12 weeks on Methorexate! Part One

After continued use of topical steroids, Dovebet in particular my dermatologist recommended starting a new treatment, Methotrexate. Methotrexate is an immunosuppressant, originally used for the treatment of cancer to reduce the growth of tumours. It has an incredibly long list of nasty side effects but the dose is only to be taken once a week and anyone with psoriasis knows exactly how frustrating it is having to apply greasy creams and ointments numerous times a day, as well as having to throw out clothing and bedding because you just cant wash the products out. As explained in previous posts I was in a terrible way, so the potential to clear my psoriasis with no greasy creams and only having to take a few tablets one day a week I decided to go ahead.


I started on a dose of 5mg, which is two tablets it was then increased every 4 weeks by 5mg, as it is such a strong drug, blood tests are needed before and during the course to make sure my liver is functioning as it should and my blood cell counts are all normal. I don't mind getting blood taken but the first few weeks were a bit intensive, I didn't faint as I have done in the past so I was quite happy with myself. The last time I went to my dermatologist he upped my dose from 15mg to 25mg which is the maximum dose they can prescribe.


Unfortunately Methotrexate takes time to build up in your system and have a positive effect, unfortunately that isn't the case with the side effects. It was very frustrating seeing no change in my skin but suffering terribly vomiting, nausea and being so lethargic that it is a battle every morning getting out of bed! They were the only two side effects a really suffered from, apart from sores in my mouth but they typically went after a couple of days so didn't bother me to much. I have been prescribed Anti-sickness medication now and touch would that seems to have put the whole nausea and vomiting to bed for good!

its been a while!

6 weeks ago I started taking methotrexate,  im currently taking 6 tablets a week which is 15mg! I went away to Greece for a holiday so I think I need to catch up on some blogging. I will be starting with all about methotrexate and what side effects I have had and how my skin is reacting!

Speak soon!

So why have I not tried this before?!

Everyday I battle with my psoriasis, most days I manage to make it through and not go ballistic scratching at my skin but today it started to get the better of me. Normally around 3pm it starts to bother me but today it was on my case from the word go! By midday I couldnt concentrate on anything but the urge to itch, I spent my lunch searching for remedies but unfortunately the majority involved covering myself in lotions which just isnt possible in work.  One I did come across was using a cold compress, with about 30seconds of my lunch left I dashed to boots and purchased one.

On my return I threw it in the freezer and waited for 30minutes, it said to leave it for 2 hours but no way in hell was I waiting that long!!!(longest 30minutes ever) I applied it to the back of my head and almost instantly the desire to itch had gone!! I couldn't believe it, I kept it on for 15 minutes and that provided a good hour or so of relief! Apart from being constantly asked 'Have you banged your head?' it was well worth it and I certainly will be getting another to keep at home.


£6.99 from Boots, you can get them much cheaper online but being able to get it there and then was ideal!
http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Hot-Cold-Compress_1154838/

A tattoo with Psoraisis?

I had always wanted a tattoo, something on my skin that had been chosen by me not something I had inherited. Obviously tattoos and psoriasis can cause issues, I always find that when there is damage to the skin I can get an out break and since a tattoo is basically being stabbed with a needle a million times I was a bit concerned.

In the build up to getting the tattoo I made sure I kept the area moisturized, using Double base gel 3 times daily. Stupidly I decided to jump in at the deep end and instead of trying to get a small tattoo to test I went full out and got a large piece on the side of my ribs, to be honest it was the only place it would fit. to be honest the biggest mistake was getting it on my ribs, it was the most painful thing I have ever had done. Afterwards I applied a thin layer of Bepanthen twice a day, in the following weeks I didn't have any issue with my psoriasis and my tattoo healed normally.

I have since had flare ups where i have had psoriasis on my tattoo, I have just treated it as normal using Dovobet twice daily, the ink is still as strong as it was when I got it done. I try my best not to itch but if you have psoriasis you will know that is nearly impossible.

I will get some photos tonight as I currently have patches of psoriasis on the tattoo now, so you can see that the psoriasis does not take any colour out of the tattoo.

Hopefully when this flare up dies down I will be able to get a photo to show that it doesn't effect the ink.

Psoriasis? Prepaid persciptions are saving me a fortune!

Obviously as you all know psoriasis isn't something that will just go away with a months course of tablets, it gets expensive paying for prescriptions especially if your like me having to pay for 3 or 4 different medicines at a time! A 12 month prepaid prescription certificate has a one off cost of £104, with this you can purchase as many prescriptions in that 12month period as you want at no extra cost!

I have also found that a lot of over the counter moisturizing products can be prescribed by a doctor therefore these can be collected using your prepaid prescription certificate saving even further money.

For more info got to http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx

The Morning Routine

7am- My alarm goes off after another uncomfortable nights sleep, struggling to keep my eyes open I wander to the bathroom to get on with my daily ritual. I set the shower so it's warm but not to hot, jump in and begin covering myself from head to toe with double base shower gel, I have found this most effective when it comes to relieving the strong itching sensation Psoriasis brings. 

  I wash my hair with a coal tar shampoo that I massage in and leave in for a couple of minutes, its washed out then repeated. I always wash twice, otherwise the Dovobet and other products from the night before leaves my hair incredibly greasy. After I Towel dry and apply a thin layer of Dovebet to the Plaques on my body, I leave the Dovobet a while before getting dressed and dab it down with a towel to take any excess that may get on my suit, unfortunately I cant afford to ruin suit after suit. I leave my hair to dry naturally as much as possible and quickly blow dry it with a hair dryer set to cold, I find this the best way to rid my hair of a lot of the flakes. Scalp psoriasis for some reason is what bothers me the most but this way I can keep on top of it, the best thing i have found is keeping my hair short! No matter how much it bothers me, that extra sunlight it gets with my hair short does it the world of good, it took me an awful long to time to go to the barbers and ask them to use the clippers but I have never looked back!I don't use any hair products such as gels and wax's as I find they irritate my scalp to much and i find myself struggling not to itch.

Once dressed I grab a light breakfast and I'm off to work by 8pm.

Double base gel
http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?medicine=Doublebase%20shower%20gel

A bit about me and my Psoriasis

Thanks for taking a look at my blog, my names Michael and I am a long term sufferer of psoriasis.



For as long as I can remember I have have suffered with psoriasis in varying degrees of severity, from a few tablet sized plaques on my elbow to a large portion of my back covered in it but only now at the age of 22 have I been diagnosed with servere psoriasis. I currently have psoriasis on every part of my body however I do see myself as lucky, apart from a small amount on my forehead my face seems to stay relatively clear.



I plan to use this blog to tell my story of dealing with psoriasis on a day to day basis. I will be discussing issues I come across, treatments im using and I will keep you up to date with photos of how its progressing.