Newly diagnosed with Psoriatic Spondlyoarthropathy at 28

katherine16

Hi all, I finally got my diagnosis last week and am still trying get my head round it. I’ve got a couple of questions and would really appreciated any help you can give.

In 2018 I was diagnosed with IBS, this was done without any investigation into it being anything worse, they just checked for Gluten or Diary Intolerance. I find my IBS is very much effected by my flare ups and recently it has been worse then ever before. 

I can’t see IBS listed as a common symptom of Psoriatic Arthritis but know having PA means I’m more likely to have other issues.

My Rheumatologist will get me started on a new NSAID soon, is this likely to help my bowel problems, or should I speak to my GP separately?

I also have Psoriasis which was previously dismissed by my GP, would the new medication make this better, or again, do I need something separate from my GP?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this and share any thoughts!   

Ellen

Hi @katherine16

Welcome to the online community. It rather sounds as though you have a lot going on and are wondering whether it could be connected. I am not medically qualified to answer all of your questions, but some people with an autoimmune condition such as Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) do have other issues too including the digestive system. Do please read this some things might begin to make sense for you:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/psoriatic-arthritis/

I wondered whether you were being started on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or a Disease modifying anti rheumatic drug (DMARD) which is usually prescribed for Psoriatic arthritis too. Here is some information about them:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/disease-modifying-anti-rheumatic-drugs-dmards/

Hopefully some of our members with PsA will see your post and share their stories too.

Best wishes

Ellen.

jamieA

Hi @katherine16

I know we are all different in how we respond to treatment so can only tell you what happened to me. I was a 65 year old male when I was diagnosed with PsA. I come from a large family of psoriasis sufferers and had suffered from psoriasis from the age of 15. However from the age of 50 my psoriasis abated slowly to the extent that by 65 it was only in my ears. So I was surprised when the consultant I saw to drain my swollen knee for a second time in a month asked if I had psoriasis. I'd also had issues with my shoulders and hands by that time. It turned out this consultant had previously been a rheumatology professor and he diagnosed me with PsA. I was put onto sulfasalazine and naproxen, then methotrexate was added 3 months later. The combination didn't work and so the biologic adalimumab was added about 9 months after diagnosis. That's helped significantly. As a side effect my psoriasis is no longer in my ears or anywhere else on my skin.

If I were you I'd ask a bit more about your IBS and taking an NSAID - I was of the belief that NSAIDs can cause stomach lining issues and that was the reason a proton pump inhibitor drug - omeprazole - was prescribed along with the NSAID I was originally put on. I was taken off the NSAID after 6 months because it couldn't be taken in conjunction with a heart drug I was put on.

I hope your treatment gets your PsA under control quickly.

katherine16

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/733991#Comment_733991

Thanks for your response!
It is positive to hear that with the right medication my psoriasis could clear up 🤞I am very glad your consultant had that previous experience as I can only imagine how long it would have taken if they didn’t.
I will get onto my doctors about the IBS - another thing for me to have to push but hopefully I will get some answers.