los angeleno happy to have found support

[SergioLucio]

hi, my name is sergio and i've suffered from psoriasis since i was in middle school (28now). it first started w/ patches on my elbows and knees which i scrubbed bloody trying to remove. it later spread all across my legs below the knee... i waved goodbye to shorts ever since out in public. this made dressing in the locker rooms for P.E. hell. i dreaded it. so i stopped going to that class all together... that had quite a negative impact on my schooling.  all throughout high school it covered the bottom half of my legs below the knee (like psoriasis socks) and on my shoulders all the way down to just above my elbows. i managed to keep easily hidden by wearing sleeved shirts and pants always... kinda sucks when you live in sunny los angeles. about 6 years ago it started up on my scalp, behind my ears, on my sideburns running down my jaw line. having it on my face has affected me terribly (it's even worse now) made me terribly self-conscious  and socially awkward i even avoid eye contact. over the last 4 years it's been the worst i've seen it i have it everywhere except the soles of my feet and my palms. a doctor even said i was "contaminated".  i try not to leave the house. i've become bitter and detached socially. i started doing drugs and and drinking just to forget but that only exacerbated things my mental state took a dive. i'm off and clean but my skin is still something i'm cursed with...  i'm sorry for whining and crying about it, everyone here suffers i'm sure, i just wanted to vent w/ someone who'd understand. thank you.

[Tangles (Donna)]

gday from the aussie in scotland - hope you find what you need to help you on here - its got loads of info and can offer friendly and supportive advice

 

[Cristina]

Hi Sergio, welcome along. 

I'm sorry to hear you've had a bad time with p and feeling so low...we can all relate to how you're feeling.  I  always think it must be so much worse to suffer psoriasis as a child as kids can be so cruel and unforgiving.  I was more fortunate as I didn't get psoriasis until my twenties, so I'm thankful for that.


I thought it was bad enough when I saw a middle-aged Consultant Derm some years ago (who must have seen hundreds of patients with all sorts of skin disorders from mild to severe in his time) when he looked me up and down as I stood in his office in my undies feeling extremely self-conscious, vunerable and depressed and said, "oh dear, you ARE a mess!"   But for a doctor to tell you that you're 'contaminated' beggars belief!  What an awful experience for you.

What medication have you tried so far?  I'm on Methotrexate at the moment which is helping my skin (also PA which I have).

Have a good look around the boards - as Tangles (Donna) says, there's plenty of information, help and advice here.

[Freya1]

Hi Sergio

welcome to PHO, this is a great place to vent when you need to.

Well done for getting clean, that takes real courage so congratulations. 

I'm sorry that you had such a tough time with your Doctor; I find it appalling that someone (let alone a Dr) would say such a thing but sadly many of us have had ignorant people make ignorant comments - it doesn't make it easier though.

There's lots of help and advice on here so I hope you find some things that help.

Freya