A Young Wife's Tale » Psoriatic Arthritis http://youngwifestale.com/blog Hand me another Diet Coke. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:09:24 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Oh, How Far We’ve Come http://youngwifestale.com/blog/chronicillness/arthritis-blogpost/oh-how-far-weve-come/ http://youngwifestale.com/blog/chronicillness/arthritis-blogpost/oh-how-far-weve-come/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:18:09 +0000 Young Wife http://youngwifestale.com/blog/chronicillness/arthritis-blogpost/oh-how-far-weve-come/

Oh, how far we’ve come in our journey with Psoriatic Arthritis. Remember the awful rheumatologist in New Jersey who wanted to take David off the Humira? He didn’t believe David had psoriatic arthritis.

David had a great visit with his old Dallas rheumatologist last week. David and I told the doctor how well David has been doing. We talked about David being able to run errands, hang out with friends and go to Sunday School and church. We talked about how the latest round of acupuncture treatments have brought David’s daily pain levels down from a 5 to a 1. We were happy and grateful.

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(See? Happy and grateful at our friends’ wedding a few weeks ago.)

Then, because he’s an excellent rheumatologist, he asked several specific questions about stiffness. He wasn’t satisfied with David’s stiffness and pain in the mornings and evenings. The doctor is changing David’s Humira injections back to every 10 days instead of every 14 days. You may recall David used to take his Humira every 10 days back when he wasn’t doing so well.

I’m thrilled that the doctor thinks David can be even better! It’s incredible to me how very different this rheumatologist is from the one in New Jersey. I’d love to write the doctor in New Jersey a letter saying, “Gee, good thing we didn’t stick with you! David’s psoriatic arthritis is n remission!” But David says we should turn the other cheek.

I am so thankful David’s psoriatic arthritis is in remission. I’m thankful he has the Humira and his rheumatologist.

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]]> http://youngwifestale.com/blog/chronicillness/arthritis-blogpost/oh-how-far-weve-come/feed/ 4 David’s Horrible Allergic Reaction http://youngwifestale.com/blog/chronicillness/davids-horrible-allergic-reaction/ http://youngwifestale.com/blog/chronicillness/davids-horrible-allergic-reaction/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:50:47 +0000 Young Wife http://youngwifestale.com/blog/?p=3796 David started having trouble breathing. The allergic reaction was making his throat close up. ]]>

I was really sad that I didn’t get to participate in National Chronic Invisible Illness Awareness Week this year. I didn’t even get to do much promoting. Here’s what happened.

The week of September 12-18, National Chronic Invisible Illness Awareness Week, David started getting red welts or hives on his torso. Just a few at first, and I initially thought it was the psoriasis. I immediately went into panic mode, assuming the Humira had stopped working on his Psoriatic Arthritis, and that he was going to start having the terrible flares that leave him bedridden again. David quickly figured out it wasn’t psoriasis. He took Benadryl, and the hives went away.

The next day they came back, only worse. He saw our family doctor who gave him some allergy medicine. I make our laundry detergent and cleaning products, and nothing new had been introduced. David wasn’t using any new shampoos or soap.

This went on for days. Allergy medicine would clear up his skin, but the welts kept coming back. Then one afternoon while I was at my part-time administrative assistant job, David started having trouble breathing. The allergic reaction was making his throat close up.

I took him back to our family doctor, who sent David to an allergist, but recommended we call David’s rheumatologist before we got to the allergist. The rheumatologist was concerned it might be the Humira. The rheumatologist thought this horrible allergic reaction could have been cause by Humira, the medication that keeps David’s psoriatic arthritis in remission. He wanted David to skip a few doses of Humira. I felt sick.

Thankfully, the next day, the allergist told us she was almost certain David was not having an allergic reaction to the Humira. She even said that if David was having this reaction because of Humira, she could help him manage the hives since the Humira helped him so much. It was such a relief to hear her say that!

The allergist kept David on some anti-histamines for awhile, but we never did figure out what was causing the terrible allergic reaction. The hives went away after a few days, and David hasn’t had any more incidents of his throat swelling.

We’re so thankful the allergic reaction stopped and that it wasn’t Humira. But that’s what happened during Invisible Illness Week. It’s always something with us. I guess that’s why we call it chronic.

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]]> http://youngwifestale.com/blog/chronicillness/davids-horrible-allergic-reaction/feed/ 3 Movie Review – I’m Just Like You – Children With Psoriasis http://youngwifestale.com/blog/moviesandbooks/movie-review-im-just-like-you-children-with-psoriasis/ http://youngwifestale.com/blog/moviesandbooks/movie-review-im-just-like-you-children-with-psoriasis/#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:00:45 +0000 Young Wife http://youngwifestale.com/blog/?p=3770 The film follows the lives of five families dealing with Psoriasis, an auto-immune disease that affects more than seven million Americans. We appreciated hearing the stories of young people struggling with psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis just like David. Some of the children had parents with the disease. It was great hearing their perspectives.]]>

David and I had the opportunity to watch a new movie “I’m Just Like You – Children With Psoriasis” tonight, and it was wonderful!

If you can’t see the preview above, click here to go to Youtube.

The film follows the lives of five families dealing with Psoriasis, an auto-immune disease that affects more than seven million Americans. We appreciated hearing the stories of young people struggling with psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis just like David. Some of the children had parents with the disease. It was great hearing their perspectives. One family has tried naturopathy, like us. It was nice to hear about all the different treatments, and to hear from some of their doctors as well. At just under an hour, the movie would be a great tool for raising awareness. If you have a child who has been diagnosed, it might be a way to help educate their friends.

We can’t wait to share our copy of the movie with some family members who also have psoriasis. “I’m Just Like You – Children With Psoriasis” is an encouraging film. Chronic illness can be so isolating. It helps knowing we’re not alone. If you’d like to purchase a copy, go to www.sparklestone.org

Disclosure: I received a copy of this movie in exchange for writing a review.

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]]> http://youngwifestale.com/blog/moviesandbooks/movie-review-im-just-like-you-children-with-psoriasis/feed/ 0 David Is a Full Time Permanent Employee! http://youngwifestale.com/blog/ayoungwifestale/david-is-a-full-time-permanent-employee/ http://youngwifestale.com/blog/ayoungwifestale/david-is-a-full-time-permanent-employee/#comments Fri, 09 Sep 2011 03:27:32 +0000 Young Wife http://youngwifestale.com/blog/?p=3756 Photobucket]]>

David is a full time permanent employee again! You may recall that his company in New Jersey had him on a trial period as a remote employee. The trial period is over. He will continue working for them from home in Texas! We are so thankful for God’s Providence.

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Above is a photograph a friend of ours took to express our emotions right now. We got to move back to Texas. We didn’t have to go on COBRA. David got the job. His Psoriatic Arthritis is in remission. We are so blessed! But we know that even if things get bad again, even if David goes back to having flares that leave him bedridden, God is in control.

So, please check out our friends photography at Still Light Media!

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]]> http://youngwifestale.com/blog/ayoungwifestale/david-is-a-full-time-permanent-employee/feed/ 6 How David Copes With Psoriatic Arthritis Pain http://youngwifestale.com/blog/chronicillness/arthritis-blogpost/how-david-copes-with-psoriatic-arthritis-pain/ http://youngwifestale.com/blog/chronicillness/arthritis-blogpost/how-david-copes-with-psoriatic-arthritis-pain/#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:53:54 +0000 Young Wife http://youngwifestale.com/blog/?p=3728 The Back 2 Life Machine helped stretch David's lower back very gently. Back 2 Life At different times David's rheumatologists have given him injections in his back of things like methotrexate and cortisone. They typically only offered mild relief. Doctors have prescribed many different medications to help David with his pain. Some of the medications that have given David significant relief are hydrocodone, Lyrica, Flexeril and Cymbalta. There was only one time when David asked a doctor for pain medication, and the doctor didn't want to (but he's the horrible rheumatologist who didn't think David had Psoriatic Arthritis). I convinced him to give David the medicine, and we found a new rheumy ASAP. ]]>

This post is part of the RA Warrior Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Management Blog Carnival. Click here to learn more from other rheumatology patients about pain management.

My husband David was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis four years ago. Although he is currently in remmission, he has been completely debilitated at times by arthritis pain in his joints, most notably his spine, and he still experiences arthritis pain every day. David uses a variety of methods to deal with his Psoriatic Arthritis pain.

Some of the simplest remedies that help him are things like over the counter heat patches, heating pads, and hot baths with epsom salts. Another thing that has helped David is chiropractic care.

I’ve blogged before about the Back 2 Life Machine. It was very helpful when he was flaring so badly the muscles in his back would spasm. You could actually see the muscles in his lower back twitching. The Back 2 Life Machine helped stretch David’s lower back very gently.

Back 2 Life

At different times David’s rheumatologists have given him injections in his back of things like methotrexate and cortisone. They typically only offered mild relief.
Doctors have prescribed many different medications to help David with his pain. Some of the medications that have given David significant relief are hydrocodone, Lyrica, Flexeril and Cymbalta. There was only one time when David asked a doctor for pain medication, and the doctor didn’t want to (but he’s the horrible rheumatologist who didn’t think David had Psoriatic Arthritis). I convinced him to give David the medicine, and we found a new rheumy ASAP.

I would not want David seeing a rheumatologist who was uncomfortable helping him with the pain. He’s never abused his medication. I understand that some doctors hesitate to prescribe pain mediation because they are afraid people will become addicted. I understand that they have liability issues. But, rheumatologists treat people with chronic pain, and there are better ways to deal with these problems than by letting rheumatology patients suffer in pain every day.

Prescription drugs help with the pain, but the absolute best thing for David’s Psoriatic Arthritis pain is acupuncture. Acupuncture is the only thing that has ever given him any pain free moments. After an acupuncture treatment, David typically has several hours where he isn’t in any pain. Acupuncture is expensive, and many health insurance companies don’t cover treatments. Still, it works for David. If we could afford to do it every day, he would!

I wish health insurance companies covered things like chiropractic care and acupuncture. It is frustrating that they will pay for drugs that offer minor relief, but not acupuncture which offers incredible relief.

Do you have chronic pain? What helps you?

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]]> http://youngwifestale.com/blog/chronicillness/arthritis-blogpost/how-david-copes-with-psoriatic-arthritis-pain/feed/ 5 5th Wedding Anniversary http://youngwifestale.com/blog/family/5th-wedding-anniversary/ http://youngwifestale.com/blog/family/5th-wedding-anniversary/#comments Wed, 03 Aug 2011 03:20:33 +0000 Young Wife http://youngwifestale.com/blog/?p=3704

When my husband and I were engaged, my mother told me, “I don’t care whether or not you go for pre-marital counseling. Nothing can prepare you for marriage.” She was right, but not even my mother knew the challenges my husband and I would face in our marriage.

On July 8, we celebrated five years of marriage. Those five years have been dominated by health problems. It started off with my health. I had severe TMJ Disorder and a knee injury. Then in our second year of marriage, my husband, David, was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. Although he was being treated, he continued to get worse until our third year of marriage when he began experiencing flares that left him bedridden for days at a time.

bride and groom

Premarital counseling doesn’t cover bathing and dressing your twenty-something husband. There isn’t a chapter about chronic pain interfering with intimacy nestled between the chapters on budgets and chores in the books they give you. No one gives you advice on what to do when your health insurance doesn’t cover the medication your husband needs that costs as much as your monthly mortgage payment. And they sure didn’t tell us how desperate for a cure we’d be. We’ve tried just about everything, some things like chiropractic care and acupuncture, with better results than others, like eliminating dairy from his diet.

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Last December, David’s Psoriatic Arthritis went into remission. It was an answer to prayer, but we have no idea how long it will last. He could go back to being bedridden at any time. He still has pain every day, but he, and consequently we, are living a more normal life now. We can go to the movies. David can take our dog for short walks. We are so grateful.

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The two things that have sustained me during the worst of times are my Christian faith and our support system, comprised of our family, a few close friends (including other young people with chronic illnesses I’ve met online) and our church. However, I think those two things would help any marriage struggling with any problem. Marriage is a lot of work. Whether you face cancer, a chronic illness, infertility or financial problems, marriage is hard.

One thing I do know: even with our health problems, I am a happier, better person for being married to my husband.

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]]> http://youngwifestale.com/blog/family/5th-wedding-anniversary/feed/ 6 Things Are Going Really Well http://youngwifestale.com/blog/ayoungwifestale/things-are-going-really-well/ http://youngwifestale.com/blog/ayoungwifestale/things-are-going-really-well/#comments Thu, 09 Jun 2011 01:11:06 +0000 Young Wife http://youngwifestale.com/blog/?p=3693 Bro #3 Graduation]]>

I’m sorry I haven’t been blogging much lately. Things are going really well. And when things are going really well, there isn’t much for me to blog about.

David’s Psoriatic Arthritis is still in remission. He still has pain every day, but he’s able to do quite a bit. For instance, this weekend Bro #3 graduated from high school. We celebrated Friday and Saturday with family and attended the actual graduation ceremony. Sunday morning, David was still able to attend church services!

Bro #3 Graduation

Thanks to me having regular chiropractic care again, and another adjustment on my night guard by my TMJ Disorder specialist, my jaw is better than ever. I have had steak twice. I have been very happy with my current jaw status. I rarely had pain, and could eat almost anything I wanted. I never dreamed I’d be well enough to eat steak again.

My insterstitial cystitis has been almost non-existent since we got back to Texas. My job at the law firm is going well, and I’ve got a nice part time schedule again.

We are so thankful to be back in Texas and (relatively) healthy!

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]]> http://youngwifestale.com/blog/ayoungwifestale/things-are-going-really-well/feed/ 6 The Psoriatic Arthritis http://youngwifestale.com/blog/chronicillness/arthritis-blogpost/the-psoriatic-arthritis/ http://youngwifestale.com/blog/chronicillness/arthritis-blogpost/the-psoriatic-arthritis/#comments Thu, 26 May 2011 15:34:24 +0000 Young Wife http://youngwifestale.com/blog/?p=3688 This was originally posted on April 25, 2009. It was the second blog post I wrote. It's amazing to see how far we've come. And to know David's arthritis could be this bad again. My husband, David has Psoriatic Arthritis. He was diagnosed a year ago, at age 23. He's only ever had mild psoriasis on his scalp. We actually didn't know it was psoriasis until the rheumatologist told us. David has a family history of rheumatoid arthritis, so we were relieved to know he does not have the rheumatoid factor, although I recently learned that it could develop into rheumatoid arthritis.]]>

This was originally posted on April 25, 2009. It was the second blog post I wrote. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come. And to know David’s arthritis could be this bad again.

My husband, David has Psoriatic Arthritis. He was diagnosed a year ago, at age 23. He’s only ever had mild psoriasis on his scalp. We actually didn’t know it was psoriasis until the rheumatologist told us. David has a family history of rheumatoid arthritis, so we were relieved to know he does not have the rheumatoid factor, although I recently learned that it could develop into rheumatoid arthritis.

David takes several different medications. The rheumatologist thinks he should go into remission. It could be today, it could be next year. There’s no time frame. The cold really bothers him, as do changes in the barometric pressure. He takes two or three baths a day with epsom salts. He sees a chiropractor a few times a week, and gets a massage or two every month.

And still, with all that, he’s in constant pain. It’s miserable.

The arthritis is so bad we’re selling our beautiful home because David can’t handle the stairs when he has a flare up. The last severe flare up completely immobilized him. I couldn’t leave him. My parents brought us meals. His parents brought us groceries. We need to be closer to our family in case it happens again.

Everyone keeps telling David he needs to exercise. But how exactly is he supposed to do that when it’s a struggle to get out of bed in the morning?

The arthritis is quite a strain on our marriage. David goes to work and then crashes at night. He’s not up to going on dates. Most evenings we’re sitting at home watching a movie. We can’t go to the movie theatre because it’s difficult for David to sit in the chairs for so long. If we take the dog for a walk, it’s a good day. But there is no going to the mall, no bowling or putt-putt. No fairs, no opera. Nothing that requires sitting or standing for any length of time.

David can’t help around the house. He can’t help me move furniture or bring in groceries. Sometimes without thinking I’ll ask him to help me with something. And sometimes he does something stupid like play duck duck goose with kids at church. Then he’s in agony for days afterwards, and I’m resentful.

Even though it totally sucks that my husband has PSA, we really are very blessed. David has a good job. He can even work from home when he’s having a very bad day. Frankly, the fact that he’s still able to work is a huge blessing. We have health insurance. Our family lives nearby. We have the prayers and support of our church. And you know, at least we know what’s wrong, and he’s being treated.

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]]> http://youngwifestale.com/blog/chronicillness/arthritis-blogpost/the-psoriatic-arthritis/feed/ 6 Heaven Will Be Better Than Texas http://youngwifestale.com/blog/christianity/heaven-will-be-better-than-texas/ http://youngwifestale.com/blog/christianity/heaven-will-be-better-than-texas/#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 18:14:31 +0000 Young Wife http://youngwifestale.com/blog/christianity/heaven-will-be-better-than-texas/

Being back in Texas is wonderful. We are surrounded by beauty, delicious food, family and friends. I thank God for bringing us back home.

But heaven will be better than Texas. This world is not our home. There will be no Psoriatic Arthritis in heaven. David isn’t feeling as well here. I’m terrified that he’s going to start flaring again.

I think God must be using our move to New Jersey and our health problems to change the desires of our hearts. I thought I was thankful for our possessions. Then half our stuff was put in storage while we were in New Jersey. I had a new appreciation for beauty (South Jersey was ugly) and fully furnished, decorated homes.

More and more, David and I are understanding that this is not our home. Our health problems make us long for heaven. Our sufferings help us store our treasures in heaven.

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

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]]> http://youngwifestale.com/blog/christianity/heaven-will-be-better-than-texas/feed/ 3 Home in Texas http://youngwifestale.com/blog/homemaking/home-in-texas/ http://youngwifestale.com/blog/homemaking/home-in-texas/#comments Mon, 09 May 2011 02:26:24 +0000 Young Wife http://youngwifestale.com/blog/homemaking/home-in-texas/

We are home in Texas! It was slow going, driving a moving pulling a trailer with our car on top. David drove the entire trip. I’m thankful and surprised his psoriatic arthritis didn’t flare.

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It is wonderful being surrounded by our family, friends, and a nice roadway system. The streets and highways are well paved and not covered in litter. It’s beautiful!

We’re enjoying salsa, enchiladas, Whataburger, and a yard for Henry.

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Henry’s happy playing with Brother #2′s dog, Trixie.

David is working from home. So far it has gone very smoothly.

We’ve seen our chiropractor and learned that our insurance will cover our visits, including massage therapy. We just pay a small co-pay.

I saw my TMJ specialist, who practically made a new appliance for me. I wear mine down so quickly that he decided to cover the top in a composite that is much harder than the material he had used previously. It’s still softer than my teeth, but it’s pretty tough stuff.

We thank God for his provisions!

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