To think my body is starting to give up?

[LoopyLou1981]

I’ve got scans and consultant appointments tomorrow so I’m now laying in bed overthinking.
Over the last couple of months a small patch of psoriasis and a swollen knuckle has turned into a scalp covered in weeping, itchy psoriasis, swollen joints in both hands, a swollen ankle that’s painful to walk on and psoriasis at the top of my bum (sorry 😕).
It feels like body is trying to destroy itself. I know I’m being over dramatic and people deal with far worse things but my mental health is really taking a hit.
On my first appointment they gave me anti-inflammatories but they knocked me out to the point where one of my kids curled up in bed with me without me noticing and it scared me (I usually hear them if they do much as turn over in their own beds).
Just realised that it’s not really an AIBU. But I’m terrified of what they’re going to find/say tomorrow and could do with someone telling me I’m worrying over nothing 🤷‍♀️

I can't tell you that as I don't know enough about psoriasis but I believe the symptoms are all part of the condition and that arthritis can be part of it? See the specialist for reassurance and I hope you can be given medication to relieve the additional symptoms. Try to get some sleep. I hope you feel a lot better by this time tomorrow.

No advice just best wishes for tomorrow

How did your appointment go? I have your exact symptoms...I'm a little further down the road with a diagnosis etc but still not fully there.

Its likely (sorry possible) it is psoriatic arthritis.

Its tough, they have just taken me off my meds, as my white blood count dropped too much again but have no back up plan, so I'm getting all my symptoms back. It is very painful.

Try and see if the GP will make an appointment to see a rheumatology specialist, sadly the list may be as long as your arm, I which case, if possible pay to go private for your 1sy consultation

The inflammation is now also known to negatively affect your mental health, irrespective of the physical aspects of a flare.

You need a referral to a rheumatologist who specialises in PsA, as it's very different to RA.

A long acting im steroid shot could give you a lot of relief quickly whilst other meds are tried. But this would likely have to be through the hospital.

Yes, it's shit, but meds can make it at least tolerable and even result in complete remission.

This feeling doesn't have to last forever.

Likely rheumatoid arthritis. Very common condition associated with psoriasis. Both are autoimmune in nature/genetic.

Likely rheumatoid arthritis. Very common condition associated with psoriasis.

I would say it's more likely to be psoriatic arthritis. Much more likely.

Oh OP, I really feel for you, I suffer with psoriasis and it really is the pits 🙁 If you’ve never suffered from it you’d probably think a ‘skin’ condition wouldn’t affect your mental health but it really does. I really hope you get some good help and advice when you see your consultant 💐

Psoriatic Arthritis

You need a referral to a rheumatologist who specialises in PsA, as it's very different to RA

Yes you do need a rheumatologist but the treatment for RA and Psoriatic Arthritis is usually very similar. Both affect the joints in the same way but psoriatic also causes discomfort to the skin with the psoriasis.

Try reading dr John pagano. He explains about his theories of leaky gut causing psoriasis. Cutting out nightshade and processed foods, eating a low gi, alkaline diet etc. Worked for my husband.

@eveshopper it’s the same thing. It’s an autoimmune arthritis. Same treatment too.

it’s the same thing. It’s an autoimmune arthritis

It is absolutely not the same thing

Thanks all. I’ve gone private so hopefully I’ll get some answers today. I’m just so tired of hurting and feeling horrible.
Stupidly, I’m also worrying about possibly ending up on steroids and my weight getting even more out of control (because obviously vanity is important in these circumstances 🤦‍♀️🙄)x

Sounds. Like. Psoriatic arthritis. If it makes you feel any better, I had one terrible flare up about 7 years ago and nothing since. Your main job is to lower inflammation in your body, you can easily do this through diet and a probiotic.. I've had psoriasis for 10 years and it only started to clear when I removed processed food and crucially... Sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners absolutely destroy your gut bacteria and it's the single most important thing that you can do

@eveshopper, how do you think RA is different from psoriatic?

What treatment do you believe you are given for both.?

I am on exactly the same tablets that my Aunt is on and that my mum was on ?

Tigger

I'm sorry, I never said anything regarding treatment. Not sure why you are being confrontational?

My comment about it not being the same was directly the poster above who said that OP probably had RA. I simply said it was much more likely to be PsA. Which is true, it IS more likely. The poster then said they were the SAME. I merely commented that they are not, because, they are not.

I do t know why you seem to have jumped to the defence here, both RA and PsA are separately recognised conditions. I (and many others) may be wrong and OP may have RA, she may not even have arthritis at all, but that doesn't mean RA and PsA are the same.

In regards to medication though, there isn't a separate tablet for every illness, many painkillers/anti inflams/anti depressants are used to treat a whole array of illnesses so it's no surprise when 2 conditions of a very similar nature are treated In a simulate fashions. How ever that your mum and aunt were given the same tablet as you also does not mean that everybody with an arthritic condition will also be treated in the same way.

To say RA and PsA are the same because you and 2 others had the same tablets is really rather odd.

@evesdropper, sorry if you interpret me as confrontational, it wasnt meant to be, I was asking how you thought the conditions were different, Meaning how they display different (other than the psoriasis as previously mentioned ) or treatment is different? You didnt mean they do, just a different name.

I thought you were saying they were different as you had something different suggest, I would have been interested as I'm always on the look out for different suggestions to combat or ease it.

Sadly My family has RA and Psoriatic running through it, haha so it's not just the tablets that are similar, we are more than well aware of the symptoms, effects and treatment of both. That's why the comparison is so easily made.

I was asking how you thought the conditions were different,

Why? It doesn't matter what I think, the two are separately recognised conditions. My opinion in the differences are irrelevant.

Meaning how they display different (other than the psoriasis as previously mentioned ) or treatment is different?

I don't understand why you are asking me this.

You didnt mean they do, just a different name.

I didn't say that at all. Please don't assume that's what I meant

I thought you were saying they were different as you had something different suggest,

I was saying they are different because they are differently recognised conditions.

I would have been interested as I'm always on the look out for different suggestions to combat or ease it.

I'm sure you would have. Although it looks to me you are just trying to have a go at me for pointing out what is actually a fact.

Sadly My family has RA and Psoriatic running through it, haha

I'm not sure why this is a source of amusement to you?

so it's not just the tablets that are similar, we are more than well aware of the symptoms, effects and treatment of both. That's why the comparison is so easily made.

Indeed a comparison. But the fact is RA and PsA are not the same illness. They are separately recognised conditions.

I don't really understand why you are so desperate to say they are the same condition, they are not. If they were the same there would not be a differentiation in diagnosis.

@eveshopper I'm not desperate to stay they are the same, I stated the symptoms and treatment are the same. I know they have different names as I have personal experience with both

When you state things on here, it is reasonable to expect people to question or comment on them.

You said they are definitely not the same which led me to believe that you had something more to give.

People obviously know they are 2 separate diseases as they have different names, I have personal experience of both, but when it was said they are the same, it was in that they display the same (other than the psoriasis) and are treated the same.

It really was a simple as that, I mearly thought you had something else to add, but you were just stating a fact (most on here already knew) that they had different names. If you think there are more differences, that was what I was asking, what they are ??which is quite reasonable based on the thread.

Yes I was indeed stating a fact. Then got asked for my opinion on why, which is rather bizarre given I had nothing to do with the diagnostic criteria decisions.

OPi dont want this to be high jacked, so bring it back to you.

I hope you get a diagnosis and a positive treatment plan going forward from your appointment today. As it is a vile condition.

If it is RA or psoriatic Arthritis It is really common to be offered a steroid Injection to reduce the discomfort until the tablets take effect.

My specialist is brilliant so hopefully (if it is) you will get a good one
💐💐

@Tigger001 what is your deal? These are two separate conditions. They are closely linked, yes, and may frequently present similarly and in many patients require similar or the same treatments. But that doesn’t make them the same. Diffeeent types of breast cancer often present similarly and ultimately the treatment options often boil down to the same choices. But they are different. Just like these two different types of inflammatory arthritis. Why you are splitting hairs on here I have no idea.

@RoyalMail

Thank you. Feel like I'm going mad being asked to explain this as if it's something I have decided!

Also just to add I didn't go into the ins and outs of the conditions because isn't necessary for me to explain this. I didn't make the diagnostic decision.

OP I am sorry to have derailed and I hope your appointment goes well today