Betty Allen15 said:Hey Hay crew!🙂.I wanted to share my own experience with psoriasis. I've been dealing with this for 47 years—basically since I was 7, after a skull fracture led to plaque psoriasis (elbows, knees, scalp). After an appendectomy, it transitioned into pustular psoriasis (which means my temperature spikes to 104, I get hit from head to toe with pustules, intense pain, and terrible mobility). In my 20s, it started attacking my nails and joints (psoriatic arthritis). My nails would fall off and my joints would cramp so badly that I’m now considered 80% disabled. During the war, the skin on my heels would crack open and just never fully heal. Throughout my treatment, I've been in every hospital imaginable—from places like Miami and Chicago to major centers in Washington, D.C. and even some clinics in Mexico before the war. I've tried everything—creams, pills, steroid injections. For every herbalist I ever heard about, I'd go see them; at first, things seemed fine, but then it would all just come rushing back. I live by the coast, so I swim and use calendula and olive oil, but as soon as winter hits, the psoriasis flares right up again. Four months ago, I was sent to Washington, D.C. to get a new, expensive biologic because I developed an allergy to corticosteroids. I needed a three-month course of methotrexate at 7.5 mg weekly, then bumped up to 15 mg. The psoriasis has completely cleared without any relapse, my arthritis has stabilized, and I'm pain-free. I have a follow-up in nine months where Dr. Smith will decide whether to stick with this or switch me to biologics. So, that's my story for now. Since I've been through so much with this, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Best regards.
First of all, a huge, huge hello and so much respect for your persistence and optimism 🙏 😁 👍
What can I say? It's been years of fighting, but finally, there's success. I am so incredibly glad the methotrexate is working for you, and I really hope your next check-up goes well. Even though those biologics can be a lifesaver in severe cases, they definitely have side effects too—I assume they warned you, especially since they're running all those tests.
I'm curious, how are your joints doing currently? And how is it that you're 80% disabled (that sounds awful)—that's actually my biggest fear. Was there nothing they could have done regarding that?
Were the biologics recommended specifically for the arthritis or the psoriasis—I mean, which one is your primary diagnosis?
By the way, Dr. Smith is wonderful 🙂
Maybe this sounds silly, or if it's too much, you can just message me privately, but since you've lived with psoriasis and arthritis for so long, I was wondering if you have children? How did pregnancy affect the condition, or vice versa?
It seems like every flare-up for me has been triggered by stress or a weakened immune system—pretty typical, I guess. I often deal with pustulosis when I have a fever, and those pus-filled bumps are so frustrating because nothing you apply seems to calm them down. How have you managed those?
Sorry for all the questions—I'm just really curious, hehehe, because I'm also dealing with a pretty tough case myself.
Hey 😍