Any connection?

[Cynmr]

I am a 52 year old woman who has struggled with psoriasis since the age of 6. For nearly all of this time it was always confined to my knees, ankles and elbows. In my mid 20's when I was having my kids, it actually "went away" for a number of years. I had a hysterectomy 3 years ago and since then life has been a roller coaster! They had a difficult time getting the old hormones regulated which resulted in depression. This past year, it was discovered that my thyroid wasn't producing enough hormones so I am on Synthroid in addition to my HRT and Wellbutrin. There has also been a problem with pancreatitis. My P has now spread all over my legs,my hands and the usual places. It seems as though I have flare up after flare up and can't get a handle on it. I have to believe that this is all somehow related as my husband also agrees that the hysterectomy was the point at which everything got out of whack. Has ANYONE had problems like these? Has anyone tried going to an endocrinologist as opposed to a dermatologist? I can't find a Dermatologist that will do more that agree with me that I have quite a bit of P!! HELP!! I am open to any suggestions!!

[GitOverIt]

Hi Cynmr....there seems to be a parallel between some things in our lives...I had P on my leg when I was 12....took a year but it finally went away....( Ithought it was poison ivy that wouldn't go away cause I scratched it :rolleyes: )

I didn't have a recurrence til after change of life...following a 2 other auto-immune diseases...one being underactive thyroid...(I'm on Armour because it has all 4 hormones, 2 major 2 minor, and my doctor likes it better for her patients)
I did not go what you went through on the other symtoms so I'm not sure what you can take in the way of supplements regarding pancreatitis....why don't you read the magnesium thread I think it will help with some of your symtoms

http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=25321

here is a good one on vitamin D

http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=23685

both help with depression....

we have members on here getting some good results with various means of treatment

*Barney's formula

*Dr. Pagano's treatment

*a vegetarian diet plan with deirdre Earls....http://www.yourhealingdiet.net/

*here is what cleared me the second time...
http://psoriainfo.org/site/
Dr M. Heng is a dematologist and will give a free consultation...she does have a gel she sells (95$) but does not ever pressure youto buy it...but it is terrific...at least it was for me...if you send her an email give all your past health problems...she is great and will know what can be used with your current health situation!

by the way...welcome...you will learn a lot if you just read through

You might want to check dairy off your list to start! Dr. Heng thinks it is a problem with P

I'm going to bed.... :p 'night

[joyousmom]

[QUOTE=GitOverIt]Dr M. Heng is a dematologist and will give a free consultation...she does have a gel she sells (95$) but does not ever pressure youto buy it...but it is terrific...at least it was for me...if you send her an email give all your past health problems...she is great and will know what can be used with your current health situation!

Sally, I'm curious about this gel she sells. I went to her website but it doesn't mention the exact ingredients besides turmeric. I am a nursing mom so I have to be careful. BTW, that's another reason I am not drinking the Slippery Elm because I read somewhere that you should not take it if your pregnant or nursing.
Lastly, the before and after pictures Dr. Heng shows, do you know if they were all from the gel alone or did those people use other topicals and diet change too. Personally, I don't think it is that easy to just use her topical and P goes away (unless there is cortizone or something really strong in there too). Before I had my baby I would use up a whole tube of prescribed topicals and have to constantly re-apply every few days to keep my skin clear.
~Linda

[GitOverIt]

Sally, I'm curious about this gel she sells. I went to her website but it doesn't mention the exact ingredients besides turmeric. I am a nursing mom so I have to be careful. BTW, that's another reason I am not drinking the Slippery Elm because I read somewhere that you should not take it if your pregnant or nursing.
Yes I mentioned pregnant women should not take the teas! I should have mentioned nursing moms too!

her page for ordering and ingredient info....

http://psoriagold.com/site/index.php?id=5,0,0,1,0,0


Lastly, the before and after pictures Dr. Heng shows, do you know if they were all from the gel alone or did those people use other topicals and diet change too.

Dr Heng gives instructions on what to do, what to take, advice on the different types of P...since each type has differnt methods of healing! that's what the (free) consultation is....she hardly mentions the gel....but I had ordered it before my consultation......started using it and it cleared the guttate on my arms within a week (it was new P and that's why it cleared so quickly I think)

I don't know about the photos...but I'm assuming they followed her protocol!


Personally, I don't think it is that easy to just use her topical and P goes away (unless there is cortizone or something really strong in there too). Before I had my baby I would use up a whole tube of prescribed topicals and have to constantly re-apply every few days to keep my skin clear.

I have never used anything that looks, smells, or resembles a steroid and I got clear....this is the CAM forum :D the majority on here are trying to beat this disease without having to use the harsher medicines! it does happen....I'm not the only one .....check out Barney's formula thread!

I'm also not saying Dr. Heng doesn't recommend steroid,,,,she did for me.....but I chose not to...I did do all her other suggestions and still got clear

Everyone has to make up their own mind about Dr Heng....I sent her an email and the next day received her reply....(better than waiting months for an appointment)
The people I have talked to that did get a consultation all seemed happy with her replies.....some even made appointments and went to her office.....

[joyousmom]

Sally, I'm a little confused. One link you mentioned is Curcumin gel and the other link is Psoria gel. Is Dr. Heng involved with both products?
Yes, I will email her and let her figure out my condition,
Thanks.

[GitOverIt]

I only see one link on this page...any more?
(on PsoriaGold)...this is the gel she developed....(Not a pharmaceutical company).....it is curcumin based.....the link I posted is where (if you want to) you would order the gel! (the carboner is a thickner...don't know what she used...maybe Beeswax, aloe or something similar)

glad you are going to email her...did you read the articles on her web site? they explain the gel and her thoughts on why today's treatments won't work....(long term)
I had an allergy test done prior to my consultation....I know one food she tells patients to avoid is dairy.....no problem for me...trigger food!

[DottieD]

Hi Cynmr,
I too have struggled with psoriasis for many years. About 5 years ago the South Beach diet became very popular in my group of friends, and my husband and I went on it. After about a month, we went off the "diet" but continued to eat somewhat along the guidelines of the program. I didn't realize until last year that this diet corresponded to when my psoriasis took a turn for the worse. Now I have learned that eating a lot of meat and eggs (which the diet promotes) is a very inflammatory way to eat. And psoriasis is an inflammatory disease.
Please read my thread to the item "How much EPA/DHA do I need daily?" in this section. It may help.
Whenever I have some kind of infection and my immune system gets stimulated, I have a flare up that just seems to have to run its course. Perhaps your pancreatitis is partly responsible for your problem. I have had a hysterectomy and have been through menopause, and neither seemed to make any difference with my skin (for what it's worth).
Good luck to you! DottieD

[GitOverIt]

I have to agree about the diet....I developed scalp P when I was on Dr. Atkins diet and we all know what kind of diet that is....meat, eggs, cheese!
I was on an Atkins forum and several of us started comparing notes and how to get rid of it....ha!
When I first came on this forum back in '02 I mentioned Atkins diet etc.....and of course at that time I had never heard of arachidonic acid... not until I started looking into inflammatory conditions and their cause....

Break the Inflammation Cycle with Fish oil/Flax seed oil
One of the body’s major inflammatory pathways (the arachidonic acid pathway) starts with omega 6 fatty acids from animal fats. Many studies show the benefits of substituting or supplementing omega 3 fatty acids, from fish and flax seed oil in the diet. The resultant inflammatory pathways are far milder. In psoriasis affected skin levels of arachidonic acid are 250 times greater than they are in normal skin. Arachidonic acid is found only in animal products, particularly meats and dairy, so minimise these where possible.

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:MZZC5kGLzA4J:www.nutripharm.net/Medical%2520Conditions/psoriasis_Management.htm+arachidonic+acid+psoriasi s&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us&ie=UTF-8

I eat meat but I get grass fed beef (higher in CLA) so healthier....

http://www.hearthealthynaturalbeef.com/

My family likes meat...so I fix it but eat as little as I can get away with...I also rotate fish (seafood), beef, chicken (poultery),

[RichJ]

hi sally,
there is some one knew that just posted in the p thread and has some ? about clearing p with useing meds. maybe you help her. thank you my friend

have a good day all

richard

[DottieD]

In am intrigued about the reply from GitOverIt about the arachidonic acid levels in affected skin areas being 250 times higher than in normal skin.
Could you tell me where you got this information? I would be very interested in checking this out. Thanks, DottieD

[ouchyk]

My uncle did atkins and said it helped his psoriasis tremendously!! Personally, I think he just " shocked " his system! :eek:

Karen :)

[GitOverIt]

In am intrigued about the reply from GitOverIt about the arachidonic acid levels in affected skin areas being 250 times higher than in normal skin.
Could you tell me where you got this information? I would be very interested in checking this out. Thanks, DottieD

OK Dottie I'm going to hunt for the info...I just saw your question!

[GitOverIt]

How's this? found in seconds!!! :p


http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:MZZC5kGLzA4J:www.nutripharm.net/Medical%2520Conditions/psoriasis_Management.htm+arachidonic+acid+psoriasi s+250+higher&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us&ie=UTF-8

[Ashley23]

Well I have Stein Leventhal Syndrome/Disease its also called Polycystic Ovary Disease or Syndrome. I have to take a high level of birth control for it. I always wondered if it had something to do with P but wasnt sure. I have been reading Dr. Pagano's book...not sure if I spelled that right but it said its one of the things that is a no no.

-Ashley