Hello I just signed up

[jmysray]

Hello everyone,

I decided to join tonight, I like many have been dealing with this for years, 1993 to be exact, I was using a topical treatment that helped for the most part. Then went through a divorce and could no longer afford the doctors visits or medication. For the last 13 years  I have been basically just using hand cream , my areas that were affected were limited to my ankles so socks is a constant .  I must admit the last doctor I went to years ago when I showed him my legs which was very bad at the time, well he almost looked disgusted, so I am reluctant to show another doctor, I am sure they will want to know why I have not sought treatment before now.  Over the last two weeks I noticed the skin color had changed on my elbows an area where I had problems years ago, it looked as if all my pigment was gone  then about a week later I had scales again in the areas that had been clear for years.  I am now experiencing it on the palms of my hands and it itches like crazy.  Because I am in at a better place financially i have am considering  making an appointment with a dermotogogist and see if any of these new products I hear about can help.  I get so scared though when they start listing symptoms for so many of these new drugs like lymphoma, so I ask myself is it worth the risk.  I am hoping to hear what is working for others and hopefully gain some confidence to seek help.

[Kat]

Welcome!

This is a great place to find out what others think about treatment. There are so many available now and it's good to have an idea of what you might want to try before talking to your doctor. Biologics have really helped a lot here, but usually doctors will want to try you out on something else first. I was on Acitretin for awhile and it worked well for me and a few others here, but there is a lot of options. Please check back and I'm sure you'll find some responses here, also check out the other threads here that discuss how members are doing on different treatments.

Glad you found us!

[jmysray]

Thank you for the warm welcome!

[Kat]

Thank you for the warm welcome!

You'll find that this forum is more active during your afternoon and early evening. I'm also US (I have family in Jeff City, MO) so it's nice to see someone closer to my time zone! We do have quite a few US members however, I think they're all snoozing right now though which is what I should be doing. Welcome again and I look forward to following your post. Goodnight.

[Caroline]

Hello jmysray,

Welcome to psoriasisclub.

You are quite a long time sufferer, as I see. Well in the mean time there are a number of good treatments available, just like Kat says.
I can imagine you get a bit scared if you read about the side effects of some of them. Luckily, mostly the protocol around them and the careful way you will be treated will prevent the bad ones to occur.
It is good to be on this forum and to read about the different treatments, so you will be armed when you go to the dermatologist, because inevitably that will be the road to go.
For each treatment available, we have some people on board that have used them or do still use them. You can learn from their experiences which they are willing to share with you.

Make yourself comfortable on the forum, they are all nice people.

Caroline.

[jiml]

Hi jmysray and   to the club. Such a shame you have struggled on alone with this disease for so long....... No doctor should look at you with disgust, we have enough of that without their help, they should be compassionate and see you get an effective treatment.
But as Kat said there are lots of effective treatments available and if it's getting worse it's certainly time to get to a dermatologist, and get on a treatment. Your dermatologist will weigh up the risk v benifits for you and would not put you into something that would do more harm than good.
Whatever you start on you will be well monitored and if there is any sign of a problem, before it gets serious you will have your dose modified or stopped.
I wouldn't worry to much about side effects as we tend to hear on forums of the ones that are troublesome, and rarely does anyone join to tell us a drug is working
I wish you luck and hope you will find something you can be happy with that works
Meantime come back often and ask as many questions as you want. Someone will always jump in and offer advice
Jim

[Fred]

Hello Jmysray   to Psoriasis Club.

Shame on your doctor making feel like that, I would dump him and find another he doesn't deserve to be practising. Doctors that make you feel like that are rare and most of them will have your best interests at heart. But yes I would say get to a Dermatologist as soon as you can, things have moved on a lot over the past few years and they will work with you to find what is suitable.

I can understand you being apprehensive about the new treatments, but they have to list every problem they have come across and treatments are very well regulated and like Jim said no good dermatologist would put you on something that is going to cause you problems. Unfortunately there are bad things reported for all medications, but they are very rare and any side effects can soon be overcome by stopping the treatment and 99.9% of the time no long lasting problems.

Go and have a chat with a good dermatologist, it will be the best thing you ever did.

Regards.

Fred.

[KyPrincess]

Hello jmysray. Welcome to the club.

[Grizzly Bear]

hello jmysray

[Rose85]

Hi jmysray, I know that feeling, also given drugs/meds to control it after been to clinic today, which is raining. When getting prescription, bear in mind, after guy or lady over the counter pointed specifics which is which, if it wasn't a lot should be fine. I'm given more than three for timely and other meticulous, take one of meds to you which look after main concern, either itch bother you or angry skin wanted soothing medicine. In night, I live in tropical area, night med is concern I have over the itchiness. Others also important when doctor keep insisting, you take one which is helpful, itch med helps a lot to stop feeling of being in pain.