Psoriasis

[Plantaholic]

As you are all aware I have been suffering with psoriasis for over a year. I wasn’t getting anywhere with my doctor and had not seen a Dermatologist, they just kept giving me more sprays and creams to use and none were having any affect. I decided the time had come that I must consult a Dermatologist privately, which I did a fortnight ago. Pleased to say I liked her very much. Last Sat she took a piece of flesh to send off to a lab and stitched the wound and asked me to contact my surgery to get some blood tests done, she isn’t convinced it is psoriasis. I took the list into the surgery today and they phoned to say they cannot do the blood tests as they don’t know what they are for. The consultant dermatologist is on holiday but her secretary is in touch with her so informed her of the problem, I await her answer. In the meantime I had to contact the private clinic to get an appt. To get the stitch removed and it has taken me most of the afternoon to get an answer only to be told the person concerned had gone home but they will contact me tomorrow to make the appt. I thought going down this route was going to make things easier, not so sure now. In the meantime we are awaiting the result of the biopsy which is going to cost me £500. That is nearly a £1,000 so far and I do not seem to be very far forward.

The Dermatologist gave me the name of a drug that is used for psoriasis and asked me to read about it, well it had so many nasty side-effects, I think I will stick with what I have got.
Another treatment if it is psoriasis is light treatment, which she will have to arrange on the NHS.

If only my doctor had referred me to a Dermatologist, instead of asking them what prescription to give me, I might not have had this problem of dealing with private treatment and asking the surgery for blood tests.

I am one frustrated Plantaholic and it is time for a glass of wine.

[Nanto2girls]

Oh Plant,how annoying not to get any further forward.
Many years ago,i worked with someone who suffered with psoriasis,and she used to go to the hospital for what they called tar baths.
I don't know if they still use this treatment of not, but if the dermatologist is right in saying she doesn't think its psoriasis, it won't be much help to you.

[Oma]

Just dragging out now Plant , you must be thoroughly fed up with it all .
I do hope they get some answers soon xx

[Gemini]

How flipping annoying Plant. No wonder you are frustrated

[Daisy]

Plant, what a frustrating situation. Surely it doesn't have to be so complicated to get blood tests when the Dermatologist has requested them. I just hope after all this they can give you a proper diagnosis and treat the condition. You've been very patient. x

[WeeGranny]

Nanto, when I was a child my psoriasis was treated with crude tar! I can't pass roadworks now without getting flashbacks of having tar smeared on the rash and then bandaged up. I had it on arms, legs and shoulders!!
The worst bit was I had to go to hospital in Edinburgh to have this done and my parents didn't have a car, so we had to go by bus!!

PLant I do hope you get some answers soon. Trouble with private doctors asking the surgery to do blood tests is that some surgeries are not very co-operative. I'm surprised that the consultant didn't ask for them to be done privately. You'd have got the results a lot quicker than via the NHS. On the positive side, at least you're getting things done much quicker than you have done through the surgery.

[Plantaholic]

Oh WG, how awful for you to have to go through that treatment when you were a child.

The latest is that I still have the stitch in my upper arm and no appt.forthcoming. I cannot get through to the right dept at the private clinic where the stitch was put in. Have contacted the Dermatologists secretaries and apart from offering me an appt for yesterday when it was already late morning at a clinic quite a distance away, nothing. I am tempted to get my DD to remove it. The secretary asked if I could get the nurse at my surgery to do it but why should they when they are busy. I can’t understand why an appt. Wasn’t forthcoming when the stitch was put in. I shouldn’t be having to chase up an appt., I am paying for this. The Dermatologist consultant is on holiday but her secretaries are in daily contact with her. Hoping to hear something on Monday.

[Daisy]

Plant, it seems totally mad that you can't get this appointment. I agree, it should have been booked at the time, and why should a nurse at your local surgery do it. Our surgery don't remove stitches at all - they are sent to our local hospital!

WeeGranny, thank goodness treatments have been improved. That must have been awful and made worse by having to travel on the bus.

My OH's psoriasis didn't start until he was an adult, but both his sisters and a niece had it in childhood. He's only ever has small patches and hardly gets it at all now. Crossing fingers here!

[Gemini]

We can all see that an appointment to have the stitch removed should have been made at the time. So why can't the powers that be?!
I'm so sorry you are having all this hassle Plant.

[Plantaholic]

When I was at the Games afternoon I received a call from the Dermatologist informing me that the biopsy showed that it isn’t psoriasis that I have. I was just about to start a board game and was keeping others waiting so I didn’t make a note of what it is, she is going to send me a letter, apparently I need a course of the light treatment and she wants me to ask my doctor to arrange it as she cannot access this treatment. Not sure what the surgery will make of that. I will make an appt. With my doctor tomorrow, probably need to wait a time. I will drop a copy of the letter into the surgery when it comes so she knows what I am talking about. What a saga!

[Gemini]

What a saga indeed Plant!
You have waited long enough for this to be sorted out and it is making you miserable.
Let's hope as you have a diagnosis they can hurry up and get you an appointment for this treatment.

[Daisy]

Plant, well at least you know now that it isn't Psoriasis and whatever it is can be treated. I think the consultant dermatologist should send a copy of her diagnosis and suggested treatment to your surgery, and also to you, of course. I hope the surgery can act on the advice quickly.

[Plantaholic]

Saw the doctor today about my painful shoulder and she told me that the Dermatologists said there is no point in referring me as they have a very long waiting list. The doctor is going to try another antibiotic now and I am to keep using the Enstiller cream. I am going to find out how much it will cost to have the light treatment privately.

[Gemini]

Fingers crossed the light treatment is affordable Plant.

[Daisy]

Plant, I hope the treatment isn't too expensive, but definitely worth doing if it's affordable.