Busy, busy......

Again other things have gotten in the way of blogging. Work and life in general has been pretty hectic but I wanted to come on here and share a quick update on my progress. I get asked quite a lot about how I'm doing on Cosentyx, especially from people who have recently started it or are due to start it.

Thankfully, all progress has been good for my skin. All that is left is the discolouration of psoriasis,  no raised skin, flaking or itching! I have been very happy with my progress. It has been very convenient also only having to take it once a month and I'm now on my fourth month.

My joints lately had been feeling better but unfortunetly this week, have flared. I put that down to lots of walking/ standing in work for long periods of time and also my shoes being a bit worn also. I hope it will calm down soon.

I'll have a longer post in "my experience with" series soon so be sure to check back for that.

As always, any questions leave them in the comments below.

Until next time.....

Sarah x

Winter handbag essentials.....

Welcome back to my blog! Today's post is going to be about my handbag essentials for the cold winter weather. Lately here has been the coldest it has been this winter as it had been very mild up to now. We've had lots of rain, bringing with it, ice in the mornings. So here are my necessities for this harsh weather....

 

Unfortunately with the cold weather, skin can become dry and cracked so I do tend to carry a few bits in my handbag to avoid irritation and the possibility of my psoriasis becoming worse.

Gloves are a great way to keep your hands protected from the cold air. Theses are a pay from Penneys (Primark) which was €1.50 for a pack of two pairs. They are small enough to roll up and store in your handbag or pocket for whenever you may needed. They can also be a great fashion accessory if you want to dress up an outfit. An additional set of hand warmers could also be placed inside of the gloves to make it toasty :)

A recent addition to my handbag is the LOccitane hand cream for dry skin. I was never one for wearing hand cream, as I don't like strong scents on my hands, and while this does have a slight scent it is very much a pleasant one! It was gifted to me in a gift set of mini samples by my brothers girlfriend, who very thoughtfully took my skin into consideration. I have using this quite a bit on my knuckles as I have experienced cracking of my skin in this area. It is a lovely creamy white texture that really rubs into the skin nicely.

  This time of year when along of colds and flus develope, I find it always good to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer. The bottle picture is from Aldi and costs between €1 and €2. I can be a bit of a germaphobe sometimes as I know myself that with an autoimmune condition that it can be very easy to come down with a cold or flu. Especially when it's the time of year that people are on fitness kicks, no one wants to be sick! Along with hand sanitizer, I also carry a pack of tissue cos you never know when you might need them. 

A longtime favourite of mine is the Blistex relief cream. I find this is fantastic when you're lips are cracked and dry, which unfortunately has been the case lately. I always have a backup of this just I case I might need it. I do like lip balms but nothing seems to be a moisturising as this! You do feel a slight tingle on the lips which I know some people hate, but it's something that doesn't bother me. It is a white cream so does have to be rubbed into the lips well.

Highly recommended by my mother after suffering from a sore throat lately, .  I used to use these when I got strep throats in the past but had since forgotten about them. I was using different cough sweets and cough syrup lately which were not helping, but these were a godsend. I find that after the sweet has gone, that my throat still feel coated with the taste and numbing effect of the sweet. Glad to have these close when my throat is starting to feel sore, and they only cost around €1 to €2.

What items can you not live without in your handbag/ bag to survive the winter? Let me know in the comments below.

Until next time....

Sarah x

New Year, new chapter.....

Greeting from my sick bed....well, couch with a fuzzy blanket and warm fire :) Thankfully I'm over the worst of my cold and feeling better each day. A trip to the doctor this morning, it was decided I didn't need antibiotics and to continue my recovery on paracetamol. Funnily enough my facebook memories today showed me moaning about being sick this day, on two different years...seems to be a pattern. I know that this is going around and I know people who suffered from it recently. Probably from going from bad habits over Christmas to trying to do better again in the new year getting back into routine. On that note also, Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed however you chose to celebrate. I did so with family and my boyfriend having a quiet night in, going outside at midnight to see the fireworks over the nearby town.

So today, giving how I'm feeling I thought I'd go through a routine of how I recharge my batteries when I am sick...

Comfort:

It is important to make sure you are comfortable! Whether its being in bed or on the couch, its nice to have comfy pillows or cushions to ease and aches of pains you may have. I found myself suffering from terrible lower back pain which my doctor put down to the virus targeting a weak area of your body. I found myself layer up cushions on the couch and while in bed using my trusty hot water bottle to heat the area. Just be sure not to have the hot water bottle touching your skin, so as not to burn the skin, instead wrap it in a towel or tshirt.

My lovely fuzzy blanket from trusty Penneys has been attached to me most of the week. It warm but also light material if I get too warm. Who can forget warm, cosy slippers!  My pair of choice being sheep ones I received as a present at Christmas.

Sleep

Sometimes coming down with something like a cold is a way of your body saying you need to slow down and recharge. Depending on your age and lifestyle it is usually recommended that we get 8 to 9 hours sleep a night. A good night sleep can help to focus more during the day at work/school. Lately unfortunately my sleeping pattern has been all over the place (a bad habit from Christmas) which may have been part of the reason I became sick. Relaxation plays a big part, even little things like lighting candles or your favourite scent,going for a short walk to get to fresh air into your lungs (love the chill of late cold nights), listening to your favourite music, watching your favourite show or if like myself lately, watching your favourite youtubers.

Medicine

Whether you believe in herbal medicine or the chemist kind, use whichever you find works for you! I found myself using Strepsils sore throat and blocked nose lozenges due to a bad cough I had and later found Fisherman Friend were more beneficially. As a child I always suffered from very sore throats and bad coughs but since I had my tonsils out (10 years this month!) I thankfully haven't suffered as badly, as well as improving my skin when it was at its worst at that time. I had started out using a cough syrup but found it only seemed to make me cough more. Voltarol has been a godsend for using on my lower back! The pain was so bad when it came to getting up from sitting down and standing back up again but this gel really has helped relieve it as it targets the area.

Fluids

This is sooo important! Be sure and keep your body hydrated with plenty of fluids. Water, 7-Up and Tea have been my fluids of choice. One of my goals for the New year is to drink more water. I had a good routine of drinking water daily but fell into bad habits over Christmas.

If needed, seek medical advice

If you feel like nothing is helping, maybe seeing your doctor is the next step. Your doctor can then recommend a course of action, whether it be antibiotics, or even just more rest. It is best to follow the instructions of your doctor and if that doesn't work, don't hesitate to let them know, they are there to help you after all.

I have found myself using the downtime to also make goals for myself for the new year. I'm not one for making New Years Resolutions, simply because I never keep them! So I have written out ideas and steps to go about achieving them, in the form of progression and it has really made me motivate myself to getting better and try to improve my lifestyle as of late.

Anything you would add to the above list? Leave it in the comments below. I hope it has been a better start to the new year for you. Have you made resolutions or plans? I may share mine in a post, I'm planning to keep track of progress in all areas so hopefully a few changes in motion.

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

World Psoriasis Day 2015....

If you didn't know, now you do! Today, October 29th is World Psoriasis day. A day celebrated worldwide by many a Psoriasis sufferer, to educate others, and also to acknowledge how far treatments have come over the years with so many options now available.

I know Psoriasis is something, if we all could choose, we wouldn't want to have it. But there are positives to come from it and for me a bit part of that was how much of a community you will find from fellow itchys. People are so eager to educate as well as share their own experiences and advise when times are tough.

For myself, the Psoriasis Ireland group on Facebook has been so helpful and so welcoming, be it to rant or rave, you'll always find someone who will set you on the right path. There are plenty of forums out their also, as well as other Facebook pages/groups from different countries.

I want to end this by sharing a video by a beautiful little girl named Pearl, who is an inspiration in speaking out about how it feels to live with Psoriasis and deal with it from a young age. I wish I had her confidence. When I developed it at age 17, it was the awkward years, in high school and a lot of focus on how you look. I wish I was a brave as this girl back then, thankfully I have grown a lot as a person since :)

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 Enbrel....

It is that time again, another installment. If you have missed my previous posts, I have gone into detail about my experience with topical ointments, tonsilectomy, methotrexate and phototheraphy. Today I talk about my most negative experience to date, which happened at the start of 2015...

In my other post regarding Methotrexate, I ended up feeling very ill while taking a higher dosage in December 2014, while also developing psoriatic arthritis in my elbow earlier that year also. At this time, I also found my skin to be bumpy around the back of my thighs leading me to think maybe my Psoriasis was becoming active again but it wasn't happening at a rapid rate, thankfully. I was always given the options of changing to biologics, but was put off at the thought of having to inject myself. To reference Psoriasis.org, Biologics :- "target specific parts of the immune system. The biologics used to treat psoriatic disease block the action of a specific type of immune cell called a T cell, or block proteins in the immune system, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 17-A, or interleukins 12 and 23. These cells and proteins all play a major role in developing psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis."

Enbrel (etanercept) was prescribed to me in January 2015. With Enbrel, you have a nurse assigned to you who comes to your house and helps to teach you how to inject it yourself. Thursday January 8th was going to be the start date and I was to try 50mg, which comes in pen form (myclic pen pictured above). The injection areas to choose from are either the thighs or stomach, I found the thighs to be the area of choice, alternating between left and right each week. To use the pen, the cap is taken off, and the pen is place on the top of the thigh, pushing down so the guard is pushed back and once you're ready the button is pushed releasing the needle. The first time I did it, I did it wrong as the nurse had confused me saying to count to 10, but I was supposed to wait for the second click (which they say is 10 seconds, sounding that it is been dispensed). Due to my mistake, I didn't get a full dose, but I'd know better for next time, being a weeks time. 

Thursday January 15th, My nurse was unable to attend my home. I remember it the weather had been quite bad around that time, including snowfall in higher areas. I managed to inject myself, after about a half hour of building myself up, it was a case of "F**k it! *click*". I did find the pen to be painful. The nurse had asked if I would prefer to use a syringe which I felt sick at the thought of, but she made a good point that with the syringe you have more control. Once you click the button on the pen, its a case of grin and bare it. That same evening I found the back of my thighs and my scalp to be very itchy. As I've said above, it did have a few bumps on the back of my thighs, which felt more like pimples than anything else and didn't really bother me until then. 

Monday Jan. 19th, and I woke up feeling horrible, I had symptoms of a sore throat, runny nose, feeling cold and headaches at night. These symptoms persisted as the week went on and due to my next injection due on Thursday it was decided I would give it a miss. It should be noted that if you do feel sick while on a biologic and are due to take it around that time, it is best to not take it, as you could become more ill. My throat had worsened by Thursday and I felt congested in my nose.

I was sure to keep track of my symptoms and injections in my Enbrel diary. I also kept track of my psoriasis, which by Saturday 24th had worsened. It was now showing on my scalp, legs, back, stomach and my face. I was also still very congested at this stage. The following week I had noticed red patches on my thighs where I had injected. I contacted my nurse who had said to keep an eye on them. They were slightly red and a small bit raised but I was told nothing to worry about. It was now Thursday the 29th and as I was still sick, I was missing another injection, making it two weeks in a row without Enbrel. 

Monday Feb. 2nd which was a visit to my Rheumatologist who had prescribed Enbrel, for a month review. While in the last month, my joints had felt great, my skin was going the opposite way. He thought maybe the dosage was too much to start on so halved my dose to 25mg every week and to take a low dose of Methotrexate to help make it more effective.

I started my new routine of 25mg of Enbrel the following Monday, the 9th. The nurse had made the visit to help show me how to inject with a pre-filled syringe which is how 25mg comes. She got to see how back my skin had become and had supported my decision to go back to my dermatologist about my worsening skin and the possibility of starting phototherapy again. I took 10mg of MTX the same day, which was followed by 10mg of folic acid two days later.

I did find it strange injected with a syringe, but I managed to do so the second week with no supervision. I managed to get an appointment with my Dermatologist Feb. 17th and he looked over my skin and agreed with my thoughts on light treatment and I signed the appropriate forms and was book in for Feb. 23rd. I had 3 doses of 25mg of Enbrel in total before I was back to my rheumatologist for another review, and it was decided Enbrel was not beneficial to me and so it was stopped.

I was very unfortunate that Enbrel did more harm than good for me as I have heard and seen stories of how it has helped others with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis. My Psoriasis had gotten so bad over my entire body, especially on my face which at times I felt I had to cover with makeup to avoid stares which were quite hurtful. I went on to continue phototherapy until May 8th 2015. I found it to be an expensive year as phototherapy 3 times a week at €30 a time which may not have been necessary had I not been prescribed Enbrel. Add in he cost of doctors visits on top of that and the fact I wasn't working. It probably seems like i'm cursing Enbrel and in a way, it was a negative experience but it did prepare me in other ways, such as injecting as I believe the nurse service is not available with some biologics.

As I always say, what happens to one might not happen to another and I know people whose lives have been made better by Enbrel. Its just a case of finding what works individually.

Did you have a similar experience? or what do you find works for you? let me know below.

Until next time....

Sarah x

Haul: Bioderma....

I decided to do something different today, a haul of recent skincare products. I always want to try and do whats best for my skin, even if I don't succeed in doing so. Recently the French skincare company Bioderma have launched in Ireland and I have been intrigued with all the hype about it lately so I decided to purchase a few products to try it out for myself.

 I was immediately drawn to some products that were developed for sensitive skin as I've said before, its hard to find a good skincare routine for myself especially for my face as I find a lot of things seem to break me out. I hope to do a future post reviewing these items properly but for now, here's what I picked up;

 (Bioderma BB Cream in Light)

I've heard alot about the Bioderma BB Cream, both good and bad. It only comes in one shade - Light, which tend to be too dark for fairer complexions. The product contains SPF 30 and claims to "Even out the complexion. Moisturises and soothes". It is aimed towards sensitive skin which is prone to rosacea. While I don't have rosacea, I do tend to get a lot of redness around my nose and cheeks which can sometimes show through in some BB creams/ foundations. I did give this a quick try when I bought it, i prepped and primed my skin and applied it using a foundation brush. I don't know if my skin was prepped enough or if I should use the method of a makeup sponge but it tend to cake on my cheeks. I'm not writing it off just yet as the colour is quite good with my natural tan right now so I will update when I give it a second try. This retails at €17.50, while it isn't the most expensive, I did splurge a bit on this so I hope it will be worth it.

 (Bioderma Miceller Water)

This is one of the first Bioderma products I had heard people raving about, the Bioderma Miceller solution. This can be used as a make up remover or a cleanser. I had used the Garnier and Nivea sensitive miceller waters and had found them to leave my face feeling hot as though it was causing a reaction so I stopped using them. I'm looking forward to trying this out, but I will be trying a patch test first to be safe. Its says "Cleanses, removes make-up and soothes sensitive skin. Excellent tolerance. Non-rinse. Paraben free. Hypoallergenic." As I have said before, I don't use make-up daily, only for nights out/ special occasions so I look forward to seeing how well this will remove my make-up. The 100ml bottle pictured retails at €5.50. I decided to the smaller option and if I like it, I'll look into purchase the bigger bottle.

 

(Bioderma Moisturising Stick)

I picked up this lip balm as something extra to try out as I always seem to pick up new lip products to try out. It is for Damaged and dehydrated lips, which I have had a problem with lately and I wanted to see if this might be as good as my trusty Blistex relief cream, and to be honest it is! I have been using it for about a week now and find it so hydrating on the lips and leaves them feeling lovely and soft with no stickiness from the product. Only downside is there is no SPF, but its not a major flaw. It cost €3.50 which seems to be the typical price for lip products these days. Well worth trying.

I will be sure to do more in depth reviews when I have tried these products further. Have you tried their products? Let me know which are your favourite!

Until next time....

Sarah x 

My experience with Phototherapy (light treatment).....

Welcome back again to another installment. Today I'm going to discuss Phototherapy, also known as light treatment or UVB. I have gone into further detail about this in past blog posts, on weekly to daily basis so this is going to be a summery of my experience and just explaining what phototherapy is.

Phototherapy involves exposing the skin to ultraviolet light on a regular basis and under medical supervision, in my case, in a hospital. This is very different to tanning beds which are advised against using for skin conditions as it is not beneficial and does more harm than good. UVB (ultraviolet B) is present in natural sunlight and slows the growth of affected skin cells, therefore helping psoriasis.

I have been through this treatment three times, in 2011, 2013 and 2015. If you'd like to go back to my first post on the intial assessment where I go into detail about what happens for the first session, check it out by clicking here. 

My first and second time doing the treatment were very beneficial, to the point that my skin cleared, or was close to clearing. I do wonder if the more you go for the treatment, the less effective it become. My third time doing the treatment, was when I had flared due to Enbrel (which will be in more detail in the next installment). It seemed like my skin was more stubborn, and a mixture of trying new biologics had maybe played a part in it also. 

As I came to the end of my third time, which was only the start of May this year, I still wasn't happy with my skin. It had progressed, but not to the extent it had done in the past. I would really recommend this treatment for anyone with very bad psoriasis, but not to be doing so too often. My doctor said after a few hundred session that it would be considered a higher risk to skin cancer. Each time I had only done 20 - 28 sessions at most so I don't have to worry just yet.

Another thing about this treatment is that once the days session is done, it is very important to try and avoid the sun for the remainder of the day and use sun cream when outside. Reason being, at each session you are getting your days dosage of sunlight recommended.

Any questions, or anything you feel I should go into more detail about, leave it in the comments below.

Until next time....

My experience with Methotrexate

Welcome back again to the second installment of this series, this time about my experience with Methotrexate...

In 2006, the same year I had gone through the tonsillectomy, I had noticed my right knee was very swollen to the point that it was double the size of my left knee. When I had a check up with my dermatologist I had asked about my knee, he then informed me that Psoriatic arthritis is a possibility due to having Psoriasis and he refered me to a rheumatologist to look into it further.

I believe it was around September of the same year that I first saw another new doctor. He checked out my knee and said it was fluid after building up which is why is was that size. He then drained the fluid and showed me it in a cup. It was yellowish in colour 'like Heineken' my doctor proclaimed. I was also given any anti-inflammatory injection in my knee in the hope it would keep it calm.

I saw my doctor every few months and had fluid drained a few times, thankfully not to the extent of my first visit. He gave me a leaflet about Methotrexate (MTX) a tablet (also available in injection form nowadays) which was known to be good for types of Arthritis. I came to the decision I would try it in the hope it would help. I was then sent for a chest X-ray which has to be done upon starting MTX, as well as regular blood tests to keep a check on liver functions, as it can have an effect on the liver. I started on a low dose of 5mg, followed by folic acid two days later. The dosage was increased as the weeks went on, to 15mg, if I remember correctly. MTX can be disruptive to the stomach and I did experience a few stomach aches but it was worth it to help my knees.

I was still on MTX up until Decemeber 2014. Over the years I have had the dosage switched up and down, depending on how bad/ or well behaved my knees were. The highest I was on was 25mg, which did not agree with me back in December and ultimately was the final straw in changing to a biologic which my rheumatologist had always offered as an alternative.

Another reason for going off MTX was due to developing psoriatic arthritis in my left knee and also last year, in my right elbow. I visited my doctor every two to three months and was usually given a steroid injection to help with any inflammation which may have been happening at the time.

I found that MTX was effective for a while, as I was on it long enough but I just found as the years went on I needed to try something different. I think it is a good option to start off on if you are new to psoriatic arthritis and are unsure of the biologics which are usually injections. I have heard other peoples experience with this drug that they could not that it as it would make them feel so ill. Also it is not recommended to drink alcohol while on it due to the possibility of it having an affect on liver function, which is another thing that turns people off. As stated above, it is now available in injection form, something that wasn't an option when I started and I have heard some people say they prefer this method. 

Its all down to personal preference and we need to remember that even if one thing doesn't work for you but works for someone else, there are plenty of options out there. That is something that will ring through when I talk about Enbrel.

Again, any questions you might have about MTX, don't hesitate to ask.

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 Topical treatment and Tonsillectomy.....

Welcome to the first of this new series. I thought it best to bundle these two topics together as they were treatments I first experienced. Before I dive in, a little bit of background; 

I first developed Psoriasis when I was 17 years old. I remember it was Christmas and a thick patch appeared behind my ear. I thought nothing of it at the time, until it started to appear all over my body within a few short months. My doctor was baffled and I was then referred to a dermatologist. He knew straight away, it was Psoriasis. 

This brings us to topical creams/ ointments. In 2005, I was prescribed Dovobet and Dovonex which were used in routine with each other. Dovobet ointment was a thicker consistency and contained steroids so is not recommended for prolonged use. Dovonex is a creamy consistency and not as harsh on the skin as Dovobet. 

At the start it did find it helped. My plaques were thick, white patches and like many I had the urge to pick the scabs, I'm not going to lie. Upon doing so they would bleed, but they didn't need to be picked to bleed either. As I was still in school at the time, we had a school uniform, consisting of a skirt, tights, shirt, tie and jumper. There were many days where the tights would rub off my skin, causing irritation and cracking and not to sound too graphic, the tights sticking to the blood.


My scalp was also covered in what felt like one big thick helmet. My hair would not be the thickest anyway, so it was visible around the hairline. For that I tried others like Dovobet gel which did nothing for me, and coal tar which stunk so bad but did have a soothing effect.

Over the months of using the treatments I found it did and it didn't help. As I said, it helped with the thickness of the patches but it was never truly going away. Towards the end of 2005, I was told the option of Tonsillectomy (getting my tonsils removed). It seemed to make sense because I had always suffered with my throat growing up, sometimes missing school for weeks at a time because it would be so bad. I had consultations, and the date was set, January 9th 2006. At this stage I was in my final year of secondary school and state exams were looming in June of the same year, stress probably did play a factor in it all. 

I was in hospital for 7.30am and brought to where I would rest up for the next few days. My operation was scheduled for around 9am and last thing I remember was the anesthesia injected into my hand and counting back from 10. After that, I woke up back in the room which I shared with two others, one of which was going through the same. My throat was quite sore, it was sore to talk and especially to eat. My doctor advised me that all went well and to keep hydrated and foods such as toast and crisps (yes, crisps!) were good as they helped to scrape the throat and help in the healing process.

I was in hospital for another day and a half, so I was home again come Wednesday afternoon. I was definitely glad to be back in my own bed again. I was out of school for two weeks in total. I was given a liquid to drink a few times a day to help with healing, and it did not taste nice at all, can still think of the taste of it today, yuck! But whatever helps! I was also given tablets for pain, which thankfully was minimal.

In the months after the tonsillectomy, I sat my state exams and enjoyed a good summer of sun including a two week holiday to Spain with friends. By August I had returned and my skin at almost completely cleared and then went on to proudly wear a dress to my debs for the first time in years.

In my eyes, I believe the tonsillectomy played a big part in my Psoriasis clear up back then. Even to this day, I don't get sore throats half as bad as I did when I was younger. I did use the topicals after my surgery but have felt the effects of them years on after stopping them. They tend to have an effect of thinning the skin and also find the hairs on my arms grew with this treatment. The advice I do have is if you do use these creams, use them very sparingly and not for long periods of time. If anyone was to ask me is a tonsillectomy a good step towards better skin, I would say absolutely, 100%. 

If anyone wants to know any other details about my experience with either treatment, ask away.

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

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