Psoriatic Arthritis

sits_inthe_corner · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:55 pm Post subject: Psoriatic Arthritis

Went to see the dermatologist guy today...it didn't go well. He barely even looked at me...said there's nothing I can do for you. Tell your rhuemy that I think you have psoriatic arthritis.

There are no words for to discribe just how angry and pissed off I am right now. I couldn't even go back to work. I'm so sore and tired. All my joints are yelling at me. I walked to the doctor's office in the sun and that was a huge mistake.

I'm going to go eat a tub of chocolate frozen yogart. Then I'll try to find out what the heck psoriatic arthritis is.
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KathyW1958 · Grizzly Bear Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 714

Hi

I looked up what that type of Arthritis is and this is what I found as I had never heard of this either:

What is psoriatic arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the skin (psoriasis) and joints (arthritis). Psoriasis is a common skin condition affecting 2% of the Caucasian population in the United States. It features patchy, raised, red areas of skin inflammation with scaling. Psoriasis often affects the tips of the elbows and knees, the scalp, the navel, and around the genital areas or anus. Approximately 10% of patients who have psoriasis also develop an associated inflammation of their joints. Patients who have inflammatory arthritis and psoriasis are diagnosed as having psoriatic arthritis.

The onset of psoriatic arthritis generally occurs in the fourth and fifth decades of life. Males and females are affected equally. The skin disease (psoriasis) and the joint disease (arthritis) often appear separately. In fact, the skin disease precedes the arthritis in nearly 80% of patients. The arthritis may precede the psoriasis in up to 15% of patients. In some patients, the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis can be difficult if the arthritis precedes psoriasis by many years. In fact, some patients have had arthritis for over 20 years before psoriasis eventually appears! Conversely, patients can have psoriasis for over 20 years prior to development of arthritis, leading to the ultimate diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis is a systemic rheumatic disease that can also cause inflammation in body tissues away from the joints other than the skin, such as in the eyes, heart, lungs, and kidneys. Psoriatic arthritis shares many features with several other arthritic conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis (formerly Reiter's syndrome), and arthritis associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. All of these conditions can cause inflammation in the spine and other joints, and the eyes, skin, mouth, and various organs. In view of their similarities and tendency to cause inflammation of the spine, these conditions are collectively referred to as "spondyloarthropathies."

I think that the doctor should have been more kind and talked with you more about it. I would be po'd with that doctor too. I got mad at a Dermatologist who did me like that too one time when he saw the rash on my hands and feet and just said that it is eczema and that there is no cure and left it at that. Some doctors are idiots big time.

Kathy
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Lupus for many years. Like most of my life. Sjogrens that started at 35 and Spinal Stenosis, Degenerative Disc Disease, Osteo-Arthritis of the spine, Ankylosing Spondilitis, Periferal Neuropathy, mild CP and now just recently diagnosed with PA. I had a disc replaced in December of 2007.

Medications:
Plaquenil, Sulindac, Imuran, Celiac diet, Tramadol and B12 shot once a month.

sits_inthe_corner · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:50 pm Post subject:

Thanks for looking that up Kathy

That's pretty much what I found out as well...the stupid part is ... I dont have Psoriasis patches of skin anywhere. I don't think I ever have.

I'll inform the rhuemy and my family doctor of what he said, but I'll also make sure they understand...he didn't examin me.
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laurid8967 · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject:

Dear Sits -
I'm sorry about your appt. In all seriousness - what are we going to do about these doctors?? I mean it!! There has got to be SOMEWHERE we can bring this issue to light. Anyway, I know the feeling - it absolutely stinks - and I think you should refuse to pay him. If he did not examine you, what are you paying him for? Im just so mad for you right now.
Go have your frozen yogurt AND whipped cream!!! Hang in there...
Love Lauri
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The courage to change the things I can,
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KathyW1958 · Grizzly Bear Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 714

Hi Sits

Like Lauri said I would not pay the man either, because he did not do his job. I feel so bad for you. It is really sad that doctors act like this and I agree there should be something that can be done, but you know the doctors all stick together like cement and yes there are some really sorry doctors out there. I hope that you bring this to your doctors attention. I know when I had a bad experience with the Dermatologist and I told my Rheumatologist about it, he just said, well I will put you on Imuran and it will be ok. I never got referred to that idiot again. I hope that you do inform your doctors of this fool so that they never refer you to him ever again.

Hugs,
Kathy
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Lupus for many years. Like most of my life. Sjogrens that started at 35 and Spinal Stenosis, Degenerative Disc Disease, Osteo-Arthritis of the spine, Ankylosing Spondilitis, Periferal Neuropathy, mild CP and now just recently diagnosed with PA. I had a disc replaced in December of 2007.

Medications:
Plaquenil, Sulindac, Imuran, Celiac diet, Tramadol and B12 shot once a month.

cheryl_v · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:05 am Post subject:

Hi SITC, sorry you got one of those docs. I agree with you, I'd tell other docs that there was no exam. That he more or less gave you a brush off. Maybe you'll get a better one next time.

Yummmmmmmmmmm, frozen yogurt. Does the trick for me when feeling down and out. Have you tried the blueberry-palmagranet from publix? So good Very Happy

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To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. (author: Nick Miller, I believe)

sits_inthe_corner · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:18 am Post subject:

We don't pay for refered visits to specialists. It's covered by the government. Or I would have refused payment.

I have an appointment with my family doctor on July 2nd and I've left a message for the rheumatologist.

I'm not sure what the next step is, but at least I'll have time to calm down before I talk with my family doctor.

If I dont like the response from the rheumy I'm going to ask to see a natural path.
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cheryl_v · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:00 am Post subject:

Hopefully your anger will be only a simmer when you go. Docs should be ashamed for causing such anguish in a person, once again sorry you got one of the heartless ones. Where do their emotions and compasion go? If they got really sick, they would not be happy to be treated that way. Gentle hugs, may your pain and anguish ease and you feel better Very Happy

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Cheryl

To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. (author: Nick Miller, I believe)

mnjodette · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 3:57 am Post subject:

Aw, that just sucks, SITC. What brought you to the dermatologist in the first place? Did whatever it was get ANY attention at all? How can he point to 'psoriasis' when there isn't any skin patches...I don't get it!

There will always be doctors that don't pay attention; don't want to go the extra mile (or any mile at all, for that matter!) What we all need is some additional advocacy...a "movement" of some kind that can really educate doctors about autoimmune diseases. Those diseases are so hard to pin down, and I think a lot of doctors just don't want to acknowledge them - particularly lupus. Diagnosis is just too much work. Insurance companies probably complain about all the testing....maybe even gov't. sponsored medical programs?

Did you enjoy your chocolate frozen yogurt....maybe a tub of it dumped on this guys head would be a wake-up call! Wink

Jody
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sits_inthe_corner · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:07 am Post subject:

My family doctor sent me to the dermatologist...I think she figured he'd remove the toe nails. He seemed horrified by that prospect hahahaha.

So was I!

Any way, I'm not sure why she sent me there. I'll find out on Wednesday when I go back to see her.

Right now I have large lumps going down the side of my neck. I usually have one that flares up from time to time. First time it ever showed up I thought it was a spider bite.

Now it's back and it has a little friend. It's hot and sore, with in two to three days it will be gone and wont come back for another month or so.

Should change my nic to lumpy Laughing

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