I need help and no insurance!

[chevyh]

I have had p since I was 10 and I am now 31. It is worst on both ankles. I have used dovenex and it cleared it up! Also anytime that I take an antibotic it clears up! Here is my problem, I am out of dovnex and antibotics and I no longer have any insurance! I have 3 children, and husband has been out of work and I was wondering if there may be and organization who may help me. If anyone knows please let me know! Also was given a used tanning bed and it worked at first, but is not helping now.

And also I think that I may have pa because I can sot sleep at night, because the joints in my ankles hurt so bad. I take unisom, but it makes me drossy the next day. I am always taking pain killers every night!!!

[MikeK]

Hi Chevyh,

Welcome to the Board! :cool: I'm sorry that you're going through such a rough time. :( The good news is that you've come to a very special place. A lot of very nice and helpful people post here. It's great to FINALLY be able to exchange information, ask questions, vent of even be able to share some laughs with people who truly understand. :)

There's a couple of things that you can do to access the medications you need. First, ask you dermatologist for some samples of Dovonex and/or other medications. You also might want to check out www.needymeds.com . It sounds like a scam site, but several people have posted here that they've been helped by it. It may take awhile to go get assistance from www.needymeds.com so in the meantime you might want to try using an over the counter medication such as MG217 (here's a link: www.mg217.com ) or Dermarest (www.dermarest.com). Mg217 comes in two versions -- one with coal tar and one with salicylic acid. Dermarest has salicylic acid in it. You can't use salicylic acid with Dovonex, because the salicylic acid actually deactivates Dovonex. :eek: (Here's link to the NPF's discussion of Dovonex. The info re: Dovonex and salicylic acid is towards the end of the discussion. http://www.psoriasis.org/treatment/psoriasis/calcipotriene.php.) You also might want to contact the drug companies to see if they have any assistance programs that you qualify for.

I'm sorry to hear that you think that you might have PA. The only way to find out for sure that you do in fact have it (or some other from of arthritis) is to see a doctor. Unfortunately, there's no specific test for it. My understanding is that a PA diagnosis is based on a physical examination, your symptoms, and tests to eliminate other diseases/problems/conditions. Some derms, and gp's and even emergency room doctor's can diagnose and/or treat PA, but your best bet is to see a rheumatologist, which you'll often see referred to as rheumy's here. A rheumy is a doctor who is an arthritis specialist. Here's some additional info on Rheumy's: http://www.rheumatology.org/patients/rheumatologist.html. The NPF also has a physician directory. It's a list of doctor's (both derms and rheumy's who've contacted that NPF and expressed interest in treating either p or pa. Here's a link to the directory: http://www.psoriasis.org/resources/directory/ .(You might have to join the NPF in order to access it. You can join the NPF by contributing any amount, even as little as one dollar.) Some of the treatments for PA are very expensive. Again, that's where www.needymeds.com and/or any drug company assistance programs will greatly benefit you.

Hope this helps. Goood luck. Keep us posted and please don't be a stranger.

Mike

[ooserrn]

You might qualify for state insurance, if you live in CA that would be medi-cal, you can call the medi-cal # listed in the telephone book. Also try your county public health department. They frequently have programs that will bill you on a sliding scale. If your husband is on unemployment insurance, they may also have resources for you. Be a squeeky wheel with the county entities, do not let them give you an appt thats weeks away, and the other post is right about samples, especially at public medical facilities. This is one of the reasons you pay all those taxes, for programs that offer free or discounted medical care. Go for it!

[slg]

ANother idea is to find a p. drug study going on in your area. You may not see results if you are on the placebo side, but it is worth the try. Check out to locate studies by city or disease.
SHANA

[Allie]

you have been given some great advice!!!!

Also, would like to add, if your tanning place has an "increased UVB" bed, you might want to try it. I have found it works much better than the normal beds.

Best wishes!!! Let us know what you end up doing.....

[SouthpawGrammer]

Welcome!

cant help ya with the Insurance as we have a different system here.

But Welcome non the less!

xxx