New to Group!

[Guest guest]

My name is and I live in NC. I was diagnosed with Psoriatic

Arthritis last fall. I originally went to my doctor last summer to

have her look at what I thought was a nail fungus. My nails on one

hand had begun to pit and erode and looked disgusting. The day I went

in to the doctor I was having one of my days where I felt truly

terrible - stiff, aching all over, hobbling when I moved, and utterly

exhausted. These symptoms had been going on for about 2 or 3 months,

and I was just attributing it to age (I was 41, I turned 42 in

November). My doctor immediately put the nail changes and the aches

and fatigue together and referred me out to a rheumatologist. After

much testing, the verdict was indeed PA. I am currently taking 15

mg/week of Methotrexate (have been taking for 8 weeks), as well as 10

mg. Prednisone, 600 mg. Lodine daily. The PA affects both hands and

feet, as well as my hip joints at this time.

I'm a bit concerned due to several things: During the ramp-up phase

of the methotrexate, I expereinced severe deep brusing of my inner

arms, as well as had a sudden water weight gain where my legs swelled

badly. We skipped a dose of the methotrexate and eased off the

prednisone (formerly 20 mg) and Lodine a bit, as we were unsure of

the exact cause of the reaction(s). In the last couple of weeks, I

have more fatigue than I was having, and I have resumed having

(increased) pain and stiffness that lasts all day long, and also

wakes me at night, so I am a bit fearful of an increased dosage of

Methotrexate when I return to my rheumatologist next week for my 4

week check. After the bad bruising episode, I guess I just don't

trust the drug. I'm also concerned about the rapid way in which my

symptoms presented themselves and progressed, in a relatively short

period of time, and what, if anything, that means as to the severity

of this disease.

I'm thankful to have found this group and hope to gain lots of useful

information. I'm interested also in any alternative treatments,

therapies, or diet that others have found useful.

Thanks!