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[Clairec375]

Just looking to see if anybody can help. I had an outbreak of psoriasis in 1995 and was given dithro cream (I think it was) and within a few weeks it was all gone. In October last year I was in a car crash which brought on another outbreak but this one is much worse. Every day I wake up to new plaques. The Dr keeps giving me steroid creams which are useless and will not prescribe anything else. I am going back on Friday and was wondering if I can insist that either the Dr prescribes the cream I ask for or if he can refer me to a dermatologist?

[jiml]

Just looking to see if anybody can help. I had an outbreak of psoriasis in 1995 and was given dithro cream (I think it was) and within a few weeks it was all gone. In October last year I was in a car crash which brought on another outbreak but this one is much worse. Every day I wake up to new plaques. The Dr keeps giving me steroid creams which are useless and will not prescribe anything else. I am going back on Friday and was wondering if I can insist that either the Dr prescribes the cream I ask for or if he can refer me to a dermatologist?

Hi Claire and   to the club.... Yes it's a familiar story unfortunately to try to keep you on the inexpensive treatments.. Tell your doctor that you have been advised that the steroid creams are for short term use and if they are ineffective you should be referred to a dermatologist.. Do not be palmed off with platitudes and ineffective treatments ...
You have a right to proper treatment and that means being referred to a hospital dermatologist who will assess your psoriasis and give you a treatment that should give you relief.

I'm glad you have found us as we are a group of psoriasis sufferers sharing experiences and discussing treatments
We are spread around the world and have a happy trouble free site free from outside pressures. So what you read on here is genuine experiences of fellow sufferers

I hope you take a tough stance with your GP who should see your worsening situation and suggest moving on.
A tip for you when you see the doctor... Tell him it's affecting your self esteem and causing you a lot of anxiety and spoiling your quality of life.... If that doesn't work I'll eat my hat

[Fred]

Hello and   to Psoriasis Club.

A GP can only prescribe creams and will continue to do so unless he/she thinks the psoriasis is bad and you are failing on the creams. A good GP would refer you to a dermatologist, but unfortunately some are still happy just dishing out the creams without looking at the results.

You could ask for the cream that worked for you from your GP if you feel it will work for you, but your best bet would be to insist that you get referred to a dermatologist. If He/She refuses to refer you tell them to look at the NHS Psoriasis Overview which can be found here: NO LINKS ALLOWED

Unfortunately even today some GP's will still not take psoriasis seriously, if yours is one of those then change doctors as things have moved on a lot lately and you have a right to proper treatment.

Regards.

Fred.

[Clairec375]

Thank you both for the replies. I am going to insist I get sent to a dermatologist cause I have no quality of life. I only leave the house to go to work and had to buy new clothes that aren't a dark colour and have long sleeves to try and hide it a bit more.

In all honesty if the cream I got (daktacort) was even slightly working I would stick with it but everyday I have new plaques and the old ones are not changing in the slightest so I will take your advice with me on Friday and hope I get listened to this time.

Thanks again

[jiml]

Thank you both for the replies. I am going to insist I get sent to a dermatologist cause I have no quality of life. I only leave the house to go to work and had to buy new clothes that aren't a dark colour and have long sleeves to try and hide it a bit more.

In all honesty if the cream I got (daktacort) was even slightly working I would stick with it but everyday I have new plaques and the old ones are not changing in the slightest so I will take your advice with me on Friday and hope I get listened to this time.

Thanks again

Stamp your feet throw a fit, cry don't leave without the promise of an urgent referral   it's your body he's messing with make a nuisance of yourself although you shouldn't have to

[Caroline]

Hi Claire,

Yes, you have to go onto the barricades. And tell your doctor that what his is giving you is not sufficient. Take a look at the papers you get with the cream. Without doubt this will mention side effects as thinning of your skin, which basically is damage to your skin and the sentence that it only is for short use.
Suggest to your doctor that if your skin is really getting damaged due to the creams, that will be his responsibility and that you insist on being sent to a dermatologist.
Remember it is your body and your life this is about and not that of your doctors.

I'm sorry, at first now a welcome to psoriasis club
I sometimes get carried away a bit quickly and can react a bit direct, I think it is caused by the fact that I am Dutch. Yes, we really are an international group of psoriasis sufferers as Jim says. And we try to advise and listen to each other as good as possible, making use of the knowledge we have gained as a group.

Enjoy yourself on the forum.
Caroline

[Fred]

Have a look at this thread before you go Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)

Dermatologists use it to monitor your quality of life. I would suggest you at least read it, but better still print it off and fill it in to take with you to your next appointment.

*It is under copyright but I have been given permission to show it on Psoriasis Club.

[Clairec375]

Thank you everyone. I am used to the fight with doctors as I also have MS and have been fighting with them for years regarding that but I also realised that the MS forum have always helped with great advice so that's why I tried here and I'm so thankful I did and very greatful for all the advice. At least I have useful information to take with me on Friday rather than stumbling through the appointment and leaving disappointed again so thank you all again

[jiml]

Claire I'm not pushing the drug I'm on but if you can get it it might help your ms as well as they prescribe tecfidera for MS treatment and Fumaderm the drug I'm on has the same main ingredient DMF
Just a thought

[Caroline]

Claire I'm not pushing the drug I'm on but if you can get it it might help your ms as well as they prescribe tecfidera for MS treatment and Fumaderm the drug I'm on has the same main ingredient DMF
Just a thought  

If you hadn't said it Jim, I would have.. Hihi.
We may need a long chat with Claire