Do You Wish Your Rheumatologist Would Talk To You About The Emotional Impact PsA Plays On You?
So many of us in this Community struggle with the emotional toll that psoriatic arthritis takes on us. It can come with not being able to do what you used to do. It can start because you have to miss an important event because you are hurting too bad. However, it happens, I can personally say there are days when it takes an emotional toll on me. My Rheumatologist has never asked about my emotional toll. Has yours? If not do you wish they would?
I wish the Dr. would have talk to me. i'm sue they were have put me on antidepressant without a doubt. Dealing with my husbands who is very difficult. He's been sick and walk on his own with a cane or with a rollator. I'm excepted to do absolutely everything in this house. He has no empathy for my pain for I just want to lay down. or if drop something I hear about it. I'm thinking about calling my PCP for some antidepressant. I'm at my wits end. My husband was in the hospital for a couple of weeks and since he got out I have not done anything right for him and I hear about it Of course he denies it and says he is one of the best care takers there is. Well since he got out of the hospital he has nothing to do but sit in it chair. He makes his own breakfast and lunch since had has become a diabetic . I unstained he is dealing with his own problem's. I can have pain level of 8-9 with 10 going to the E.R. he totally disregards. I'm seriously debating him leaving. although he has total control of the money. I would have left sooner but I guess I would be homeless. We've been married for 48 years. i'm sorry for the rant, I have no one else to talk top.
Thank you so much for being here, Please you have nothing to apologize for, this is what we are here for, and this community is here for you. It sounds like you have got a lot going on in general. Are you able to get some counseling? This can be very beneficial and help us deal with so many things. I attend regular therapy and have found it to be so beneficial. What you are going through is so valid, and we are here for you. Every step of the way. Sending you gentle hugs. -Clair Psoriatic-Arthritis.com team member
I'm so sorry that things are so rough for you right now. I would say #1 find a good support group to vent or ask for opinions. 48 years of marriage must mean that the 2 of you really love each other. I believe that you might need a Social Worker come and see if there are ways to help both of you. Believe it or not your husband might be going through some depression also, add that to the way you feel and it sounds like both of you need some physical and mental healthcare.
This is such a helpful comment, I love to see you advocating for mental health. It is something that I have a great passion for. Thank you. -Clair Psoriatic-Arthritis.com team member You are welcome. Yes I believe that mental health is just as important to everyone in one way or another.
Yes I wish my rheumatologist would ask how we are coping, but then again I am very lucky that my PCP does keep up with how I am feeling both mentally and physically. Yes PSA can be very frustrating. I with that there was a depression scale that takes PSA into account. Otherwise fatigue and no energy shows up as depression when it is just another problem that we sometimes need to deal with. Sometimes I wonder if there a middle ground where yes you are frustrated, but not really depressed.
I wish more people would ask how we are coping and genuinely mean it. Thank you for being part of our community. I think that finding that balance between being frustrated and not dropping into depression, is something I try and master on a daily basis. Have you got any great tips? I love journalling and it helps me process what we are feeling. -Clair Psoriatic-Arthritis.com team member 
Yes, I wish rheumatologists were more switched on to this aspect of the disease and the treatments we are offered. Some biologics have a washout effect on some antidepressants that PSA sufferers are prescribed for neuropathic pain. (These antidepressants also have a mild antidepressant effect. Therefore, washout causes more emotional upheaval). Chronic illness with the high level of pain involved in PsA is a precursor to depression, and switching biologics can initiate depression. So, I can't understand why rheumatologists don't concern themselves with this element of the disease and their treatment of the disease.
I love your idea of journalling, I will have to try it. Right now I feel quite lucky my husband seems to know when I am really feeling down and comes up with ways to redirect my feelings.
I love to hear that your husband is so supportive of you. That is a beautiful thing. Journalling is great, I enjoy the prettiness of it and I also really feel better after dumping my words onto paper. Give it a go and see if you feel better after. I hope you are having a beautiful day. -Clair Psoriatic-Arthritis.com team member
