4 ms·

That all makes sense! If your skin stuff is relatively mild and isn't causing you too much trouble, a topical approach seems warranted (and is certainly a lot c

That all makes sense! If your skin stuff is relatively mild and isn't causing you too much trouble, a topical approach seems warranted (and is certainly a lot cheaper). That said, if it ever does get worse to the point where you're in genuine distress, keep in mind that the psoriasis-only dose of a drug like Skyrizi is a lot lower than the big fat dose I take for Crohn's disease, and less frequent as well. Also keep in mind--and hopefully it doesn't come to this--that psoriasis is highly comorbid with both Crohn's/colitis and arthritis, so if you start to experience worsening digestive issues or joint pain, definitely get those checked out. The silver lining is that if you do experience comorbidities like that, finding the right treatment (usually but not always a biologic) can knock them all out at once. (For your current situation, you might also want to look into other biologics like Dupixent or Xolair, which can also help with skin conditions have different effects/trade-offs that might be more within your risk tolerance!)

hirvi74 1y ago
> that psoriasis is highly comorbid with both Crohn's/colitis and arthritis 2/3 of my biggest fears in life lol. The other being some form of dementia. I have had worsening digestive issues, albeit this was something I had prior to the psoriasis disease. Honestly, I keep trying to hold out for as long as I can -- not that I am under really any pressure. With each year that passes, better treatments come out. So, if I can make it a decade longer, then who knows what treatments will look like then? Do the injections hurt? I am not afraid of shots, but I do not know if I can give myself one. I'd need like 3 shots of whiskey and a rag to bite down on, and then I might be able to do it. Hope alcohol doesn't interact with the medications (I don't drink much normally).
- cryzinger 1y ago
  In my experience the injections are very mild and easy to administer. As a kid I used to be afraid of becoming diabetic because I didn't think I'd be able to give myself insulin shots, but now I give myself a number of shots without issue. For most of these drugs, including lower-dose Skyrizi (like a "psoriasis only" dose), it's an auto-injector pen almost like an EpiPen where you just pinch the skin, press down, and a spring engages with minimal pain/effort. You don't even see the needle! And then my higher-dose Skyrizi is unique (as in, I've never seen any other biologics that do this, but it might become more popular) in that you actually stick a little plastic box to your leg/stomach for a few minutes that administers the dose for you. Again, you never have to see the needle, and there's a bit more sensation than a pen-style injection but it's mostly from the fact that the injection takes so long to complete (compared to a pen that takes 15-30 seconds from start to finish). Icing the area beforehand can help, too. I will also say there's truly never been a better time to be diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, given the quality and number of treatments available these days. For Crohn's and colitis in particular, if you catch it early enough and find a treatment that works for you, I believe it's possible to prevent the worst of the permanent damage so long as you remain in remission or mild-at-worst inflammation. Compare that to twenty years ago when there were only a few treatment options, which made it much harder to get in remission, which increased your odds of needing surgery or similar.

hirvi74 1y ago

> that psoriasis is highly comorbid with both Crohn's/colitis and arthritis 2/3 of my biggest fears in life lol. The other being some form of dementia. I have had worsening digestive issues, albeit this was something I had prior to the psoriasis disease. Honestly, I keep trying to hold out for as long as I can -- not that I am under really any pressure. With each year that passes, better treatments come out. So, if I can make it a decade longer, then who knows what treatments will look like then? Do the injections hurt? I am not afraid of shots, but I do not know if I can give myself one. I'd need like 3 shots of whiskey and a rag to bite down on, and then I might be able to do it. Hope alcohol doesn't interact with the medications (I don't drink much normally).

cryzinger 1y ago
In my experience the injections are very mild and easy to administer. As a kid I used to be afraid of becoming diabetic because I didn't think I'd be able to give myself insulin shots, but now I give myself a number of shots without issue. For most of these drugs, including lower-dose Skyrizi (like a "psoriasis only" dose), it's an auto-injector pen almost like an EpiPen where you just pinch the skin, press down, and a spring engages with minimal pain/effort. You don't even see the needle! And then my higher-dose Skyrizi is unique (as in, I've never seen any other biologics that do this, but it might become more popular) in that you actually stick a little plastic box to your leg/stomach for a few minutes that administers the dose for you. Again, you never have to see the needle, and there's a bit more sensation than a pen-style injection but it's mostly from the fact that the injection takes so long to complete (compared to a pen that takes 15-30 seconds from start to finish). Icing the area beforehand can help, too. I will also say there's truly never been a better time to be diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, given the quality and number of treatments available these days. For Crohn's and colitis in particular, if you catch it early enough and find a treatment that works for you, I believe it's possible to prevent the worst of the permanent damage so long as you remain in remission or mild-at-worst inflammation. Compare that to twenty years ago when there were only a few treatment options, which made it much harder to get in remission, which increased your odds of needing surgery or similar.