Kat's journey with laser therapy (XTRAC)

[Kat]

@TL yeah, we live out in the boonies..... it's nice and peaceful but the price for that is we have a decent drive to get anywhere.


I had a different medical person today doing the zapping (and yes, I like that term for it ) I did ask her if there was a limit to the laser therapy. She said no, that because it only treats the area that needs to be treated vs the whole body that you get usually with the UV treatment, it is less likely to cause harm later. Also that after x amount of treatments you either take a break because you are clear (or mostly) for a few months or they take you off of it because it's not working. As far as how often you can continue, she said there isn't any limit.

Now insurance may or may not disagree with that as they have to approve it here in the U.S. unless a person wants to pay out of pocket for the treatment, but that would be an entirely different issue if there even is one.

However, next time I get the regular person who is older and seems to know more about it, I will ask again just to confirm.

I've not noticed much in the way of improvement yet. Possibly less itchy, some days are better than others so it's hard to say. I did ask about the "raw" spot and she elected to avoid that area with the zapper. I'm not sure if it's from last weeks treatment or me having a difficult time not picking at it.

[Fred]

 
I had a different medical person today doing the zapping (and yes, I like that term for it  )  I did ask her if there was a limit to the laser therapy.  She said no, that because it only treats the area that needs to be treated vs the whole body that you get usually with the UV treatment, it is less likely to cause harm later.  Also that after x amount of treatments you either take a break because you are clear (or mostly) for a few months or they take you off of it because it's not working.  As far as how often you can continue, she said there isn't any limit.

However, next time I get the regular person who is older and seems to know more about it, I will ask again just to confirm.

Thank you Kat. Would be good to get it confirmed though.

[jiml]

That's interesting Kat and makes sense that as it's not an all over area being irradiated just the lesions it is probably the case that there is no limit

However you may well get fed up going twice a week
And as you say the insurance might not want to fund it indefinitely if each course needs funding approval

I hope you start seeing results soon
Good luck

[Kat]

Well I'm already over the trip. It was the main reason I said no at first (the other being I didn't have high expectations honestly)

But since I am currently going to physical therapy (once per week) only a short distance from where I'm getting the laser therapy, it's only one additional trip per week since I'm having to go that way once per week anyway and I schedule them one after the other. However, that should change some time in November so hoping the laser has done it's thing by then.

[jiml]

Here's hoping by then you will be clear and can cut out the long journeys

[Kat]

Okay so I mentioned that on Tuesday someone else did the laser treatment.  Two things I noticed was that she seemed very thorough as she "zapped" places that the other person hadn't, also she applied pressure which caused a small amount of discomfort (no pain or anything)

So Tuesday night I felt like I had a sunburned head.  Now since I can't see the back of my head and all, I rely on touch (and sometimes my camera phone if I can get a good picture.  I noticed (via picture) that I had red circle areas that were quite visible... which made sense.... except they were tender to touch and sore.  I could feel more scaling only surprisingly it was less itchy.  But it was causing me some discomfort.  On Wednesday (yesterday) I noticed more scaling.  I think it's a combination of sunburn, psoriasis and skin damage (some areas feel more like they are scabbed over than scaly)  I almost called them yesterday to cancel my appointment today but I decided either way, I wanted them to see it.

So I got the regular person today (YAY!) and she immediately noticed.  My head was too burned to do another treatment today, which is what I expected.  I actually thought about it after I left on Tuesday as they increase the treatment (voltage? or whatever)  and since the "new" girl covered more area she was hitting fresh areas with a higher dose.  Although to be fair, all areas were tender.  She (regular person) made notes to my chart over what had happened.  She also said she would be there on Monday but out on vacation the rest of the week.  So I have an appointment for Monday and will be skipping the rest of the week as "new girl" is filling in for "regular girl" and "new girl" isn't touching my head again!!!  She was nice and all but I have no desire to make things WORSE since this is suppose to make things better.  Anyway here is one photo showing a seeping area that is worse now (I have tons of pictures, behind ears is "hard and scaly" almost like scabs, upper head is scaly but like skin peeling more so that psoriasis, I think it's just different depending on the area) The pictures on the head are harder to see with the hair in the way so I thought this one represents what is going on right now the best. It's the back of my head at the hairline.



So I'm not exactly happy right now.  My suggestion if anyone else has this done is to insist on staying with ONE person or if you have to see another, make certain they have talked and also that the new person does NOT hit areas with a higher dose that have not been previously treated.  And even then, the area in the picture is one that they've treated each time, it's actually worse right now than it was when I started!!!  So, we'll see how this all heals up and I'll update from there.

[KatT]

That looks painful!  Can you put ointment or cream to soothe the burning and itching sensation?  

I hope it gets better before your next treatment!

[Fred]

That looks painful!  Can you put ointment or cream to soothe the burning and itching sensation?  

I hope it gets better before your next treatment!

Yes I was wondering if some Coconut Oil could help.

Good advice about demanding you see the same person each time.

[jiml]

Awww Kat that's not getting any better and does look quite sore, seems like the new girls good intentions has left you rather burned
I hope it doesn't affect the treatment and you go on to get clear with it (although there's no sign of improvement at the moment, it is early to expect much )

[Kat]

Thanks!

The burn was annoying but not too bad comfort wise (as you know with psoriasis, we all know discomfort very well so maybe I've just gotten used to a certain amount of discomfort) I don't really have that sunburn feeling any longer, it's the after effects from my skin that I'm dealing with now. As those of you who know me know.... my mind is totally NOT scientific but if I had to make a guess it would be that taking someone who has an immune system issue where their skin cells want to replenish quickly and burning that skin.... well makes sense that the body is layering on the skin cells for protection. At least that is what "I think" may be happening. It isn't exactly an increase in psoriasis but it IS an increase in scales, at least THICK ones.

I would say that right now I do not itch quite as much even with the increased issue with skin from the "burn" Most of the skin tends to feel "rough and almost calloused" and I have the urge to try to scrap that skin off (which I AM resisting right now, plus should I attempt it then the area feels sore ) Throughout the scalp I feel scaling, both hard and soft so this is "different" than what I'm usually dealing with. This is day 3 so hopefully things will heal up soon and I'll have a better idea of where I am at the moment with scalp psoriasis. It's hard to say with everything currently going on. But I'm not uncomfortable, I have not been using anything right now but I do have a topical and of course coconut oil for moisturizing but I'm more just trying to see what my skin is going to do about it.

I'll see how it is on Monday and if it's not significantly improved then the laser therapy will be put on hold until it is. I'm not going to risk doing even more damage as that makes no sense to me. Even if it means we take steps backwards (as in start over with the strength) then it's on them anyway so they'll just have to deal with it. Anyway, I'll let you all know how it goes.