I can’t remember the last time I had a good night’s sleep. It must have been more than eight years ago. Nowadays, I consider myself lucky if I manage to sleep for more than five hours a night. Most nights I would just toss and turn, and try not to scratch myself. But it’s hard when 90% of my body is covered with psoriatic plaques.
My skin has always been sensitive, ever since I was a teenager. It tends to get itchy now and then, but it was never red and inflamed as of now. I wasn’t too concerned about it at first, not until I had a full-blown flare up when I was 21.
I woke up one night and I couldn’t get out of the bed, I couldn’t even move my body. My knees were in a huge amount of pain. My body was covered in red patches and my face was swollen. I was so worried, and I didn’t know what was wrong.
I immediately went to a private clinic and the doctor told me that I was having some kind of allergic reaction. He told me to stop eating seafood and he sent me home with some medication.
Instead of recovering, my condition got worse. The patches started to grow bigger, and my scalp started to flare up. It was so bad that I had to shave off my beautiful long hair. I was so sad and confused, wondering what was happening to my body.
Someone recommended that I see a dermatologist in Tapah, who specializes in autoimmune disorders. The dermatologist told me that I have psoriasis and taught me how to cope with it. Back then I earned a good living as an account executive, so I was able to afford the medication. I was able to manage and stabilise my condition for a brief period of time.
However, I lost my job in 2010, and has been unemployed ever since. Furthermore, I was involved in a motorbike accident four years ago. I broke my left wrist, and the doctors had to insert a metal plate to help me heal. The accident had a huge impact on my life.
Life hasn’t been easy since then. My skin got worse, and I ended up developing psoriatic arthropathy. I was also diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, and my liver and heart are both slightly damaged.
Sometimes, I feel like giving up. I just don’t know what to do with my life anymore. But as tough as things get, I try to stay strong. My mother’s support is the one thing that keeps me going. I really hope that one day, I’ll be free of all this pain.
Hemala
CTX.PsO.02/MY2108099800
