What other autoimmune disorders/diseases do mcers have?

[JenniferS]

Same question, and when did you first notice symptoms? When were the other autoimmune disorders diagnosed?

Also, do we know for sure if LC is autoimmune?

How prevalent is MS with MC sufferers?

[Zizzle]

I was diagnosed with Amyopathic Dermatomyositis (basically autoimmune skin rash, a close cousin to Lupus), 3 years after my LC diagnosis. However, I had my first skin flare after my first pregnancy 9 years ago, but wasn't formally diagnosed. I believe I had autoimmunity triggered well before the active/obvious LC was triggered, although I had mild IBS and lactose intolerance for years prior. I also have the HLADQ2 celiac/autoimmunity gene. I believe LC is autoimmune, although the reaction to "self" may be a reaction to microbes that live in our gut.

[tex]

Hi Jennifer,

Except for hayfever and asthma, my autoimmune-type issues presented after the onset of MC symptoms, and disappeared as my MC symptoms resolved in response to diet changes. They included arthritis, TMJ, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Also, do we know for sure if LC is autoimmune?

That's sort of a trick question, because IMO none of these diseases are truly autoimmune in origin. Virtually all of them are caused by an exogenous agent (again, IMO). The bottom line is, if we consider any of these diseases to be autoimmune, then LC qualifies just as well as any of the rest of them.

You might also be interested in this poll:

How Many of Us Have Other Autoimmune Issues?

Tex

[JenniferS]

Wow, Zizzie, that must be tough!

Thanks, Tex. I'll check that thread out. :)

[Zizzle]

Wow, Zizzie, that must be tough!

I'm very lucky. My case is rather mild compared to most. However, I'll take D over red, itchy skin ANYDAY!!

[Leah]

I have two other autoimmune issues that presented themselves before MC ( thyroid being one of them). I, however am IgA deficient which makes me more prone to having autoimmune issues.

leah

[UkuleleLady]

Hi Jennifer,

I had asthma most of my life but it hasn't been present in the past four or five years (I'm 38)

Also I had been diagnosed with PCOS, but I'm not a typical PCOSer (wrong body type and regular cycles). They diagnosed based on my hormonal profile and my infertility.

Also TMJ

And interstitial cystitis.

And I have GERD, may or may not be autoimmune.

All of these have been in my 20s-30s, save for the asthma that I've had since four.
All prior to my cc diagnosis this year.

[tex]

Hi Nancy,

I'm guessing (and this is strictly a guess) that your MC has probably been present (possibly without clinical symptoms) for 4 or 5 years (the same term for which your asthma has been absent). Here's why:

I had major asthma problems when I was young, but I seemed to "outgrow" it by the time I reached my 20s. During my early teen years, hay fever became a major problem, and it stayed with me until my GI symptoms began to show up. One day it dawned on me that during the whole time that I was reacting, I never had any hay fever episodes. After I changed my diet and reached remission, it apparently took 3 or 4 years for my gut to heal, because only then did my hay fever return, after being absent for roughly 7 or 8 years.

My take on this is that similar to the way that intestinal worms can distract the immune system's attention and put Crohn's disease or UC in remission, my MC distracted my immune system so that it didn't react to pollen, molds, etc., for years. Once the damage to my gut healed, the pollen and mold sensitivity resumed. During the past few years though, I've discovered that large doses of folic acid (which are part of my Metanx supplement) apparently suppress hay fever reactions, because the longer I have taken Metanx, the weaker my hay fever symptoms have become. This past spring for example, I never felt the need to take an antihistamine.

Tex

[Squamish]

I have Ankylosing Spondylitis. It took a long time to find out what was wrong with me. It is considered an autoimmune disease. Some complications that come with this are IBS and iritis. My sister who also has AS also has episode of iritis. I started getting symptoms of IBS. It wasn't until I had a colonoscopy with a biopsy I found out I had collagenous colitis and/or lymphocytic/microscoptic colitis. I even went on long fasts (21 days) and did colonics all during that time to cure it. Once I started eating again it came back. I am an extremely healthy eater and juice all the time. This thing is horrible to have.

[UkuleleLady]

Heya Tex! Enjoying the heat?! :) It's keeping me indoors more than I would like. I might move to the mountains!

I appreciate your perspective on the distraction theory of asthma vs. MC...interesting! And I agree with you that I probably had the makings of MC all along. In fact, I think the interstitial cystitis was partly MC (meaning the pain and malaise is similar), or perhaps they are even the same disease, one in my bladder, one in my gut. I believe it's all epithelial cells and also hypersensitivity/food allergy/allergy related.

I REALLY do think the susceptibility toward asthma and MC are related on many levels...mast cell problems, allergens, hyperimmunity, etc. The GERD, all a part of that too.

As far as the asthma, in my case, however, there was a definite correlation between taking up running, and the asthma subsiding. My lungs became so powerful that my pulmonologist couldn't believe my scores on the breath test. I was running daily and focusing on breath, and my asthma went away.

The MC really blasted me years later and at that time I had been on Dexilant and Lansoprazole. I think they were the straw that broke the camel's back (along with stress).

So, it is possible my body found something more "interesting" to focus on, or, that this problem was going to manifest in some tissue, somewhere (if the asthma had gone into spontaneous remission). Or the PPIs which are both indicated in cases of MC.

Happy Weekend,
Nancy

[Sheila]

I discovered I had celiac disease about the same time I was diagnosed with MC. I also have rosacea, TMJ that improved recently, esophageal spasms that also have improved. Celiac and gluten intolerance are genetic in origin.

My mother had MC, the celiac disease I inherited from her, polymyalgia rheumatica, a recurrent and extremely itchy rash that was never diagnosed.

Sheila W

[tex]

Heya Tex! Enjoying the heat?! :) It's keeping me indoors more than I would like. I might move to the mountains!

I find myself hanging around an air conditioner more than usual these days, too.

All of what you described makes perfect sense. I never was much at running, but I took up trumpet playing, when I was 12, for the same reason — to strengthen my lungs.

Thanks, I hope your weekend is thoroughly enjoyable, also.

Tex

[Jan G]

I have fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism. Both diagnosed before MC.

[jessica329]

I've had eczema and oral allergy syndrome (birch pollen) my whole life.

[Joefnh]

Good question, I have wondered how autoimmune issues stack up with MCrs

let's see my collection to date:

Crohn's disease (jejunum)

Microscopic colitis (CC)

Anklyosing Spondylitis

Muscular dystrophy (autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis)