My downward spiral

My health has been going down for quite a few years. I have lupus, fibro, neurology, diabetes, mini-strokes, seizures, and black-out spells. Additionally, terrible back pain that I've already had 4 back surgeries on.

Visiting a rheumatologist

But the pain got worse. It didn't like my normal pain. My joints felt tight and I started getting scabs that itched really bad on my shoulder, my thighs, and even on my bottom, which was the worse place. I told my neurologist this and she thought that I might have RA, so she sent me to a rheumatologist.

After testing and blood work where he did 20 tests from 14 vials of blood. It came out that yes indeed, I had PsA. My doctor put me on Methotrexate. He told me that it was to be taken only one day a week, the same day every week. That there may be slight nausea and some diarrhea, but it was the best and may also help with the inflammatory arthritis too. He then said to me the one thing that I'm terrified to get mainly because it runs in my family and I've had 5 scares... He told me to take this med and the only real downfall of this med is that in 10 years, I can have cancer. My heart dropped.

Experiences with psoriatic arthritis treatment

I was on it for 5 1/2 months. Nausea and vomiting started immediately... it got to the point I was eating just a couple of bites at dinner time. Any thoughts, smell, or sight, I instantly got sick and threw up. I found I could fruit jello and pudding. And kept it down for the most part.

I used to have thick long curly hair. But now my hair is thin and straight. I was growing weaker by the day. I had little to no energy. And my entire body hurt and I bruised very easily because of it.

Back surgery and being off treatment

I had to have another back surgery where they cut through to get to my c6 and c7. So my surgery was on August 25 of this year. I had to get off of my chemo for 2 weeks. In those 2 weeks of being off of it, I noticed a big change in myself. I didn't feel sick all the time, which was great. But my joints, muscles have a tight feeling. I have a sharp feeling in my feet and toes. I don't have feeling on the top of my feet and on parts of the bottom of my feet. My knees are so bad that I have to wear braces on both knees.

Trying a new psoriatic arthritis treatment

I'm waiting for my electric wheelchair to come and that will be November 30, I can't have a regular wheelchair because I have no strength in my arms to push myself. I knew I was about to have a video visit with my doctor and was determined to talk him into taking me off the Methotrexate. I just couldn't take another one... I refused to. So I talked to him. He told me he didn't want to do it, but I just couldn't not feel as if I could not live anymore. He took me off and put me on Avara. So far there's no reaction. But my body still hurts, my joints are stiff and I can barely walk.