Psoriasis Update

On Wednesday I had a review with my dermatologist. When I arrived I was told that she was running 45 minutes late. I thought that's okay I've got my kindle I'll just read. I finally managed to get in to see her an hour later. At least I got a lot of reading done!

My derm checked my skin to see how much or how little the methotrexate has helped me over the past few months. There has been improvement but I am still relying on the topical ointments and gels a great deal. If I miss using them I get a flare and it takes a bit longer for the spots/flakes to improve. 

For now I will be increasing my methotrexate from 20 mg a week to 30 mg. Which means I shall also need to have blood tests done in two weeks and then 8 weeks from now. Just to make sure that the methotrexate (mtx) isn't messing up my liver & kidney function etc. So far it hasn't and I have been on it for 8 months now.

Also, she has asked me to start taking fluconazole in the hopes that it will help my finger and toe nails. To be honest I am so over having nail psoriasis. I've had it since I was 15. My nails are often so brittle. They break easily when I bang them and often lift from the nail bed if I knock them.

We also discussed what comes next if I the mtx isn't working as well as we hope or if things take a turn for the worse. I would need to either try cyclosporin and/or acitretin for a while. In the event these don't work I will be able to go on to biologics. I'm not too sure about using a biologic as they are usually injections and the thought of giving myself an injection is not the most pleasant of thoughts; but that may not happen for quite some time and who knows by then I may have talked myself in to it.

For now I have been asked to research cyclosporin and acitretin. Both medications have side effects that I don't like the sound of. Some sound pretty nasty. I guess it is something I need to think a great deal about before deciding if it is the right thing for me.

Cross your fingers that this increase in mtx will help and continue to work well and that my blood test results will come back fine.

Psoriasis Update

I saw my dermatologist today. She is quite happy with how things have been going for me so far however I shall be increasing the methotrexate from 10 mg to 20 mg. Considering it's working, albeit slower then I would like, I am happy to continue with it for a few more months to see how things progress (or not) due to the fact that I have had no side effects so far. If it hasn't worked by mid-January I am to let her know. Then we shall discuss what my next options are.

Truthfully I just want to stop having to put all these creams on. I am over it. Can you get #psoriasis burn out? With a little over four decades of lotions and potions it just wears me out 😫😢 Not bad considering I am really only 29 yo 😂. Let me be delusional.

 #PsoriasisSucks #EnoughIsEnough #NoMore

Psoriasis - My Dermatologist Visit

I saw the dermatologist on Wednesday. I believe it went really well. Thankfully I had written down all of the medications I had used over the years. At least the ones I could remember any way. It was quite a long list too. So I could let her know what I had tried previously. I am not sure if she was a little surprised or not about some of the things I have used. Especially when she made comments like, you did that yourself at home? I am guessing that dithranol isn't usually applied at home.

She then checked out my skin, the part I hate but of course you have to show your best side right , and gave me my PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) score = 20.7, which is moderate to severe. Here I was thinking that it wasn't too bad because I can still see lots and lots of good skin. To be honest I have had a lot worse with around 80% coverage a few years ago.

Then I got the usual explanations of topical, photo-therapy, medications and biologics treatments. She stated that biologics are the future BUT in Australia you need to have tried at least 3 things and have them fail or not work as effectively in order to qualify for the biologics.

Due to the years of UVB treatment I have had in the past she stated that I no longer have that as an option. So I need to try either methotrexate (mtx) or cyclosporin. I have used mtx in the past and went okay on that, at least what I can remember. The only problem I had was my liver function test showed something funky and I needed to stop taking it.

The derm would like me to try mtx but will keep a close eye on my liver function. I need to get some blood tests done before I can start. Once they are done and she has checked the results to see that everything is okay she will send me my prescription. The only thing I need to do whilst on this treatment is take folic acid & of course use the topical ointments she prescribed. It's meant to help with the possible nausea and vomiting that might occur, lucky me. Hopefully I will be able to start next week.

I go back and see her in three months time. In the meantime I can email her as needed. 

All I keep thinking is yay I have a modern thinking dermatologist who is open to using things other than old fashioned stinky tar based lotion. I like this new doctor! Please cross your fingers and toes for me that everything is well with my tests and that I get the go ahead for this treatment.

Dermatologist Review

I had a review with my Dermatologist on Wednesday. It's hard to believe that its been 6 months since I last saw him. Its a good thing I made an appointment for when I did as he is finishing up working at the local hospital. He told me that he has been coming up here on a regular basis for 50 years and had decided to call it quits. Although he will still be working at his Berwick office for a while longer. Not to be mean or anything but he is at that age where he looks like he should be retiring. He's no spring chicken after all. He looks like he's in his 70's.

He was sort of impressed with my skin but not, if that makes sense. He was impressed that I had been able to go for 6 months without seeing him but saddened by the fact that my psoriasis was coming back. Me well I was impressed that he listened to me and actually took on board what I was saying about my skin and what lotions & potions he had prescribed in the past and which ones I felt worked best or not. Anyway I walked away with a prescription for some stinky tar based lotion which my poor chemist will have to make up when he isn't busy. I think they are grateful when I leave the script and tell them that I will be back in two days to collect it. It give them time to make it up then.

Remind me to take a photo of this 'potion' so I can show you how colourful it is. Just be thankful that you don't have to smell the stuff lol although you do get used to it after a while.

He said I don't need to go back and see him unless I need to (for scripts or flare ups). I guess that's a good thing. I didn't tell him that my GP is willing to prescribe the lotions & potions just as long as I get a printout from the chemist. I'm thinking I might do that in future. Anything that helps me avoid suburbia is a good thing. I don't fancy driving in the busy suburbs of outer Melbourne unless I absolutely have to.

It's Raining Cats & Dogs

What a busy morning & its still early! After the school run this morning (well the Wednesday school run, its different to the regular school run because I drop Brodie off in the next town over from us at TAFE) I had a few jobs to do. It didn't help that it has rained non-stop since I got up this morning. It's made things take a little bit longer than expected, oh well not to worry :)

I had a review with my dermatologist. Not that I talk about my skin much on this blog I usually do that on my Scratch That Darn Itch blog (not that I post there a lot there is only so much you can write about your psoriasis before you run out of things to say, I'm not a very good blogger on that front) Any way, I saw my derm. He is such an old fashioned man. I would have to put his age in the late 60's so he's no spring chicken either. He really isn't into this 'new age' biologics that are available for treating psoriasis. In fact he told me the very first time I saw him that his 'old fashioned' tar preparations were the absolute best thing in the world and they would get my skin under control! I have to admit that he was right. It has gotten it under control. I would say that I am 1000 times better off than I was when I first saw him in November 2009. I have gone from around 85% coverage to around 10-15%. Pretty good huh?!?!
He said that since things are going okay (I am flaring a little due to the colder weather but that is because the sun has gone into hiding & I'm getting the occasional new spot) that he doesn't need to see me until the potions he prescribed has run out or I flare up really badly. Which ever one comes first. I'm hoping that it will just be when the meds run out in a couple of months or so.

Once I had seen the derm I headed off to Centrelink (for my overseas friends that's what we call Social Security here) I had some forms to hand in. Just a review so that I can hopefully still receive the carers allowance that I receive for looking after Brodie. The money certainly helps go towards running him around & helping pay the bills etc. I swear that kid has no idea what its like to run a household. He may get a rude shock one day when he finds out. Hopefully by then we would have taught him enough so that he can cope on his own.

Then it was over to the Medicare office [thankfully it is now in the same building as Centrelink] so that I could get my refund (what little there is of it) after I had paid for my dermatologist visit this morning. I get a whole whopping $35.15 cents back (that sounded a tad sarcastic). At one time medicare used to cover the whole thing and the dermatologist used to bulk bill. I never had to pay a cent. Gosh I wish those days were still about. We would be a lot better off...

At least all that running around is over & done with. Well except for taking my script to the chemist. That can be done later. I don't want to go out in that rain. It still hasn't let up. It's been like this for the past 4 hours. Time to maybe get some housework done & then onto making some more of that cute little hedgehog!

A Busy Morning

I'm pooped! I've been out for most of the morning & part of this afternoon. Loads of running around & not much to show for it other than sore feet & a few prescriptions filled! It was bliss to take my shoes off just now. I am so grateful that my back was okay enough for me to do all of this running around.

I went to my see my dermatologist this morning. I swear I am in the wrong profession. I saw him for less than 5 minutes and I had to pay him $80 for the privilege! AND he give me the discount rate because I am on a Carers Allowance. I would hate to see what the 'regular' rate is! Thank goodness I get a rebate of $35 from Medicare!
At least my skin is looking good. My derm gave me another script for the smelly tar potion that my poor chemist hates having to make up. He doesn't want to see me for another month. I guess that's a good thing.

Mark wanted me to get this PGA male to female lead for the TV & game console(s) so we didnt have to keep unplugging things behind the TV. I checked two stores. The first one was unable to help. They sent me from one department to another. I left because they had NO idea.
The second store knew what I was on about but they were unable to help because they didn't have any in stock. Nor did they have a switch which would've been a good alternative. They did however point me to a store where I could buy a switch and the guy knew that they actually had them in stock! I will definitely be visiting them again! Super helpful & they knew what they were on about!

I think I've had my fill of shopping. I don't want to go out again until after Christmas! Not unless I truly have to and then I would seriously think about sending Mark and/or the boys in my place. I don't want the hassle of parking or waiting in long queues! And some businesses wonder why people turn to internet shopping! If I could order my groceries online & get them delivered I would do that too! They don't do that in our area, not yet.