...and has given me a steroid ointment and HPR Plus to treat it, I follow up with her in 2 weeks.[/USER] !
Yeah our diseases are like cousins I think, and you are right we are turning parts of our immune system off. You will like Humira, its a really sharp TNFα inhibitor, I was on a double dose until my body figured it out. They might even let you self inject. I'm using Stelara now at $13k/90mg dose every 10 weeks which is an Interleukin inhibitor, so far the sharpest tool yet but alas its efficacy starts to wane and I have nowhere to go. I'm actually way off label since this drug is only approved for psoriasis and not Psoriatic Arthritis . . . yet . . . the infections I get a lot usually in the armpits or other "moist & dark" places. Hibiclens in the shower helps. I went to see an infectious diseases expert after having my butthole lanced and drained in the ER on my wedding anniversary and I had to be decolonized for Staph . . .it's weird how similar our stories are, t-dub. I'm on Cimzia (similar to Remicade) for my Crohn's & Ankylosing Spondylitis, and developed what I thought was really bad eczema & psoriasis. (Silver lining: at least I finally got off prednisone?) In some areas it looked like I was bruised badly...finally got to dermatologist a month ago and she's like, "I've never seen skin so dry...." and "...this is caused by exploding blood vessels in the skin!"...and has given me a steroid ointment and HPR Plus to treat it, I follow up with her in 2 weeks. Treatment seems to be helping a little (2x a day application) but if I miss even one application, the rash explodes again. I think I'm going to end up having to find a replacement for Cimzia. Hopefully, I've "anted up" enough with Cimzia (a drug that hasn't really worked for me this entire year), that my doctor and insurance company will let me try something that might actually work...like Humira, which they denied coverage of until I tried Cimzia first (assholes!).
And "modifying" your immune system is a "nice" way of putting it, t-dub. I see it more as "turning off' my immune system, which I don't like. Leaves me susceptible to all sorts of nasty infections (of course, so did long-term prednisone usage). Been on antibiotics forever, too. Ugh. Unfortunately, it's my only option until my intestines can repair themselves to the point that I can maintain proper health through just diet and exercise alone (pharma-free). Hopefully that day comes soon!
p.s. Welcome, @YeeeBuddy !
Hahaha do i really look that old? Most people don't believe I'm over 21. Hopefully my ICD will never have to do its job and the battery wont have to be changed. In the year its been in me its never had any activity and the doctors are always impressed with my lab results/physical condition. I work in the meat department at a Stater Brothers and I do a shit ton of heavy lifting and I am always moving. I refuse to restrict myself, If shit happens then so be it.Welcome to the madhouse, @YeeeBuddy - I'm gonna guess your age as 32, and let's hope the next time around, when you get your new battery, you get the upgrade with the charging port that glows blue. Iron Man rides again!/quote]
I am often asked why we don't just move to Hawaii. I should just point the curious to the turn this discussion has taken. In Canada, @Vicki would already have had her surgery for free, and @t-dub's Stelara would probably cost less than $5 per shot. The US of A spends more on medical care than any other country in the world, almost 50% more than the next country (Switzerland) when expressed as a percentage of GDP, yet the US ranks near the bottom of many measures of provided health care. Why? Because your system fattens the bank accounts of a small group of—I was about to say people, but really they're greedy scumsuckers exploiting the sick and vulnerable—and bankrupts families. I could never live in such a country.
I am often asked why we don't just move to Hawaii. I should just point the curious to the turn this discussion has taken. In Canada, @Vicki would already have had her surgery for free, and @t-dub's Stelara would probably cost less than $5 per shot. The US of A spends more on medical care than any other country in the world, almost 50% more than the next country (Switzerland) when expressed as a percentage of GDP, yet the US ranks near the bottom of many measures of provided health care. Why? Because your system fattens the bank accounts of a small group of—I was about to say people, but really they're greedy scumsuckers exploiting the sick and vulnerable—and bankrupts families. I could never live in such a country.
Well just keep your ass up there eh. Only good thing to come out of Canada was BC weed, Labatts and Poutine!!
I hate Pred!! Even a low dose makes me CRAZY I avoid it if i can . I am on some pretty heavy Steroid creams for my Psoriasis though I don't want to be on those either anyway...Steroids are evil!
^^^^ Awesome. I'm taking a bunch up to the pub tonight for their New Years Eve party. Not gonna stay long. just try to get some signatures and drink a beer.
Much less bruising on the hand huh?
I'm going to need some bubblewrap... Mr. Vicki, please send some extra my way
Knocked my knuckle (say it WITH the k...) on the end of the stair railing. OUCH. Instant bruise. Good thing I stock Arnica in the Jumbo size containers...
Doing a BP test thing today (well, continuing)... before&after some magnesium, before&after some weed, before&after some essential oils...