Ch-ch-changes.....

Hello again. Changes have yet again set me back in my progress, and has gotten to the point that my skin feels like it's on fire :(. Even something so slight as brushing against furniture or harsh clothes are making it unbearable lately.

I'm not entirely sure what has brought it on...change in washing powder? Possibly, change in weather? Could be, it has been up and down lately. Stress? I have had my fair share of it again lately. Sickness? It was only last week I yet again came down with a headcold. I've even been thinking the water supply...strange as it sounds but I have been thinking of investing in a filter for the shower head. I simply can't pinpoint it unfortunately. 

I woke up with a headcold last Thursday, the same morning I had a check up appointment with my rheum. He was shocked at how bad my skin on my legs had gotten when I showed him. Even though Stelara seem to be helping my joints, same couldn't be said for my skin. it was time to try yet another different medication.

I was shown two options, one being a tablet, the other being another biologic, Cosentyx. I had asked about this new biologic back in November having heard so much good about it, but it was not available in Ireland. Thankfully, now it is! I couldn't choose anything else, This seems like the dream biologic. 

I was given my patient pack and sent on my way. Due to being on the tail end of a headcold, I haven't been able to start it just yet. I'm looking forward to starting, worried about the pen injection given that I didn't like the Enbrel one, but none the less, if it is to help me it's a case of get over it and just do it! 

Starting course will be two 150mg injections per week (at the same time) for four weeks and all going well after a checkup with my rheum after that time, it would be two injections together every month. I hope to update once I have started, and I'm hoping for good results as most research I've done on it has come up so positive! 

Have you tried Cosentyx? Let me know what your thoughts on it are.

Until next time.....

Sarah x

December Update....

Hi all! Hope everyone is doing well since my last post. I do apologise for the lack of posts as I'm having laptop issues and waiting on a part to be delivered. But on with the update....

So I didn't update through November, which was also due to being busy with work. I had another visit back to my Rheumatologist. I had experienced quite bad stiffness in my elbow in the days leading up to my visit, and unfortunately my skin hasn't been behaving lately. With the winter setting in, it could be down to the changes but it has been fairly mild temperature wise here. 

My rheum did discuss with me about changing medication, to which I wasn't open to. As previously posted about, my current medication, Stelara, is the third different biologic I've tried this year. I was told about a different oral medication I could try but due to being of 'child bearing age' it was not something he would be comfortable putting me on.

We decided that it would be best to give the higher dosage a fairer chance (only one 90mg had been taken at that stage). I was due to take my next dosage the first week of December but due to not being well, I was put on a course of antibiotics and could then take Stelara. I got a steroid injection to my side to relieve the stiffness and pain I had been feeling in my joints and sent on my way.

A week later and I was feeling better, I then waited another 3 days before I took my next injection. The 90mg dosage came as one injection, instead of two, which made life a lot easier. I have become more confident at injecting, considering at the start of the year it was something I felt sick at the thought of but I'm am grateful for having learnt this.

As previously mentioned above, my skin hasn't been agreeing with me lately, especially on my legs, upper arms and lately my scalp. I find scalp psoriasis to be one of the more annoying things, as well as being itchy, you have to deal with flakes through your hair and on your clothes. I have found one or two dots appearing on my face lately as well, so I'm hoping it is not reappearing there but I guess this time I am more prepared for it. Last year when my face was covered, I took it very badly, hated going out in public and felt the need to avoid certain situations. I have found some very good foundations and good application techniques which would help if I feel the need to cover it, as well as becoming a stronger person to be able to deal with it uncovered in public.

Have you found your skin/joints to be flaring up this time of year? What do you find helps?


I hope to update before the year is out, but if I don't get the chance to, I hope everyone has a lovely flake-free Christmas! Stayed tuned for bigger and better to come in 2016 :)

Until next time.....

Sarah x

Double the fun.....

I must apologise for the lack of posts lately, there has been a few bits going on in my personal life that I have had to deal with, so I chose to take a break from blogging for a while.

While one issue I was dealing with is something I hope to deal with in a future post, it's not exactly psoriasis related, but stress related....so in a way I guess it is psoriasis related.

To update on my ongoing treatment, I took my 45mg Stelara as usual in August and had a return visit to my Rheum in September. He was happy with my progress, but unfortunately my arthritis was active, in my knee, elbow (which doesn't straightened properly these days) and now my ankle. My ankle had been giving me trouble for a while, and I found an ankle support did help when at work. When I bought new runners to replace my old, falling apart Golas, I found my ankle to be better supported.

With my PsA being active, but my skin coming along well, my rheum decided to up the dosage from 45mg (1 injection) to 90mg (2 injections). I was prescribed one injection to boost me up to 90mg from my old dosage a month earlier. I have been feeling great, my joints feel a lot better in that I have been doing more things that I couldn't do as well in about a year or so. My skin has had its ups and downs, mostly on my right leg but still nowhere near my worst flares.

I am due back to my rheum in November, to see how I'm finding the higher dose. I am due to take my next 90mg on Nov. 21st, all going well. In the mean time I hope to post a bit more often as I have had a few ideas during my blog break.

If you have an suggestions on any topics or issues you would like to see covered, leave it in the comments below :)

Until next time.....

Sarah x

Quick update.....

Apologies for the lack of updates lately, life has been quite busy with work, outings and a friends wedding. I wanted to update on my progress with my skin and my treatment as of late.

It wasn't too long ago I wrote about my experience with Stelara so far. Two weeks ago, I did my third Stelara injection. I did feel it this time, but didn't hesitate for too long because the sooner you do it (once prepared) the quicker it's over with. I had found my skin to be getting worse, but now I do see improvements going forward. There are still some stubborn patches near my ankle that aren't cooperating.

As for my joints, I find that I am not wearing the right shoes for my feet, therefore I do get a lot of pain in my knees and more recently my right ankle. I have also found my right elbow to be fairly painful also, especially when lifting etc. in work. I am due to see my rheum just over a weeks time, so I look forward to seeing what he makes of my progress.

I don't think the recent spate of bad weather has helped either. Do you find your skin/joints acting up when the weather worsens? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below.

Until next time.....

Sarah x

My experience with Stelara.....

The final instalment of this series, brings up to my final and current treatment, Stelara...

After Cimzia, I was given a month to get it out of my system and then I made the decision to go with my next option, Stelara. This is a 45mg syringe injection. The good thing about this is it has a spring mechanism in the injection, that once it has been distributed, it encases itself within a metal reel and plastic casing. This is a great feature making it safer to dispose without the risk of needless touching of the needle once injected.

I first started Stelara on May 9th, a day after finishing up with light treatment. I found it much easier to inject that previous biologics. After my first time, I did feel a big sick; scratchy throat, slight runny nose but nothing major and it didn't last very long.

Second injection was June 6th, 4 weeks after the first one. Again, similar symptoms as above but nothing that lasted. Two days later, I was off on holiday to sunnier climates. The first two days of sun I found my upper arms and chest to become quite red and itchy which I've recently found out is sensitivity to light, Urticaria. It cleared within a few days thankfully. While on holiday, I safely enjoyed the sun and my skin showed signs of improvement, I was returning home a week later much clearer.

Unfortunately, once I was home a few days my skin flared, but not to the extent it had been. The doctor said it due to coming home to a different climate but also the stresses that we forget about while on holidays. 

It's now two months since holidays and my skin, sadly, has become aggregated. I'm not due to take my next injection until August 29th (every 12 weeks after the 2nd injection). I have asked other about their experience with Stelara and they have said it usually starts working from the 3rd or 4th injection, so I'm holding out hope that it will be the case.

Are you on Stelara? Share your experience.

Until next time.....

Sarah x

My experience with Cimzia.....

Continuing on the series from my previous experience, which was a negative one with Enbrel.

When I went back to my rheumatologist on March 2nd to review my progress with 25mg Enbrel with 10mg MTX, it was decided I would try Cimzia. Now, I had not heard about Cimzia, and thought the next step would be Stelara. I was to start the following Monday, March 9th. At this stage I was already after two weeks of light treatment in order to relieve my skin of the damage Enbrel had done.

Cimzia consists of two 200mg prefilled syringes (400mg in total) to be injected into each thigh, on the same day as each other. This was the starting dose, And I was still on MTX to help make the injection more effective. As it is such a high dosage, it is to be done every two weeks, 400mg for the first 6 weeks and then 1 thereafter.

 

 (Cimzia starter pack - 2 x 200mg prefilled syringes)

A week and a half after the initial injections, I started to notice pink dots around the injection sites on both thighs. The following day, they appeared as large, red, raised patches and felt hot and itchy. Concerned, I talked to my nurse at light treatment the following day and she reduced the UVB due to the reaction and said to ask my doctor about skipping the next session. This was a Friday morning and unfortunately meant it was proving quite difficult to get my rheumatologist on the phone and I gave up when I didn't get a call back. To my surprise, Saturday morning, I get a call from my rheum to see how I was doing. He heard my concerns and advised me to cancel Monday's session to let the reaction fade, and to not take Cimzia any further.

I continued with my light treatment and revisited my rheum where we decided to give my system a break before starting any different, and to think about starting Stelara in a months time as my next option, which is the next and final topic of this series to discuss.

Have you any experience with Cimzia or any biologics mentioned above?

Until next time....

Sarah x

Holiday post: Mallorca....

Hope everyone is well. I thought it would be nice to share some of my holiday stories and pictures here. I certainly took my own advice when it came to suncare and thankfully didn't managed to get burned which seems like a first for me. Two days before the holiday I took my second Stelara injection and didn't feel any side effects bar a scratchy throat, which didn't last too long.

Myself and my boyfriend booked a week away in Mallorca in June as we were invited to a family wedding there and decided we'd make a holiday out of it. We booked back in January and got a good deal on flights and hotel, travel from Palma airport to Santa Ponsa only cost €40 each way which wasn't too bad.

Our flight was 6am on a Monday morning, which was found was the best way to go as we had a full first day of exploring. we found that we were less than a five minute walk from the beach and had plenty of choice nearby with pubs and restaurants. We strolled around and found our bearings. Being the first day and still being self conscious, i wore 3/4 shorts, so as to cover up most of my psoriasis.

We had a small pool at the hotel with sun loungers. We found it to be quiet there the first few days so did spend a bit of time sunning ourselves here. The first day, I sat on the side and dipped my legs in. I haven't been in a swimming pool in about 15 years and so was a little cautious as to how it might affect my skin. On top of that, I should mention I can't swim! Luckily the pool was shallow enough.

 

(Our pool shaded by the neighbouring hotel on the evenings)

From the second day on, it was all about shorts. I forgot about what people could see on my skin and thought about the positives the sun would have on my skin. I even threw on a swimsuit and joyed himself in the pool. It felt good to be out of my comfort zone and since then I've been thinking about getting swimming lessons to conquer my fear.

We spent most evenings eating out, which is cheaper compared to home. It was nice to experience different restaurants, especially in such beautiful settings near the beach.

Everytime I did head out into the sunshine, I used my factor 50, topping it up as the day went on. In the evenings it was a bit cooler so there wasn't a need. Later in the week, I switched to factor 30. After using the pool, I would always shower and use moisturiser especially as the chlorine in the water is quite drying on the skin. I also managed to keep up a usual twice daily moisturising routine while there.

We went to a wedding on the Thursday in beautiful surroundings, all of which was outside bar the disco. It was lovely to catch up with some family I had not seen in years. We all organised to meet up again before the holiday was over.

Overall it was really enjoyable and relaxing, a nice break from the daily routine of work. We are already hoping to go back again next year, hopefully for two weeks. 

 (Only slight pink colouration left on my skin after the week of sun :O)

It was amazing to see my skin go from bad to almost completely clear in the space of a week, i could run my hand over my skin and feel complete smoothness, its a feeling I had missed. It is two weeks since we returned and two days after I had already felt little spots coming back on my skin, I think it is missing the sun! I had a check up with my rheumatologist last week who said it would be a combination of climate change but also being relaxed on holiday and going back into everyday life...after all I did return to work the day after I got back.

I can only hope the sun will make a return to Ireland, it supposed to be good during the week so the shorts will make a return appearance so that I can try and get some natural goodness on my skin.

Hope the sun shines wherever you are. Until next time....

Sarah x

My experience with.....

So this past Monday I returned from a week in the sun in Mallorca and I think I am only now readjusting back into normal life again. The weather was beautiful and my skin cleared up nicely as I wore shorts most days, and thankfully made sure I didn't get burned (check out my previous post for some tips). Unfortunately the last few days of being back, my skin has been starting to feel grainy again *fingers crossed* the sun shows itself here in Ireland a bit more.

Anyway I've come up with some fresh ideas with the blog, as you probably can guess from the title 'My experience with....' Is a going to be a series about the different types of treatment I have used from the time I first developed Psoriasis and Psoriatic arthritis, listed below;

- Topical creams/ointments
- Tonsillectomy
- Methotrexate
- Phototherapy (light treatment)
- Enbrel
- Cimzia
- Stelara (current treatment)

I've already written in detail about phototherapy, two of the three different times I did go through it so it is one topic I will touch on briefly over the series. As always, if I don't add something about any treatment that you do wish to know about, don't hesitate to ask, either in the comments below or privately.

I'll be starting through the above list in the next day or two, so keep your eyes peeled for that. I'll also post other bits In-between, any ideas again, do let me know :)

Until next time.....

Sarah x

Sun Care....

We are coming into that time of year where the sun is making an appearance (...or so we hope anyway!) as well as people jetting off to sunnier climates. I wanted to share a few bits and pieces on how I look after my skin in the sun, a few bits of which I've picked up for my own holidays as well as work.

 Sun care Lotion: 

Something that is very important to remember is that the suns rays (UV rays) tend to be more intense during 10am and 4pm so it is important to use sun factor creams to protect your skin. I tend to use a high factor of 50, which has been recommended by doctors and nurse due to my psoriasis, especially after the effects of light treatment.

-Garnier Ambre Solaire SPF 50 'on the go size' a handy size which I carry around in my bag for work and another in my handbag. I tend to use this a lot at work on a sunny day as there isn't many places to hide in the shade.

-Nivea Sun Protect Lip Balm SPF 30, again another item I use at work to protect from blisters or cold sores. It tends to be quite moisturising on the lips. Only downside is it is a thick white texture so is best rubbed in well to the lips.

-Soltan Sun care lotion SPF 50, this is a recent purchase for my holidays next week, just to upscale from a smaller sized bottle to take along with me. Only €5.50 in Boots so not going to break the bank.

-Garnier Ambre Solaire SPF 30, This is another recent purchase for holidays as I'm hoping to scale down on the SPF as the week progresses. All Sun Protection is currently half price in Sam McCauley's chemists so might be worth popping in to stock up if you live near one.

Cover Ups:

 Its only natural to show a bit of skin once the sun decides to show itself, and covering up doesn't need to be a case of looking mummified to cover your skin, here are a few stylish pieces to help keep your skin protected

-Hats - It can be something as simple as a baseball hat or something bigger and bouncier to keep the suns rays at bay. The Hat picture above is from Penneys (also known as Primark) and cost only €4! Bargain! I have had the misfortune in past years of getting sunburned on my scalp, not pleasent at all! This type also keeps the rays off your face, so added bonus. There are plenty to suit everyone; straw hat, cowboy hat, bucket hat, whatever takes your fancy, just be sure and keep protected.

-Sunglasses - Sometimes they are simply used to look stylish, but if you're like me, and rather not be squinting away while someone is talking to the point your eyes are watering (ok, maybe thats a bit much) then sunglasses are essential. I have bought a few pairs, ranging from €1.50, to €5.00 from Penneys and New Look.

-Scarves - Multifunctional when it comes to the sun, can be used as normal around the neck, to cover shoulder or even as a sarong on the beach. The one pictured above was from Accessorize and was given to me as a present from my brother's girlfriend. I love this one as is quite colourful but also has the images of skull so quite contrasting. Scarves really are cheap as chips when there are some lovely ones in Penneys from as little as €2 (I know this as I was tempted by a few on a recent shopping trip).

-Maxi Dress, perfect for summer, especially if like myself, you don't want your skin on show all the time. I have purchased the above dress for holidays from BooHoo.com back in February. Its simple but adds a bit of colour and is a lovely light material so it handy for the heat on holidays. There are so many varieties of these dresses around, perfect to suit every shape and size.

Other ideas when trying to cover up from the sun are Kimonos, I think these are a lovely addition to your holiday wardrobe especially when something like a cardigan seems to heavy to wear in hotter climates. Also on the plus side, they are super light and not irritating on the skin.

 

What are your summer essentials when it comes to protecting your skin? Leave them in the comments below.

Until next time....

Sarah x

*Disclaimer: All products mentioned above are purchased by myself. I have not been asked to mention stores, I just want to give an insight into where I have purchased these items*

 

Psoriasis Beauty....

Time for something a little different. While we all like to feel comfortable in our own skin, sometime we need a bit of help if we don't want to have everything on show. Don't get me wrong, I'm not embarrassed about my Psoriasis for the most part, sometimes it's nice if you have a special occasion or even just a day to feel better about yourself. Check out these products I use to treat my skin or just pamper myself a little bit;

Moisturisers:

 

 (E45, Elave and Emulsifying Oinment)

As you may know from previous posts, I have been moisturising religiously, more so due to doing light treatment during the first half of the year. E45 is a lighter lotion which I use in the mornings. It can be used all over the body and face. I can be very picky when it comes to anything on my skin, not only because of my Psoriasis, but also due the fact I have sensitive skin also. This in perfume free and dermatologically tested so causes no skin irritation and is even suitable for babies skin. Emulsifying Ointment is a moisturiser I use at night. It has a thicker consistancy and therefore is great to sink into the skin overnight. I find it does help, especially for those tricky thicker patches.

Makeup is not a everyday thing for me, I wear it for nights out, special occasions, if my skin is acting up, or if I just feel like getting a bit dressed up. For such occasions, I start with Elave intensive cream and as the bottle says "clinically proven to be kind and mild to dry sensitive skin"...I was sold! It really does what it says and on top of that, is free from parabens, alcohol and sulfates. It is a bit thicker than some day creams but it sinks into the skin nicely and has a nice soothing and cooling effect.

 Primers and Concealers:

 

(Pictured: Maybelline Concealer and Rimmel Primer)

After moisturing, I find a good primer helps to smooth out my skin especially when I have had bad facial Psoriasis. Rimmel Lasting Finish Primer is my primer of choice, and I have found it does a great job. I tend to apply it on my nose, cheeks and forehead and any areas I find I need evening out. It feels very lightweight and very silky on the skin and creates a lovely base for my foundation.

When it comes to concealing, I never did much of it, bar the bags under my eyes when I've needed it. Earlier in the year when I flared on my face, myself and the boyfriend decided to go on a night out to relax and catch up with some friends. It was then I realised, I didn't have any proper concealer with me, eek! A trip to Boots, which happened to be closed as it was the evening. Tesco it was, for limited choice. I spotted Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Concealer, so I bought it on a whim. I didn't think it would do much, but it is fantastic. It really helped to conceal the blemishes on my forehead and around my nose. A dab of powder over it and I was good to go. Another handy thing about it is it is a 11ml tube, so it takes up no room in the handbag to bring out for any little touch ups.

BB (Beauty Balms) Creams

 (Pictured: Lancome BB and NYC BB)

 When you don't need a heavy duty feel of a foundation, I love the option of a BB cream. The two I use are completely different prices on the scale but both work well. Lancome Hydra Zen Beauty Balm is one I bought when it was used on my face when I got my makeup done professionally for a friends wedding. I liked the look of it so much, I bought it there and then. It comes in 3 shades, thanks to being tanned at the time, I got the darkest shade which is perfect everytime summertime comes around. NYC Creme 5 in 1 is a more recent purchase. It claims to 1. protect skin, 2. pore minimizer, 3. erase skin imperfections, 4. smooths skin, and 5. brighten skin. I can vouch that it does do all of the above. I sometime found I had better coverage with this BB cream when my skin was at its worse and definately one I would reach for when I don't feel my best.

 Foundations:

 (Pictured: Collection, Bourjois and Revlon)

I have 3 different foundations which I rotate between depending on my mood and where I'm going. Collection Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Foundation is my latest purchase of the lot. I have worn this 3 or 4 times out and I am loving the application of this. The colour is really nice, I picked up Ivory which I believe is the second lightest shade. I find some foundations tend to highlight dry patches but this gives me a lovely dewy finish. Another plus, it contains SPF 20! Can protect your skin and look fabulous, all at once :D

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum was my first holy grail foundation when I first started getting into makeup more so. It is very lightweight, not at all drying and a light but buildable application. It does have a strong enough smell, not of chemicals though, which doesn't bother me but it's not for everyone.

Another addition to my collection before Christmas Revlon Colorstay. These foundations come in two different formulations, one for dry skin, one for oily/combination skin which has a plain black cap. Pictured above is the dry skin version, which has a clear outer shell over the black, which are handy indications. I find this to be quite runny, so it does need a good shake before applying. It gives a lovely flawless finish and again as the others above, quite lightweight on the skin.

 Tools:

 

(Pictured: BCC F22 Brush and Real Techniques Sponge)

While its all well and good applying anything on your face with your fingers (after washing of course) its always handy to have the right tools to apply foundation to give a nice finish. I find for dry skin, once its preped with moisturiser and primer, that the Real Techniques Miracle Complextion Sponge really helps to give a flawless finish on the skin when used damp. Another plus is you use less product when it is damp, and once one layer has been applied it is easy to build up your foundation if needed. I've really purchased and started using the Black Canvas Cosmetics F22 Brush which is a nice alternative. I was never a fan of foundation brushes as I have found they can irritate or dry out already sensitive skin so I invested in this from an Irish company. I have found it gives a nice even coverage and the bristles are nice and soft on the skin. I am hoping to purchase from this company, including their eye brushes I've heard so much about.

Extras

When it comes to removing my makeup, I have recently purchased Waterwipes which are great for sensitive skin due to them containing 99.9% purified water! I find some wipes can leave my skin feeling so dried out, even after cleansing and moisturising they can still sometimes leave a sting. These leave my skin feeling so soft and smooth. Again its another Irish product, and is available in Tesco stores.


Those are pretty much my essentials, let me know if you would like to see more of these types of posts and feel free to comment which what products you like to use :)

Until next time....

Sarah x

Here comes the Summer....

Life yet again has proven to be busy. In the past few weeks, work has been pretty busy (and sometimes stressful), I became a year older as I celebrated my 28th birthday and I have completed a course in Occupational First Aid. Just this past weekend we had approx. 1000 people visiting at work which has been amazing and I've earned 3 days in a row off in the process.

To update on my psoriasis, it has been behaving well lately, every area has become very smooth. I have less of an itch also. I have kept up my moisturising routine, E45 in the morning and Emulsifying ointment at night and I believe it has played a big part. As for Stelara, I am due to take my second injection next weekend. I can't say I experienced any side effects, other than a sore throat/symptoms of a cold, which seems to be common.

I had felt a bit run down this past week with how busy work and the course had been, which is plenty of reason to enjoy my few days off. This time next week I'll be in sunnier climates which makes a nice change from the horrible weather we are experiences today, with weather warnings in place.

I hope the weather has been better wherever you may be. Do you find your skin is better in the summer?

Until next time....

Sarah x

Endings and beginnings....

I apologise for lack of updates lately, life has been a bit busy again. I wanted to update on how my last session of light treatment went. The usual routine, tshirt on, visor on until the last minute or so. My final time in the box my time was 5 minutes and 4 seconds. My knees did give way towards the end as I wasn't able to lift my legs as high as I usually could.

Later that evening, I found my skin to be sore and very red. I moisturised and got ready to head out with himself to celebrate and go to a work night of his. I made the mistake of wearing skinny jeans! The rubbing of the demin on my skin caused a lot of irritation and towards the middle of the night, it was time to leave. Once we got home, it was straight into my comfy clothes and lashing on of more moisturiser.

I did want to start Stelara on Friday night but my skin was still red and hot, I found it best to leave it off til the next day. Once the morning came, my skin was feeling better and it was time to start Stelara. It was my day off and a lie in was well overdue. My boyfriend took my Stelara out of the fridge for me and kindly brought me breakfast in bed (he really is a star!). I waited about 40 minutes and it was time to build up the courage to take it.

It had been 2 months since I last injected and the nerves did kick in. "What are you waiting for, just do it", I kept thinking and before I knew it, it was all over! It was actually the easiest of all the injection I've had to do and it has a great mechanism that covers the needle once the plunger is down.

It's been 4 days since I injected and in all honesty I've been feeling fine, bit of a sniffly nose, but nothing major. My next injection is around June 7th and a doctor check up after that. I'm hoping it does help my skin, which has become more smooth and I hope that not doing light treatment will not set me back as I feel I still have a while to go yet.

Until next time....

Sarah x

The Final Countdown....

I hope everyone enjoyed the bank holiday weekend, even if the weekend was a bit of a washout. Thankfully I was off work and got to enjoy the comforts of home. This was also a good thing because my knees were hurting a lot, I put it down to the cold and bad weather.

Last Friday's session went well, I was up to 4 minutes and 11 seconds, wearing a tshirt for the duration and a visor up until the final minute when it was removed. No session on Monday due to it being a bank holiday so a few extra days without treatment and my skin seemed to be up and down. Some days it feels as though it is improving, other days as if it will never stop flaring.

I had an early appointment Wednesday as I had work that day. Over 4 minutes again, with the same routine, tshirt for the entire treatment and visor on until the final minute. I really felt my knees giving way towards the end of the time with the motions in the box and by the end could only slightly lift. The nurses are good, if I need a break but I feel I want to keep going instead of stopping and starting. Usually at my appointments I'd wear jogger bottoms or something similar as it is comfortable and easy to undress and dress. This time around I was wearing jeans, due to being in work not long after. I never got the chance to moisturise and to be honest my legs were so sore, especially on the back of my thighs. The jeans had been rubbing off them as I do a lot of walking in work. It was only when I got home I had the chance to change and cover my skin in E45. That's one mistake I won't make again after treatment, need to moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! 

Today being Friday, I have my appointment scheduled for later in the afternoon. Strange to think after so long I have only one session left. I even joked with the receptionist last time that I'd probably end up driving to the hospital even after I've finished because it has become so routine.

Later tonight I plan to start Stelara, as it was best to wait till I finished the phototherapy, due to the chances of making me more sensitive to light. I have read through my patient pack again today, and plan to double check before I inject. I am looking forward to the new journey and hoping for positive results but if it is not the case, there is always something else to try and newer treatments being approved.

Enjoy your weekend whatever you may be up to. I hope to keep updating on my progress and hopefully it is helpful to someone. How to you maintain your Psoriasis? Feel free to comment below.

Until next time....

Sarah x

Getting there....

Sorry for the lack of updates,things have been a bit busy as of late. Last post I was wondering if my next would be my last, but it certainly wasn't. On Friday, the dosage was raised again, still no update from my Doctor about how my more session so I only booked in for Monday. I found my neck/ chest to be a bit red after but not as bad as it has been before. Again, another weekend of work and SPF 50 galore! Saturday was a bit of a washout but Sunday was a fantastic day with lots of activity around.

On Monday it was decided that I would wear a tshirt during treatment, this way the light would be aimed at my legs and arms (sleeves rolled up) as these areas are still stubborn. I wonder if this is due to having gone through light treatment twice before, as it would usually be on the way to being clearing before now. The Doctor approved 2 more sessions, so I booked in for Wednesday and Friday.

A rheumatologist visit on Tuesday, finally decided to start Stelara. I was given the prescription, two doses of 45MG, one at week 0 and another 30 days later. I told the nurse at light treatment this today (Wednesday) and she has asked me to hold off on taking it until I've finished light treatment because it could make my skin more sensitive to light. She said my skin on my legs/thighs looked to be finally coming along. My next session was to be my last but she still wasn't happy to let me go, and neither was I to be honest especially when I finally see results again.

We decided another 2 sessions next week and that'll be the last of it. Only two next week due to Monday being a bank holiday here in Ireland. I was happy to do so, and she kindly wrote a note for work as I have to miss an hour or two on Wednesday, but thankfully have Friday off.

I plan to try and start Stelara on the Friday I finish light treatment, May 8th. It is the latest I can take it without the hassle of having to bring it abroad with me 30 days later, instead my second dose with be the day before we fly out. 

So 26 sessions in and 3 to go, I'm looking forward to finishing up especially if the good results continue. I still have my fears about starting Stelara, but thankfully some fellow Psoriasis sufferers have reassured me, if this doesn't work, move on to something else! I have to be positive and keep the negativity at bay, everyone has their moments.

I have been compiling a post about products I find helpful for moisturising and concealing facial Psoriasis and easing sensitive skin so stay tuned for that.

Until next time....

Sarah x

Quick Update....

I just wanted to do a quick recap on Fridays session. It was a bit of a mixed one, I noticed the night before that some Psoriasis was reappearing on my face, only 2 dots, but just annoying considering all the light treatment where my face had been exposed.

I was in for 3 minutes and 3 seconds, a minute of which I had a visor and step, we took a break to remove both for the last 2 minutes. The nurse was concerned about my legs and arms and the reappearance of dots. I am only supposed to have treatment up until next Friday, bringing me to 24 session but my nurse is going to talk with my dermatologist about bumping that up to maybe 30 as she wouldn't be happy so send me on my way next week having come so far. I completely agree with the decision as in past years when I had light treatment I had better results this far into it, with mostly discolouration remaining.

While it is a bit disheartening that I'll have to go in for possibly two extra weeks, Its also nice to see that my skin is being looked after well with the nurse wanting to make sure I'm as clear as I can be leaving their treatment. 

Also I've dded a few bits to the site while I've had some extra time on my hands, including an About Me section and Links to site about Psoriasis which I have found helpful. I hope to try and post more in the coming weeks especially about past treatments and a few other ideas. If anyone has anything they would like me to discuss, be it psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis or to do something completely different, please get in touch :)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend whatever you may be upto

Until next time....

Sarah x

Get to know me...

Today I thought I'd do something a bit different, a get to know me tag. I always find these interesting when reading other blogs as it is a way to get to know more of the bloggers personality and delve a bit deeper into their lives (or maybe I'm a tad nosey :P). It consists of 25 questions, so here we go....

1. Do you have a middle name?
Yes, my middle name is Patricia. I was named after my grandfather Patrick, as we share the same birthday!

2. What was your favorite subject in school?
Probably History, I've always been fascinated with what has happened in the past and how times have changed.
 
3. What’s your favorite drink?
Non alcoholic, I'll go for tea :)
 
4. What’s your favorite song at the moment?
I've been really neglecting music lately to be honest, its like I don't have much time for it especially since I haven't updated my iPod in the car in ages. A song I keep coming back to recently is This Must Be The Place by Talking Heads/ David Byrne


5. What would you name your children?
I think this always changes! Its something I'm probably not much thought into until the time comes where I'm ready for kids....and have some input from himself also :P


6. Do you participate in any sports?
I used to play Basketball years and years ago. These days its a no, but hoping to sign up to a gym soon once I'm back working properly again.


7. What’s your favorite book?  I'm not big into reading, I'm more of a movies kind of girl.


8. What’s your favorite colour?
Has to be Purple, with Blue coming a very close second


9. What’s your favorite animal? Dogs are my favourite pets, but if I had to branch out to non domesticated, more than likely Lemurs!
  
10. What’s your favorite perfume?
Hugo Boss Pure Purple, which is near impossible to buy.


11. What’s your favorite holiday?
Christmas, only time get to see more family than usual

12. Have you graduated from High School?
Yeah, I'm 9 years out of high school (oh dear god!)

13. Have you been out of the country?
Yes, I've been a few times with another trip coming up soon.

14. Do you speak any other languages?
Nope, only broken Irish, German and Spanish


15. Do you have any siblings?
Yes, I have an older brother 

16. What’s your favorite store?
Don't know if I can narrow it down, um...Penneys, New Look and Boots!

17. What’s your favorite restaurant?
Milanos....mmmmm
 
18. Do you like school? 
It had its ups and downs, but I think you don't realise how much you miss it til you're finished. Especially seeing friends everyday.
 
19. Who are some of your favorite YouTubers?
I tend to watch alot of Beauty youtubers, especially Irish ones like The Makeup Chair and MonsterMakeupxx

20. What’s your favorite movie?  Con Air!


21. What are some of your favorite TV shows?
Moone Boy, Eastenders, Catfish, The Big Bang Theory, comes to mind.

22. PC or Mac?
Always grown up with PCs


23. What phone do you have?
HTC One mini 2

24. How tall are you?
I'm about 5'7" or 5'8" 
 
25. Any pets? 
One Labrador cross, shes a lunatic! :)

Hope you all enjoyed something a bit different from me. If any others want to do this, fire away. 

Until next time...

Sarah x

Burn Baby Burn....

No disco inferno to report unfortunately. Just to update on my past 3 session of UVB. As I stated in my last post, I was slightly red on my neck/chest after Wednesday and thought I'd be lowered to a different dose...Nope! 

Fridays session lasted approx. 2 minutes and 47 second, up again another 20%. I was told because it was the first incident of redness that I should be OK. Friday night was agony, it was like I had been sunburned all over, without the blisters or the peeling. My skin was red and hot from head to toe. I moisturised once I got back from the hospital with E45, and again later that evening to try and cool my skin and because it had felt so dry. That night I did my usual routine of Emulsifying Ointment but it was still quite uncomfortable to sleep with the heat (not good with work the next morning!)

The next day I felt like my skin was not as bad, it was still fairly red, but not as hot to touch. I went about my day at work, making sure to top up on SPF 50 on my face during the day as I work outdoors. On Sunday, I felt back to normal and to top it all of my thighs which had still felt a bit grainy, had felt much smoother.

Monday morning, the nurse noted about what I experienced on Friday. She checked over my skin, all seemed well. My face was looking much better so she came to the decision that I'd finally be using the visor to cover my face during light treatment, and I also had a step under me to raise me up to get lower areas better. I went up by 10% to see if my skin would react at a lower dose. That evening, I did have a small bit of redness on my upper arms and lower back but no where near last Friday.

Today I went up another 10% and my session lasted 2 minutes 57 seconds. My knees had felt quite sore last night and this morning, I put it down to not taking any medication for my Psoriatic arthritis since early March. I'm trying to give my system a chance before I start Stelara but if the pain gets worse I will take Methotrexate. Due to this it did feel a bit difficult when doing the movements in the light treatment box. Legs and arms are raised, and any skin folds where Psoriasis is, just to make sure the light gets to it.

I have only 4 more session left to go. While I definitely see and feel improvements in my skin, I still have a bit to go yet. The legs always seem to be the most stubborn but I'm hoping for good weather here to get clear for holidays. Also the introduction to Stelara a week after I finish light treatment, time will tell if or when it works.

Until next time...

Sarah x

Extra time....

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter! I spent mine working, sleeping and eating chocolate, probably in that order :)

So last week I finished on Friday at 1 minute and 42 seconds in the light treatment box. I didn't have a session on Monday due to the bank holiday, which worked out well as I was working. This past Tuesday to my dermatologist who determined I'd be doing a total of 24 session as at that time it would bring me upto when I'm due to start Stelara, which will hopefully clear any psoriasis that may be left.

Wednesday brought me upto 17 sessions. The dosage was uped to 2 minutes and 3 seconds. When I had a shower the same night after treatment, I noticed I was quite red on my chest and it was hot to touch. This will have to be noted for my 18th session tomorrow and my dosage will more than likely be lowered to avoid further redness.

We've been lucky here in Ireland that the weather has been beautiful, but with that comes precautions...namely factor 50 sunscreen! Which I will also be having to load up on when I go on holidays in 2 months time, along with a hat and cover ups. Hope to do a future post on item purchase to avoid the sun flaring my skin :) 

Enjoy the weather wherever you may be

Until next time...

Sarah x

Easter - New look

Hello all,

Being Easter and the evenings getting longer, or as us Irish say "there's a grand stretch in the evening" I decided to freshen up the look of the blog with a simple, clean look. Which will hopefully make it more appealing to read. Thoughts welcome :) 

I wanted to update on Week 6 has gone so far. Monday morning I visited my rheumatologist to check up on how I was doing. We had discussed how Cimzia just did not work for me, only after one dose. After what Enbrel had done to my skin, I'm very cautious trying anything new so when I felt it was worsening my skin as well as the reaction on the injection site, I wanted nothing more to do with it.

We then talked about Stelara, which I'm happy to start as I've heard of a good success rate with both psoriasis and Psoratic arthritis. He then said we'd wait another month to start it so as to ensure Cimzia was out of my system which I was happy to do as I had felt run down lately between different medications and light treatment. I can take methotrexate until then and I was also given a steroid shot into my hip to help my knees which have been giving me a bit of grief.

After my appointment, I then had my hospital appointment for light treatment and told the nurse the plans for Stelara after my break. Today I was back up to 1 minute and 11 seconds, I'm finally making progress again! Wednesday was my 15th session, and I was reminded to make an appointment with my dermatologist to determine how many more session if any (oh I know I'll have to) after session 18. I am pencilled in with my derm for next Tuesday. 

Tomorrow is session 16 and I look forward to progressing further after feeling like its bit mostly 'one step forward, two steps back'. I don't have light treatment on Monday as it is a Bank holiday here in Ireland. I'm going be spending my Easter weekend being back at work, which I look forward to as I get to see my old work friends and have a laugh with them. It's only weekends for now until May which works out nicely with treatment and doctors! 

Hope to update again during the week, but until then I hope you all have a happy Easter and munch away on some lovely chocolate.

I have always wondered about expanding my blog into other areas outside of psoriasis and treatments, I'm not sure if there is an audience. Please do feel free to comment or contact me in private and let me know.

Sarah x

Round up of Week 5

Hope everyone has enjoyed their weekend, looks like it will have been my last off to enjoy for a while as I just last week signed a new contract for work. It is somewhere I have worked for the past two years, but isn't all year round due to be a tourist attraction. It does mean being out in all weather, and I love it, especially when the weather is good. Get to meet people from all over the world and tell them more about the area I work in, a place I also have family ties. This weekend was spent celebrating with dinner and drinks with himself, which was very enjoyable indeed.

Anyway, onto the light treatment....as I previously said in my last post, due to doctors orders I didn't have light treatment this past Monday due to a reaction to Cimzia. In that time, I found the reaction at the injection site easing, not as raised and not feeling itchy or hot. Today, it's almost completely clear (thankfully!). Wednesday came and the nurse asked how I felt and checked over my skin, she was happy to stay at 49 seconds to be sure there was to be no more reactions. 

No redness or itchiness followed and I was happy with progress again. On Friday, my treatment progressed again, to 59 seconds. I've been moisturising as normal, in the mornings or after treatment with E45 and at night with emulsifying ointment, which have keeper to get my skin smoother, a feeling I have missed. I've seen the biggest change in my face, no more raised skin, just redness which doesn't bother me as it is better than it was. When my face was really bad, I would wear makeup to cover it up because I was so self conscious, but even with makeup raised patches could be seen. I should add, I only ever tend to wear makeup on nights out or special occasions. 

Tomorrow is an early start as I visit my rheumatologist, as we discuss me starting Stelara. I feel more positive after the failure of the other two biologics, as my dermatologist told me he had a high success rate with Psoriasis patients who used Stelara. So keep the fingers crossed for me that this is the one! Tomorrow, I also start week 6 of light treatment, not far off my end point.

Have you been prescribed Stelara? If you want to share your experience, please don't hesitate to get in touch, whether in the comments or privately.

Take care, until next time.....

Sarah x