Fall/Winter

I never noticed winter being that tough on my psoriasis before. But this Fall/Winter is definitely different. The Santa Ana winds in SoCal bring very, very low relative humidity. I can use my humidifier for my bedroon, but everywhere else I go, including my office, is bone dry. I use Eucerin cream each day to moisturize, but it still isn't enough.

As far as the Enbrel goes, I have completed 14 injections, about seven weeks. I saw improvement on the trunk and legs about two weeks ago. The sores have become whitish/pink--though with many different shades of pink. Still hopeful that the Enbrel can take over the duties while I take a break from the Neoral (still taking 300mg/day). Will see the derm next Monday. Not sure if I want to taper just yet...

I've also endured a cold virus these past four weeks. My asthma has been flaring. It's never that severe, but the heaviness in my chest and wheezing are uncomfortable. I don't know if it is related to the immune suppression or not.

The stress of adjusting to a new place is not as bad as I thought it would be. Although I am still developing friendships/relationships here, the work is not as stressful. While it is more demanding than my last position, I already find it more rewarding. We just bought a townhouse about four miles away from the church which helps minimize the stress of commuting.

Every year I joke that I want clear skin for Christmas. We'll see what's under the tree this year!