Living with Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Fibromyalgia

Have you ever been in so much pain you would take almost anything to make it go away? I have to admit, I have tried many remedies in my lifetime. I have had psoriasis since I was a child. My thoughts were it would get easier and maybe less painful as I grew older. Boy, was I was dead wrong on that one.

The gift that keeps on giving

Living with psoriasis means you have a greater chance of other health problems, too. The same inflammation that triggers your skin symptoms can affect your whole body. Let me gently share some of the other health conditions that came my way.

Psoriatic arthritis

It took many years, but I received my diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis at the age of 50. I wished I could go back in time and tell my younger self to brace herself. I had no idea what I was up against. I would certainly tell my 25-year old self to delicately strap in and be prepared.

I am among the unlucky 25% of patients with psoriasis that end up with PsA. It was all so overwhelming at first. We all go through tough times but I also knew I wasn’t alone. My goal was to build a network in my community because I knew that together we would be powerful. At this point, the idea of being involved in advocacy was growing in me. It felt great to help others.

Fibromyalgia

Your body can speak to you. All of a sudden my body and pain started to feel funny and my pain was different. Soon later, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. This was only three years ago. There is no certain test that can confirm this. My doctor had to study my symptoms carefully and ask me questions.

Each case of this disease is different. I had to discover mine and learn to cope with the pain. Symptoms included fatigue, memory issues, widespread pain, and gastrointestinal issues. The crazy part is that I knew this pain was different than the PsA pain I was having. Even though it was scary at first, being diagnosed with fibromyalgia was also a relief. I now knew what was wrong with me and I would be able to get the proper treatment.

Finding advocacy

We all have to learn to take care of ourselves. I have learned regulations, science, and plenty of research to take care of myself to the point where I felt I could share this with others. To raise awareness on so many levels.  My experience helps other patients ask better questions and be able to understand the dynamics of chronic pain which can be so complex.

I completely understand my role and I remind other patients that I am not a doctor, and I will never offer medical advice. I simply want to help educate and encourage other patients like me who have to deal with constant chronic pain every day of your life. Pain has been a big part of my life and my heart goes out to all chronic sufferers.

Let’s understand and empower each other. Get with a group of people like this one. This is a great community that understands what we are going through. Together, we are strong psoriasis warriors.