Auto-Immune Problems

[celia]

Hi Everyone,

I'm curious if there's been past discussion of auto-immunity on the forum. It seems like more and more of us are popping up with additional auto-immune diseases, thyroid issues in particular. From what I understand, once you have one auto-immune disease, it's more likely to develop a second one, and certain auto-immune diseases occur more commonly together. There's not enough research yet to know what might be a partner to MC, but auto-immune thyroid seems to be popping up frequently in this forum!

I've been reflecting on the fact that my experience has been quite different than most people in this forum. For example, I have never had a problem with D., aside for the initiating event of my illness which was probably due to a bacterial or viral infection. I believe this might be because my MC is not a long standing illness, but a new one that was caught early while at the "mild" stage. I'm confident that being gluten, dairy, soy, etc---free will help me to heal and avoid the onslaught of D.

I am SO much better than I was in 2004 and 2005, but I still have some symptoms that won't quit ---- like a dry mouth in the middle of the night, dry skin, neuropathy, etc. They are starting to wake me up again in the middle of the night. They seem to jive with a mild case of Sjogren's Syndrome, another auto-immune condition.

I think the best defense against any auto-immune disease is eating a good diet, which I do. At the same time, I am finding it useful to be aware that other conditions can develop so I am not caught by surprise or don't dismiss the symptoms.

Curious if you have any thoughts on the topic.

Be well, Celia

[artteacher]

Hi Celia,

I'm not sure which comes first, the chicken and the egg, or the MC and the autoimmune problems. I began having signs of autodisease (rash across the cheeks, fatigue/lupus) before I showed signs of MC. But then I had gas and bloating back then, too. I was diagnosed with lupus before MC, but that's probably because MC is even harder to diagnose. If I had to register a vote, I would say they went hand in hand rather than one condition preceeding another.

All anecdotal, nothing scientific,
Love, Marsha

[tex]

Celia,

Yes, apparently all autoimmune diseases are in some way linked:

http://www.cureautoimmunity.org/Common%20Cause.htm

http://www.aarda.org/common_thread_art.html


Past topics that discussed autoimmune issues:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... autoimmune



Related topics from the information forums:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... autoimmune

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... autoimmune

Tex

[Tessa]

Hi Celia

Interesting topic you have started.

I agree with your comments.

In my opinion, our main problem is based on our auto-immune system.
And starting from that basic rule, everything can happen.
Even though, it is true that certain auto-immune diseases occur more commonly together, for instance, Graves Disease, Thyroid, MC, DH...
In fact, I think I have an auto-immune thyroid disease...
I also have a dry mouth, sometimes it makes me wake up caughing. I have extremely dry skin too...

Yes, many of us share similar diseases.

Up to now, the best defense against any auto-immune disease must be eating a good diet, which I do too. There is no cientific advance with regard to the immune system. And, as you mention, being aware that other conditions can develop (so therefore, knowing symptoms, etc.) is important.

Good topic for a poll!

Love,
Tessa

[harvest_table]

This is braintalk thread is chock full of good links on this subject. About half way down the first page it gets into MC stuff.

Take a gander at the Lupus Sjogren's section at read the link Gluten-Sensitivity masquerading as systemic Lupus.

http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/sho ... php?t=3611

This is very interesting reading and worth bookmarking for those interested in learning more about the gluten sensitivity/autoimmune relationship.

Love,
Joanna

[tex]

Thanks, Joanna.

Love,
Wayne

[Tessa]

A lot to read... You have given me work: but the one I like.

Thank you for all the links

Love,
Tessa

[Tessa]

I have been reading all your links through... And it is really astonishing...

Many diseases are related with autoimmune diseases: up to now they found 80!!!

I also found an excellent checklist for autoimmune diseases in one of your links...

Again, thank you for all the information,

Love,
Tessa

[celia]

Great links! Thanks Joanna. Celia

[annie oakley]

Very Interesting....Question tho....is the radh linked to Lupus or is is common with MC? Love Oma

[tex]

Huh? What's radh?

Love,
Tex

[Canadian Karen]

perhaps she meant rash?

Karen

[tex]

Oh! LOL. You're probably right. Thanks.

Oma, you're referring to two different types of rash. The famous "butterfly rash", or lupus rash, is a redness on both cheeks that often occurs with lupus patients, after exposure to the sun.

Herpetiformus dermatitis is a more severe rash that can appear, usually on the upper body, of celiacs and others who are gluten sensitive. HD tends to be very itchy, and is marked by pustules. It will disappear once gluten is withdrawn from the diet.

Love,
Wayne

[tex]

Ok, I think that this is the best article that I've come across to date, which explains the cause and relationships between the various autoimmune diseases, and how to treat the cause, not just the symptoms:

http://www.life-enthusiast.com/index.ph ... es&Q2=Rona

Note the long list of beneficial natural supplements, in the next to last paragraph.

Tex

[harvest_table]

That's a very good article on Leaky Gut Tex.. Although I suffer few maladies these days I suspect that the brain fog I experience from time to time may be related to this. All these problems are so intertwined.
Will do more research on the natural supplements it mentions. Thanks.

Love,
Joanna