I feel so alone.

[vick441]

I'm a 46 year old female who has had psoriasis for about 4 years. It started on my feet and then went to the palms of my hands. Recently and suddenly it ended up in my big toenail and one of my thumbnails. It happened so quick! My big toenail just came off and half of my thumbnail is gone. I'm sure the rest of it will be gone soon. I don't seem to have it in any other nails yet. I do now have it on my stomach, my legs, my elbows, my knees and a little on my upper arms. When I first found out I had it I figured I could live with it. But it keeps spreading! And just started spreading to all of the other places I mentioned within the last few months after having it on my hands and feet for 4 years. I don't have anyone to talk to about it...I mean I do, but they don't seem like they are really listening to me. They don't understand what I am going thru. I want to scream! Will it ever stop spreading? I can keep my feet soft by soaking once or twice a day and I have to wrap them at night with medication and vaseline but the rest of it is impossible to do that to. What do the rest of you do who have it in different places on your body? And what about the nails? Is it normal for them to come off like mine did? I'd appreciate any input. You can email me at vmessman@charter.net Thanks so much...Vicky

[kynea]

hello there, i hear you, your are not alone. i have had P since i was about 12, it has always been on my scalp. but as of last May when i had knee surgery, i now have PA and the P has spread to my stomach, legs and elbows. i have thought this was weird, so i started using a humidifyer thinking that may help, and it may have since in the winter its dryer. but i'm with you, at first i thought " eh no problem" now i'm like " eh, problem" the P is much easier to deal with than the PA i'll tell ya that much, but i found that with the humidifyre when i sleep and moisterising bodywash help. as for the rest...cortizsone cream. i've giving up on it and it seems to be getting better. the PA is another story, but just hang in there, we all get our day in the sunshine:) hope yours is soon:)
Take care and good luck:)

[CJ]

Hi Vicky,

As for it getting any better from my exp. This condition comes and goes and stress can play a key as well. I am 32 and have had psorisis I think from age 13 or so maby earlier I just did not find out exactly what I had Till 8 months. I have not had my nail fall out I imagine that would not be fun. My nails are effected as well as all the general areas of my body that most ppl have it. I also have Psoritic arithritis. Which had a flare up in my toe. I have it mainly in my lower spine upper spine and chest. I am taking MTX "Methotrexate" which does wonders for my psorisis but it is not something I would take if I did not have to. I will prob go on Embril next month which will prob clear up all my psorisis but it cost $1000 a month and lowers you immune sys way more than MTX and Embril last in your sys for 2 months. I can tell you Vicky that I understand what your feeling and that feeling of no one cares. Our condition is like that of many other ppl. You can not understand what it is like until you get it and have to live with it day to day. I use to get so upset about my flare up's. Don't get me wrong I still have those feelings but instead of worring about it as much I explain the condition to ppl when they ask hey Why is your skin red Etc. Be glad Vicky that its not in the groin area I can assure you that is no fun. I use to be so insucure about my condition but with the help of my GF who says she loves me just the same and that it is no big deal and its just skin makes me feel good. I think that you did the right thing by joining the NPF. You will find many ppl with your condidion and there are so many new advancements heck maby in a few years they will have a cure for it we can only hope. I would much rather have this than cancer. Well if you have any questions or need a shoulder to lean on you can email me at cjc78240@yahoo.com <--Gets off his soap box and hopes he has helped assure you that ppl do care and are listining. 8)

Positive thoughts and peace
C.J.

[Kristy]

I nearly lost one of my nails about a year ago. It split so badly that I can't beleive the whole thing didn't come off. this is going to sound strange but my Dr. misdiagnosed me{lol}and prescribed oxistat 1%cream because he thought it was some kind of fungus. Well it work, probably because I moisturized my nails with this cream twice a day. Shortly after that my nails cleared up and as they grew back out they came in normal. when I was finally diagnosed with pa I saw pictures of what pitting and cracking of the nails looked like and sure enough that's what had happened. Now when ever a nail starts to pit I use vaseline as often as I can and rub it into the nail. I hope this is helpful...K

[jeffreys]

you are not alone

[IBARRA01]

Sometimes I feel like no one understands this situation either, because no other family members have it. I keep thinking it will go away, but I know that it really will not. Half of my toenail feel off and I think it was due to psoriasis. My scalp is where I have it the worst and it is BAD! Latley as I have been having a little improvment in my scalp, my body is breaking out inmore places, and I have ben treating both. Do you have a good doctor, because that is important. Mine seems somewhat sympathetic and listens to me about if my meds are working and gives me all kinds of stuff to try. Well, all I can really say is keep your head up because even though we may feel like we are alone, we are not, you are not. When I say my prayers at night I pray that God will let us find a cure so we can ALL be healed, and in the meantime remember there are always others who are worse off. God Bless! Katy

[ekarges3]

I am fairly new to the problems with Psoriasis but it progressed very rapidly with me. I was diagnosed with it in January of 2001 after a bout with a Staph infection for a week in the hospital. It gradually got worse and nothing was helping and now my body is pretty much covered with it (it is spotty but I have about 20% coverage). Now some of my nails are affected and I am kind of in a dilemma. I came really close to being accepted into a Research study using the new injection but my blood work came back with active Hepatitis C (it had been inactive for a while) so I have two things going on now. I just joined NPF about 3 months ago and I am glad I did. My emotional state has really went downhill in the last few months. My wife has been very supportive though.

[LilTinkTheStink]

Hang in there Vicki! I have been in the same place you are right now. You have all of us here! These nice folks have helped me through some very troubled time! Lean on us! We all understand how it feels. Please feel free to email me anytime you just wanna talk, vent whatever. :) My name is Gretchen. I am 40, have Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, etc etc.......Email me at Gretchen_Campbell@msn.com if you like!

[timba]

I am so glad you wrote your feelings down.
People think I went away to the islands and came back with a bad sunburn.I have been red all over now for months. I am covered all over with lesions, flakes etc. but it is also on my bottom. Try scratching that in an office setting. I get my nails manicured every week because I think if I do then the psoriasis will not hit them. I am fifty-seven years old and live alone with two
adoreable cats. Thank God for this website
or else I think I would go off my rocker. Friends and family try to be helpful and
offer advice but you just can not describe
the pain, embrassing flaking and the other junk that goes with this disease. I am
currently on cyclosporin (3 weeks) but I saw
the dermatologist yesterday. He was not
happy and took two biopsies. He is trying to
get horror until some control. I do at times
feel very alone. Thank you for putting your
thoughts down. You are not alone. We are here.

[vick441]

You are all sssooo wonderful! Thank you all for your reply's. When I wrote my original message here I was in despair. I have a small gleam of hope now. When I came here to write, I also read some posts. I saw a woman had tried vinegar, water and epsom salts. I started soaking my feet in it. It started clearing up but I was still getting a few sore and open spots on my feet. To help the soreness and hopefully help it clear up, I started using antibiotic cream. I soak my feet daily and then at night I wrap them in saran wrap after rubbing the antibiotic cream and my prescription medication (which I didn't think did much good but keep using it) and then wear socks. My feet are about 98% psoriasis free now! I can walk without them hurting. They feel NORMAL for the 1st time in over 4 years. I just started using the antibiotic cream on the rest of my psoriasis the last few days and I really can see and feel the difference. I've posted a new message about it if you care to read it. You are all so wonderful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Vicky

[darjeeling]

No, you're not alone. I have it affecting my nails (all of them). None have fallen off, though. It's emotionally tiring and exhausting. I have psoriasis covering @ 20% of my body (arms, legs, butt, back, sides, feet). It gets tiring. It affects your esteem, also. I feel so separated from everyone, and it's affected my social life. Just remember, you're not alone. Bob.

[rhop]

WOW - since I last came on-line a month ago, so many new people have written messages, and I don't feel so isolated and alone now. I am sooooooo grateful for all of you who share your thoughts and histories and experiences. I am going to try the apple cider vinegar and/or epsom salts - what do I have to lose? My p. was extremely mild my whole life since age 17, and then p.a. came along 12 yrs. ago, when I was 40, and then the skin went nuts about 4-5 yrs. ago, and am now 40-50% covered, even tho' I've been on mtx. therapy for 12 yrs. at very high doses, so that tells me that psoriasis is a very aggressive, virulent disease which doesn't give up. The most frustrating thing of all was being sent to a psychologist as part of my application for disability, and having him decide after one hour that I "over elaborated" my conditions and was "histrionic" by calling p. "creeping crud" and calling p.a. and fibromyalgia "devastating" to my life. He concluded that I didn't exhibit any painful behaviors, and my problems were "primarily psychological". If I didn't have this web site to go to monthly or more often, I might have felt really down on myself because of insensitive, unknowledgeable "professionals" such as him. But here I find people describing exactly what I have gone through, and although misery shouldn't love company, I guess it does, and I'm so grateful that all of you people are out there sharing with us here.

Fortunately for me, I was then sent to an "occupational medicine" MD specialist, who, just 3 months after the above numbskull, concluded that my p.a. was so severe that I was unable to use my hands effectively to grasp and manipulate, had difficulty walking, had severe cervical spine deterioration, constant pain, and swelling in nearly every joint in my body (although it is not obvious to a casual observer) and concluded that my disability should be approved. Thank you all for your supportive attitudes. Best of luck, Rosemary

[willc8]

Be strong.

I have psoriasis and am only 25. I do not let it conflict with my career or my life.

I feel better than ever ever since i was diagnosed. I go to the gym 3-4 days a week and move up the corporate ladder every year.

Please do not let it interfare with your life. Stay strong and you will prevail.

Much love

[bsankaran]

Hi,

I have P. nearly all over my body. I am 45 years old and have had P for the last 9 years. Recenlty, I tried 'Oxipor'lotion and it seemed to help a little. ( It is Coal Tar solution).
Also, recently when I went overseas I found the heat also helped clear up P.
I live in Maryland and looking for a support group.

[debber_1]

I belive we all fell alone at times with this disease, but as you can see you aren't!!!