Hi Everyone

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone, Just thought I would introduce myself - another newy.

I am a 37 yr old single mum of 2 living in Darwin, Australia. All

you guys seem to be in the US, but that is the beauty of

computers..linking us together.

I have had pustular & guttate psoriasis for years, mostly on my

hands and feet, really ugly stuff. It was severe for 4 years on my

hands that I really couldn't function much..long story but when my

husband left my psoriasis cleared up almost overnight. I have had

just minor flares in the last 3 1/2 years, but in the last 6 months

it is getting really gross again. Hate wearing gloves to cover it

but the horrified, disgusted stares are worse. Anyway have been

quite bad in the joint department for years. Honestly can't remember

when I didn't have some sort of pain. Just put it down to my bad

back, sleeping wrong, always blaming myself as I must have done

something stupid to hurt myself all the time. More migraines, must

be my bloody pillow! And goodness, can't I do anything without

feeling like I need a rest.

In the last month the pain and stiffness in my fingers & elbows has

just drained me. I have always put the joint pain down to

psoriasis, never heard of pa. I work in an office so need to use the

keyboard and my left hand just wouldn't come to the party. It was

my normal old gp that picked up something was wrong after a normal

visit and took all the usual tests and got so excited when I didn't

have ra. (My 43 yr old sister has just finally been dx with this and

has been in a walking frame for months). Don't want this to be me.

I have all the nail signs and have pain in most fingers, my wrists,

elbows, shoulders, neck, back, and sometimes my hips, knees and

ankles & gumpy toes. get that limp going..lol. Sorry I do tend to

waffle. My doc has only put me on brufen. I can't get to see the

specialist for a few months. Where I live we only have 1 and she is

on holidays until January!!!! Lucky me. I have to go back to my doc

after another couple of weeks of taking the brufen. I think maybe

it has taken a little bit of the sharpness off the pain..but still

not sleeping etc etc. Hopefully she will put me on something else

as I am really starting to worry about work. I don't know much

about the disease and just from reading your posts I think you guys

must be much worse than me. Does this thing take years or months,

or is everyone different and it is just a wait and see?? Sorry if I

have written too much. Cheers, Janice