Hi Everyone!
I am new to the boards and wanted to introduce myself. I am 21 and live in Wi. I am not good at writing poems, but wanted to share my story with you anyway.
It started out as a few and then a few more,
Just looking like a little red sore.
I finally decided to the doctor I must go,
She knew it was best to send me to the dermo.
The dermo did some testing and diagnosed me with p,
I was dazed and confused at the news she just gave me.
It's a chronic skin disease with not yet a cure,
I could feel my eyes welling up for a tear.
I listened as she went on to say,
Let's sign you up with npf today.
They will send you newsletters and panflets all year through,
You can access a message board and chat with others like you.
I left that appointment feeling sad and angry,
How can this really be happening to me?
I've been doing some research to find out more,
And on this message board there's info galore!
There's venting, crying, and needing advice,
Everyone here seems really nice.
From treatments, tips, and techniques too,
There are so many you can chose to do!
Here anyone can find great support from their family,
Not related by blood, but united from P.
I can't wait to get to know everyone!

SARAH!!
What an awesome poem that is, thats a unique way of telling your story!!!... Im so glad that you've found these boards as a place of encouragement, advice, and support! Please keep on coming backkk!!...
Im just curious, are you on any sort of medications for your psoriasis?! What are you doing to try to help it?! And also, how was the derm that you went to?! Did you like him/her?!
Please keep coming back... and if you have any messengers, add me.. (msn-huggable_20@hotmail.com)(aim-kimmy9270)(yahoo-alsdkfnlwe)
x0x0x Kim

Hi Kimberlyjoy.
It's nice to meet you, and I'm glad I was introduced to this board. It's so wonderful here.
Feb 3rd was the one and only time I have ever been to the dermo. From the 15 min or so that I was with her, I really like her. She was very willing to talk/discuss anything. I took a list of questions with me and she was very patient and thourough with me. My regular doctor prescribed Triamcinolon (ointment) as she thought it was excma. Which, when I went to the dr. I had 43 leisons, and after taking the Triamcinolon I broke out into over 120 leisons (I quit counting). It was very hard to apply because it's basically like Vaseline, and since I have the leisons everywhere my clothing would rub all the medication off. I seem to have the leisons where my skin can't breathe, mostly where my bra and undies are, but my back, and mid section are COVERED! I have a few leisons on my legs, feet, arms and hands. They are the size of quarters (some bigger some smaller) Even some on my face (these are small, the size of a fingernail), and I am using Elidel for that...which has helped. When I went to my dermo and she diagnosed me with p, she then gave me Clobetasol (ointment). This is also hard to apply because it is also basically like vaseline. It has a higher medication than the Triamcinolon, and also a higher price too!!! It was $52 for a tube (the other was $11), and I dont have insurance. So I use it sparingly. I have been going tanning because I am in 2 weddings this summer and don't want to have ANY leisons showing for the pictures. The tanning has helped tremendously, and most of the leisons have now faded into white spots. A few more times & they will be gone. Last summer I went tanning and had only ONE leison! :D I have about 20 leisons that are really red & scaly and using the ointment on those, but the tanning has helped reduce them, and they too will eventually (hopefully) go away. I quit tanning last year because I know it's very bad and risky. But for weddings, I will make acceptions. Ok, that's enough about me....tell me about you. I know you are Canadian, and that's about it! :) I think you are a sister to JessicaMichelle? Tell me how old you are, what your story is, and what you like to do for fun, and anything else...
Hope you have a splendid weekend!
Sarah

Sarah,
Im glad to hear that tanning is working for you (and that you found a good derm!), and im sure that even if you do have some p left, you will be gorgeous for those weddings!
A bit about me?! Well yeh, im Canadian... eh? (just had to throw that in there for all of the americans who think we say that tons!)and im 14, but will be 15 in 3 and a half months! My story? Well i was diagnosed with excema, and then psoriasis when i was 9 years old, and i tried over 20 different creams/lotions and none of htem did the trick, and then i tried light therapy, and it helped for awhile, but eventually its effectiveness wore off... And then i was put on Methotrexate, which is a reallllly strong drug, and ive been on it for quite some time now (not exactly sure, but somewhere around 2 years) , and it has done wonders for me... When i first started it i was like 60-70% covered, and now im less than 2% covered! And ive stayed that way ever since the methotrexate started working! Hopefully, once it gets approved here in Canada, i will be able to go on Enbrel... Also i have started having problems with some of my joints, so i am going to see a Pediatric Rheumatologist, and see what he says about it...
What kind of stuff do i enjoy?! Well, i LOVE soccer!!! i played on one team for the winter this year, and so far im signed up on 2 teams for spring/summer... But depending on work, etc... i might only end up being on one... I also (most of the time) enjoy work... I work at a gas station/auto repair shop... Im the only chick on a 10 person staff! Crazy eh?! But i love it... cars, etc is another one of my passions! I currently have a '89 Mustang for sale for 600 buckz! ill even get my dad to drive it down there for you! HAHAAH!! (i only paid 150 for it! Mwahaha) and other than that... hMmM... well i love computers/technology type stuff, and i LOVE freinds... i spend most of my sparetime with them! They're the best!
Also... me and Jessica arent ACTUALLY sisters, we've just become so close that we dub ourselves that! lol... Jess is an awesome chick if you ever get the chance to talk to her!! ...
hMmM i think thats about it...
Hey do you have msn, aim, or yahoo?! It'd be fun to IM a bit too!
x0x0x Kim

Hey Kim!
I am sorry to hear about your excema and p at such a young age. I am really happy to hear that you found a good solution & are only 2% covered. That is AWESOME!
I think your birthday is exactly 1 month before mine! I can't believe you are 14. I thought you were older than that. I have read lots of your posts and think you are very mature for your age. It's cool that you play soccer, and all year too! It's great to hear you are so active.
I do have messanger, but something is wrong. I have been using it every day, and now today it won't let me sign on. I think my computer might be blocking it because my norton anti-virus is doing it's scanning. My id is Sarah_AnnMarie@hotmail.com. I used to have yahoo, but will need to redownload it. If I can't get my msn working again, then I will switch to yahoo. I will try to see what's going on and let you know when it's working.
Hope to talk to you soon,
Sarah

Hey,
it's me again!!! I think my msn is working now. :D