Update

Hey everyone,

I thought it would be good to give an update, in case my experience managing psoriatic arthritis might help someone.

I have had psoriatic arthritis for about four years now. Most recently, I was on meloxicam and leflunomide, but recently stopped using the latter. In September I quit my job of fifteen years, which was a source of stress and dissatisfaction, in a part of the U.S. rife with mental and physical illness (the south). Over the past four months, I have used much of my time to focus on holistic wellness. My break from work may soon be coming to an end, since I have been given a job offer! I will be doing work more in line with my values, in a beautiful part of the country.

Over my break, I have really tried to slow down and simplify my life. I have furthered my minimalistic philosophy of living so that I have more time to care for myself and enjoy life, and spend less time doing things that don't add value to my life and collectively increase stress levels. I have picked up pickleball, and miraculously, my body is holding up just fine despite an athletic style of playing. I am doing bodyweight and band exercises about three days a week, and am slowing down and varying my routine. A few weeks ago I started doing yoga. I download an instruction video from Youtube to follow at home. At first I was simply following the videos without variation, but more recently I have adapted the instructions, modifying poses and pose durations to better help create release and rejuvination for my body. In particular, I have been focusing on extending the range of by body where it has been limited by inflammation or where I am guarding even when no inflammation is present. The most significant poses for me involve full extension of my back and neck, flexion of my lower back, and bend over to stretch my hamstrings. I am slowly regaining flexibility in some areas while also receiving an occasional rush of invigorating chemicals to my brain!

On the leflunomide, my psoriasis had been slowly worsening. In addition, my right hand near my knuckles became extremely inflamed a few weeks ago, which I think was probably a side-effect of that drug. I have since discontinued it, and am currently just taking meloxicam. My doctor gave me orders for bloodwork, so my plan is to stay off the leflunomide for a few weeks and then go in for labs to see how my numbers look.

My rheumatologist had previously prescribed a clobetasol shampoo for my psoriasis, but I was finding that it only worked for my scalp, and that the plaques on my arms and legs were becoming too thick for it to have much effect on them. He then prescribed me a topical ointment which I used for a few weeks, but found to be messy and have little effect.

The past few weeks I've been trying something different for the psoriasis. I am taking two or more hour plus baths per week, soaking in hot water with a small amount of the clobetasol shampoo, along with a small amount of magnesium salt. In the five or six weeks I've been doing this, my psoriasis has retreated in a big way. I still have the plaques on my head, but they are lighter in color and slightly smaller. The more recently developed plaques near my elbows and on my lower leg have shrunk in size drastically and are much less noticeable. I feel really good about my progress and plan to continue the ritual (I also get a lot of reading and thinking done while lounging around, haha).

The past few weeks I have been using CBD oil daily, combining it with a cafe au lait and exercise to ensure it goes to my head (yes, CBD oil can be psychoactive like marijuana at a high enough dose, or at least for me it does). This helps me see beyond unhelpful and harmful thought patterns in favor of better ones, allowing me to be more aware of my pain and feelings, and to come up with better means of managing them. It also releases my inner-extrovert and I am much more social and less anxious in social settings.

I am also getting out of the house a lot. I no longer have internet, cell phone data, a home theater, so pretty much all there is to do at home is journal, watch a movie or documentary on my computer (have to download it while in a coffee shop or at the library), listen to music, exercise, read, cook, or talk on the phone. I find myself wanting to venture out a lot more. I am volunteering a few days a week at a nonprofit thrift shop, and recently found a great venue for playing pickleball outside in the sun (yay vitamin D!). I go to the library or the coffee shop a few days a week to check email and whatnot, but am finding I am just fine without it at home or on my phone.

In terms of sleep, I am still having issues. I really would like to try CBT, but dread the whole sleep deprivation part. I probably spend about ten hours in bed every night, seven or eight of which I am sleeping soundly. It seems like it takes my body and mind a long time to wind down lately, even though I feel mostly care-free right now. I am thinking it may have something to do with the CBD oil and coffee, and am trying to find that perfect balance of benefit and cost. Caffeinated coffee seems to be a serious bioenhancer for CBD oil, for me at least, and I try to take both first thing in the morning. I am gradually reducing one or the other to help find an optimum amount, while also trying to hydrate more during the day and early evening to help flush both from my system before hitting the hay.

Overall I feel like I am headed in a good direction, thanks in part to some persistence with major life changes that seem to be paying off, lesser tweaks to my life, and getting out and being more social.