HELP with diagnosis

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone. I'm here looking for answers/help if possible.

I was diagnosed in June 04, at 29, with RA. I'm now wondering though

if what I actually have is psoriatic arthritis and hope you can

maybe shed some light on this for me.

When I was first diagnosed I was put on Plaquenil and mobic. After a

few months I developed a rash on my face. I started and stopped the

med a few times and sure enough my face seemed to improve when I

would stop the med. I went to a dermatologist that agreed, it was

the plaquenil causing the rash. So, this fall my RA dr put me on

methotrexate and bam, the rash reappeared after a couple months of

being gone and off meds. So, I was sure I was having another drug

reaction. I've made an apt with my dermatologist again but in the

meantime stopped the med. Sure enough seemed to improve until today.

It's back in full force and i've been off all meds for awhile;

except medrol packs when necessary.

I've done some searching online and am just wondering if I have

Psoriatic Arthritis instead of RA. The rash I get is just on my face

and a bit down my neck. Sometimes seems like hives but is def. a

rash. It can burn at times and sometimes tingle & itch. Heat & wind

seem to make it worse, I think. Nothing really seems to make it

better it just eventually fades away and apparently pops back up.

It's very frustrating, and even more so that noone can tell me what

it is or why it keeps happening. I'm convinced it's something from

the inside causing it, not a outside factor. Oh, and it's def. not

the lupus type rash.

Any help or pictures of a rash associated with this disease,

preferably on the face would be so appreciated.

Thanks for listening to my rambling