Hi Michele,

Sorry to hear about your recent issues. Hang in there! You may have to keep
trying different things, but you will eventually get to a therapy that is
effective.

I have had P since 1982 and PA since 1983 (I am 48 yrs. old). I currently take
Enbrel (25mg 2x weekly), MTX (17.5mg per week) and Celebrex (400mg per day). I
also use a little prednisone now and then.

It is not uncommon for P and PA to "chase" around the body as you describe it.
My P and PA has done exactly that over the past 20 years.

It sounds like what may be going on with your hands is that your plaque
psoriasis may have flared as pustular psoriasis. Pustular psoriasis does look
somewhat like blisters. Did the derm mention that at all? That is not unheard
of and to have it happen at the same time as the arthritis appears seems
consistent. Pustular psoriasis is harder to treat and manage than plaque
psaoriasis and most often strikes the feet and hands. The arthritis also moves
around the body, but the hands and feet, particularly the distal
interphaleangeal joints (first joint on each finger and toe) are the most often
involved. I have that kind of involvement along with knees, ankles, spine, and
other joints.

I have taken Methotrexate since 1996 and have had no hair loss. I also take 2mg
of folic acid per day. I have had no other side effects from methotrexate
except that at higher doses (above 12.5 mg per week) I think I get more fatigue.
The fatigue is also a symptom of having PA so its hard to tell the real culprit.
I have my liver function monitored regularly and I have had to stop the MTX
twice due to elevated liver enzymes. I have been able to go right back on it
each time after a month and a clear lab report. MTX is a good medication. It
works well for P and PA.

Taking Enbrel has helped me a lot. Has your rheumy discussed either Enbrel or
Humira? Those two drugs are used a lot now in combination therapy with MTX. In
fact, most rheumy's from what I hear are not looking at either MTX or one of the
biologics as mono therapies for people with PA. Most patients are put on MTX
and one of the biologics. You may find having that discussion with your
rheumatologist helpful.

Let me know how you are doing! Again, hang in there!

Happy New Year!

David


Michele Doan <pdoan298@...> wrote:

Hello all,

I'm Michele, 37, F. Have had P for what seems like forever,
although it is usually mild. The week before Thanksgiving my hands
swelled and got a horrible rash that looked like blood blisters.
The blisters later "peeled" off. My GP sent me to a rheumy who said
it is PA. The dermo was already giving me minocycline 100 mg/day
for acne and hydrocortizone cream 2.5% for P. After I came back
with 5 allergic reactions to 5 different NSAIDs (including
ibuprofen - never had that happen before!) we gave that up and he
gave me methotrexate 12.5 1x week and Folic Acid.

Now I feel like this PA stuff is just here to torture me. It seems
like every day a different body part hurts and is swollen, red and
painful. Is it normal for this to "chase" around the body like
this? Also, other than Tylenol (which does nothing) what can I do
for pain? I do not want to take codiene and be goofy all the time.

Also, I started reading about MTX and one of the listed side effects
is hair loss. Does this really happen? Because I do not like that
idea.

Thanks for your feedback and I hope all of you have a happy,
healthy, pain-free year!

Michele




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