charring cross hospital not what used to be!

I'm sorry you're having such problems adminstratively, and medically.

I'm in the US and sadly I don't know where you should go in the UK.

How much MTX did they give you? Did they prescribe Folic Acid? Were you seen by a bord certified rheumatologist?  [Sorry, but on this British website I keep reading about "consultants" and that tells me a lot about nothing. Was it a rheumatologist?] Did they offer you the injectable version of MTX which doesn't make you as sick?

Have they offered you a biologic?

Exactly, in what way, was MTX making you sick?

Pred over the long haul is not the way to go.

As far as your paperwork, you should demand a copy of each and every one of your labs/x-rays, whatever. They're yours.

I've been chastised before for saying so, but frankly, I think this all speaks of poor medical care.

stephen308  I can fully appreciate your despair. Its not the only hospital to make blunders and to be fumbling in the dark. I hear one Swiss hospital which I shall not name, informed one of their patients he would never again be able to eat or drink anything!!  His wife had him transferred to a private clinic and within 3 HOURS he was eating a yoghourt and now is eating daily in their main restaurant! Had this happened in America the first hospital would have been dragged through the courts. I would suggest you do your best to see if you can receive CELL STEM THERAPY. It is known as PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) and involves having your blood taken as in a normal way, then it is put into a centrifuge which separates the white cells from the red. This is then injected into the offending area in the body. The cells first creats inflammation, then migrate to the injured area and then start to repair. During treatment you cannot of course take anti-inflammatory drugs as they negate the inflammation from the cell stems. Its a new treatment and perhaps in the UK not yet recognized. However I think they are beginning to realize the value of this therapy. For the pain ask for FENTANYL PATCHES 12mg. Stick on upper part of your body. So sorry to hear you suffering so much. I also have arthritis, no cartilege, twisted ligaments and am doing all I can to avoid an operation which would also involve cutting out more healthy ligaments in the hamstring and it is not feaible to attach these to the weakened ones in the lower leg so NO guarantee is putting it mildly. Try to think of those worse off, without any limbs. I wish you well.  Best wishes.

Sorry to hear about your problem, because it’s a known topic for me.

I also had psoriatic arthritis with a serious diagnosis L40.0(-) and about six years ago it really flared up in my joints so I couldn't exercise anymore and two years ago patches started appearing on my skin and under my nails. Over a year ago I started using a natural Omega 3 oil from a North-European producer, which balances the Omega 6:3 ratio to a level of 3:1 or lower. The producer also offers blood tests from a couple of internationally certified independent laboratories, to show you all the changes that occur.

As for the test, it’s a simple dry blood-spot test for home sample collection. Leading laboratories analyze the sample to determine your fatty acid profile as a reflection of your diet. The balance test identifies levels of 11 fatty acids in the blood with 98% certainty. You will learn your blood levels of omega-3 and your ratio of omega 6:3 for balance, plus receive a report to increase your health and dietary awareness. Test results will show whether your diet is balanced or unbalanced.

My first test ratio was 8,4:1, second after four months 3,4:1 and third a year later 1,6:1 and I’d consider myself cured now.

Finally, with a ratio of 3:1 or lower then all lifestyle diseases (skin, joints, asthma, allergies, diabetes 2, high blood pressure, thyroid, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases and etc.) will start disappearing. I know lot of recovered people now, including my brother-in-law, who has completely gotten rid of his 30 year old asthma, multiple allergies and reflux.

The only annoyance is that it can currently only be ordered at the moment in Scandinavia, the Baltic states, Iceland, the US, Poland and the Netherlands. However, if you have any acquaintances abroad, it wouldn’t be an issue.