Last fall I was suddenly (in several days) felled by psoriatic arthritis -- normal one day and a few latter was almost in a wheelchair. I was diagnosed quickly and put on a methotrexate dose once a week which has returned me almost to normal with no damage to joints evident in X-rays. That's the good news. The not so good news is that I will have to take the medication forever, or until it quits working, a cure is discovered, or I die. It can take a toll (though described as minimal) on liver and kidneys hence some routine monitoring of blood levels of something or other. So far so good.
Here's my concern --- since this started (an an unfortunate plumbing disaster in the darkroom) I have stopped shooting or processing film. I've repaired the darkroom but have some misgivings about adding any chemical exposure load to my body from film developer or Dektol. Ventilation is great in the darkroom but I process film in a tray by hand (without gloves for years). I've considered another JOBO, BTZS tubes, nitrile gloves, etc. Still I'm worried about someone with a suppressed immune system and potential extra load on the old internal organs being in a photo chemical environment.
Anyone have any experience on whether my concerns have merit or am I just engaging in catastrophic thinking? All part of the "I'm only 57" thought process related to the PA diagnosis.
I've been shooting with a view camera for over 40 years and the thought of abandoning it is unsettling.
Thanks for any opinions or feedback.
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