The Waxing and Waning of my Psoriasis

[cordiod]

Hello there!

I have been wanting to start a thread like this for my own reference, but also to share my trials and tribulations, my flares and clearings with everyone from my "P" family.

I will do my best to post photographs at regular intervals so that everyone can share in my successes and well, my non-successes

Cheers,
Diana

[cordiod]

Here is a photo of the condition my leg was in back in May. Mine is the one in the center.

At the time, I was on about 200mg of Cyclosporine/day, 50mL of Enbrel/week and a daily slathering of Triamcinolone ointment.

This photo was also lightened a bit to show the plaque detail.

[cordiod]

I decided one day to do a more thorough documentation of my plaque.

Here's the same leg, same medication regimen, but looking a bit better. The plaques are most definitely flattening and there is some hyperpigmentation breaking through.

Notice the spot closest to my ankle breaking up a bit in comparision with the first picture...



Here's a more top-view of the same leg, though taken in a different direction!

[cordiod]

And now for my left leg!



and the top...



and the top again but showing the inner edge of the plaque...

[TIM1965]

hey we have matching legs, i am on my 10th injection of enbrel, and a smear of clobatisol dailey, its breaking up like yours...

good luck

LOVE TIM

[einna]

Diana,

What a great way to share your experience!!

Annie

[LoriASoCal]

WHO STOLE MY LEG? I can so relate, but.... I'm doing great with remicade... plaque free, well almost.

[abbyroad]

I recognize that first picture there!!! I think I took one as well with my "Mata hari" camera...

sweetie, how wonderful of you to document your trials and tribulations of your p....thank you for your courage to share your experiences with pics and to educate everyone on the different levels of p and what to do about it...you are just great girlee....
I did notice the improvement of your legs at the conference especially when I rubbed some shea butter on your leg!
good luck girrrrl!!
See you on the 10th?

aloha,
Abby

[Kimbercat]

aaahhh.....memories! The "hot legs" contest in May...lol. I must say you're looking good, Miss D, and I hope it only continues to improve for you. Did you ever start on Raptiva? Hope when I see those legs of yours in October, they'll be even better than they are now.

[SandraJean]

Hi Diane,

Thanks for sharing your journey with us. I hope you will see improvement every day and before long it will be clear. Hang in there.

Thanks again,

Sandy

[cordiod]

Did you ever start on Raptiva?

I did Kim, but I have yet to take any pics since I have been on Raptiva. I had only taken my second injection at the time of the Conference.

Soon, soon...I will get new pictures and then, POST!

[cordiod]

I had more pics to post yesterday, but ran out of time. So here are some more from my July "photo shoot"

Here's a close-up of my left knee. I can't say I notice much difference from this pic to what I see today...



And here's my left elbow. Sad to say, it looks a bit worse these days

[RichJ]

hi diane,
great thread. looks like it's clearing.

[cordiod]

And lastly, my hands. Oh my poor, poor hands. While on Enbrel/Cyclosporine/Triamcinolone my hands actually did clear for a period of time. Yet, again, sad to say...they've seen better days (these photos actually being one of those "better" days). The plaques have grown larger and a bit more garish...yet not nearly as bad as they had once been.

Here's my left...



My right...



And a close-up of the right...

[jasperboye]

Hi Diane!

I just want to say thanks for sharing your experience with us! I hope you find success with Raptiva!!

Katie

[mdgirl]

Hi Diana,

I just find it so powerful and over whelming of your willness to share your experience with us. I'm just so happy for you and your progress. It's people like you that make the road so much easier for the rest of us to travel.

Bless you,

Another Diane

[raydon14yp]

Have you ever tried methotrexate? I did not see it listed in the meds you mention. Your severe p might respond to it. Worth a try

[InternetSNOB]

raydon,

I can assure you, Ms Di is a moisture nazi! There has not been a time when im in her present and she hasnt pulled out a bottle of lotion to put on her hands, arms, legs and feet.

Di, from when i first met you over a year ago to now, i can definatly see the differences in your skin. I hope raptiva does it for you, you deserve the relief!!!

This weekend... NAKED FISH?? *drools*

[cordiod]

Since I have been diagnosed with psoriasis (1997) I have used the following arsenal of Prescription Medications (never all at once though! ). I've just listed them in alpha order for my own ease, they are not in order of when I have taken them:

· Amevive
· Clobetasol
· Clobex Lotion
· Coal Tar (20% LCD in Aquaphor)
· Cyclosporine
· Derma-Smoothe
· Desonide
· Dovonex
· Enbrel
· Luxiq
· Methotrexate
· Olux
· Prednisone
· Protopic
· Raptiva
· Tazorac
· UVB

And have used the following Over the Counter (non-Rx) stuff:

· Aveeno Oatmeal Baths
· A random sampling of those High-Priced Mail-Order “cures”
· Baby Oil
· Cetaphil Cream
· Dead Sea Salt Baths
· Eucerin Cream
· Mavena Moisturizers
· Neutrogena Body Oil
· Numerous other moisturizers

I am currently on Raptiva (100mL/week), Methotrexate (15mg/week), and an AM slathering of both Cetaphil Cream and Triamcinolone, the occasional moussing of Olux foam on my random scalp plaques, and Protopic on some patches that pop up on my eyelids and face as well as the intermittent inverse psoriasis that crops up. Just this week in the evenings, I began using the Skincylic Cream that was in the goodie bag at the conference (but not the spray). It helps smooth out the plaques. No harm, no foul…I figure.

[ladybloede]

How awesome of you to share your experiences! I'll be keeping up with it. Hope the Raptiva is your miracle!!

mari

[cordiod]

To everyone who has posted and keeps checking in for more.

This thread has really helped put my own condition in perspective. Like myself and many others have expressed in the past, it is amazing how easily we forget the severity of flares as well as locations of past plaques and how clear portions of our skin once were!

I spent a lot of time holding my hand up to the computer screen comparing the plaques of today to those of the 7/2 photo. This is the first time I have been able to put together a "live journal" of the changing demographics of my psoriasis.

I am glad you all can share it with me. Thank you for your well wishes and support!

[RacerX]

My P on my legs looked just like yours! I will have to post up my before and after pictures. I hope the best for you and you continue to clear up!

[cordiod]

I was looking at these pictures and comparing the images to my current plaques...and WOW what a difference!

I must admit, I have to shave before posting any new pics of my legs! but I will do my best to get some current pics of my elbows/forearms/hands posted shortly.

YOU WILL BE AMAZED, I am!

I guess you could say, Raptiva is my remedy! (fingers crossed that it continues to be)

[makeitgoaway]

Diana-

I'm not sure how I missed this thread in the past, but I am soo happy that you are finally getting some relief!

Awesome! My fingers are crossed for you too!

[cordiod]

Hey, thanks Steve!

Ok, now for a few pics that I took a little over a month ago. They are what you can consider the in-between shots.

Here's a shot of my right leg:


And here's a plaque on my left ankle:

You may notice the hyper pigmentation surrounding the plaque (yay, it has gotten smaller!)

EDIT: I forgot to add that my treatment is currently 1mL of Raptiva weekly. From 7/31 thru 8/27 I was on 15mg of mtx (6 pills). My dose was upped to 20mg (8 pills) which I began on 9/4 to the present, plus the standard slathering (albeit, less of a slathering) of triamcinolone ointment. Unfortunately when I am in any kind of clearing stage, I can never attribute it to ONE treatment, because I am NEVER only on ONE treatement. Well, either way, there is clearing as a result!!!