When living with a chronic disease like psoriasis, the treatment and care of it can be time consuming. It can start to feel overwhelming with visits to the doctor, medications, dealing with the insurance company, nutrition, and vitamins and supplements — and don’t forget the endless moisturizing!
There are ways to organize your tasks and routines to lessen some of the time spent on caring for your psoriasis. These five tips can help simplify your care.
1. Plan for doctor’s visits
We’ve all been to those visits where you wait and wait, and then, you wait some more. When the doctor finally comes in, there is a whirlwind of questions — usually from the doctor — and then suddenly, they’re gone!
- Keep a running list of questions and concerns for your doctor. You can either keep the list in a notebook or note on your phone, but have it somewhere that you’ll remember to bring it to your appointment.
- If you’re on medication, keep a list of them, note how long you’ve been taking them, and jot down any side effects you’ve been experiencing.
- For visits that could include new treatments, check out your options beforehand. Identify some treatment choices that align with your preferences, and come prepared to share your views. And add them to that list!
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- For example, are you comfortable giving yourself a shot at home? Or will you remember to take a pill twice a day? Maybe you prefer a topical approach?
- Knowing your preferences will streamline the conversation with your healthcare team and might minimize discussion of treatments that you don’t want to consider. For visits that could include new treatments, check out your options beforehand. Identify some treatment choices that align with your preferences, and come prepared to share your views. And add them to that list!
2. Calling the insurance company
To avoid scrambling while you’re on the phone with the insurance representative, prepare for the following before you dial up.
- Have a copy of your member credentials and/or numbers readily available.
- If you have one, a copy of your prescription(s) with the medication dosage.
- Your doctor’s information: phone, fax, address, and the administrator or nurse who is the main contact.
- Have any notes from your conversations with your healthcare team about your care or treatment at hand.
3. Psoriasis nutrition plan
For some living with psoriasis, certain foods can be a trigger for a flare or worsen existing symptoms. Understanding your food triggers and avoiding them can ease discomfort.
- Keep a list handy of foods that you know from experience you should avoid. Keep a second part of that list with foods that you want to eat more of.
- Consolidate recipes, and keep a list of your favorite meals in one place, remembering to add new favorites as you find them.
- Devote some to time pre-planning and/or pre-preparing meals that will ultimately save time during the week. It will also help you avoid foods that will cause you discomfort.
4. Vitamins, meds, and supplements
- Separate your medications into a pill organizer based on time of day.
- Set alarms to remind yourself when it’s time to take them.
- Keep your pill organizer in a place you’ll be when the alarms go off so you can easily grab it.
5. Product routine
- Keep the products that you use for your skin routine together in the room where you will use them. If it’s convenient, separate products into AM and PM.
- Moisturize as soon as you get out of the shower. Better yet, towel off and apply lotion while you’re still standing in the shower to get a head start on the lotion absorbing.
- Keep moisturizer tucked away in places around the house so you’ll always have some handy.
The Takeaway
It can be easy to feel overpowered by your psoriasis care routines. With some patience and planning, you can organize your routines and plans to cut down on the time spent on caring for your psoriasis so you have time and energy left to do the things you love!