Okay, I have recently been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis . I was looking for a blog to read about some one my age and how they are dealing with PA. It may exist but so far I have not found it so I'm going to start ranting about PA here and I hope it serves some usefulness for people in similar situations.

I'm 25
I lead a fairly active life
I have a milk protein allergy
I love knitting, playing the piano, cycling, caving, canyoning, crochet all of which has been put on hold since my right index finger seized up last April . ( I am right handed)

My finger is swollen and the top joint is quiet sore part of the joint in my thumb has also swollen and I occasionally get aches in my wrist. Now I have been diagnosed any pain or ache in any joint has me worrying about which will be the next joint to swell up.

I attended a clinic in May 2011 when after lots of rest and icing the swelling in my finger did not improve I was put on Diclac/Diaphene (Diclofenac Sodium 75mg), two a day to reduce the swelling I only take them if really needed. In June it was suggested that I might have arthritis - I was devastated and started to completely write my life off. I needed about 3 or 4 days to take it in and it involved some crying. Then I started to see the positives .. its only in a finger and a half .my legs, eyes, ears etc were all working fine and it so far had not had a huge affect on my life. I type funny, but my left hand is getting a lot more exercise and I can still drive If driving becomes a problem I can walk in to work instead. I also have a full time permanent job .. which is pretty scarce these days.

I had my first appointment with the reumatologist on wednesday last. Some where in the back of my mind I was holding out in hope that I just had extreme tendonitits... I have read up on every type of Arthritus and none of the classic symptoms for any type matched my presentation . I don't have any lower back pain or have any swelling in my eyes (yet). I've been for blood tests ( I'll get the results soon ) and have to start steroids for a month and after that I'll be put on a disease modifying drug Methotrexate ( which in high doses is used for chemotherapy).

That is all for now, next appointment with my ruemy is in a month. The steroids are by all accounts going to make me ravenous not looking forward to that but any ways not much I can do about that but try and eat loads of salad :D !

laters

Katie