Posts by Grace Hughes42

Can someone help me make sense of this?
"Joint spaces are discretely narrowed at the level of the DIP joints on both hands. There is para-articular osteoporotic change."

🙏

Good evening, everyone. How are you all doing?
So, my son and I finally made it to the Salat clinic today. We saw Dr. Knight, who gave him a full exam and prescribed a treatment plan using Belmont products for his scalp—starting with a deep cleanse to clear out any scaling. After ten days, we'll move on to the NODE K emulsion and DS shampoo, plus some Belmont cream for the external areas.
She hasn't given us a definitive diagnosis just yet. She mentioned that while the symptoms definitely seem linked to psoriasis, she isn't ready to make a final call quite yet.
Both my son and I walked away feeling pretty good about the visit. Honestly, I feel like we received much better care here than we ever did with those dermatologists back in Indianapolis. I’m eager to get a concrete diagnosis, but I think we're moving in the right direction. Even the doctor emphasized that this process is going to require a lot of persistence and patience.

Robin Robinson8 said:Unfortunately, I don't have their number. My doctor mentioned today that all their phone lines were down, so she couldn't finalize my new treatment plan.😕 But where are you heading for the appointment? Is it the pediatric clinic, the adult wing, or the phototherapy unit? It’s for your child, right? You should ask the main switchboard to transfer you directly to that specific department. I really hope they get everything back up and running soon.

It's for the pediatric ward. I'm crossing my fingers that they fix the lines quickly; we're so eager to see the specialists at Mayo Clinic. I honestly think they'll be able to help us much more effectively.

Robin Robinson8 said:I stopped by around 11:00 this morning and there were only three people ahead of me. It didn't feel like much of a wait, but I'm not sure how it usually is elsewhere. 🙂

I was wondering if the wait times for orders are typically long? Also, if anyone has a direct phone number for the clinic, could you please share it? The main switchboard won't give it out, and apparently, their entire system is down right now.

Robin Robinson8 said:Yeah, since May 2008, they've required appointments for every single checkup just to prevent overcrowding and long waits. In my view, it doesn't matter if it’s your first visit or your tenth. I actually went in today.
Best, 😍

Just a quick question—is the wait time usually long?🙂👍

I’m looking for some information if anyone knows
Do you need to make an appointment in advance for a first consultation at the Mayo Clinic?
thanks

Robin Robinson8 said:Typically, private practices charge for a consultation regardless of whether you're seeing them for a child or an adult, so that applies here too. My understanding is that the initial visit is $133 while every follow-up is $67.
Best, 😍

Thanks again, truly.

Robin Robinson8 said:You can reach Dr. Andrija Stanimirović at 212-555-0198. He runs a private practice and he's truly top-tier.
I'm not entirely sure what their specific testing protocols look like—as far as I know, they don't have a dedicated dermatology wing there—but who knows what else they can uncover through blood work?
Best, 😍

Thanks so much for the info. Does anyone know what the consultation fees are, or can kids be seen using an insurance referral?🙂

Chris Morgan67 said:Is anyone else using the 30g jar of Psoriasis ointment? I’m looking to see how much this typically lasts for someone dealing with regular flare-ups. $57 I stopped by the pharmacy near the downtown market, and a 90g container is running about $500 to $600—at least, that's what Robin Robinson8 mentioned earlier.

Is an ointment actually more effective than a cream? Personally, I think the ointment wins every time.

The only real catch with this cream is that it isn't a magic bullet for everyone. For some people, it honestly doesn't seem to do much at all. You really have to commit to applying it consistently for at least a month before you even start to see results. In my experience, it works best when you're dealing with mild to moderate Psoriasis.

It might be worth considering mixing 5% salicylic acid into some Vaseline to boost its effectiveness. In my experience, you get the best results when you pair it with UVB phototherapy. Just a word of caution, though: stay out of the sun while using Psoriasis treatment, otherwise you risk ending up with nasty skin discoloration. Interestingly, that isn't an issue when you're combining it specifically with UVB therapy.🙏

Honestly, I’d suggest seeing Dr. Stanimirović. Both he and Robin Robinson8 recommended him to me. You can find his office location online—just search for his practice in downtown Chicago and you should be able to track him down easily.
Honestly, those folks over at the Mayo Clinic don't have the slightest clue when it comes to Psoriasis.👎

Honestly, your best bet is to just book an appointment with him. Go see him in person, lay all your questions on the table, and ask away. He’s great at breaking everything down so you actually understand what's going on. Why guess when you can get a clear explanation directly from the expert?😍😍

Sure, you can apply Psoriasis cream on your own without seeing a specialist, but I really think it's better to just go in for that one consultation. Wouldn't you feel more at ease knowing for certain?

Hey everyone, welcome to the sub-forum! It looks like things have been absolutely wild here over the last few days.😂🤣😁

Hey there! How's everyone doing today?
Could someone tell me if Dr. Stanimirović runs a private practice, or can you see him using an insurance referral? Also, does anyone know what kind of blood work they perform at the Mayo Clinic to help diagnose psoriasis? My son's doctor is currently stuck between deciding if he actually has psoriasis or just seborrheic dermatitis, and we really need some clarity.🙂🙂🙂

Kate Williams41 said:High triglyceride levels—which I assume means higher fat content in the blood—but honestly, don't take that as gospel. I don't think there’s any direct link to what triggers psoriasis either...
Personally, my skin looks exactly the same when flares subside regardless of what I apply, but even that isn't a rule. Psoriasis presents differently for everyone, and every single body reacts uniquely to just about anything.

One thing I will say again: please don't try to be your own doctor or blindly follow what people tell you online. Even I can't offer much advice if we don't have an actual, confirmed diagnosis. There are so many conditions with similar symptoms. A regular person without specialized medical training simply shouldn't be trying to pinpoint a specific disease based on a few visible signs.

PLEASE GO TO THE DOCTOR AND FIND OUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WITH YOUR SON! DO THE RIGHT THING FOR YOUR CHILD!

Best regards,

OF COURSE, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE ADVICE.
It helps a little bit to read through these suggestions, but I'm not looking to try any home remedies right now. We have a follow-up appointment this Wednesday, so we'll see what the doctor says then. I'm going to ask for more advanced testing so we can get a definitive diagnosis. Once we know for sure, then we can fight whatever it is.

Robert Clark2 said:👍The spot where psoriasis is actually clearing up looks exactly like that. You just have to be persistent.

As for my triglycerides, they’ve always stayed within a normal range, unlike my psoriasis.👎

That’s exactly what worries me. Unfortunately, more and more connections seem to be surfacing.
Do you happen to know if liver enzyme levels have any link to psoriasis? My son's GGT level came back lower than the standard range.

Kate Williams41 said:Even before my uncle’s time, nobody ever had anything like this!
There has to be a catch here. Seriously. Almost every single article you read about psoriasis claims it’s tied to genetics—as if that's some absolute rule. But we all know that isn't necessarily the case, right?

Quoting:
What exactly triggers psoriasis?
We still don't have a definitive answer as to why psoriasis flares up. It seems clear that genetics play a massive role in determining who is predisposed to developing the condition. But it isn't just about what you inherit, is it? Other factors heavily influence both how the disease starts and how it progresses—things like specific infections and high levels of stress.

She seems quite unusual to me. I’ve spent so much time reading up on this that I’ve started noticing so many similarities between her case and what my son is going through.
So, we’ve noticed some skin pulling on the hands from using that cream. Right now, the center looks white while there's this red ring around the edges. As for the scalp, there haven't been many major changes, though the scaling is constant. We also spotted a new patch on the knee tonight, so we're going to leave it alone for a few days to see how it develops. What do you think?
It’s exhausting, isn't it? I feel like we're still fighting in the dark because we haven't even identified what we're actually up against yet.
Is there actually a link between high triglyceride levels and psoriasis?

Thanks to everyone for the replies; I really appreciate every bit of advice you've shared.
Does anyone know if a decrease in GGT enzyme levels could be linked to psoriasis and high triglyceride levels?

In the blood work results, the enzyme levels show ALT at 11 (not quite at the lower limit) and GGT at 6, which is actually below the range.
These are the lab results for a 12-year-old child. Does anyone have any insight into what kind of issue this might indicate?

My 12-year-old son has been struggling with some skin issues lately. It started with scaly white patches on his scalp, and now he has something similar on his right hand. We tried using Eucerin on his hand since we’ve dealt with something similar before, but while it didn't flake off, the redness just won't budge. To make matters worse, the skin around his groin area is extremely red, irritated, and cracked.
One doctor—a urologist, not a dermatologist—immediately suspected psoriasis. However, the dermatologist he saw prescribed an oil and a CeraVe lotion for his head, hands, and groin, though even they weren't entirely sure if it was actually psoriasis since the symptoms look somewhat similar to other conditions.
Does anyone have any practical advice? What is the most effective way to get a definitive psoriasis diagnosis, and what kind of testing or specialists should we be looking for in the US?
It's worth noting that there is a history of psoriasis in our family. My brother has been battling it for about three years now. Could this be a genetic link, given that they are uncle and nephew?
Any insight you can provide would mean the world to me. I'll admit, I'm starting to feel pretty overwhelmed and anxious about all of this.
Thanks in advance to everyone.😕