From Fear to Recovery: Living With GPP

This Psoriasis Action Month, we are amplifying the voices of patients like Janene Tirado, whose journey with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) and palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) highlights the challenges of living with a rare and often misunderstood condition. By sharing her story of fear, resilience and hope, we aim to raise awareness, foster understanding and remind others that no one should face psoriasis alone.

Janene thought she had an allergic reaction when strange blisters appeared on her foot during a golf tournament. Within hours, both feet were covered, she had a fever and she could barely walk.

By that evening, the blisters had spread, and she went to the emergency room. Despite her pain and fever, she was misdiagnosed with athlete’s foot and sent home with creams she knew weren’t right. Overnight, her condition worsened: Both feet became covered in painful blisters, she couldn’t walk and she was shivering with fever.

She remembers the initial confusion and fear after receiving unclear guidance from her local emergency room. “I didn’t know where else to go,” she says, describing the helplessness of leaving the emergency room without a clear plan. Searching online offered little reassurance, and learning that her condition could potentially be serious left her anxious and scared.

When she finally got to see a dermatologist, she could barely walk through the door. The doctor immediately recognized what was happening: Janene had GPP, a rare, serious and potentially life-threatening form of psoriasis. He explained that she faced a long recovery but that with proper care, she could get through it.

While receiving the diagnosis brought some relief, the aftermath of her flare has had lasting effects on her daily life. She struggles with scarring and sensitivity on her feet, which affects her ability to wear her favorite shoes or walk in lakes without worry. Janene describes a persistent caution in daily life, always mindful of potential triggers, and reflects on the uncertainty of what might have caused the flare.

Despite the challenges, Janene encourages others not to give up. With the right doctor, proper medication and determination, patients can regain normalcy. Her story underscores the emotional toll of living with GPP/PPP and the resilience required to navigate the conditions.

For more information and resources, visit The National Psoriasis Foundation.