Patient
1
Serena
Patient
2
Valerie
Self
Diagnosis
The appearance of an itchy, flaky rash on their skin that wasn't there before sends two people, Serena and Valerie, running to the internet to ask, WHAT is happening to my skin?
The answers they find range from bad to worse. Allergy? Dermatitis? Psoriasis? Skin cancer? The rash was spreading from their elbows and knees to their entire legs, hands, and stomachs. With the itch becoming unbearable, no drugstore lotion was working. It was time to go see the doctor.
Doctor
Visit
1
As they nervously sit in the waiting room, Serena and Valerie connect over their shared symptoms and the sense that someone else understands how they're feeling. They swap phone numbers and promise to stay in touch.
The doctor takes one look at his patient's
skin. "It looks like it could be psoriasis," he
says. "Let's try a cream. I can write you a
prescription."
Serena’s Tale
Serena communicated what she wanted from the start—a disease management option that would help her get her groove back. She did her research and spoke up about seeing a psoriasis specialist. With her dermatologist, she was able to set goals about what she was looking for from her management plan—from the start. While the first option her dermatologist put her on wasn’t a fit, she and her doctor continued to evaluate her goals beyond just skin—like making goals on the soccer field. Those open conversations together meant Serena was able to get on a therapy that worked for her. Now clear, Serena is committed to helping other people feel empowered to speak up.
Valerie’s Tale
Doubt, low confidence and lack of understanding plagued Valerie from her diagnosis. Her disease worsened, and Valerie began losing the relationships and activities that made her life great. The emotional and psychological effects of untreated psoriasis grew larger as Valerie bounced between doctors and therapies. Finally, she was recommended a psoriasis specialist who took the time to ask Valerie about what she really wanted to get out of her disease management beyond just skin. Newly empowered and aligned with her doctor on goals, Valerie was finally able to work with her dermatologist to find a plan that made a difference—but the years and burdens it took to get there have a cost.
References
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