Hear from people taking SPEVIGO

When I first started having GPP symptoms, I had no idea what it was. I was looking into graduate schools and working as a dance instructor. Dancing makes me so happy — I love ballroom, Latin, and swing dancing. I feel vibrant and free on the dance floor.

But with GPP, it felt like I was on fire from the inside out. I had to drop out of school and stop dancing. I became embarrassed by my appearance and felt isolated. I realized that I could not accept living my life like this and began an extensive search for treatment options.

I visited college libraries, researched medical databases, and looked at advocacy groups and peer support programs. I researched every corner of GPP that I could find. I spoke with many doctors. I knew I needed to find information about how I could talk to my doctor about managing my GPP, and I wanted to be informed.

I spoke with many doctors, from emergency departments to general practitioners, to rheumatologists, to dermatologists. I’ve always been shy, so it was hard for me to speak up and openly share the impact GPP was having on my life. But I felt strongly that GPP was doing damage to my body and needed to be addressed. I remained persistent and determined to find a doctor who would listen and help me manage my GPP.

 

Over time, I gained a voice and resilience to advocate for myself. I also kept the faith that there had to be a medication to help me.

Eventually, I found my current dermatologist, who was knowledgeable about SPEVIGO and felt it was a good fit for me based on my situation.

When I first heard about SPEVIGO, I was excited that there was a treatment option for GPP.

 

It’s important to have a treatment plan specific to GPP.

My advice to others living with GPP is to find your voice. I think even if you do it afraid and you do it quietly, still show up and use your voice to advocate for yourself. You deserve to feel heard and confident in the steps you’re taking to manage your GPP. If your current treatment plan is not working as well as you’d like, be open to change. Find a doctor who listens to your experiences and goals. Have discussions with your doctor to see if there’s a path that may work for you.

Resilience isn’t something that you’re necessarily born with. I think it comes from growing and struggles. It took a while for me to find a doctor that I could build a partnership with, but the long road was worth it.

Individual results may vary based on many factors, including elements like the severity of your GPP, your treatment plan, and any other conditions you may have.