((((( Alan )))))
It's a very tough road to have a large percentage of skin surface affected by psoriasis.

Other than my scalp, which I have been able to keep from a full flare so far (fingers crossed), I get it where the skin has been injured and/or stressed. Elbows. I get it if/when a surgeon cuts me for a procedure, on the incision site. This is called "koebner phenomenon" or "koebner effect."

Koebner phenomenon:

http://psoriasis.about.com/od/preven...nerization.htm

A sunburn can also set off a psoriasis flare.
Any type of trauma to the skin can set off a flare of psoriasis.


DejaVu

Hi. I ran this whole Turkey thing by him. You would not believe the look he gave me. Alan can only sit in the sun for rare times, he's very sensitive.

He sits by a window but we keep them closed and put the a/c.

He never had psoriasis this bad until the stress of dealing with our son got so bad it triggered his body inflammation. That's the only thing I can think of.

He NEVER had it like this and I'm married to the guy for 36 years.

I believe all these auto immune things are triggered by SOMETHING, whether it's toxic environment, stress, WHATEVER.

In my husband's case I believe it is what our son put us through.

And it happened to me too.

About 20 years ago I went through a thing with my bladder which drove me absolutely crazy. I thought I had infections, whatever. I had all the symptoms. I went to urologist, gynocologists, took trans vaginal sonos, all kinds of urine tests, cystoscopies, whatever. This was over a 4 year period. It was also the time that we had to do Tough Love with our son who was driving us bonkers. Took a toll on the both of us.

Every test was negative. What were my symptoms?. I had the urge to pee. Morning, noon and night, I had this urge. I peed just fine, I had no discoloration, no burning, no nothing, just the constant urge down there, like my whole area was in one big spasm. I remember asking one urologist "Could I possibly have Interstitial Cystitis?" I had looked that one up to. He looked at me and said "Oh my god, of course you don't have that".

Imagine living this way for 4 years. How did it end? I will never forget this. Oh, I used hot packs, (that would help) but it lasted on and off (mostly on) for about 4 years.

I remember asking my doctor at the time, "can't you give me some muscle relaxer?" so he prescribed SOMA. Never forget this as long as I live.

I never even took the darn thing. I placed the bottle on the top of the toilet tank next to my box of tissues and the plan was to take one pill before I went to bed. I was taking a hot shower. I was looking at the Soma saying to myself "maybe TONIGHT I'll get some relief'. As I was under the hot shower, my whole bottom of my body went into a release like I could not imagine. The bladder area DE-SPASM'D for want of a better word.

I could not believe it. I just stayed under that hot shower for as long as i could and it felt marvelous.

That horrible condition never came back. Thank god. I do get leg and ankle spasms upon awakening but I just got Morton Eptom Lotion in the mail yesterday and began using it according to Mrs. D's instructions.

Time will tell.

But I will never forget those 4 years and what stress can do to us.

Melody

Hi.

I have to tell you something that happened this morning (it's not off/topic and it pertains to being exposed to stuff).

I ran into a gal that I know. She's usually very healthy, about 45 (looks fabulous), is happily married with no children. She also works as an accountant.

I noticed that she put on a few pounds but of course said nothing other than "you look great", which she really did.

After I said "what's cooking?" she said "I've been having problems. I'm severely anemic (to which I chimed up) are you taking B-12? and she looked at me and said OMG, absolutely I went to GNC and I take 1000. and I said ""Listen to me, if I know one thing, it's what kind of B-12 people should take. It's called Methyl B-12 and began telling her what I took and what I learned. She said OMG, I never knew that, my doctor never told me that, he just said 'go to GNC and get some B-12". I told her where I got mine and then I looked at her neck. She said 'I'm having thyroid problems" I said 'That's a goiter right' She said 'how did you know?" I said "my father had that and he had it removed and he was fine. You have an underactive thyroid right?" She said 'yes, I put on 10 lbs". I said "well you know why and you'll get that removed and you'll be fine' She was her happy go lucky self and then I said "I wish you well". She then said:

"Well, they found a lump in my breast and I'm having it out next week"

I then looked at her and I said "OMG, you definitely are being exposed to SOMETHING because all these conditions hit you all at once, what are you exposed to, do you have any idea?" and she said :

"You better believe I know what I'm exposed to, everybody in my workplace smokes". I just looked at her and said 'OH"

I mean what the heck was I supposed to say?:

Jeez.

Anyway, I told her to read up on the Methyl B-12 before she buys any, I explained how the ones in GNC is cyano and that the body has to convert it to Methyl B-12 and it's just better to start with the Methyl B12.

I hugged her.

So in her case, I think environment plays a key part in her developing all these medical conditions.

I know my uncle had to take the sun in small incriments when he started.

First 5 minutes for the first few days, then increased it to 10 for a few days up to 15. Maybe your Alan should consider this. Do you live in a tropical zone? I say this only because it worked so well for my uncle. He was Finnish and fair skinned.

I'm saddened people are not protected from second-hand smoke at work.
Any indoor smoking at work places here is illegal and most companies frown upon employees smoking at all, even on their time away from work.

Melody, it must have felt rewarding to be able to help your friend by educating her.


DejaVu

Now there is evidence of 3rd hand smoke, basically its the lingering smoke/chemicals that stick to other peoples clothes and then you breathe those in.

Hi Neuroproblem,

Makes sense to me. Clothing full of smoke makes me feel very ill. If hubby and I happen to get exposed to smoke, we cannot rest until showered and clothing is washed. It's a chore if it happens at an evening affair and we get home late. Then, we each shower, tie the clothing up in plastic bags, toss the bags in the garage and wash them in the morning.

DejaVu

I just don't get it. I know it's addictive. I get that part. But I was outside of a hospital once and I saw doctors coming out and smoking. I went up to one female doctor and she saw the inquisitive look on my face and she said 'Yeah, I know, you want to know why I smoke?" I said "I'm not being rude but you do know what you do know, do you not?" She said "Yeah, but the last time I stopped smoking I put on 25 lbs, and I'd rather have cancer than be fat".

Now what response could I have possibly made? I had no answer. I thanked her for her explanation and left to get my bus.

And I went to a funeral of my friend who died at 53 from cancer that spread all over and outside many of our friends were smoking. I walked up one of them and said "She's inside (well, you know what followed)

Do you know my friend looked at me, started to shake and said "I can't talk about, I'm scared enough".

And I presently know someone who is about 57, has had two different types of cancer and STILL smokes.

Can't be in denial, she's had two types of cancer.

So what the heck is in this cigarette that has all these people smoking? It must be a chemical reaction in their brain that makes them feel that they are invincible???

Mel

P.S. My mother smoked, my father smoked, her sisters and brothers smoked. I do not, nor have I ever smoked. But when I was 26, the doctor was listening to my chest, looked at me and said "How long have you smoked"? I looked at him and said 'What the H are you talking about I don't smoke". He said 'Oh, everybody around you smokes right?" I said "yeah", He said 'you have the lungs of a smoker" He then said 'As soon as you are able, get away from these people and don't be around anyone who smokes'. Thankfully, my parents moved to Florida and I got an apartment and no one has ever smoked in my apartment nor do I go near anyone who smokes. But this whole 3rd hand smoke has me concerned because I DO know people who smoke (and they know not to smoke around me).

Hi Melody!

Smoking is often listed as a possible trigger for Psoriasis.

Smoking is sometimes considered a trigger for the onset of some other chronic illnesses, beyond respiratory illnesses and/or cancers.

Many people in my family smoke, too, even though there are a lot of asthma and allergies. We have seen grandparents die from smoking-related illnesses, as well. I am watching my brother, in his mid-50's, trying to navigate his life with rather serious COPD (he has not been able to quit smoking). I am sad and I know he is also sad it's gone this far.

As far as I can see, it's truly a serious addiction, often very tough to break.
While I cannot tolerate the smoke, I have deep compassion for anyone addicted to smoking. I've read the addiction is as tough to break as an addiction to heroine. I watch siblings trying hard to quit and then relapse again. Breaks my heart to see them very seriously want to quit and unable to overcome this addiction. This has to be a very strong/serious addiction.

My heart goes out ~

Hugs Sweet Lady!

DejaVu

Hi.

Thankfully Alan quit smoking over 35 years ago. What was his reason? He was an insurance investigator and he was reviewing death claims and they all had one thing in common. People were dying of smoking. His brain had a light bulb moment and he quit.

I believe the stuff they put in cigarettes now is much stronger than what people smoked back in the day.

But isn't eating the wrong stuff also an addiction? I used to be really big back in the day. Never saw myself as such. I just continued to eat.

But when I got my light bulb moment was when I LEARNED what food does to the body. What sugar does, what saturated fat does.

I got into eating healthfully and never looked back. Honestly it took me to be in my 50's but after that I had no problem.

I sit with people at Dunkin and watch them eat Ice Cream Sundaes and all those donuts and the first thing that pops into my mind is 'OMG, All that sugar, all that fat, it clogs the arteries" I don't know why I didn't think like that years ago but I didn't.

I view food as fuel, not as feeding my heart. Maybe that's why I lost the weight and continue to sprout and eat my greens and eat protein.

I happen to enjoy this. Haven't met too many people who think of food in that fashion. I guess I got really lucky.

And I haven't drunk ( is that a word? lol) any kind of soda in over 10 years. Probably more than that.

I buy an item called True Lemonade and I get their True Raspberry Lemonade and that's what we have been drinking in this house for years.

It's just crystalized lemons or oranges, sweetened with Stevia.

I actually dilute it so one packet makes 4 quarts. Saves a lot of soda money, believe me.

I don't think I could drink anything carbonated if I tried.

Add some ice and you have the most delicious drink.

Anyway, I guess we are what our genetics make us. Thankfully I was able to stop the sugar and cold cuts and ice cream. Now I go nuts for kale, bok choy and my sprout salads.

rofl.

Melody