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Does any one else have any other Autoimuine Diseases?

Scrappingbee
0 Recommendations

Hi everyone just wondering if anyone else with Ra suffers from any other auto immune disorders? I have RA & MS. It is sometimes hard for me to tell when I am having a problem if it is being caused by which disease. I have had relapsing- remitting MS since 1995 right now it is in remission. I was diagnosed with RA in 2000. My RA is severe and it causes a lot of pain. I have done one treatment of Rituxan in Nov of 07. It helped me but I am backsliding and will need to have another treatment. What other auto immune disorders do any of you have and how do you determine the source of your symptoms?

Explore topics in this discussion:

Cancer Psoriatic arthritis Polymyalgia rheumatica Rheumatoid arthritis Scleroderma Prednisone Fibromyalgia Vitiligo Sarcoidosis Osteoporosis Dermatomyositis Stress Arthritis CellCept Melanoma Psoriasis Stroke Fosamax Pain Hypothyroidism Methotrexate Amyloidosis

16 replies

GaPeach

Hi,
I actually don't have RA, I have PA (psoriatic arthritis), psoriasis, and localized amyloidosis. I am currently on Enbrel and have very pleased with the results. My lesions have almost gone away completely and my fingers no longer swell so large that I can't bend them. While I do know the meds carry some risks, the benefits have been worth it ....at least for me.

MichelleN

I just joined today and haven't gone back far yet, but I do have an auto immune problem. My immune system is almost non existant now with Encephilitis. I don't know which is causing my arthritis, but I know that I have both.

samknow

I have a couple of auto immune disorders. I have RA, Fibromyalgia, RSD, and Scelorderma. The two most active ones are my RSD and Scelorderma.

Samknow

jdfwood

I have RA and Sjogrens Syndrome. I also have OA.

DPLynne

I have hypothyroidism and Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Am trying to decrease prednisone treatment for PMR and am not clear on where joint pain comes from.....Makes me crazy because I don't want to relapse to the PMR which seems to be improving.

fulviaschild

Hello,
I have ostearthritis,crohns ds,IBS,and fibromyalgia. I guess you can say my immune system is a little comprimised. HA. I have to keep a good sense of humor about what is going on or I would be crazy. Like you I never know which ds is effecting me on any given day. I have been on prednisone and now i am on Humira My rheumatologist is weaning me off of the prednisone and I am so glad, the side effects are horrible.
My Dr, said that it is hard to tell when you have multiple things going on becaue the symptoms are so simular.

JOT

DBLynne: It is so unusual to hear of someone else with Polymyalgia Rheumatica! Thank you for posting.

I was diagnosed with PMR (in Sept. of 08) and I too, am trying to reduce the daily need for Prednisone. I was down to 4.5mg. but due to an elevation of my C-Reactive Protein and ESR inflammation levels, had to return (as of today) to 5mg. (or greater if necessary).

I have some research information to share and also a good PMR forum, if you are interested.

Since our autoimmune disease is not common to the postings here, perhaps we could 'talk' as Team Inspire 'friends'.

My best to you,
JOT

DPLynne

To JOT, There are a whole bunch of us with PMR on the National Osteoporosis website/blog. Check it out and let me know what you think.

I am down to 2.5 mg 6 days a week and 5mg one day a week and 'so far, so good'.

DPLynne

JOT

Dear DPLynne:
That is a nice low dosage and a good way to average it for the week.

My Rhm. MD has given me some choice on the Predn. amount needed according to discomfort, but not over 7.5 (at this time). After working so hard at lowering, I really am disheartened to go back up. There must be other ways to lower the body's imflammation levels. Long term, those higher levels can cause atheroscolosis(sp? no spell check) and even cancer.

Re: PMR -I had not discovered the NOF blog. Thank you, I will look it up. The one I am on now is
www.arthritis.ca
(Canada and UK)

After a bad reaction to Fosamax and reading of its multi-adverse side effects, I am drawn to alternative thinking on the treatment of any autoimmune disease and wonder how many of us could benefit from the promise of alternative therapies that could work in tandem with the the accepted RX. I am not talking about quackery or fringe medicine.

We, and our doctors already acknowledge how vital it is to have proper levels of Calcium, Vit. D-3 and Magnesium for bone health. It seems a normal leap to take into consideration diet, Ph blood levels, antioxidant- vitamins, minerals, enzymes, our deficient immune system and how the latter can be enhanced to ward off the body's 'free radicals'.

My mission: Looking from an autoimmune disease perspective, our health quest should be broad based and understanding how our diet, our stress level and the drugs we are given can impact us, is vital.
That is where I am at the moment.

I am not alone, that is for sure.
I am reading some very interesting research that focuses on the immune system.
(see:
www. ldninfo.org
www. lowdosenaltrexone.org)

My best to you..
Joann

SamDeTray_11

I have scleroderma, RA, OA Fibro, Sjogrens and other related health issues.

amanda2

Hi there,

Yep, I have Sarcoidosis too. My doctor said that the Sarcoidosis is actually what caused the Rheumatoid Arthritis for me. My symptoms were all RA related so I thought that's what I had, but I also had muscle pain/weakness and my body wasn't absorbing nutrients so he knew it had to be something more than just the RA. Not sure if that helps but that's how it is for me. :)

Cheers,
Amanda

robsmom54

I have RA and Crohns, the Ra goes back over 25 yrs and the Crohns was diagnosed in 2006 when my bowel ruptured.
If you have one autoimmune are you susceptible to the others?
Right now I'm worried about the swine flu because the Remicade lowers the immune system even more.
Anyone else concerned?

LaurenJ

RA (1997), auotoimmune thyroiditis (2002), vitiligo (1968), raynaud's (1986), fibromyalgia (2004)

Suzyqme

I also have autoimmune disease which can manifest itself in many ways. I have RA, atopic excema, hypothyroidism, systemic neuropathy in extremities and have had an "eye stroke" which caused total loss of sight in one eye. I have also had melanoma. Not all of this is "classified" as autoimmune disease but I'm sure it must be related. I lived a very healthy life for 60 years and then it all started to happen. My meds seem to be working (prednisone, methotrexate and Humira) but will be on medicare shortly which does not cover these expensive meds. Looking for alternatives and assistance from the drug companies.

Brian77

I've R.A ('91) and Scleroderma ('92).. and a mountain of meds to go with it.

veaton

Dermatomyositis (skin/muscle) and now Fibromyalgia.
I am now on generic for Cellcept. Off Pred & Methatrexate. Terrified of flu!

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