First off I’m 18 and I have really mild plaque psoriasis and I think I may be developing psoriatic arthritis eventually as well due to joint inflammation and pain I have occasionally. I rarely get psoriasis anywhere besides inside my ears though because of the climate I’m in right now.

Two days ago I was out shopping when a spot on my wrist began to itch. I saw no bumps of any sort to indicate that it was a bug bite but after I continued scratching it, it started to look like it might be just a bug bite as it started to have a bump. I got another one later that night on my finger but this one had no bump and it still doesn’t. It’s just a little swollen, red, and extremely itchy. Both of them have gotten unbearably itchy. If I don’t touch them for a while it goes away but just the slightest touch brings it back. Scratching it at all makes it so much worse and makes it swell more and burn. I got another one on my leg and a small one (that looks more like a bug bite) on my arm as well that day. But all at different times and not always when I was in the same place which makes it hard for me to believe that they’re all really itchy bug bites. I thought it might be related to my psoriasis but they’re not usually on joints. (not that my psoriasis is always on joints) I suppose it’s possible that it’d be bed bugs or something but I have trouble believing that one of them followed me to the mall all day before biting me on the wrist. lol I keep expecting them to get better but they only show signs of getting worse. It’s probably not as big of a deal as I’m acting like it is but I just wanted to be sure that it wasn’t a sign of any other psoriasis related condition or anything. Oh and anti itch cream does absolutely nothing.

I applied for dla about 3 months ago and have just recieved a letter from the dwp saying they were going to send a doctor to examine me

im a bit nervous about this as iv been told they will be looking for excused to reject me..

My condition is psoriatic arthritis,

also i am 18 and am worried the doctor they send will take one look at me and assume because im young im fine and just trying to scrounge..

has anyone here had an examination before? and what was it like?

I have been to more doctors than I can count and have decided to post a question here to see if anyone recognizes what I describe. Approximately 9 years ago, I noticed a decreased ability to squeeze the shampoo bottle, do anything strenuous with my left hand. I am a left handed individual. I began to experience pain and swelling in my left forearm (it was visibly swollen and had redness where the swelling was). I went to my PCP and he referred me to an orthopedist. The orthopedist tested me for MS, lyme disease, and Sleep Apnea. We had the nerve conduction test on my arm and hands. All negative. He referred me to a muscular specialist, neurologist, and hematologist. All tests came up negative for any known disorder. The hematologist suggested it was a psychosomatic illness. This happened over the course of a year and a half. By that time, my left arm, leg, and calf had swollen and eventually had atrophy. My left hand is is in a permanent claw like state from the compression on the tendons in my arm. When the “illness” is at its worst, I get muscle spasms on both sides of my face. I have the appearance of very slight palsy on my right side from the “contractions” I would have in my face. My speech gets affected as well. Extremes of any temperature affect it also.

I have been taking Skelaxin for all these years. In 2003, my right side started to manifest the same symptoms as my left side. The welling had travelled to my thighs and bicep on my left arm and started swelling in my right forearm. This was when I began to suspect an autoimmune disorder. I went BACK to my PCP and asked him to re-look at all my symptoms and see what we could find. We went thru all kinds of tests again and the only thing we came up with was that I have psoriatic arthritis — which is not related to this disorder. He has been patient and kind with me. I asked him if he thought it was a psychological illness of some kind and he emphatically disagreed with that concept. I saw the top neurologist and muscular specialist @ YAle New Haven Medical Center. They have chalked it up to being an autoimmune disorder of some kind and he just doesn’t know what it is. When I became pregnant last July, I was concerned that going off meds would make my muscles work. He said it would be one more way to confirm this was indeed autoimmune. According to him, autoimune disorders take a leave of absence most times during the pregnancy, but come back with a vengeance post delivery. He was correct. My son is now 8 months old and I have serious concerns about how long I can go on like this. I have fallen twice with him — once while he was in the carrier and recently while he was in my arms.

I know this is lengthy, but if you recognize these symptoms or know of someone I can see, I’d greatly appreciate it

I am only 25, but have suffered from Psoriatic Arthritis that was debilitating. In fact, my Rheumotologist advised me not to exercise because of the stress on my joints. Now that I am on a new medication and feeling amazing I want to get on track and lose some weight. I have a two year old and thought a treadmill or stationary bike would be great. However, what about those things like the ab lounge? Do they really work? I don’t want to work out with weights because i would be doing this alone. What would be my best bet for shedding some stomach flab and getting into shape?

I have psoriatic arthritis..have had it for over 30 years….the symptoms have been mild enough for hot showers, aspirin, and using the involved joints dispite swelling and pain when they flare but recently my M.D. has prescribed feldene-to take when needed for joint pain.

I was on it for a short period of time when it first came on the market, but my then physician had reservations and I’ve been able to avoid prescription meds for it until now….my lower back and both ankles/knees complain too much at this point and the aspirin only gives partial relief….he tells me it’s almost as safe as aspirin…I’m wondering if anyone else is using it and how successful the pain relief/management has been with it…thanx….
so far I tolerate feldene well….it seems to inhance the diuretic I take for my BP lol so I hafta co-ordinate the two…the first time I used it (when it first came out) it kicked in within 24 hrs and the relief was complete…now it takes about 3 days before I notice a difference, but then all major joints are now involved, not just one like before…..was wondering if anyone has noticed this….and has had any of the side effects….thanx for all replies-arthritis stinks, huh……

I am on a low sodium diet. Here is why–I have quite a few health problems–including, but not limited to, hypothyroidism, hypokalemia (low potassium), hyperaldesteronism (overactive adrenals), hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), kyphosis (a form of scoliosis), Fibromyalgia, major depression, Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Sleep Apnea, Premature ventricular contractions, Narcolepsy, severe Edema issues, and no telling what all else! On top of all of that, I was born deaf-blind due to Congenital Rubella Syndrome–mom got the german measles when she was preggers with me. So as you can see, I got quite a few problems……so it is imperative that I follow a strict diet with as little sodium as possible.

I hope somebody can help point me in the right direction so I can finally enjoy macroni and cheese again. TIA!

So I get sonograms pretty often because I’m high risk with psoriatic arthritis. My pregnancy has been typical and uneventful for the most part but my baby has measured large the entire time and now she has measured @ 5lbs 2oz and I have been checked for gestational diabetes and I don’t have it. I have suspected all along that the due date is off but who knows. If my baby keeps growing so fast and big will she be born early and will I even be able to deliver her? Has anyone else had this experience???
They told me she was in the 87%ile
I was a 10lb baby by C-section so maybe she is following my lead.
This has just jolted my nesting mode and made me realize I have allot of stuff to do before this baby comes and there might be a chance she is coming sooner than later. Thanks for all the info mamas

Seriously…

30+ years of having it being OVER THE COUNTER in most countries…

80 MILLION prescriptions in the United States…

NOT A SINGLE DEATH from the use of Emergency Contraception…

It DOES NOT inhibit implantation of a fertilized ovum… So it DOES NOT cause an “Abortion”.

Aleve and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used for the reduction of intense pain, fever, inflammation and stiffness caused by conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, menstrual cramps, tendinitis, bursitis, and the treatment of primary dysmenorrhe actually have a greater risk of inhibiting the implantation of a fertilized egg than The Morning After Pill and yet no one is protesting out front of the Safeway/Dominick’s when a chick buys the over the counter pain reliever… Right?

Emergency Contraception can PREVENT A MAJORITY OF ABORTIONS… You can INSTANTLY cut down the numbers of abortions being performed by 75% simply by allowing this “Strange, Dangerous, and NEW” concept that has been around in the rest of the world for 40+ years and yet is still being called “The Abortion Pill” by the Anti-Choice organizations that are shooting at abortion doctors and protesting sex education in schools…

I don’t get it…

Seriously… I want to know the illogical reasoning, based on OBVIOUSLY nonsense propaganda, why people are STILL fighting the distribution of Emergency Contraception…

NATURE causes 1/3 of ALL pregnancies to be NATURALLY terminated… A process called “Spontaneous Abortion” and “Miscarriage”… So you can’t argue that “God” wants all pregnancies to go to term because “God” should have built the “Ovens” a little better so that more babies are actually carried to term…

Come on…

NOT using “Emotional” arguments with no basis in science…
NOT using “Propaganda” and misinformation about how “Dangerous” it is…

PLEASE, explain to me why the #1 way of preventing abortions is “Evil”.

Read this whole thing before you get judgmental about weaning.

I have psoriatic arthritis, a genetic autoimmune disease which attacks all of my joints. I feel like I’m 90 sometimes even though I am just 24. I am breastfeeding my son who will be 11 months old on Monday. I can take one of my arthritis medications while I am breastfeeding, but not the other. This is my problem.

I can take my Enbrel, but it is an autoimmune suppressant, which means I can’t take it if I get sick because it could cause a serious infection and possibly kill me. I cannot take my celebrex, which is an NSAID pain reliever which is what I used to take for my achy days and every day when I was sick so I wasn’t in pain. Celebrex passes into the breast milk and it isn’t good for babies and their livers.

I haven’t taken celebrex since I found out I was pregnant almost 2 years ago now. My fingers just don’t work any more (you wouldn’t believe me if I told you how long it took me to type this). When I get sick, I can’t take anything for the pain except ibuprofen in moderation and that doesn’t cut it. My son is walking now and I can’t run around with him very much even when I can take my enbrel because I just get so achy during this time of year. I want to breastfeed till about one year, but I need to wean by then because my son deserves a healthy (relatively) mommy who can play with him and run with him. I am a stay at home mom and he spends most of his time just me so it isn’t like he gets to run around and play at daycare or anything. I’m all he has. I need useful advice on weaning him.

He does take a sippy cup of water (or juice at grandma’s house) during meal times, but he won’t take a bottle. I’ve tried a couple different kinds of formula as well as breast milk and he doesn’t seem to like it. I don’t mind weaning him from the breast to the bottle if that is what it takes. We can work on that habit after I’m feeling better. He eats lots of solids, all three meals and sometimes a snack or two. He does take a pacifier. He doesn’t nurse to sleep. He nurses at bed time and then takes the pacifier and rocks to sleep.

Please give me some advice on weaning him and don’t tell me how magical breast milk is and how a child should self wean and how I should go through all the pain in the world to give my son the mystical powers of breast milk. Yeah, studies suggest that breastfed babies are smarter and healthier and have better eye sight, but walk into a classroom in any high school and point out the kids that were breastfed and which weren’t. I bet you can’t do it because the numbers in favor of breastfeeding are so slight and skewed by family income level (which is a more accurate predictor of future success unfortunately). I was breastfed and have a serious medical condition, but my best friend was formula fed and is in perfect health. Go figure. Don’t lecture me on breastfeeding please. I know the facts and I made my choice. Thank you.

I am starting a team to walk in the National Psoriasis walk for awareness and I need help with cute/ funny names. I have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The other girl has just the arthritis with no visible psoriasis (yet). we are a team of fun loving blondes. the other girls on the team are friends. I came up with a few ideas, but the need more to them. Please help. Here is what I have so far:
inflamed
inflamed blondes
flakey blondes
?????