Good for you, hun---I'm glad you're on top of it and doing something about it. Any time there is joint involvement, you have to think about long term effects (i.e. joint damage), so you want to get it under control as early as you can. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, that your PsA will go into remission this time around.
It's such a fickle condition---i hate that it's so unpredictable and so different for everyone. Constant source of frustration, but it keeps me passionate about defeating it. The more it makes me mad, the more my vigor is renewed against it ;-) Hang in there!
I just found a new dermatologist who has worked wonders for DH's boss. I have an appointment next month, but in the meantime I am using the clobetasol cream. Fortunately the PsA isn't intolerable, it actually comes in waves, and it doesn't take much most of the time to get relief, and I'm just 6 weeks pregnant so it will be a while before I move onto any of the systemic drugs. It will just be maintenance for the next however long, and the cream at least keeps the skin from cracking and bleeding a lot. I just wish it would into remission during pregnancy, and it didn't with DD, but maybe I'll get lucky this time around. I've been putting it off for a while, I'm not so comfortable with the systemic medications, but I've reached my tolerance level and know it's just time to move forward with a different treatment, so that will be my next step.
Ah----he must have been on the remicade trial. It should be approved soon. Has he ever tried enbrel or humira? even raptiva? the biologics are like miracle drugs for psoriasis (and arthritis... and psoriatic arthritis). People with joint involvement get the best results on humira.
My biggest concern with the remicade trial though is that your body has a lifetime max of remicade that you can have, and then you can't take it anymore. It's sort of a last line of defense. Whereas with Enbrel or Humira, there isn't such a restriction and they tend to work just as well in most patients. Because of being able to max out on remicade, i honestly don't think it'll get approval on the same "step" as the other biologics---you'll probably have to fail them before your insurance will pay for remicade.
Kelly---i swear i'm not a know-it-all, lol!! you guys just happen to be bringing up my specialty (autoimmunololgy, specifically in derm and rheum---and it's my work in derm where i learned sclerotherapy since most derm practices do it in their cosmetic offering to boost revenue). my primary was dermatology but it lead to a lot of work in rheumatology and a fair amount of neurology too. Specializing in treatments for autoimmune disorders (psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc).
Currently I'm taking a break in the OR but I'm getting bored so I'll probably go back soon to autoimmune. Surgery just makes me feel like a mechanic ;-)
Mikaleen---if you have joint involvement you can probably stop the creams and phototherapy and go on to humira. Have you seen a rheumatologist or talked to your dermatologist about an official diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis? PsA is pretty common, especially when the Ps has a genetic predisposition.
My fiancee has it all over his body... some big patches some small.. he enrolled himself in a psoriasis drug research and it totally cleared him up. The doc was amazed because he said that he had the worst case he had ever seen and he didnt think it would work but it did... it was an iv that they gave him once a week. He got paid $300 a week for an hour tuesday for blood work and an hour thurs for the meds... you cant do it while preg or breastfeeding but maybe later on if it isnt approved by the FDA by then...
Aaah...I wish mine cleared up during pregnancy...it only gets worse. I have had it every day with no remission now for 12 years...along with the psoriatic arthritis to go with it. All that works are the super strong systemic drugs that I obviously can't take now.
I had it since birth. i dont use anything during pregnancy.. it clears up on its own.. my doc said it is because of my hormones and stuff.. just like some people break out with bad acne while preg even if they hae never had acne before... its just our bodies being all wierd during pregnancy
What do you use to control it during pregnancy? I have really strong steroid cream but I hate using it enough to make a difference, and I can't do the phototherapy right now. It's terrible on all my joints and only getting worse. I got it from my father, and I am hoping I didn't pass it on to my daughter. The average age for onset is 24, it's very rare in babies, and I ended up with it starting at age 18.
I still have it on my scalp and my fiancee has it all over still... now that I am pregnant again it is starting to clear up really good since about 25 weeks.. I am 28 weeks now. My son is 8 1/2 months and he shows no sign of psoriasis so far
LOL whoah... that is pretty wild. outta nowhere. Kelly, how is your psoriasis now? Still affecting you?
kat is right., i have stress psorisis. they come out bad when i start stressing. so far my baby shows no signs of skin problems so yes your baby might have it but your baby also might not, the creams usually help tons.
WOW... this post was from like a year and a half ago... dec of 2007...
Hey Kelly....just to answer your question, no it is not a guarantee that your baby will have psoriasis. Yes your chances of passing it on is higher but its never for sure. You saying that it is really bad for the both of you...what does that mean? You have both tried multiple things and nothing is working or your insurance doesnt help. I have been going through this for 9 years and I have lots of damn experience with this unfortuntley. Try not to worry about passing things to your baby. Stress actually makes your psoriasis worse and that is just a silly thing to do ya know :) My name is Katie by the way. Enjoy your pregnancy..its a great thing.