The Family curse

[Scruff]

As the title suggests, there are a few members of my family who suffer as well as me, so I've always had the support at home.
When I was 4 I got sun burnt which tiggered my psoriasis. I was admitted to hosiptal for 3 weeks and creamed fom head to toe - I can remember it being a laugh because I got to see all my family, half of whom live elsewhere in the country.
Although I can't remember it my Dad said I used to get teased at infant school when I first started - they had to come and get me when I was in tears.
Luckily once everyone knew it wasn't catching, no-one really mentioned it.
When I was 10 it was back into hospital - my skin had got so bad I was loosing too much body heat - so yet again I was creamed from head to foot. Got to try new creams this time - dithro, which I had a bad reaction to. Dad nearly hit my derm!
In secondary school I met more people who had psoriasis too - though none as bad as me - and again once people knew what it was, no-one really made a comment. Mind you I never liked showing my legs, always wearing thick tights even in summer!
The stress of my GCSE's and A-levels meant I had another 2 stays in hospital, but this time I was old enough to go on the derm wards. It was nice not to be the odd one out, being in hospital is bad enough anyway, without people staring at you all the time.
At the moment I've managed to survive uni and a year in work without having a bad outbreak. Mind you I haven't seen my derm for 5 years, so there were possibily as few times when he might of had me in!
Am in the habit now of wearing long sleeve tops and trousers, as well as stopping people staring, it protects my skin (I work as a civil engineer on building sites).
There have been times having this has made me pretty down, it's a pain to have to check washing powder, and skin products to make sure there won't be anything that will affect it.
The most annoying thing is the itching, I'm so used to it now that I do it without thinking and in my sleep - have to keep my nails as short as poss to stop me hurting myself.
I have it head to toe so trying to hide it isn't possible, but as my friends and other half says, you don't even notice it after a while, it's who you are like wearing glasses, it becomes part of the person.
Guess I'm pretty lucky I have people around to support me through the good and bad times

[Alison]

hiya n welcome,
it is so true , my friends n family say the same  ,  .

i just keep my fingers , toes n everything else crossed that i dont pass the gene down to any of my kids.

[Guy]

Hi There

A big welcome to you.
Thanks for letting us know more about your experience with p - you had it from such an early age  that must have been hard.
I know what you mean about the itching- mine is pretty bad at the moment and trying not to scatch at night is nigh on impossible.

Sounds like you have wonderful people around you  

I look forward to reading more of your posts.

All the best
Guy  ((:y

[Dani]

ooh god, I know all about having to keep my nails short to keep me from scratching half my skin off!!!

In a strange way you're quite lucky there is a history in your family. You were introduced to P at a young age and that should have made it easier to deal with when you had an outbreak.

I hadn't even heard of P until I started secondary school. My best friend had it on her arms and scalp, she told me about it and, hey presto, I was covered less than two years later (anyone reckon it's psychological?!) There were only 3 of us in my year that had it but we were pretty happy, we wouldn't cover up or anything. Strange, because I find that I have started to cover up more recently!

Nearly clear now though and, I have to say, I have this lot to thank for that. So I reckon you'll love it here!

Baby D

[jackgray]

Hiya - good to read another persons story....

A friends father who has P used to say to me that he thought it was worse for me to have P than him because I was female.... when I was feeling sorry for myself I would agree with this....... but as I have got older I don't think that it matters what sex you are or what age you are when you get the blasted P - it is a bloody awful thing to have to live with.

The only thing I would say is that the longer you have it the better you get at disguising it and really who are we disguising it for - not ourselves but other people and if you think about it WHY - to make them feel better!!!  But who am I to talk ....I have become the master of disguise....

There is a very strong history of P in my family and I also cross my fingers every day that I do not pass the gene onto my kids.  I remember years before P came out in me, I was talking to my dad about his and he said to me "Don't worry hen, it misses a generation"

I sit here as proof that this is not true - it goes to show that more research is needed....

Anyhow just keep your chin up, your cuffs held tightly (to stop the flakes escaping in public) and keep on smiling...............

Jackie

[ladyd]

Sorry to hear everyones stories here to tell the truth.  I don't know how many times I had said WHY ME!!!  But oh well deal with it.  
You just have to hang in there.  
di

Guy sorry your flaring up now.

[morka]

I found it best to have a nice long soak in a hot bath-I do this nearly everyday in order to take the daily grime off my skin.
It does help, and although my back is worst hit by P, the hot water soothes very nicely and I have a good old soak for at least an hour, dab myself dry and then apply the Dovonex cream.
When the itching starts again, maybe the next day or later its off with my togs and into the bath.
Worked wonders after a days work and it gave me a nights peace, and a good sleep.
Diet is also important but in my case I am a person who worries a lot and so it makes an ideal candidate for P to cling to....
Diet, hot baths, cream and less stress would be ideal but the itch is diabolical and can only be releived by frequent baths.

[blossy]

like ali said i hope i havent passed it on to my kids either my oldest is worried he might get it and every now n then he panics.

its great to have support  ((:y it makes a huge difference

[Len]

there's 1 in every generation in our family - my grandfather, my dad, me.  i dread passing it on to 1 of my future kids...