New to the site and need a little advice please

[Korawhite]

  Hi forgot to add my query!

I have had P for 38 years, since I was 12. It was really bad then all over my body and on the scalp. I had to wear long sleeves and trousers during the hottest summer on record !

In my early 20,s it had all but disappeared, just a few patches but I still had it on my scalp.

Today I have the odd patch on my body. I still get that feeling on the scalp that only a fellow P sufferer will know. It,s like its about to crawl down your face from the hair line.

Any way my query is, I think I am developing Psoriatic arthritis . Would some kind sole help me with diagnosing my symptoms before I go to see the Dr please ?
Just so I don't feel a total fool when I go.

Thanks

[david_8]

hi, Korawhite & Welcome

? what are your symptoms, and how long have they persisted
any family history of p & pa

early onset of pa=psa is hard for  consultant rheumy's  to  diagnose

keep a diary  of your pains & any swelling any photos if poss to show your GP
your gp should run repeated  bloods tests ie ccp/full ana etc to rule out/in  any other probs

have search on the pa board

hope you get answers from your gp soon

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[newshaz]

Hi KoraWhite,

Do you have joint pain ? Do you struggle to do anything ?  Do you have nail psoriasis.  As David said there is some good threads to read up on PsA if you think you have it. Everyone's stories are different.

The onset of my arthritis was not at first apparent, have had nail psoriaisis since I was 28, after the birth of my first. But I was not managing to open packets in kitchen always requiring scissors, not being able to button blouses, etc.  This had been going on for a very long time, then my mum passed away in the, and real joint pains started. The dermatologist I had seen back when I was 28, offered me removal of the nails and was told by him that I would go on and develop PsA before I was 40., he also wents on about the meds they use to treat it. I can remember like it was only yesterday, I am 44 now. I told him I would never be back to see him. and accepted no treat,ment for my nail psoriasis.

Went to GP and asked for a blood test for Rheumatoid arthritis, she asked why, I told her I suspected Psoriatic arthritis and just wanted to rule out the RA. After quick examination, she refered me then and there to roomy consultant for first consultation.   
Within 1 week I was sitting in front of the roomy consultant.  I think I must have been one of the lucky ones having a good GP.

[Korawhite]

Hi And thanks for the advice.

It,s hard to say when it began. Roughly about 3 years ago.
It began by my ankles feeling stiff when went down stairs in a morning. Like I had ran a marathon the night before. Had to go down stairs one at a time on occasion.  I,m hobbling for a couple of minutes till they,ve loosened up.  Last summer my right heel began to hurt when I put weight on it or got up in the morning, not all the time but most mornings. Now they both hurt when I get up from resting, the right one more so. I put it down to getting older and being over weight and being on my feet all day. Getting in and out of the car is a little more difficult than it used to be , again put it down to getting older.  I also had a swelling to the top of my right foot that eventually went away. I've had a frozen left shoulder which i had a steroid injection for. I get shooting pain in my right wrist, just where the thumb joins the wrist, some times its so bad I cant hold things or  drop things. I get this at least 3/4 times a week. I don't think I have nail involvement, they are not peeling , or lifting  but do have ridges in them and the odd white bit.

I,m tired all the time but again I put this down to being hypothyroid. Mind you my last bloods said that was OK. I also have had depression for 5 years.

Now my right heel hurts every morning and so do both ankles. The left heel only hurts sometimes.
I have had neck pain for as long as I can remember roughly about 12 years, put this down to bad posture or again being on my feet a lot. A Dr once said that my vertebra could be partially fused but I never had an x ray.
 I have lower back pain when I stoop or lean over at an angle or do any gardening. I had sensitive area Psoriasis.

Any just lately if I bend my right leg from the knee out wards I have pain in the hip.

Sorry for the long post. On re reading it I look like an hypochondriac. !!!


Hope you can find time to take a look at my reply
Regards

Forgot to add, my Granddad on my mothers side had P and Arthritis dont know if it was AP but I guess it could have been.
My mother has Lupus, Hypothyroid and heart disease. A nd I have CKD.

[newshaz]

Hi Kora White,

May I suggest that you are not a hypocondriac but seriously need to get to your GP and ask for a referral to the rheumatologist.
What you are describing sounds like the flitting pain of psoriatic arthritis. I am also Hypothyroid and yes I am tired all the time but that is because I am trying to deal with pain levels that I take no pain killers for and this disease is known to causse fatigue.
It is easy to write things off, we all do it, but I really dont think you should ignore this any longer.
As David said :

keep a diary  of your pains & any swelling any photos if poss to show your GP
your gp should run repeated  bloods tests ie ccp/full ana etc to rule out/in  any other probs

have search on the pa board

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I have lower back pain when I stoop or lean over at an angle  - this sounds so like me also

Please get to the GP.  Please also keep posting on here, this is like one big family of people with the same conditions, people who have had various meds etc, people who will support when we feel down or frustrated or angry. And they dont judge.

Do keep us posted on how you are getting on.

Best Wishes, Sharon.

[Korawhite]

Hi Sharon

Thanks so much for your advice. I,m off to see my GP on Monday for something else, they don't like to see you about two things at once , so I,ll have to make a separate appointment.

It,s nice to know i,m not alone. I,ll keep you posted .

XX

[Korawhite]

Hi 
Just got back from Dr's and I,m to have ANA,s, RU Factor,  Fasting Glucose and Fasting Lipids. FBC, ESR, U & E, LFT.
Cant get in to have blood taken till Friday though but at least it,s a start.

So off to do a bit of research now.

Wish me luck.

[newshaz]

Hi Kora,

That is positive. The ESR will give a count which will show your inflammation, I think that's the only one that I know !  There is a thread somewhere explaing what bloods tests are and what they are for, have a read.

It is a start at least.

OMG, I think it absurd your doctor will only cover one issue at a time, I would have told him or her what for, that's what they are there for, to help their patients, change your doctor.

Stay in touch and good luck.
Sharon.

[Austin]

Hi Kora,

I am brand new at this but did just go through discovering that I have psoriatic arthritis.  Sorry to here you are having concerns.  I had similar symptoms as you discribed (not the shoulder) yet had a few additional symptoms like pain in my wrists and big toe and some swelling of others foot joints. 

Though some of my symptoms (eg pain in knees) were simply from years of use.  Perhaps you will get good news. You should check it out as you plan.  Best to get a jump on this if it turns out to be Psoriatic arthritis, as you know I am sure.

Best wishes