It’s a steroid
I didn't think that i had psoriasis either. Didn't know that my mother and brother had it and was diagnosed with PsA without the psoriasis. I am now showing some signs of patches showing up. in my research i have read that the arthritis can appear without the psoriasis being there and/or that the psoriasis shows up later. Hope that helps.
In my research as well i have read that GERD is also a part of PsA. Does anyone else have a problem with this? I have been experiencing stomach pain, severe pain, for the last few months. I was diagnosed with GERD in 2009 and omeprazole has helped during this time but now it doesn't seem to be working. at least once a month since August i have pain that comes on very quickly...two nights ago i was working and ended up in the emergency room after i became violently ill with right sided flank pain. my left eye turned red before all this happened. after sleeping off the meds i ended up back there last night with same symptoms plus a migraine. Anyone know if this is related and how? I don't quite understand the correlation of PsA with GERD. Thanks.
This is all new to me, I haven’t heard anything about Gerd yet. All I know is this is killing me, the joint pain, I feel like taking my gun and killing myself.
Hope, Have you been diagnosed? Have you seen a rheumatologist? I'm so sorry to hear that you are in so much pain!
Oh ya, no markers show up it’s like I have an invisible disease. The predizone is helping but now I’m sick because of my immune system down.
It's fairly common to have everything show up as normal. In fact less then 50% show a raise in CRP and ESR. There is a really great book that is recommended on this site called, Psoriatic Arthritis "the Facts". Written by Danfna Gladman and Vinod Chandran. I have it and just got my copy back form my GP. The first thing he said to me when he handed it back was, "it's very common for blood work to show normal".
Maybe you could talk to your doctor in regards to having a referral to see a rheumatologist so that you can discuss long term treatment? I've used prednisone a few times, however I believe it only addresses the current pain and is not a long term option. It really is important to get the source of the pain managed so that no damage is done.
Hope said:
Oh ya, no markers show up it's like I have an invisible disease. The predizone is helping but now I'm sick because of my immune system down.
Thanks sorry I have only been told about methotryxate from my doctor so im ignorant of other options
Hope said:
It's a steroid
Yes, I have seen a Rhuematoid doctor I have another appointment on Dec. 2nd.
Yeah I see one too but have only seen them about twice since I was diagnosed 4yr ago lol so Im in the dark
What should they put me on?
TaraLynn said:
It’s fairly common to have everything show up as normal. In fact less then 50% show a raise in CRP and ESR. There is a really great book that is recommended on this site called, Psoriatic Arthritis “the Facts”. Written by Danfna Gladman and Vinod Chandran. I have it and just got my copy back form my GP. The first thing he said to me when he handed it back was, “it’s very common for blood work to show normal”.
Maybe you could talk to your doctor in regards to having a referral to see a rheumatologist so that you can discuss long term treatment? I’ve used prednisone a few times, however I believe it only addresses the current pain and is not a long term option. It really is important to get the source of the pain managed so that no damage is done.
Hope said:Oh ya, no markers show up it’s like I have an invisible disease. The predizone is helping but now I’m sick because of my immune system down.
Oh Hope please hang in there honey... I am so very sorry to hear you are frustrated enough to talk about guns. Even if you meant it as a joke. I have been in your shoes and nearly checked out on more than one occasion because of this crap but to tell you the truth- I got pissed off one day after a therapist said i had Hypochondria. I never thought but i fight the depression daily .I'm with you and so is everyone here.. keep on keepin' on you are worth it!!
Hi Hope,
That's good news you are seeing a rheumatologist. As far as treatment, I too am fairly new to all the medications as I have just started treating my disease this year. I originally used a Nsaid (Celebrex) and now on Dmards (methotrexate and sulfasalazine. I still use the Celebrex during any increased inflammation.
Here is what I do know,
Nasaid's are used to help treat mild disease and for symptom relief.
Dmard's are the fist line of management, if there is no success with Dmard's then Biologics are the next. Treatment depends a lot on how your diease progression. Generally your Rheumatologist would start you on treatment, but you can also talk with your doctor about it.
You could discuss this info with your Rheumy when you see him/her in December. I hope this information helps :-)
Hope said:
What should they put me on?
TaraLynn said:It's fairly common to have everything show up as normal. In fact less then 50% show a raise in CRP and ESR. There is a really great book that is recommended on this site called, Psoriatic Arthritis "the Facts". Written by Danfna Gladman and Vinod Chandran. I have it and just got my copy back form my GP. The first thing he said to me when he handed it back was, "it's very common for blood work to show normal".
Maybe you could talk to your doctor in regards to having a referral to see a rheumatologist so that you can discuss long term treatment? I've used prednisone a few times, however I believe it only addresses the current pain and is not a long term option. It really is important to get the source of the pain managed so that no damage is done.
Hope said:Oh ya, no markers show up it's like I have an invisible disease. The predizone is helping but now I'm sick because of my immune system down.
It’s normal for blood work to show no sign of disease. Same with X-Rays and MRIs. However, this slightly different with RA. Most people with RA will eventually have elevated blood work. I wouldn’t worry too much about the blood work
Hi Hope I know how you feel hun I fight the same thing everyday Many times i just wish I could fall aslp and not wake up I listen to these guys though and hope I get some answers and that somerthing happens to ease all this. It's so frustrating though isnt it and when you dont know anything and whats out there.
My immune system is so low i pick up anything anyone gets and going to the hospital for my appointments is worst because im sick for weeks after. I dont know what the answer is to any of this atm I just endure and ry to carry on. But listening to these guys theres hope. ^^ maybe i need to move to america lol or somewhere else to get help XD
Ellie
Ellie...the biggest thing is... to have a greater understand of the disease so that you can better advocate for your self. If you understand the disease, treatment and so on then it helps immensely. I'm in Canada :-) This site has been a huge help for me! Reading posts, learning, sharing info and the support is amazing! Another thing that really has helped is journaling daily...any changes(pain, inflammation and so on) and taking pictures of any skin changes or swelling for when you do see your rheumatologist. I see my Rheumatologist every three months, so that's a bit of a wait. In the in between times I work with my doctor. Hope this helps :-)
Ellie said:
Hi Hope I know how you feel hun I fight the same thing everyday Many times i just wish I could fall aslp and not wake up I listen to these guys though and hope I get some answers and that somerthing happens to ease all this. It's so frustrating though isnt it and when you dont know anything and whats out there.
My immune system is so low i pick up anything anyone gets and going to the hospital for my appointments is worst because im sick for weeks after. I dont know what the answer is to any of this atm I just endure and ry to carry on. But listening to these guys theres hope. ^^ maybe i need to move to america lol or somewhere else to get help XD
Ellie
Ive seen my rhuematologist only twice in 4 yrs :/ i dont know when i will be seeing them next
TaraLynn said:
Ellie...the biggest thing is... to have a greater understand of the disease so that you can better advocate for your self. If you understand the disease, treatment and so on then it helps immensely. I'm in Canada :-) This site has been a huge help for me! Reading posts, learning, sharing info and the support is amazing! Another thing that really has helped is journaling daily...any changes(pain, inflammation and so on) and taking pictures of any skin changes or swelling for when you do see your rheumatologist. I see my Rheumatologist every three months, so that's a bit of a wait. In the in between times I work with my doctor. Hope this helps :-)
Ellie said:Hi Hope I know how you feel hun I fight the same thing everyday Many times i just wish I could fall aslp and not wake up I listen to these guys though and hope I get some answers and that somerthing happens to ease all this. It's so frustrating though isnt it and when you dont know anything and whats out there.
My immune system is so low i pick up anything anyone gets and going to the hospital for my appointments is worst because im sick for weeks after. I dont know what the answer is to any of this atm I just endure and ry to carry on. But listening to these guys theres hope. ^^ maybe i need to move to america lol or somewhere else to get help XD
Ellie
I’m sorry if I worried anyone. I have just had enough, in 2009, I had a big court battle regarding my sisters and my dad, they hadn’t seen him in 30 years and went behind my back, brought him to an attorney and made the older sister poa, he got sick 2 weeks later, I had to hire an attorney and fight for him, that was a 9 month fight, I finally won, he moved to Florida with me and passed away 5 months later, now my sister’s are contesting the will, he would have been 95 tomorrow and his death really floored me, now maybe because of the stress I now have this health problem. Thank god for my husband.
Hang in there Hon. Bad days happen to all of us. I always cry the day of my fathers passing and my mothers. I miss them and there is no dought your situation has many deep, deep feelings connected to it. Love you for staying in the fight! Sending hugs your way...XXXXXXXX
Me too...no psoriasis except my nails, or that is what the dermatologist says. I have tons of skin issues. Dry skin, funky spots that are ruff which peel off and some sun damage, even some skin cancer spots removed. The major skin problem since my dx of PsA was keratosis pilaris. I'd never heard of it before. It was very nasty all the way up both legs all over my shoulders and neck. Patches on my arms. ALL of which disappeared soon after I started MTX. I've had thick itchy dry skin on the sides of my wrist before, but not for several years now.
Hey, Hope,
One thing I do is keep a photo album in my phone labeled PsA. When I have anything that looks wonky I take a picture to show my rheumy. He says a pic is worth a thousand words. I date them, too. So if you have something swollen or itchy snap a pic! It will also help you see if you are improving or getting worse. Believe it or not over the course of treatment, my condition has gone up and down so much it is hard to remember how bad I was at times. The pictures actually make me so grateful for my progress. And they helped my dr determine that I had PsA instead of RA by which joints were affected.