dose of MTX, but that didn't help. She then set me up with Stelara, which my insurance has decided not to cover but thank goodness I was approved for long term compassionate care. I just had my second injection on friday, and can't even begin to believe the difference this drug is making in my life!!!!! 
No one else in my family not do any of my friends have this disease. A lot of times I feel so very alone, like no one can truly understand what it is I go through on a daily basis. Coming here and reading all of your posts have helped me feel like I'm not so alone!
Thank you!!

Hi FoxxyCleo and a big   welcome to the club, I'm glad you have had a good lurk, and read a lot of the posts here. You will have noticed that we are a friendly bunch of psoriasis sufferers. Happy to help each other with encouragement and exchanging experiences ....

You sound as if you have had a rough time with psoriasis and it is difficult when you have no one to share your frustrations of the disease with
Family don't really understand although they do try......but here there is usually someone to listen to concerns and although we don't profess to have all the answers we will try and have built up a great library of treatments both natural and prescribed, together with fellow sufferers experiences

There's no one being judgemental or trying to sell anything ....all members are sufferers just like you and me

I hope you get on well with Stelara Fred who runs the site is on it as are several other members ...
So enjoy reading through the threads and if you need any help just shout

As a member you will see you have more boards to browse so never be alone again, come and join in on any of the threads , and if you feel like relaxing a bit join us in the off topic section
Good luck

Jim