Hi, I just wanted to say what a friendly helpful supportive group of people you all seem to be. I’m looking forward to getting to know yo/u all better over the coming, weeks, months, years etc.
I live in a small village in West Wales in the UK. My husband and I took early retirement a few years ago and moved here to our smallholding which is right on the beautiful coast line. We had both been working for the NHS all our working lives. We have a few cows, sheep, free range hens, bees and 2 cats and a dog plus 4 grown up children who live away. Having led a very active life, walking long distance trails, cycling etc etc it has been a frustrating last couple of years seeing and feeling my body become a painful wreck of its former self. Tiredness and exhaustion also has been a major problem increasingly so reducing my ability to do much which is a major frustration. I have just finally been diagnosed with PsA and started treatment. It seems fairly widespread affecting particularly my spine from top to bottom and my ankles, feet, wrists and hands etc.
I started a 6 week course of steroids 4 weeks ago and sulphasalazine 2 weeks ago. The steroids were fantastic I couldn’t believe that within a couple of days my neck, shoulders and lower spine felt so free of pain and stiffness after months of not being able to get comfortable or pain free. Unfortunately the steroids are on a reducing dose and the aches and pains are all reappearing. I’m unable to take NSAIDs due to being on anti coagulants. I have been told it will be 3 months before the sulfasalazine starts to work so guess I just have to suffer a few more months! I am due to have my jaw joints replaced in a months time due to them having totally eroded away.
Looking forward anyway to being an active member of the community here and getiting to know you all.
Warm wishes
Anne
Ah bless you, I literally feel your pain. I was diagnosed with PsA last year aged 66 and also retired from a long hard working life and very active life outside of work. It’s a big shock at first as I never had any significant psoriasis, although my sister does. I was on short term prednisolone from my GP until I got to see a Consultant Rheumatoligist and they were magic. Started on methotrexate last August (I’m contraindicated for Sulfasalizine) and apart from side effects it worked well for me until I had to come off it when I had to take antibiotics for a chest infection in August. I didn’t find it took as long as 12 weeks to kick in so hopefully you’ll find the same with Sulfasalazine. Then my disease rapidly increased and the methotrexate wasn’t working as well, so I was offered a clinical trial of two biologics (the big guns!!). It unfortunately didn’t go ahead as planned but my lovely consultant put me onto biologics anyway. Humira first which I had an allergic reaction too, but now on Erelzi (a biosimilar to Enbrel). I’m in a major flare due to intermittent medications but I finally got some relief with steroid injection (magic!) intramuscular for all over inflammation and one into my very problematic and painful knee joint. Two days ago and I’m 100% better. Plus methotrexate being introduced once more in addition to the biologic as they work well together.
All I’m trying to say, which is what my Consultant says, is that there are lots of options to try until we get the right mix for us as individuals.
If you’re already having jaw surgery it sounds as if you’ve had PsA smouldering away for years. Again like me. My Consultant reckons ten years or more until reached severe enough intensity for me to seek help and not just think it was age related aches and pains.
Good luck with everything! 
️
Thanks Katie for your kind greetings, kind words and support. Fingers crossed the treatment does kick in quickly, desperate to get back to being active and enjoying the great outdoors again. Anne
Fingers crossed 
xxx
Welcome from me too.
Gosh Anne your smallholding stuff sounds just magic to me. I spent volunteering on a rare breed farm at weekends mucking out and just loved it. Sadly I haven’t been able to do it for some time now and I miss it dreadfully.
It sure sounds like your disease has been horribly active for too long. Best of luck with both the jaw replacement and the meds working. Sulfasalazine did work for me but not until I got up to taking 6 tablets a day. Then sadly it only worked for around 6 months and just stopped all of a sudden. Just about to start the same biologic as Katie above, simply waiting for it be delivered now, hopefully next week.
Hi Pootherapy, ( doesn’t sound right calling you that!). Many thanks for your welcome, I do hope your new therapy kicks in soon and gets you feeling better. Yes i’m Very lucky to live where I do and can’t wait to feel able to get out there and help my poor hubby who is having to do all the work at the moment. I love the outdoors but struggle out there at the moment but I do get myself out there for very short periods to potter in the veggie garden. Looking forward to hearing how you get on with your new treatment. Cheers Anne
Hi Anne, and welcome! OMG, the DREAM life! Well, not the PsA, but you know what I mean! I also have 4 grown up children (one named Anne!), but who live nearby with our 10 grandkids. That’s sort of the dream life, too, having them all so near. But, sometimes it would be nice to be in a place like you describe on the beautiful coast with all those sweet animals! Sounds so peaceful!
I hope you get relief soon with the sulfasalazine, but if it doesn’t work well, there are so many options. Hopefully it won’t be long before you’re able to start a biologic. You will find lots of good information here. Glad you found this site!
Thanks Grandma_J for your warm welcome note. Yes I do appreciate how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful location. Just can’t wait to get back to feeling like my old self and enjoying it to the full…Anne
Yeah, I know, AnneJ! We all think that, but that’s how we’ve come to know her. Some of us shorten it to Pooh, which sounds much more cuddly, don’t you think?
We do have a fantastic group of people here, and we are glad that you joined us. Enjoy the company, and best of luck on your treatment journey. That’s really what it is: one day you will get to a point where suddenly you look up at the scenery and you realize that the landscape has changed and the sun has come out.
Meanwhile, hang in there, and hang out here
Seenie
Hi Seenie and thanks for the warm welcome. I do love Winnie the Pooh, have to admit tigger is my favourite just can’t wait to get my spring back just like Tigger. Yes Pooh, sounds far more cuddly and cosy. Cheers Anne
I’m laughing Anne!
You have chronicled a very familiar journey! And it is very frustrating. I am now 63, but a few years ago I suddenly became 85 - and that lasted through a knee replacement, the PSA diagnosis, several months of trying out different meds and a second knee replacement for damage done before diagnosis. BUT, I am now practically a regular 63 year old! I do yoga regularly, cycle and can again enjoy walking dogs. I have some aches and pains, but my only real readjustment has been becoming tired more easily and sleeping longer hours. This forum was really a blessing after diagnosis. It’s a struggle wrapping your mind around a chronic illness, for sure. You’ll get there, I’m sure.
Susan! nice to see you back, and great to hear that you’re “normal” again. Yes, I’m about the same, and like you, have to be very careful about pacing myself. But that is not the end of the world: it can be learned!
@AnneJ , how are you doing now?
Hi Susan, many thanks for your warm greeting, you words are very reassuring. It must be such a relief to feel you can enjoy life again and get on with it within the limitations this wretched problem brings. I look forward to hearing of your continued good progress. Best wishes Anne
Hi mod support, thanks for thinking of me. I’m not doing to badly, unfortunately as I tailed the steroids down it seemed to cause a big flare up of my symptoms so have had to increase the steroids right back up again. I responded within 48 hours though and am feeling much better. I seem to be getting on ok with the sulfasalazine with few side effects apart from a constant headache and despite being fairily dark skinned I seem to burn like a crisp with just 5 minutes in the sun despite sunscreen and a hat!..Cheers Anne