Tsvetomira's Story
Tsevetomira experienced a severe flare when her psoriasis first appeared as a child. After developing psoriatic arthritis she is hopeful that starting a new treatment will help to alleviate her symptoms.
Hello.
My name is Tsvetomira and I come from Bulgaria.
I was diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris at 5 after a massive flare-up which
started a year earlier. I do not have clear memories from this period but I
remember being dragged to numerous doctors by my worried mom. Worst thing that
happened? My parent took away my bunny Errol because the docs suspected it was
a bad allergy reaction! Grrrr!!!
My mom says at that point a good percentage of my torso, arms, legs and scalp
were affected. When I was finally diagnosed, my parents declined steroid
treatment (the only available in the country at the time) due to my age.
Finally, dad found a village doctor who prescribed me tea from a selection of
herbs and a light cream for the patches. I remember that the tea was disgusting
(and put me off tea for life!) but this combo actually helped a lot. It put out
the flare-up and I have never had another one that bad.
Ever since I have had persistent scalp psoriasis and a big patch above my
ankle. I have tried numerous topical creams (non-steroid and steroid) and
shampoos but they all stop working after some time - nothing has provided a
long-term solution. I have honestly given up the battle on that front.
In 2019, about 20 years after the initial diagnosis, I was also diagnosed with
psoriatic arthritis. This diagnosis was the result of 2 years of toe pains and
swelling, limping, multiple doctors visits, test and scans. Somehow the UK
doctors just would not believe me when I was explaining to them where and how
it hurts even though my initial diagnosis was in front of them the whole time!
It seems like I am a non-standard case.
The course of anti-inflammatories was another bust for me. The pains are back
and my rheumatologist is upgrading me to a DMARD. Fingers crossed this one
works!!!
I am lucky to have a milder form of psoriasis. It does not affect my life
majorly (apart from limping a bit sometimes) and I am thankful for that. I have
learned how to live with it and, more or less, learned how to stubbornly ignore
The Itch!
Read more real-life stories from people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.