Psoriasis Doctor

Question:

Our mother has COPD and uses oxygen round the clock.  We are helping her to live independently.  We need information and safety tips. Thanks Marilyn and Russell

Response:

> Our mother has COPD and uses oxygen round the clock.  We are helping her to > live independently.  We need information and safety tips. > Thanks > Marilyn and Russell

Excerpted from http://bcn.boulder.co.us/health/chn.old/COPD/atc_resp.html   ‘Around the Clock with COPD: Respiratory Therapy Respiratory Therapy If it is necessary for you to take breathing treatments at home, try to get all of your equipment together in a convenient place where it can be left from treatment to treatment. Being near a bathroom or kitchen where it will be easy to clean equipment is helpful, but, of course, if you take treatments during the night, the first consideration may be to have your equipment near your bed. An ideal arrangement is to have a small table with a drawer or a flat topped desk in front of a window. Outside the window might be a good place to put a bird feeder. It is nice to have something to watch, read or listen to while taking a treatment. One word of caution, when you are finished, don’t leave any medication sitting in the sun. You may find it difficult to listen to anything with a machine going. A radio or TV set with a small earphone attachment will solve this problem.       Have a small clock handy to time your treatments.       If you must measure a medication with an eye dropper, be sure there are no air bubbles in it before starting to measure.       An excellent place to store small pieces of equipment such as tubes, medicine cups and mouthpieces is in one or two food storage boxes with lock tops. A good size is about 6x 8" 21/2". These will fit in a small drawer out of sight and parts that need sterilizing or soaking can be done right in the container.       All equipment should be kept clean and should be sterilized as directed. Don’t worry if your friend has been taught different methods to do this. It seems to be like making a mint julep- several different recipes but the same end result.       When you disassemble your equipment to clean it after a treatment, you may find the plastic hose is difficult to pull loose. Try pulling it off while the machine is still running. The added "push" of the compressor will help loosen the hose.       If you are using a mechanical nebulizer and feel you are not getting enough mist, check the hose coupling. Occasionally vibrations cause these to work loose. Just hand-tighten.       Any small piece of equipment with a motor or compressor will be much quieter if you put some kind of a thick pad under it. Folded fabric or newspaper may suffice.       Some of these machines have a small air filter which should be changed once in a while. Ask your supplier to give you some. They are easy to change.       Last but not least-most medical equipment used at home can be purchased. In many cases this may be cheaper than monthly rental, but you will be responsible for repairs. Ask your supplier and compare. Many of our Respiratory Club members also use portable systems for supplying….Oxygen

Response:

Sounds like psoriatic arthritis to me Fran – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Although I’m new here, I can’t say I’m new to the whole skin disorder world. > For 7 years now I’ve been dealing with problems on my hands and feet that > have been diagnosed by 3 different Dermatologists as: > 1) Psoriasis & Excema > 2) Dishydric Excema > 3) Contact Dermatitis > And as recently as yesterday my Allergist ruled out an allergic reaction and > decided it must be Psoriasis. He said I have classic symptoms: Swelling > hands, blisters, skin that splits open and pits on my fingernails. > Does anything sound familiar to anyone? > I’ve used at least 15 different topical cortisteroids over the years. The > most frequently and until recently most effective have been Ultravate and > Topicort, simultaneously. In the past 2 years have taken courses of > Prednisone 3 times with wonderful effect until the last day of pills. > October through December I did a round of cortisone shots and had the first > carefree Christmas in a long time. Presently using Psorcon with mildly > hopeful results but am limited to a 3 week run. > Now that I’ve gotten my history and woe-is-me stuff over with, I was hoping > anyone out there could offer advice.  I finally decided that having my > computer here doesn’t do me much good unless I use it to take control of my > own treatment. I’m thinking about trying a new Dermatologist (since mine > seems to be at a loss) and was hoping anyone could steer me in the direction > of how to find one knowledgeable in this area. Any good websites for > referrals or such. > Any help would be greatly appreciated, I’m at my wits end. Can’t imagine any > of you know what I mean > Thanks, > Amy A. Winch > PS. Please excuse any spelling errors, it’s not my forte.

Response:

Thanks for your encouragement Will, and an A+, wow, don’t think I’ve ever gotten one for spelling before! You’re definitely right, NPF is where I needed to look first. Full of great information.  I’m looking at this as a first step to taking back my life from Ps.  No more hiding and embarrassment for me! I even went to the grocery store yesterday wearing my little white cotton gloves for protection and didn’t care who looked at me funny. Thanks again, Amy

Response:

Hi, Amy: I’m glad that I helped and also that you went to NPF website & it helped…..thanks for letting me know.  Please be sure to follow through on seeing an another derm so that hopefully you can get an exact diagnosis and effective treatment.   Bravo on the white glove store trip. Your right, it doesn’t matter that much what strangers think; you’re the one that has to live with the Ps. Regards, Will

Response:

Hi, Amy… and welcome to the group!  You’ve already gotten a good start with the NPF, so I’ll just throw in another one for you:   http://w1.2380.telia.com/~u238000263/flaker/docs/index.html This is the home page of Aase Marit, one of the old-time regular posters around here.  (she hasn’t been here for some time now, probably busy… but she’s still around somewhere, helping people as usual )  She has psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Ehlers Danlos syndrome  herself and her website has lots of good information on both psoriasis and eczema.  Note her description of the different types of psoriasis as well to see what looks familiar. Best of luck with a new dermie… Best regards,

Response:

                    (snipped) And as recently as yesterday my Allergist ruled out an allergic reaction and decided it must be Psoriasis. He said I have classic symptoms: Swelling hands, blisters, skin that splits open and pits on my fingernails. Does anything sound familiar to anyone? >>> Sounds like Ps, but don’t rely on my ng diagnosis!!                    (snipped)  I’m thinking about trying a new Dermatologist (since mine seems to be at a loss) and was hoping anyone could steer me in the direction of how to find one knowledgeable in this area. Any good websites for referrals or such. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I’m at my wits end. Can’t imagine any of you know what I mean Thanks, Amy A. Winch PS. Please excuse any spelling errors, it’s not my forte. Hi, Amy: First of all, welcome to the ng and kudos on deciding to take control of your education & treatment. Here’s a website for you to check out:   http://www.psoriasis.org This is the URL for the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), a non-profit organization dedicated to education, research & ultimately, a cure (I’m giving you the short list here).  The NPF maintains a physician referral list and might be able to give you the name(s) of derm docs in your area.  There are also links to other websites on the NPF site. I know it’s (Ps) frustrating, but try not to let it push you to your wit’s end.  There are plenty of people here who are willing to listen, tell you their experiences and provide info.  And give yourself credit for taking action! HTH & regards, Will P.S.   I didn’t notice any spelling errors……A+!

Response:

Although I’m new here, I can’t say I’m new to the whole skin disorder world. For 7 years now I’ve been dealing with problems on my hands and feet that have been diagnosed by 3 different Dermatologists as: 1) Psoriasis & Excema 2) Dishydric Excema 3) Contact Dermatitis And as recently as yesterday my Allergist ruled out an allergic reaction and decided it must be Psoriasis. He said I have classic symptoms: Swelling hands, blisters, skin that splits open and pits on my fingernails. Does anything sound familiar to anyone? I’ve used at least 15 different topical cortisteroids over the years. The most frequently and until recently most effective have been Ultravate and Topicort, simultaneously. In the past 2 years have taken courses of Prednisone 3 times with wonderful effect until the last day of pills. October through December I did a round of cortisone shots and had the first carefree Christmas in a long time. Presently using Psorcon with mildly hopeful results but am limited to a 3 week run. Now that I’ve gotten my history and woe-is-me stuff over with, I was hoping anyone out there could offer advice.  I finally decided that having my computer here doesn’t do me much good unless I use it to take control of my own treatment. I’m thinking about trying a new Dermatologist (since mine seems to be at a loss) and was hoping anyone could steer me in the direction of how to find one knowledgeable in this area. Any good websites for referrals or such. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I’m at my wits end. Can’t imagine any of you know what I mean Thanks, Amy A. Winch PS. Please excuse any spelling errors, it’s not my forte.

Response:

Sounds like psoriatic arthritis to me Fran – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Although I’m new here, I can’t say I’m new to the whole skin disorder world. > For 7 years now I’ve been dealing with problems on my hands and feet that > have been diagnosed by 3 different Dermatologists as: > 1) Psoriasis & Excema > 2) Dishydric Excema > 3) Contact Dermatitis > And as recently as yesterday my Allergist ruled out an allergic reaction and > decided it must be Psoriasis. He said I have classic symptoms: Swelling > hands, blisters, skin that splits open and pits on my fingernails. > Does anything sound familiar to anyone? > I’ve used at least 15 different topical cortisteroids over the years. The > most frequently and until recently most effective have been Ultravate and > Topicort, simultaneously. In the past 2 years have taken courses of > Prednisone 3 times with wonderful effect until the last day of pills. > October through December I did a round of cortisone shots and had the first > carefree Christmas in a long time. Presently using Psorcon with mildly > hopeful results but am limited to a 3 week run. > Now that I’ve gotten my history and woe-is-me stuff over with, I was hoping > anyone out there could offer advice.  I finally decided that having my > computer here doesn’t do me much good unless I use it to take control of my > own treatment. I’m thinking about trying a new Dermatologist (since mine > seems to be at a loss) and was hoping anyone could steer me in the direction > of how to find one knowledgeable in this area. Any good websites for > referrals or such. > Any help would be greatly appreciated, I’m at my wits end. Can’t imagine any > of you know what I mean > Thanks, > Amy A. Winch > PS. Please excuse any spelling errors, it’s not my forte.

Response:

Thanks for your encouragement Will, and an A+, wow, don’t think I’ve ever gotten one for spelling before! You’re definitely right, NPF is where I needed to look first. Full of great information.  I’m looking at this as a first step to taking back my life from Ps.  No more hiding and embarrassment for me! I even went to the grocery store yesterday wearing my little white cotton gloves for protection and didn’t care who looked at me funny. Thanks again, Amy

Response:

Hi, Amy: I’m glad that I helped and also that you went to NPF website & it helped…..thanks for letting me know.  Please be sure to follow through on seeing an another derm so that hopefully you can get an exact diagnosis and effective treatment.   Bravo on the white glove store trip. Your right, it doesn’t matter that much what strangers think; you’re the one that has to live with the Ps. Regards, Will

Response:

Hi, Amy… and welcome to the group!  You’ve already gotten a good start with the NPF, so I’ll just throw in another one for you:   http://w1.2380.telia.com/~u238000263/flaker/docs/index.html This is the home page of Aase Marit, one of the old-time regular posters around here.  (she hasn’t been here for some time now, probably busy… but she’s still around somewhere, helping people as usual )  She has psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Ehlers Danlos syndrome  herself and her website has lots of good information on both psoriasis and eczema.  Note her description of the different types of psoriasis as well to see what looks familiar. Best of luck with a new dermie… Best regards,

Response:

                    (snipped) And as recently as yesterday my Allergist ruled out an allergic reaction and decided it must be Psoriasis. He said I have classic symptoms: Swelling hands, blisters, skin that splits open and pits on my fingernails. Does anything sound familiar to anyone? >>> Sounds like Ps, but don’t rely on my ng diagnosis!!                    (snipped)  I’m thinking about trying a new Dermatologist (since mine seems to be at a loss) and was hoping anyone could steer me in the direction of how to find one knowledgeable in this area. Any good websites for referrals or such. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I’m at my wits end. Can’t imagine any of you know what I mean Thanks, Amy A. Winch PS. Please excuse any spelling errors, it’s not my forte. Hi, Amy: First of all, welcome to the ng and kudos on deciding to take control of your education & treatment. Here’s a website for you to check out:   http://www.psoriasis.org This is the URL for the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), a non-profit organization dedicated to education, research & ultimately, a cure (I’m giving you the short list here).  The NPF maintains a physician referral list and might be able to give you the name(s) of derm docs in your area.  There are also links to other websites on the NPF site. I know it’s (Ps) frustrating, but try not to let it push you to your wit’s end.  There are plenty of people here who are willing to listen, tell you their experiences and provide info.  And give yourself credit for taking action! HTH & regards, Will P.S.   I didn’t notice any spelling errors……A+!

Response:

Although I’m new here, I can’t say I’m new to the whole skin disorder world. For 7 years now I’ve been dealing with problems on my hands and feet that have been diagnosed by 3 different Dermatologists as: 1) Psoriasis & Excema 2) Dishydric Excema 3) Contact Dermatitis And as recently as yesterday my Allergist ruled out an allergic reaction and decided it must be Psoriasis. He said I have classic symptoms: Swelling hands, blisters, skin that splits open and pits on my fingernails. Does anything sound familiar to anyone? I’ve used at least 15 different topical cortisteroids over the years. The most frequently and until recently most effective have been Ultravate and Topicort, simultaneously. In the past 2 years have taken courses of Prednisone 3 times with wonderful effect until the last day of pills. October through December I did a round of cortisone shots and had the first carefree Christmas in a long time. Presently using Psorcon with mildly hopeful results but am limited to a 3 week run. Now that I’ve gotten my history and woe-is-me stuff over with, I was hoping anyone out there could offer advice.  I finally decided that having my computer here doesn’t do me much good unless I use it to take control of my own treatment. I’m thinking about trying a new Dermatologist (since mine seems to be at a loss) and was hoping anyone could steer me in the direction of how to find one knowledgeable in this area. Any good websites for referrals or such. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I’m at my wits end. Can’t imagine any of you know what I mean Thanks, Amy A. Winch PS. Please excuse any spelling errors, it’s not my forte.

Response: