My experiences

[Guest guest]

I am new to this group and would like to introduce myself and tell you about

my experiences with PA. I have suffered from psoriasis for 34 years which

started 2 weeks after arriving in Australia (where I still live) from

England. My psoriasis has always been severe but it was 14 years before I

got PA. In 1970 I worked for a doctor as a receptionist and he asked me

whether I would mind him having a go at treating my psoriasis (I had been to

many specialists but they all said there was nothing else they could do for

me). I was more than happy to get free medical treatment so told him to go

ahead. I again went through all the creams and ointments at the chemist but

again none worked and he suggested I try methotrexate. I was on

methotrexate for 8 years starting in 1973 and after my 9th liver biopsy

(they did them every year in those days) it was found my liver cells had

started to change so I was taken off of it. Approximately 3 months later I

went to bed feeling fine although very spotty (psoriasis) and woke up the

next morning riddled with arthritis. I went to my doctor and all he said

was that you have arthritis and gave me a prescription for some pills.

Within a couple of weeks I could hardly walk and had pain in both hands (all

fingers affected) both wrists, elbows, knees, ankles and feet. I went for

my 3 month check-up at the hospital I was going to at that time for my

psoriasis and the next day I was in hospital - after many tests it was

suggested I go on Gold Injections although they were worried because one of

the side effects is a skin rash. They sent me home with letters for my

local doctor about administering these and also special equipment to turn

taps on, peel potatoes, squeeze tubs etc. etc. (I was unable to do these

things) and for the next 15 years had gold injections starting weekly and

then going to fortnightly and then monthly and as long as I was careful what

I did it kept my PA under pretty good control and luckily I could tolerate

them and had no side effects. For those 15 years I tried many things to

control my psoriasis which just kept getting worse and worse and as a last

resort was put on cyclosporine 3 years ago. This drug also helps my PA so

after 3 months of both gold injections and cyclosporine went off of gold

injections and my PA is still being controlled reasonably well and overall I

do not suffer too much. I was originally told I would only be on

cyclosporine for a short while but on many occasions they have tried to

decrease the dose but my just skin erupts. It appears to me that the

methotrexate kept my PA under wraps until I went off it when it came out in

full force. Hope you have found this interesting and not too long winded.

Regards Pat