Author Archives: Michelle

Immersion PUVA

Posted on by
Reply

After the narrowband phototherapy treatment which cleared me for about 4 weeks, my Psoriasis was back with a bang.

So back I went to my GP and pleaded with him to refer me back to the Dermatologist. Although my P is starting to re-appear on bits of my body I’m really only bothered about my hands….

Wednesday 12th May – Initial appointment – had my referral to the consultant today and she agreed we should try the next step on the treatment ladder as topical creams and narrowband have proven unsuccessful. I’ll be getting Immersion PUVA. She did ask if I wanted the rest of me looked at but I declined this time, I just want my hands fixed. My face I can cake in makeup so I’m not overly bothered about that or limbs/torso/scalp. Nurse took me straight down to phototherapy unit and explained the treatment. I’ll be having my hands and feet soaked in Psoralen for 15 minutes, followed by a 30 minute wait before being exposed to UVA light. The treatment will be twice a week for about 7-8 weeks.

P covered fingers crossed that this treatment will give me some respite! 😀

I’ll keep you posted.

17th May – Treatment 1 – had to soak my hands and feet for 15 minutes in psoralen solution, the sink and foot bowl were covered in a liner prior to solution being added – I wonder if it stains? I had to wear attractive large goggles in case of splashes. After my soaking time I was pretty wrinkled) I then had to pat dry and wait for 30 minutes for solution to take effect on my skin. I have to do this each treatment I attend. I then had 1 min 20 under the UVA, having to cover my forearms and ankles with bandage cuffs to ensure areas not being treated were not exposed to the light. I then rinsed of my hands and feet. I have to keep skin which has been to exposed to solution/uva covered for rest of the day in case of burning which has meant wearing gloves, so I’ve had a few strange stares…

For my next treatment I will:

go for a pee before the treatment starts as you are not meant to wash your hands during the 30 minute wait.
put the towel for drying in my lap whilst soaking so I don’t drip everywhere trying to reach for it.
take a book to read for my 30 minute wait.

since the treatment both hands and feet have been incredibly dry and itchy – not sure if this is normal or psychosomatic. I had to buy some sunnies today too to wear after the exposure to UVA as it reflects into your face.

20th May – Treatment 2 2:24 under the UVA

24th May – Treatment 3 4:48 under the UVA – itchy, itchy, itchy, I am ItchyMichy

27th May – Treatment 4 7:03 under UVA now suffering psychosomatic itching all over

30th May – No treatment today as the unit is closed due to bank holiday. Hands and feet are still itchy and are the only part of me which are tanned. Have interesting tan lines round my wrists and ankles 😀

3rd June – Treatment 5 7:03 under the UVA. the tan lines are very prominent now. I need to go on the sunbed wearing gloves & socks to see if I can even the skin tone up.

7th June – Treatment 6 back to 4:48 unde the UVA today. hands a relooking much better. However I appear to have burnt the soles of my feet, on Tuesday evening I couldn’t sleep for the pain. it was in the center of my feet radiating out toward the skin. Very unpleasant & incredibly uncomfortable. Has subsided a bit over the next couple of days but still unbelievably itchy.

10th June – Treatment 7 7:03 under the UVA hands only today. Feet still a little uncomfortable. see how it is for the next session.

14th June Treatment 8 – 9:30 under UVA hands only – my feet are well and truly done. I don’t think I could stand another treatment on my feet!

17th June Treatment 9 – 11:54 under UVA hands.

21st June Treatment 10 – 14:18 under UVA hands. Apart from interesting tan lines around my wrists (and ankles) my hands look fab. I even went and had my nails painted today to celebrate

24th June Treatment 11 – 16:48 under UVA hands. looking good, just about clear. Fab! I’m off on holiday for a week so no treatment next week.

5th July – Although I’m only halfway through the treatment my hands have been clear for over a week, so I managed to persuade the nurses to discharge me. yey!

more stress

Posted on by
1

just found out mugger’s courtcase adjourned until January and looks like he got bail with conditions. Fanstastic. He’s failed to appear numerous times in his past criminal history. I am royally &%*@$* off. It must be soul destroying for the police to see this happen. 🙁

Good news: Got a visit from the police just after Xmas – the guy apparently turned up at a homelss shelter in Newcastle on Xmas demanding a bed otherwise he’d do himself in, after kicking up a fuss the police were called and he was arrested…

Bad News: and the ever senile magistrates bailed straight out…to a flat about 3 minutes walk ffrom my front door. My local police came to tell me as a courtesy to warn me that, as his nearest methadone clinic is in the chemist in my street, I’ll probably see him…. 🙁

He’s supposed to appear in court on 6th January. I’m not really hoping for any justice….

stressful time

Posted on by
1

I was mugged on the way home on Monday.
I had just got of the bus around 17:25 and was about 2 minute walk from home when a man approached me and asked if I “could help him out, and give him 20p for his bus fare” I kept walking, looked him in the eye and politely declined. I was on a well lit pavement though (an albeit overgrown) small square of land, close to shops, main road and 30 seconds from my sister’s house. I passed a young lady walking towards me just a few seconds later. I was right outside my sister’s back garden and the next thing I knew my handbag was wrenched from my arm from behind. I screamed, turned and ran after him shouting at the top of my voice “that man stole my bag, that man stole my bag!” The young lady took up the chase as well and dialled 999. The guy ran into an underpass and I decided it wouldn’t be safe to follow him. Luckily 2 young guys were walking past and chased him. Because I’d made a point of looking at the guy when he initially approached me, I was immediately able to give the police a good description. The young lady he’d passed was also able to describe him – based on his strange behaviour prior to grabbing my bag. He’d crept past her on his tiptoes, with his hands up, scoobie doo baddie style (what an idiot!). The young guys weren’t able to catch him but were able to tell police which direction he was headed. One of the guys ran to my sister’s house and she came out to look after me, with her spare keys run down to mine and get my bank details so I could cancel my cards. Within 10 minutes the police were with me, my bag with them in an evidence bag and the guy in custody. When the young guys had given his direction, the police new exactly where he was headed (a place referred to locally as ‘Dead Man’s Arch’) and were waiting for him! He’d emptied my purse of its cash, took my phone, a bar of chocolate and a pen which were found on him. He’d left my diary, ipod and keys in my bag. When he was apprehended he’s ditched my purse containing my cards and drivers licence. The guy admitted the theft immediately and offered to take police back to the area to look for my purse as he knew exactly where it was. His solicitor advised him not to…… I got my cash, phone and pen back later that night. I made my statement which took some time. Later that evening the police called me and told me his solicitor had agreed he could go and look form my purse. The police told me had 200 prior arrests and lots of failures to appear!! Anyway my purse wasn’t found.

Surprisingly I got a call from a different police station the next morning – an upstanding citizen had picked up my purse and handed it in. I got it back later that day with all of its contents! The only thing not returned was the bar of chocolate!

The Police have been great during this ordeal – apparently the guy has recently been released from prison, had made himself homeless, had many many prior arrests, etc. He was due to appear before the courts on Tuesday – I’m waiting to hear if he was held on remand.

It’s been a pretty stressful and upsetting time but I’m trying hard to take the positives from the situation – that I wasn’t hurt and got all my belonging back, that there are some wonderfully helpful strangers around who will not walk away when they see someone in distress, there are some fundamentally honest people who will not take what isn’t theirs, that the police are actually very good at what they do, and continue to do, regardless of how frustrating and pointless it is to deal with constant re-offenders. Most importantly that I am surrounded by family, friends and colleagues who care about my wellbeing and have my best interests at heart. So thank you to all of you. XXX

PhotoTherapy

Posted on by
Reply

I made an appointment to see my GP on 11th August mainly regarding psoriasis on my hands (I do have it in other places, including my face, but it’s always been my hands that bothered me most). My GP agreed she would be happy to refer me to my local dermatology department if they had a hand only light therapy machine, which luckily they did.

I had my initial dermatology appointment with Professor Farr, Consultant Dermatologist on 28th October. After my initial consultation he agreed I would benefit from a course of full body light treatment with a proviso that if the hands did not clear up they would try additional light treatment, and referred me for a course of narrow bank UVB phototherapy.

I was happily surprised to find out my treatment could begin right away and was called back for a skin test the following Tuesday 3rd November and scheduled in for a 8-10 week course of treatment, every Monday Wednesday & Friday at 15:25 beginning the following day, Wednesday 4th November. Luckily I work 5 minutes from the clinic so I’m only out of the office for about half an hour.

I alerted the nurse-led clinic to the fact I was going on holiday later in November but they didn’t seem overly concerned (they asked me where I was going, but that was about the only concern they had!) I have to use a flat moisturiser on the treatment days rather than any of my prescribed steroids or ointments.

For my skin test, my right arm was placed over a test lamp which had 10 (I think) apertures. The test lasted 6min 6 seconds, and my arm was marked around the exposed area with indelible pen when the test time was over. 4 of the aperture areas turned different strengths of pink overnight – the least visible pink bit corresponded to an initial treatment time I would be given the following day.

Session 1 Wed 5th November – I had my first blast of narrow bank UVB phototherapy for 1 min 10 seconds. I was told I might go pinkish overnight which should fade by my next session on Friday. I didn’t go pink.

Session 2 Fri 6th November – the time was dropped to 1 min 5 seconds I went a little pink which faded very quickly but my skin was a bit itchy overnight.

Session 3 Mon 9th November – my exposure time was upped to 1 min 33 seconds. It felt a little hot during the treatment but otherwise Ok. I travelled by train to London after my treatment and my skin felt uncomfortable and tight during the journey – like I had been in the sun too long without any SPF. By the time I arrived at my hotel at 18:45 I was lobster pink from head to foot – certain areas which had not previously been exposed to any sunlight were incredibly pink and sore. Cold shower and lashings of moisturiser ensued. By the time I got home on Tuesday the pink had faded.

Session 4 Wed 11th November – I told the nurse about the pinkness and soreness I had from the previous session and my exposure time was dropped back to 1 min 10 seconds. I didn’t go pink this time. Still a bit itchy though.

Session 5 Fri 13th November – Today’s session was 1 min 13, everything A-OK and I’m definitely going brown. P is shrinking but not on my hands.

Session 6 Mon 16th November – Back up to 1 min 30 no burning or itchiness.

Session 7 Wed 18th November – 1min 30 again today and all going well – nurse tries to book me in to see Consultant next Wednesday, remind nurse I can’t as I’m on Holiday. I go to Egypt the following day, for a week and use cream with SPF 50 & 40. My P is flat and most of the smaller spots which were all over my torso and legs have disappeared. Elbows and knees looking great also – best they’ve ever responded to treatment.

Session 8 Fri 27th November – Dropped to just over 1 min without issues. The only negative things are my face (where I have it around my brows and from eye-chin on cheeks is reducing, but my skin is very flaky) and my hands which are taking longer to respond.

Session 9 Mon 30th November – 2mins 15 today without issue. My hands are starting to look better.

Session 10 Wed 2nd December – just over 3 mins today. Am back at my desk with a tube of moisturiser. Feel like I’ve been microwaved today skins feels dry for the 1st time. – My skin has the “cooked skin smell” that I remember from my very first bout of phototherapy in 1978! When they had these massive great lamps in diagonal corners or a huge room. ;-D bum and skin on back of upper legs was a bit taught for a couple of days and had to do some ninja moisturising in the ladies during office hours as it was a bit uncomfortable sitting down. Went a bit pink the next day.

Session 11 Fri 4th November – Pinkness had faded but skin on rump and legs still felt overly dry. Exposure up to 3 mins 30 secs today. Will be doing some ninja-office moisturising on next trip to the little girls room.

Session 12 Mon 7th December – 3 mins 30 again today without any issues. My hands are looking great.

Session 13 – Wed 9th December – just over 4 mins today. bit hot!

Session 14 – Fri 11th December – just over 4 minutes again – I can just about manage to say in for this amount of time. My hands are looking way better now I can see and feel the difference

Session 15 – Mon 14th December – just under 4 mins I think today. Hands look great and lots of people are commenting on how much better my skin is in general

Session 16 – Wed 16th December – about 3 mins 30 today – the department will be closed over the Xmas period so it looks like my treatment is probably coming to an end.

Session 17 – Fri 18th December – about 3mins 30 today – had to re-arrange my appointment to an earlier slot due to Christmas lunch with friends.

Session 18 – Mon 21st December – 3mins 30 again no probs of issues

Session 19 – Wed 23rd December – 3 mins 51 today. don’t know where the 1 sec comes from but I’m sure it makes a difference!

Session 20 – Wed 30th December 3 mins 51 again

Session 21 – Monday 4th January – 4 mins today – treatment must be coming to an end soon, I was reconning between 24 – 30 session. I’ve gone quite pink, my outer thighs feel a bit raw and a day later I look like I’ve got sunburn!!

Session 22 – Wednesday 6th January – dropped downt to 3 mins 50 today, had to wear gown round top of legs as bum and thighs still burnt. Should have last session on Friday.

Session 23 – Friday 8th January – no probelms after tying gown around my wist to cover tops of legs, 3 mins 50 and wore gown again just to be on the safe side. Final session, thats me done!

Operation Shoebox

Posted on by
Reply

Linda G from DMS is organising a Christmas Shoebox Appeal. Hurrah! The appeal

I thought this year, rather than spend money on myself for my birthday I’d take up the challenge and fill as many boxes as I could with the money I’d normally use to treat myself to a birthday gift.

So far I’ve managed to pack 6 boxes with enough bits and pieces left over to pack a few more.

The amazing thing is – you can pack quite a bit of stuff into a foot long shoebox, and though the bits and pieces would seem “pointelss” to a most of the kids I know, the few small trinkets in each box will mean a great deal to the child who unpacks it.

So far I’ve packed a box for each of the 3 age groups for both boys and girls

I’ve spent a few pounds each on the following items:

notebooks, sketchpads, excerise books.
pens, pencils, rubbers, rulers, sharpeners, pencil cases.
colouring pencils, crayons, felt tips.
toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, flannels, sponges, combs.
hair clips, bangles, wallets, toiletry bags.
trucks, cars, soft toys, baby dolls
yoyos, dominos, jigsaws, blocks
sweets.

I’ve really enjoyed hunting for suitable items and wrapping the boxes!

http://www.operationchris…w-pack-your-box

October

Posted on by
Reply

So far…..

Busy work. Phone hot. yak. hate it when its like this. Workday goes v quick mind….

Salsa dancing – fun! Planning to sign up for class in Jan ’10. Can’t dane for toffee but worth it for the giggles.

Little person – potential swine flu’. Not good. mopped his fevered brow yesterday. Hope the little blighter wasn’t contagious.