Every Picture Tells a Story ...

Day 19



Top: Left and Right Forearms
Bottom: Left and Right Knees

 Both my doctor and the study coordinator looked at me at my last visit and said, "I think you're on placebo".  I know they are comparing me to the fabulous results they have seen with their other patients.  But I'm not sure they are right. 

My gut tells me that I have been on actual medicine all along - but in the test prong with the lower dosage.  Why do I say that? Months and months of diarrhea is why I say that.  My wonky stomach has finally settled down and did not act up when I "Early Escaped" out of Phase 1 and began taking what we know is real medication.  The only issue I've been having is headaches - but I think those are coming from my neck and studying.

Yes, I know these photos were only taken at Day 19 of what we know is confirmed medicine.  But you tell me - do I look ANY better to you?  I'm not seeing it.  What do YOU, my faithful blog readers, think?  What is the story you are taking away from these pictures?  The story I'm taking away is if my skin doesn't clear before winter sets in, I'm going to be hurting big time! 

My fear is that I am on (and have always been on) the lower dosage of the medicine - which at my level of disease severity, is like putting a bandaid on a severed artery.  Doesn't quite do the trick.  I was being infused with 900 mg. of Remicade in conjunction with Methotrexate to keep my skin mostly clear (elbows, knees, scalp and other assorted areas had some psoriasis) - so being on the lower dosage of Apremilast is probably not enough to manage my disease successfully.

I flared during my period and my plaques got red and raw and my scalp went haywire.  It's calmed down some since then.  New patches continue to develop and no patches have disappeared.

Yes, I know it's not even a month since my Early Escape - but with the lack of GI issues, I really think that I did not just start actual meds 19 days ago.  I could be wrong, but that is rare (ask my husband :-)  ).  For once, I would love to be proven wrong and walk in to my doctor's office showing the same success as the other patients in the trial.  If only I could just PhotoShop my pictures and my skin to tell a different story ...