New to the boards, old-hand to P.

[LadyHawke9973]

Would you believe I've checked in on the NPF site on and off for about 2+ years and today was my first time to see the "create an account without beign a paying member" bit? Normally I'm a titch more observant than that!

Ah well!

I'm Mel...32 year old single Mom in Utah. Office Administraotor at a lutheran church, diagnosed with P for 15+ years.

I'm moderate to severe, dependant on the definition...my coverage is 50-60% dependant on the day...back, stomach are the worst...my hands are blessedly clear, but I've recently developed a crop of spots on my face...one small one in the center of each cheek, one on my jaw, one on the side of my nose, and a string of 5 or 7 across my forehead. All I can say is 'thank heavens for make-up and green corrector!' My scalp is 100% covered.

My derm has had me on most everything scrip wise, and I've tried most everything non scrip wise (more toward the creams and lotions than toward the vitamins, etc).

I conceived my daughter while on MTX (grace of God, she's just fine), and subsequently tried Enbrel, but wasn't committed to actually following the regimen at the time (new single mom...at that time my skin was a very low priority).

My experience with MTX was not good (even not considering the issues with Bree's conception) and will not go back on it again for the little benefit I experienced. Enbrel has changed how it manages doses and I'm hoping my doctor will consider that for me again when I see him this coming Thursday.

Looking forward to meeting you guys and sharing experiences.

Best regards,

[RichJ]

hi mel,
welcome to the p family. you have met some of the wonderful people on here and will find alot of great info. welcome and nice to meet you.

have a good night all

richard

[PJ Leary]

Hi Mel,

Nice to meet you. Glad to know that your powers of observation were keener so that we can get to know you. Two years is a long time to lurk without posting! :p

In any case, it sounds like you are a similar p person to me, with severe disease. I have had p for 30 years, and before biologics a good day for me was 70%. I was also granted the gift of pa at the tender age of about 18, and biologics are a godsend for that.

I am also a mother, I have 4 children. It sounds like you got really lucky with the mtx and your pregnacy. I tried mtx a couple of times, both im and orally, but had terrible side effects. While it was never very helpful for my p, it did help my pa lots. For many rather foolish years I lived in southern Maine, and was rather crippled in the cold weather.

These days I live much more comfortably in North Carolina, the weather and the biologics combine to keep me pretty comfortable most of the time.

I would like to make a suggestion to you. In case you did not know, you can be a member with the full benefits, for a donation in any amount. That means that you can be a member for as little as $1 per year. When I was younger and poorer, I spent many years as a $1 per year member. Being a single mother is not an easy task in any regard, being a psoriasis patient isn't either, and both of those things can be financially taxing to say the least.

I encourage you to join for a dollar. The rewards are many, and we all welcome you to the community.

Regards,

[sergecosta]

Hi Mel!

I too suffer from psoriatic lesions, though small and most cases subdued, on my face. Some spots on the forehead, along the hairline - but not the frontal part of the scalp, temples, some in the eyebrows, sides of the nose, and along the jawline. My dermatologist considers this sebopsoriasis because I don't have psoriasis pretty much anywhere else except the groin and the lesions are not as raised or red as psoriasis. But then again, not unnoticeable either. My goal is to be able to control these facial lesions better. I use Cutivate sparingly on the face - but as soon as I am off it for two days, I begin to see the starting stage which I know so well. My dermatologist thinks that I should get some UVB for better remission. He is confident I could do better. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Anyhow welcome and just to let you know that I can empathize with the anxiety that comes as a result of facial psoriasis. It really is in a different class for obvious reasons.

Serge

[LadyHawke9973]

Thanks, everyone! And thanks, Serge...you're right. It's hard when it hits the face.