First visit to Newcastle RVI

Back from my hospital visit and it all went well.  I was concerned that I was going to a Severe Psoriasis clinic, as I don’t have Psoriasis, but they also deal with other conditions and the consultant who saw me (I think he was called Dr Phil Hampton) did seem to know about PRP.  I had more blood tests, I was prescribed more methotrexate and I’ve got another appointment there in six weeks’ time.  All good. 

The first person I saw today was a nurse who had to check various parts of my skin, so I had to strip to my underwear.  She then gave me one of those classy hospital gowns to wear while waiting for the consultant, as I was putting it on she told me how highly the hospital treated patient modesty/dignity. Just then the door onto a busyish corridor opened as another nurse walked in and said ‘sorry I thought this room was free’. It kind of ruined the whole patient modesty/dignity speech ;-) 

The story so far...

In preparation for tomorrow's visit to the hospital I have prepared a timeline of my story so far ( See below). Slightly worried about tomorrow since i found out I am not seeing a specific dermatologist, instead I am going to a psoriasis clinic and will see whoever is there at the time.  Will they understand i don't have psoriasis?  Will they know about PRP? Anyway here is my update

• February 2015
  Initial symptoms; red spots under armpits moving onto chest
• March 2015
  Light red ‘sunburn’ rash across body with dark red spots
  Skin peeling on palms and arms. Skin on face scaley/powery
  Scalp itchy and flakey. Silvery patches
  Whole body itchy leading to lack of sleep
• 31 March 2015
  initial dermatologist visit & PRP Diagnosis
  Treatment: Hydroxyzine. antihistamine to help sleep
• April 2015
  First noticed my body has completely stopped sweating
  ‘Field of flakes’ across arms
  Skin peeling on soles of feet
  Constant itchiness  & lack of sleep unbarable
  Treatment: daily hospital applications of emollients, Neotigason, UVB treatment & Hypnotherapy to help sleeping
• May 2015
  Shedding all over
  Difficult maintaining temperature- Feels cold when others are warm
  Swollen feet and ankles
  Skin very red/bright pinky Skin around eyes very tight, pulling my eyelids down.  Eyes very dry
  Very tired
  Treatment: UVB stopped. Neotigason reduced.  Neoral started
• June 2015
  No Change
• July 2015
  Some island of sparing on torso, developing into a clear patch
  Very scaley face, scalp, arms, legs
  Sudden drops in energy levels
• August 2015
  Daily hospital emollient treatment stops
  The clear patch of skin has gone.  Red all over again
  Splinter hemorrhages on fingernails
  Treatment:  6 x 2.5 mg of Methotrexate once a week, 5mg of Folic Acid 6 days a week,  20mg of Neotigason (acitretin) once a day
• September 2015
  Several islands of sparing start to appear on torso
• October 2015
  Reduced flakiness
• November 2015
  More islands of sparing on torso and some on face
• December 2015
  Feet start to sweat a little bit
  More islands of sparing
• January 2016
  Flakiness reduced, More islands of sparing
• February 2016
  Redness receded from my feet up to my stomach, skin is normal colour
  Islands of sparing across arms
• March 2016
  Sweating has returned across most of my body
  Islands of sparing across torso have spread so the redness now appears as a web
• 
  
  

methotrexate update

Ive been on methotrexate since last August.  In that time my skin has improved greatly although i dont know how much of that is because of the methotrexate and how much is because it would have improved anyway.

Ive had a call from my GP this morning saying they dont want to renew my methotrexate perscripsion because the results of my last blood text were borderline.

I am seeing a dermatologist on Monday and will discuss it with them.

If i do have to come of the Methotrexate at this stage i have no idea what affect that will have.