Greetings from Ireland

[Guest guest]

Hello to all PA sufferers.

I am female, 41 now, divorced and residing in Kerry, Republic of Ireland,

having been born to Kerry parents just outside London England.

I succumbed to psoriasis at the tender age of 16, a spot on my right knee,

which I believed to be a wart. However it spread to my other knee and

elbows, before erupting on my ears and hands, although I cannot recall the

exact year. Initial signs of arthritis were young, a swollen thumb at 22,

followed six months later by a swollen finger. I was attending a dermatology

clinic, asked the specialist if I would end up like " Dennis Potter " , a

playwright, only to be told he was a very RARE case, no that would not

happen to ME! I believe the specialist!

A few other swollen appendages arose, but my physician always put it down to

a strain or a knock.

It was not until I was going through my divorce, that life really took on a

new meaning. I returned from a job interview with a swollen toe, although I

could not recall knocking it. I decided to go to the local A & E, who

x-rayed it, prodded it, and then sent me home. The following morning after a

fitful sleep, I walked between the basin of hot water, and the refrigerator

to try and KILL the pain, the rest of the toes were red hot and swollen. I

went to see my physician, whom went into some form of PANIC, taking me with

him! He wanted a blood test, which I had never heard of for a swollen toe?

That result came back negative, and four hours later he wanted another blood

test! Three days later the result showed that I had tested POSITIVE for

something called the RHEUMATOID FACTOR!

It was a foreign language to me, so I asked him to put this in context! Even

now I recall him saying " You have arthritis! " I also recall my thinking,

'Poor man he must be over worked, probably reading the wrong patients file,

after all ARTHRITIS is a disease of OLD AGE and I was but 31!'

One and half years later I saw a Rheumatologist, not that I knew what one of

THEM was!

He examined me, gave me an injection into what I thought was a frozen

shoulder, then handed me a Patients leaflet entitled " Psoriatic Arthritis! "

I guessed he was trying to tell me this was my diagnosis?

He also prescribed anti inflammatory medication.

I then ended up here, the following day, as my father was dying of Cancer.

After the funeral I set about decorating the home, mowing the lawns, all the

tasks my Father was unable to complete.

November I saw a physician here, showed him my medication, and requested

another prescription. He refused sent me to the Rheumatologist here. He

placed me on Sulphazine, told me it was not a CURE, but would stop it in its

tracks.

Well that is part one, I hope I have not BORED you all? The story does get

more dramatic, honest, but we got to here in the end, but what torture I

went through. Part two I will try and send over the weekend, I promise you

it is well worth the anticipation!

Love and God Bless

Gillian