To say that I am be pleased with the effects of new Wonder-Drug, Stelara would be an understatement.  Sure, like any drug, there are side-effects and concerns, but thus far (a month in) I am really pleased with the results.  Johnson & Johnson, you’re my new hero.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me try this for a year under your “starving rockstar” program, and thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to be a mouthpiece for psoriasis sufferers everywhere.

First, let’s start with the side-effects.  For those psoriasis sufferers out there, about an hour after my first injection I came down with a weird migraine-like headache and a feeling of near total exhaustion.  Reading the list of potential side-effects from the website, apparently, this is fairly normal.  Three extra-strength tylenol and a two-hour nap later, I actually felt pretty good.  I’ve had no residual negative side-effects since, that I can pinpoint, and this Friday I’ll be able to see if the drug has similar side-effects after my 2nd scheduled injection.

Now the results:  These photos below show before and after the Stelara Injection at 30 days (warning, my legs are those of a psoriasis-covered Greek God).  I should point out that posting these images actually takes some ‘extra-courage’ for me – you never see me in shorts.  My legs have been really bad for a while and a point of personal frustration and anguish, partially because my skin looks bad and partially because my skin feels bad (i.e. painful).  Hopefully by sharing these images it will help create more awareness about the disease and help other psoriasis sufferers who are struggling realize that they don’t need to be ashamed; that they can still live an incredible life and still pursue their wildest dreams… and, well, as you can see, thanks to Stelara I have little to be worried about.  Oh, and with this drug (and believe me I’ve tried virtually all of them) so far, no massive cases of strep throat or other weird issues as with other treatments.  Yes, thanks Stelara for my one month of amazing!

Questions?  Why not ask me on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/kburdick1

Recently I stumbed onto a website where LeAnn Rimes bravely discussed her lifelong battle with psoriasis.  It was truly inspiring.  As you probably know, psoriasis awareness has been one of my passion projects over the last few years and I hope to inspire others living with the disease to come forward and pursue their dreams – I’m excited about LeAnn coming out and hope they’ll be others.  Psoriasis is not a contageous (nor sexy) disease, but is connected to so many other problems – including alcoholism, depression, heart disease, and other system-wide problems.  As a sufferer, I am almost always uncomfortable in my own skin; skin which cracks, burns, itches, and bleeds frequently as my immune system stupidly attacks my it as if it was some kind of dermal virus.  Sometimes I want to send a memo to my own immune system, which would read something like this:

Dear White Blood Cells,
Yo, it’s your boss Kevin (You know, owner of the body you live in and are hired to protect).  Yeah, what’s up?  Hey,  here’s a naked photo of me - you see that semi-tanned layer of soft flesh with cool tattoos and a bit of hair in all of the right places?  Yeah, that’s called “skin” you idiots!!  So when you get done playing X-box, or whatever it is you do everyday, maybe you could stop screwing around inside my body and instead focus on the flu that’s going around or making sure I don’t get some kind of STD.  I’m definitely keeping your damage deposit and may have to evict you if you guys don’t get your act together.  You are officially on f*#$ing notice – my skin is off-limits!  Hugs and Kisses.
Love, Kevin

Each October, which includes World Psoriasis Day on October 29th, I try and create some additional awareness for the disease and this year I’ve decided to do something a little radical.  For the last 2 weeks I have pulled myself off of all my psoriasis medication, medication which was managing the disease moderately well - yep, right now I’m allowing the psoriasis to ravage my body.  Don’t worry, I’ve not gone completely crazy and there is a method to this madness.  Later this week I’m participating in a drug trial for an experimental new medication called AIN457 by Novartis, some cutting edge stuff which probably won’t be FDA approved for at least a couple years.  Hey, someone’s gotta test it and if it kills me at least I die for a good cause.  Regardless of the results, I’ll be tracking my progress including photos, ideas, funny anecdotes, and whatever else comes to mind.  Hopefully you won’t mind the break from the usual music posts for a few weeks as I work through this process. 

Thanks for sticking with me and supporting me.  If want to learn more about psoriasis, it’s research, treatments, or anything else, check out:  http://www.psoriasis.org/

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Check out the Memorial Edition of The Bedroom Sessions by clicking on this link:  The Bedroom Sessions LIVE