Hello, my name is...

[Guest guest]

Thank you to , , Pat and Patty for your welcome messages.

I've never been " welcomed " to a list before. My name is Corliss and I

live in Virginia. I am 39 years old (this Saturday). I am married to a

saint and have two beautiful boys 4 & 7. I was diagnosed with P at age 14.

I had a moderate case with occasional flares. I was diagnosed at 27 with

PA. It didn't take long for my diagnosis, I was lucky to be sent to an

excellent Rhuematologist when some inflammation didn't respond to standard

anti-inflammatories. I had nail psoriasis, so the diagnosis was text book.

My case was trivial at first. A few swollen joints in the hands and a sore

wrist and ankle one winter. NSAIDS worked well for me. Then I got pregnant

with my son. In my seventh month of pregnancy all the DIP joints (?) in my

hands started swelling. By the time I delivered I had one sausage digit.

After delivery it got worse. Dequervains tendonitis, achilles tendon

inflammation and knee pain. Caring for my infant was very difficult. At

two months I quit breastfeeding so I could start MTX. I did respond to it

and within a year was doing very well. But, I had difficulty shedding the

pregnancy pounds. Eventually, I got off the MTX to conceive my second child

who was born 2 yrs. 8 mos. after the first.

My second pregnancy was symptom free and even post partum was glorious.

About six weeks post partum the problems started. I went back on MTX, but

have struggled since. The inflammation is controlled fairly well, but I

still have occassional flairs. Illness (flu or cold) can really mess me up.

I'll be in bed for a week with the illness and then the fatigue, Psoriasis

and joint pain will flare afterwards. Sometimes for months.

I am home caring for my two young boys and also own a home business (I work

part time). I am working with a Naturopath to combat the medication side

effects, but the problems are numerous and the fixes are difficult.

Depression is also a factor. I have been on anti-depressants for 4 years.

Well, that's my story. In another message I'll share more about what I've

learned from the Naturopath. For now I just wanted to introduce myself. Do

you know I have never met another person with PA? It is so comforting to

hear messages from others who truly know how I feel. It can be such an

invisible disease that sometimes I forget I'm sick (instead of lazy or

whiny!).

Thank you for your welcoming spirit.

Sincerely,

Corliss