Just started on biological treatment.

Hi WendyB. Wow, a year in and on biologics! Took me 20+ years to get biologics. I assume you are not UK based as you have to go through a meds criteria. Are you very bad as there may be alternatives. I was on Humira for about 5 years until I started to get some health issues. Had some instances of bad Eptopics then tingling in my feet and hands but neither were proved to be down to Humira and still have the tingling (three MRIs later and no idea what is going on with the central nervous system). I was off biologics for a year before I was so bad my clinical nurse commented I was 'severe' and we needed to do something. I started Stelara a year ago during the height of the pandemic and was psoriasis free within 8 weeks! I got quite a few abscesses on my butt, upper back and mainly breast area but that all calmed down after several months. Scared, yes, more comfortable, yes. I'm having a flare atm, mainly scalp and Proratic arthritis (I think connected to AZ vacinne) but I just cannot cope without the biologics. I have been basically isolating but just make sure you keep yourself safe as much as you can. Personally, I wouldn't go clubbing etc (lol) Hope you are OK x

Hi Sizzy, thank you for answering my question it has made me feel better. I do live in the UK (Yorkshire ) but the consultant i am with started me on Sulazopyrin and methotrexate and folic acid but nothing was working so we are trying this. If I'm honest the methotrexate injection causes me to feel washed out and not the biological injection as well isn't helping. Thanks again it has helped and please keep safe. Wendy.b

Hi Wendy and welcome. Patients with PsA are often prescribed biologics quicker than P patients, as stated earlier we have to jump few a few more hoops. I can understand your concerns with biologics being immunosuppresents, especially with young family that depend on you. I started Stelera at the back end of 2019 so a few months before Covid outbreak. Part of my work involves interaction with people on a daily basis and I was really worried during early lock down that I may catch Covid and couldn't fight it. I never received a letter from my GP asking me to shield so went about my daily work with extra caution. To add to my concerns, two members of my immediate family work in health care, one on frontline ITU. Funny in a strange way that both caught the virus during the year and we had to do the formalities of isolation but I never caught it in all that time. The concern in my household was that I would be the one to be infected. Apart from the two periods of isolation I have worked and been out daily since the pandemic started. I am still cautious around people especially those I don't know, just a matter of being safe and responsible for oneself. So I would say take the specialists advice if they think biologics are suitable for you. As always through this pandemic just try to keep your distance from people and if you haven't already get your jabs. I hope things work out for you.

Thank you stevew that has helped a lot. It is scary when you know what the biological injection does to the immune system. I have been doubled jabs so that's a piece of mind. I will try and keep safe Thank you.