Worried about Fumaderm

[Shadie]

Hi guys
I'm new to the club and wish I'd found you years ago.
I am 35 years old mother of 3 boys. I live in Ireland.  I have had psoriasis for 30years. I was on methotrexate for over 2 years but I changed over to Fumaderm 12weeks ago. I am taking 2tabs twice a day.
Since starting the treatment I have not experienced too much cramping thank God but I have been very flushed a lot of the time. I have had a very bad kidney infection, a bout of gastroenteritis and yesterday I developed a middle ear infection.
After my last blood test the dr rang me and asked me to return for another blood test as there was something abnormal with my white blood cell count, she didn't elaborate but I am getting a bit worried. I had the second test this week and am waiting to hear from them.
Does anyone know what might be going on?
Also can Fumaderm cause a person to have interrupted sleep?? I keep waking after only an hour or two and don't sleep properly for the rest of the night.
If anyone can help I would really appreciate it as I am really anxious about this.
Cheers
Shadie xxx

[jiml]

Hello Shadie
I would like to offer you a big warm to the club.
As you have probably read on here in various posts I too am on Fumaderm .and whilst I'm not a doctor I would think your kidney infection may have something to do with the lowering of your immune system....
The abnormal bloods, again I'm not to sure about but Fumaderm can affect your lymphocyte levels and if they drop below the normal range they may reduce the dose or take you off it altogether
You don't say whether the Fumaderm had shifted your psoriasis ........has it started to clear ?

The health problems with the kidneys and gastroenteritis may not be linked to Fumaderm it's not something I had heard about.... May just be a coincidence catching things with a lowered immune system.

You are doing in my opinion all the right things your doctor or dermatologist should be able to advise when the next blood results are in The normal level of lymphocyte count is between 1-3 myself I have had mine drop to 0.67 and come back up again
Please let us know the outcome, although I'm hopeful it will just be a temporary blip..... They happen and as long as you are monitored there should be no problem that can't be sorted by tweaking the dose

[Shadie]

Hi Jim
Yes my psoriasis has cleared slot since starting the Fumaderm. I'm delighted, I have practically no scale for probably the first time in my life, except during pregnancy...
My nails are still a bit affected and also the soles of my feet but that is it really which is amazing for me as I was literally covered.
I'm hoping these ; infections are due to a temporarily lowered immune system. Do you have any tips on how to boost the immune system to help?

Thanks for your reply

Shadie

[jiml]

Hi Jim
Yes my psoriasis has cleared slot since starting the Fumaderm. I'm delighted, I have practically no scale for probably the first time in my life, except during pregnancy...
My nails are still a bit affected and also the soles of my feet but that is it really which is amazing for me as I was literally covered.
I'm hoping these ; infections are due to a temporarily lowered immune system. Do you have any tips on how to boost the immune system to help?

Thanks for your reply

Shadie

Well Shadie
I wish I could say I had all the answers but unfortunately or fortunately I have been lucky and managed to fight off infections and have just had a few odd ones since being on Fumaderm. They have run their course and I'm non the worse for it. If your immune system is low and you are clearing well they may well reduce your dose..... At the moment I'm on 1 tablet with breakfast and two with my evening meal and I'm pretty clear,on that and my lymphocytes are up,to around 1.1 which is good
I'm sure Caroline or another user will give better advice on raising your immune system
But I wish you good luck and I'm so glad that Fumaderm has done it's magic with you now if your bloods are got under control you can get on with a scale free life ....... It's great isn't it
I wouldn't worry unduly about your blood test results although ask the question what are the levels then you will know if it's anything to be concerned with or ask on here we will always respond
Jim

[jiml]

Been thinking about the ways to boost your immune system and have read that a good diet and lack of stress will help there are some good articles on here and you could start by reading this oneThe anti-inflamatory food pyramid
I also read this

Get enough protein. Eating a balanced diet ensures that the right nutrients reach the bone marrow, where white blood cells are produced. Start by making sure to eat plenty of protein, which is the most important component of white blood cells.[1] You can get protein from meats, fish, poultry, cheese, eggs, and milk.

There is a lot of help on this forum

I hope you enjoy your time with us and feel free to join us in the chatting thread anytime. We are a really friendly crowd

Edited by Jim
What I should have mentioned and didn't was that I eat what I like and drink more than I should and it doesn't seem to affect my psoriasis

Regarding sleep patterns... I have never needed much sleep I am always late to bed and early to rise but I have been this way for years. Long before I went on Fumaderm ......Again it doesn't seem to have any effect on my skin whatsoever .

[Shadie]

Thank Jim

I have to say that with 3 kids and a business I am fairly stressed bit I think that I've always been stressed over one thing or another. This is why my psoriasis has always been a problem. I have tried meditation, mindfulness and other methods of relaxation in order to try to help.
As for diet. I tend to eat lots of protein. Not so much today though as I'm unwell. I will look into the diet issue in more depth and maybe look into speaking to a nutritionist.
I have never had so many infections in such a short time before which is why I was worrying. The middle ear infection I've had since yesterday is the third one in 6 weeks.

I'll let you know how it goes or of I find out anything useful in the pursuit of answers

Shadie

[jiml]

Thank Jim

I have to say that with 3 kids and a business I am fairly stressed bit I think that I've always been stressed over one thing or another. This is why my psoriasis has always been a problem. I have tried meditation, mindfulness and other methods of relaxation in order to try to help.
As for diet. I tend to eat lots of protein. Not so much today though as I'm unwell. I will look into the diet issue in more depth and maybe look into speaking to a nutritionist.
I have never had so many infections in such a short time before which is why I was worrying. The middle ear infection I've had since yesterday is the third one in 6 weeks.

I'll let you know how it goes or of I find out anything useful in the pursuit of answers

Shadie

Thanks for coming back and elaborating further ..... Yes 3 kids and a business will be stressful but there is positive stress as well as negative. My life has always until recently been pressurised by my business but I regard that as positive stress because I thrived on the pressure
Negative stress I found was worrying about my psoriasis and how to keep it hidden and trying constantly to be rid of it.
With Fumaderm all that negative stress has gone for the first time in my life.... Well I was relatively clear on methotrexate but I stressed about taking it .

Let's hope the infections are not related as the drug seems to be working so well for you
And I hope you are feeling better soon
Jim

[Caroline]

Shadie,

What is your lympho count?
How much lower is it?

Normally you should not have any more problems if your lympho count is a bit lower, but if significantly lower, than you should interrupt fumaderm or lower the dose drastically in order to raise your lymphos again.

I'll come in the air later on, not at home now.

Caroline

[Fred]

Do you have any tips on how to boost the immune system to help?

Hello Shadie, I can't help with your Fumaderm question but I see Jim is talking with you and I'm sure Caroline or maybe Bill will be able to offer more.

But I thought I would chip in in answer to you question above.

The best way to boost your immune system is to follow a good balanced diet, have a reasonable lifestyle, and avoid wonder pills and let you body boost itself.

The link Jim gave you above The anti-inflamatory food pyramid can help with psoriasis, but follow these steps if you want to boost your immune system.

Diet:
#1 Eat Yoghurt daily.
#2 Eat Oily Fish twice a week.
#3 Drink Orange Juice once a day.
#4 Use Garlic in your meals.
#5 *Make your own Chicken Stock.
#6 Munch on Brazil Nut's a couple of times a week.
#7 Eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg each day.
#8 Drink plenty of water.
#9 Eat Beef once a week for Zinc.
#10 Include Shiitake, maitake, or reishi mushrooms in your diet.

Lifestyle:
#1 Don't Smoke.
#2 Drink in moderation.
#3 Exercise regularly.
#4 Avoid stress.
#5 Get good regular unbroken sleep.
#6 Avoid infection by washing your hands after toilet, sneezing, preparing raw chicken, etc.
#7 Don't use processed foods, junk food, takeaways, etc.
#8 Go out in the sunshine 15 minutes three times a week. See here: Vitamin D the natural way.
#9 Take half an hour per day for yourself away from phones, people you know, etc.
#10 Enjoy your life to your best ability, do as much as you can from the above.

* My Grannies chicken stock recipe:
#1 Left over Chicken and carcase (remove most of the skin, but leave the bones on)
#2 Some left over veg preferably raw. (carrot peelings cauliflower stalks, etc)
#3 Salt & pepper.
#4 2 cloves of garlic.
# 5 Bay leaf.
Put it all in a large pot and simmer for 4 hours, strain and leave overnight, skim off top layer of fat, put it in portion size freezer box's or make into ice cubes.
Use it as a soup, soup base, gravy, etc. Most people today throw chicken carcase away and by chicken stock cubes. Read the ingredients of your purchased stock cubes, an compare with the above. Your own stock is cheaper, better for you, and just as easy to use from the freezer. Oh and it's probably the best Immune system booster in the world.

These are just my opinions, and I'm sure some would rather pop a little pill each day from the "Health Shop" but I prefer to let my body fight it's own battles as much as possible. I can't do all the above myself especially the exercise and alcohol. But I do try most and believe they do work.

Oh and to Psoriasis Club by the way.

Regards.

Fred.

[Shadie]

Caroline

The dermatologist was very vague on the phone and the nurse who took my blood on my revisit didn't know my count. They tend not to tell us anything unless they are totally sure and have second check everything even then she won't tell me unless we are face to face. She is very particular about the way she does things. I asked my GP but he hadn't received a report yet.

This is the type of thing that stresses me out! I suppose I'm a bit of a control freak!!

I will let you know as soon as I find out.

Shadie