Hi there Bubbles. I am glad you are going to see an RD [rheumatologist]
as that is what everyone here always recommends. There are so many other
forms of treatment besides NSAID's [non steroidal anti inflammatory
drugs] which are called DMARD's [disease modifying anti rheumatic
drugs]. If you are still nursing Enbrel has been shown to not pass
through breast milk but if you are still planning to add to your family,
options will be limited. Usually RD's start with MTX which has tiredness
and nausea symptoms in some. And they start MTX with a lose dose and
increase the dosage until it takes away the pain. It is a slow process.
So when is your appointment scheduled.
Dr. Doc has a great site with instructions of things to do before your
first visit
http://www.arthritis.co.za/
then click on index to the website and then doctor consultation
The key to any treatment is to be sure you say exactly how it is
affecting your daily life. Never say -- it is not too bad. That is what
you tell your friends or sometimes your family. This is the doctor and
he needs to know the truth to be able to help you. I have a high pain
threshold and it is probably the reason I lost so many joints before any
DMARD was started [well that and the fact that DMARD's pretty much
didn't exist save for Gold when I was finally diagnosed]. Basically, I
could smile while even in pain so the doctor's really didn't know how
bad things were.
Stick around and let us answer more.
Duckie

Hi Jenn!  Welcome, though it's a shame you have reason to find us.  I second
everything Duckie says.  A rheumatologist (RD generally in this group) will
get you going on treating hte underlying disease.  I don't know how severe
your psoriasis is, but the DMARDs for PA and/or AS will also help control
your Ps.  (a reality that is one of the factors that influenced the
classification of Ps as an auto-immune disease)

If you aren't already familiar with the National Psoriasis Foundation, I
highly recommend them.  They are an informational and research-funding body
for Ps and PA and do some wonderful work.  You can join for as little as
$1/year, so just about everyone can afford them.  Also you can get more info
on them and on the diseases mentioned at their website www.psoriasis.org

I have PA and Ps as do several others here, active and rare posters both, so
please feel free to fire away with any questions you have!

Welcome to the group, Jenn.  I am 30 & have psoriatic arthritis (PA or
PsA), too.  I am currently on Humira (a TNF-alpha blocker) and
Methotrexate (MTX) for my PA.  The upside to the treatment is that I am
clear of Psoriasis for the first time since I was 7.

You might want to talk to the RD about the biologicals, which are a
group of medications which seem to stop the progression of PA in its
tracks.  They are very expensive, especially if you don't have
insurance, but are very effective in most people.  Hang around here &
you will get all kinds of great information.  Watch out for spammers.

Plantmistress (aka Shannon)