How likely is this to happen? | Arthritis Information

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Since June I've been in a bad flare.  About a month ago, my new rd upped my prednisone dosage to 100mg daily with the provision that it will only stay at that dosage until the Humira starts to help out the methotrexate a little better.   My labs have been getting better and she has me cut back down to 70mg daily.  I've noticed that I've been having a pretty nice little problem with acne and sweating on this higher dose and about a week or so ago I noticed that the breakouts were starting on my scalp. 

I now have a very nice irritated area that my father says looks like psoriasis.  I went to the doctor yesterday and she said it looked more like what may have started as acne and over time and my fidgeting with it has become a fungal infection.  There is a lot of swelling around the area and pain not to mention the little open sores and blisters that it has left behind.  She also mentioned that the new skin problems could be from the prednisone.  I have started to develop the puffy eyes, moon face, and the facial redness that you tend to get with higher doses so I might agree with here that it has lowered my resistance to something.
 
What are the odds that I have just out of the blue while on MTX, Humira, and Prednisone developed psoriatic arthritis?  Everything I've read says that the arthritis is GENERALLY less severe with PA and mine, up until now has been pretty bad. 
 
The doc I saw gave me an antifungal, an antibiotic, and told me to use denorex shampoo to relieve some of the symptoms.  And above all STOP PICKING AT IT!    I'm so freaked out and scared right now that I probably won't sleep a wink until I see my rd which will thankfully be on Tuesday so it's not that far off.
 
Can anybody give me some advice or maybe just talk me down a bit?
Bob H
There's some here that have both. MOre than likely though your doctor knows what she's looking at. Time will tell. Hopefully yo'll soon be off that high dose of predisone. even 70mg is extrememly high! You don't want to be on that for long.
 
Here's to hoping this new mix of meds does the trick. Good Luck.
 
Hope you're feeling better soon. No doubt this newest problems is troublesome at best.
  The only thing I can do is talk you down. Relax. Everything will work out just fine. Do not pick at your sores. Read a good book or watch tv or read the board to get your mind off of it until you see your RD. Don't freak out. Here's a hug to calm you down. We are here for you!
 
 






Hi Bob,
I've been on pred, various dosages,  for many years now and my skin, especially that on my face, has become very thin - I've been doing quite a lot of pruning in my garden these last few days and the scratches on my face look like big blemish's.
 
Also have very dry scalp and skin.  Hey,  you won't have the problem with facial hair that us females often get from taking pred.
 
Hopefully the Humira will work as well for you as it is for me and you'll be able to drop the pred. dosage right down.  I'm down to 5 mgs per day and just can't do without that amount.
 
Hang in there!
I had all sorts of funky things happen when I was taking 90mg of pred. Best thing was when I went to the ER with what turned out to be a sprained knee. Dr. noticed how much pred I was on and asked me to open wide. Turns out I had Thrush down my throat. Lovely...ick....nasty.

I would listen to the dr. and take the antifungal stuff and see what happens. Gotta love our meds!100 mgs! You must be an eating machine!
 
So sorry on top of your RA problems you are having crappy side effects from the drugs that are trying to make you better.
 
Hope things clear up soon!

Actually it was a PA that I saw, but I trust the opinion of the two PA's that staff the clinic in which my PCP works.   The reason I tend to trust them is that the one treating me has a hubby with ankylosing spondylitis and the others hubby has MS so they both have first hand experience with chronic disease from both ends. (provider and someone who lives with it too)  I went back today to speak with her and she said it's pretty shaky on if it's psoriasis or just an opportunistic fungal infection. 

The other thing that has me bothered is that I have a mega stiff neck but it feels more like it's in the muscles than in the joint as it is down the side almost below my ear.  As I mentined before too there is swelling of the tissue that is affected but I think with any kind of trauma going on that is to be expected to a point. 
 
I can't seem to calm myself down and I know that's not going to help things at all.  I'm just a natural worry-wart and will always be that way. 
 
Bob
 
 
The prednisone probably has you all wired up as well. When I get all worked up over something out of my control I try to tell myself- what is - is. Now what can I do to make it better?Hi Bob, I have a fungal infection and I'm on MXT and Humira.  They can do a scrapping of the site and microscopic exam and tell you for sure if it's a fungal infection.  I have RA and PsA without skin psoriasis.  I was misdiagnosed by 3 doctors and was treated for psoriasis and I seeked a 4th opinion from the Univ. of Wash. psoriasis clinic and it turned out to be a fungal infection.  I used the fungal cream and within 24 hours I could see a difference in the infection.  I can't tell you to use the fungal meds and cream, that choice is yours.  You could wait until you see your RD or get a referral to a dermatologist.  Fungal infections aren't uncommon when you're on biologics.   I'd be crazed if I was on that much Pred.  Seems like a huge dose for RA.  Take care and let us know how you're doing.  Lindy
 
 

What does psoriasis look like on the scalp?  This resembles little blisters in the places that are really bad.  My wife says it looks very much like an extremely irritated heat rash or maybe an allergic reaction to something.  Either way I'm still totally freaked out but I guess I'll live.

Bob
I don't really know what psoriasis on the scalp looks like but from what others have described it's flaky and itchy but don't take my word for it.  I'm just repeating what I've read.  You're freaked out because you're on 70 mg. of Pred., not because you have a fungal infection.  When you're on that much Pred. your anxiety level goes sky high and everything is critical.   I can't tell you to relax because you can't.  It's all part of the Pred. personality.  I know, have been there.  I was on 90 mg. of Pred. for approximately six months for another auto-immune disease.  Hang in there till your RD appt.  LindyTopical monistat (yes, the cooch cream) or an athlete's foot/jock itch cream can help alleviate the itch/irritation of a fungal skin infection.  I assume you're on an oral anti-fungal?  If so, you might ask the doc if you can add a topical cream to help control the itch until the oral meds get it under control.  One of my kids had lots of fungal skin stuff when he was a baby; we used lots of monistat and fed him lots of yogurt (with doctor's hearty approval!).

Hi Bob

I am putting a link to a site that gives information about Manuka Honey which is only found here in New Zealand.
My own experiences with this honey have been amazing and I will ( quickly!!
When I was around 17yrs old ( 38 yrs ago
Anyways, the Matron decided to go against conventional medicine and to our then horror, covered the two bedsores with a leaves from a native plant smeared with manuka honey!These were changed twice daily. Within 2 weeks the holes had closed by 50%. It was a miracle I can tell you!!
Since then, I swear by that honey and the only reason I have not mentioned the name of the weed used is because we have been looking at making a salve from the two ingredients but Ive been a bit waylaid with this RA DX!
It has wonderful results with skin conditions so please go Google Manuka Honey and Psoriasis.
Also need to say I saw it heal nasty leg ulcers quicktime.
 
Is also an anti inflammatory so maybe I need to eat more of it too, but it does need to be ACTIVE Manuka Honey +15.
 
Any questions please ask!
 
Cheers....Lyn
 
 
ETA: I edited to add the link cos I forgot it....lol and just need to say that. But now I have something else to add and will make a new post. Sigh...its late here. Thats my excuse anyways! Bob...if you want, PM me and let me know your address and I will send you some Active manuka honey that will help Im sure.
I am not in ANY way involved in the industry, yet, but I so believe it will help you.
 
Cheers...Lyn  Bob; CHange your subject line to also include  psoriasis with a question mark. Our friend Meme has  psoriasis with skin problems pretty bad but she only pops in for a short time here and there and might miss this topic unless it catches her eye. She might be able to offer more information.
 
Also do a general google search and ask for pictures of  psoriasis. See if yours looks anything like the pictures.

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