Re: I am new to this and just diagnosed...

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm 38. I was just diagnosed with PA not even a year

ago. I'm only on Sulfasalazine, taking the max

dosage. I was feeling better, but now it's getting

worse. My Dr. and I will have to go over what to take

next. My wife and I plan on having children soon so I

may have to wait on taking new meds.

I use to be very active (bike racing, ski racing,

hiking, etc.) and now I can even go on long walks with

my wife or take the dog for a walk. I've been going

through various degrees of depression, not wanting to

go into work, breaking into tears, and getting very

moody. My wife thinks I should go on Prozac (sp?),

but that's all I need, another pill to take. Believe

me, my family and friends don't know what we go

through each day. It's tough. I'm glad I found this

group!!

-scott

--- ihvkids@... wrote:

> Hi, I was wondering, how old most people here are.

> I am 28 and I am

> already degenerating. I am so far only on three

> medications and a

> topical steroid. I am looking for support to let me

> know I am not

> alone in my pain and exhaustion. thanks,

>

> **

[Guest guest]

,

I am 31 and was diagnosed at the tender age of

20. Then, after some looking back, my first symptoms

were traced back to when I was 17. At 17, my

fingernails started to discolor and lift off of the

nail bed. I have been through most of the medications

on the market and will soon be starting Remicade, the

only other med not attempted after Remicade will be

Enbrel. I recently was approved for Social Security

Disability, main reason for approval is due to the

fact that 12 joints are in my fingers and toes are

permenantly damaged. Everyone has a story of horror

and hope. We all have good days as well as bad days,

sometimes it even changes throughout the day several

times. One thing we all have in common is we keep on

keepin' on. We search high and low, East and West, and

we lift stuff up in search of hope. We come here to

this group, sometimes to see if someone may be

experiencing relief, sometimes to share some relief,

heck sometimes just to go off, you know vent, let it

out, scream a little. Keep comming back , you will

find what you need here, no matter what it may be.

There are a lot of folks with a lot of experiences

here. Someone once told me, " No matter how good or

bad it gets, the best is yet to come " .

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

- Believe it or not, prozac or other anti-depressants can really help with

the fatigue of some auto-immune disorders like multiple sclerosis, fibromalgia,

and probably PA. So not only might you be better able to deal emotionally, but

you might also feel better physically. I don't take them, but a lot of others

on here do and I know they have helped them.

As far as the depression and the tears go, believe me, we've all been there!

I've had some days so bad that I've layed in bed praying to die. It will get

better! Keep reading the posts and searching the net for all the info. you can.

I have found that the more info. I get, the better I'm able to cope. I also try

to focus on all the things I still CAN do, rather than what I can't.

Keep your chin up, better days are ahead

[Guest guest]

Hi -- I am 62 and was diagnosed with psoriasis at 21 and PA at 33, although

I'd had symptoms two or three years earlier. I'm almost ashamed to write,

because from what I read about others in this group, I have a pretty mild case

-- although I never have a day that I don't have some pain. But I'm stubborn and

I just keep plugging away. I'm getting all sorts of ideas about new things to

try and keep hoping for a natural " fix " to put the painful

days behind me. -- Jan O', Alaska

ihvkids@... wrote:

> Hi, I was wondering, how old most people here are.

[Guest guest]

,

I am 24, I have had PA for almost two years but have been diagnosed for only 6

months. I have been on prednisone for a year now. I have tried various NSAIDS,

methotrexate, vioxx and celebrex and none seemed to help. I am about to begin

Enbrel. From what I have gathered from this group every person is different and

has to find their own combination of drugs that work for them. I can understand

the added frustration that comes with having this disease at a young age.

People have difficulty understanding that a young person can feel so bad. They

think you are exaggerating. My husband and I both get frustrated at the fact

that I never feel good and that there isn't much we can do about it. He loves

and supports me but we both miss the active person I used to be. Now I never

feel like leaving the house. I try not to complain too much and when people ask

me how I am doing I say ok. A couple of weeks ago I went to a music festival

with my husband. This was the first time we went out in months. We got to the

entry of the gates and there were security guards searching everyones bags. I

had my pain medication in my purse and the security guard asked me what it was

for. I told him that I have psoriatic arthritis and he didn't believe me

because he said I was too young to have arthritis. I became so angry. I pulled

off my shoes and showed him my swollen red toes and he shut up. I can totally

relate with the pain/exhaustion/frustration. I made the resolve that I am young

and I have this horrible disease but I am not going to let it stop me from

living a happy productive life (whether I feel good or not). I am concerned

with putting so many chemicals in my body (especially since I am starting at

such a young age) but there is not much I can do about it. You have to keep an

optimistic view on your life because if you don't then this disease will just

drag you down - and it doesn't have to. Anyways, that is my 2 cents for what it

is worth.

Wishing everyone a pain free day

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/3/2001 5:22:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time, wizard@...

writes:

<< I'm almost ashamed to write, because from what I read about others in

this group, I have a pretty mild case -- although I never have a day that I

don't have some pain. >>

Jan - I understand this. I keep working (even thought it's a desk job), and

some days I feel like it's not even fair to compare myself to some people on

here who suffer so much. But I think all of us can relate to the

frustrations, pain, and depression this brings on at times. Just because we

suffer less doesn't necessarily mean we have less to offer to the group - so

keep on posting - you never know when you might help ease someone else's

suffering a little.

[Guest guest]

Lelsie,

I am 26 years old and can totally relate. I developed

psoriasis and pa at age 18... had a spell with my

feet, ankles & knees... my family doc put me on

plaquinil and voltaren at the time - then my rhem doc

took me off of it after 1 mth and put me on naproxen

which helped with the pain & stiffness. I had a

problem for a few months walking but I decided to try

tanning beds for my psoriasis which helped the pa too

.... I bought a herbal diet remedy at the tanning salon

that I totally attribute to going into remission for a

period of 2-3 years because I went off prescipts whe I

started taking it.. I have never been able to find the

stuff anywhere .... I have been out of remission since

99 battleing feet and now my hands this year - which

really sucks - cause now I have new problems like

dressing - driving - etc... but I still keep going - I

hate doctors but my condition shas been getting really

bad this year so I went to a reum doc yesterday. I

have been taking 25 mg of vioxx - which he upped to 50

mg a day - it is the only thing that helps me move and

stops the pain - but he said it isn't aggressive

enough so he wants me to go on plaquinil again. 8

years ago I was afraid to take it -bc of all the side

effects - anorexia - bulemia - psychosis etc ... but

he assures me it is safe ...

my concern is having a baby someday - I don't want to

take anything that will hurt a baby ... my mother has

battled this disease for almost 30 years and she's

been on every drug known to man ... she has heart

probs, and stomch ulcers, asthma, all of which I feel

are due to the many meds docs have given her over the

years - i don't wanna be that way - that is why I have

steered clear of the docs until i just can't take

it... and have to go .... I feel more comfortable with

herbal rememdies ... because they are natural - I have

been reading dome of these notes and think I'll give

the GSE a try ..... the only thing I have found that

helps my psoriasis is elecon cream - anyone have any

suggests on soemthing diff to try ???

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thanks, . It always heps to know someone understands how you feel. I have

been getting a lot out of this group and am glad I joined. -- Jan O', Alaska

TADEL630@... wrote:

> In a message dated 10/3/2001 5:22:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time, wizard@...

> writes:

>

> << I'm almost ashamed to write, because from what I read about others in

> this group, I have a pretty mild case -- although I never have a day that I

> don't have some pain. >>

> Jan - I understand this. I keep working (even thought it's a desk job), and

> some days I feel like it's not even fair to compare myself to some people on

> here who suffer so much. But I think all of us can relate to the

> frustrations, pain, and depression this brings on at times. Just because we

> suffer less doesn't necessarily mean we have less to offer to the group - so

> keep on posting - you never know when you might help ease someone else's

> suffering a little.

>

>

>

>