Oldie with PsA, newbie to group

[Guest guest]

First, I want to thank everyone that has helped me understand this

disease through the posts. I've only been diagnosed for a couple of

years, but it's probably been going on for 30 or more. Even as a

young person, I had problems with ankles and knees and by the time I

went to college the back was " going out " occasionally. " Adult acne "

reared its head in my mid-thirties, although I couldn't understand why

a condition that so little resembled the teen variety should be called

the same. The orthopedic problems have gradually grown worse and then

there have been episodes of what I now know was psoriasis (awful

dandruff that lasted a couple of years a couple of times, miserable

scaly mess on the bottoms & sides of my feet that I tried every

fungicide on the market for, etc). And then there was the utter

exhaustion problem. It was bad enough that I finally mentioned it to

my internist. His reaction was " What do you expect, you're getting

older " . I was mid or late 50's then, 68 now. Having been raised to

be a noncomplainer, I just cowered back into my shell. So how did I

get diagnosed? On my last visit with my internist before his

retirement, he asked if I had any questions. I held up my index

finger whose nail was ridged, white striped and trying to leave the

finger. He immediately had his nurse get me an appointment with the

rheumatologist, and the rest is history. I was first started on

sulfasalazine, which had to be discontinued because of an interaction

with my statin, then Immuran which had all the effect of a sugar pill.

After a lengthy approval process, I started Enbrel which never

stopped having major injection site reactions but no other visible

effects. Early this year, I started Humira once every other week at

first and in late May once a week. This has been pretty good for the

arthritis and the tiredness. I still can't make a fist with my right

hand but the fingers, while still deformed aren't sausage-y. However,

this progress comes with a rather hideous blanket of pustular & scaly

psoriasis on the same poor hand. My rheumatologist prescribed a very

expensive ointment (Taclonex) that has all the effect of Vasoline.

I'll see him again next week.

Anyway, that's me. If I lived in S. California, I could try to get my

hand a part in a horror movie---no need for makeup. As it is, I think

I've had a more slowly developing case than many of you. I also have

a pretty high pain threshold, which might help day-to-day but probably

kept me from pushing for help sooner.

And again, this list is wonderful. I've seen my problems mentioned

over and over. It has helped me to feel that my disparate " owies " are

all one disease.

So hello to all, from Alabama

[Guest guest]

Have you tried Dovonex creme or ointment? It helped me a little.

Sherry

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Sherry. I'll look for the Dovonex. I'm open to anything

I've even tried old-time coal tar shampoo just poured on the hand and

left to stand a few minutes.