Autoimmune Question

Rose · Post by **Rose** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 5:17 pm

I have a question for the group. I was wondering how many of you have other autoimmune problems? I am asking this because besides have mc, I also have psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis and Raynaud's phenomenon. We also think that I have celiac (the blood work came back pos, but the endoscopy did not show any damage).

I ever since I hit 40 I just went down hill. I have had psoriasis all my life and have always a some form of d (I was diagnosed with regular colitis when I was 19 - back then that was all there was), but the last 5 years it has just gotten worse and then last year started the night time leaking (oh the joy). The rest of this stuff has really just come out in the past 4 years. I am now 47 and I just pray that I didn't pass this along to my two kids (7 & 11).

Rose

Courtney · Post by **Courtney** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 5:46 pm

Hi Rose,

Quite a few of us have other autoimmune diseases. They seem to travel in packs. For example, I have hypothyroid (seems to be the most common other one around here) and celiac. I also have Raynaud's, although I don't think about that one bc it's so common with the others. There is some evidence that gluten sensitivity can be implicated in a number of autoimmune diseases, not just celiac and not just those that affect the digestive tract.

The good thing about that, though, is that a GF diet often can offer some relief from symptoms, if not a total reversal. Timing seems to be key, in that the earlier one is identified as gluten intolerant and goes on a GF diet, the better, whereas the later that happens the more symptoms and more permanent damage accrue.

One way to know if you've passed gluten sensitivity on to your children, is to order the genetic testing from Enterolab. That way, you would know your genes, and if you got your children tested, too, you could figure out their risks. Because they're so young, I would think that it would be early enough to block or reverse damage. It's expensive, but it might be worth it, if only for peace of mind.

Hugs,

Courtney

Post by **tex** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:02 pm

Hi Rose,

Ditto to everything that Courtney said. I believe that almost all of us have other autoimmune issues. For example, I have arthritis, drusen, and hypothyroidism, though my test for thyroid antibodies came back negative, so that may not be autoimmune-related. Before I adopted the diet, and my gut had time to heal, I also had TMJ, (temporomandibular joint disorder), and I could have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and/or chronic fatigue syndrome, (I had enough of the symptoms, but never pursued obtaining a diagnosis). As Courtney mentioned, gluten sensitivity seems to be connected with all these issues, and the sooner we get it out of our diets, the better. With gluten out of my diet, all of my other symptoms are much improved, to absent, also.

Virtually all of the guys wearing the white coats, claim that as long as we're not diagnosed with celiac disease, then we should continue to eat gluten, (in order to maintain a well-balanced diet). If gluten is so healthy, they why is it that on the average, celiacs live longer than the general population? The only difference between celiacs and the general population, is the fact that they don't eat any gluten.

Tex

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:36 pm

Howdy, I have a skin disorder, fibro, osteo and rumetoid arthritis and now the doctor says I have Menier's disease (an aer and vertigo issue which may or may not have to do with it) There are alot of us with auto-Immune issues.
But here we all try to help all we can, Tex is super about researching our questions and normally provides us with a link to related issues. There's so much knowledge here that we could all probably educate alot of G I docs.
Love Oma

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 11:49 am

Hi Rose,

I also have Raynaud's and granuloma anulare ( a skin disease) but both have been better and I don't if it is the diet or the Entocort and other meds I was taking. Not taking now so if they don't come back I will know it was the diet helping. I sure want the diet to help something!

Pat

Liz · Post by **Liz** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:53 pm

Hello Rose,
Your problems seem very similar to mine. I also have psoriasis & have been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis as well as osteo. I have a few different forms of psoriasis on different parts of my body. Also have raynauds as well as fibromyalgia. I think it goes with the territory as far as MC is concerned.

Liz

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:43 pm

So far I have only been diagnosed with hypothyroid. I also have Barretts Esophogus but I don't guess I can blame that on autoimmune problems. HaHa

Love, Shirley

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:29 pm

With all the talk about autoimmune response and whether it is a cause or a symptom, I began wondering... has anyone who has granuloma annulare researched exactly what it is in the skin that causes the inflammatory response? I have two types--the most common localized (I wonder if people think I have ringworm on my arms and wrist

) and the uncommon arcuate dermal erythema which makes my legs and trunk look like a combination of huge old burn scars and maps of unknown countries.

I would like to know if it is an enzyme, similar to Hashimoto's and celiac that causes the immune system to react. If no one has researched this, that's okay. I haven't found anything, but it's not a huge concern right now.

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:38 pm

Hi Rose, my current collection includes:

CC
Crohns
Iritis
Uveitis
Raynauds
Arthritis

--Joe

IDreamInColor · Post by **IDreamInColor** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 8:34 am

I was diagnosed with graves disease 6 years ago, I went downhill from there. I also have chronic sinus inflammation, doc said it's autoimmune, and now this micro colitis.

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 7:25 pm

MBombardier wrote:With all the talk about autoimmune response and whether it is a cause or a symptom, I began wondering... has anyone who has granuloma annulare researched exactly what it is in the skin that causes the inflammatory response? I have two types--the most common localized (I wonder if people think I have ringworm on my arms and wrist ) and the uncommon arcuate dermal erythema which makes my legs and trunk look like a combination of huge old burn scars and maps of unknown countries.

I would like to know if it is an enzyme, similar to Hashimoto's and celiac that causes the immune system to react. If no one has researched this, that's okay. I haven't found anything, but it's not a huge concern right now.

Hi Marliss,

Skin issues appear to be fairly common here however, I believe you and Pat are the only members that have mentioned granuloma annulare. Just curious when you were dx with that and what your treatment over the years has been.

Based on what I've read GA is a "cell-mediated immune response".

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6370193

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell-mediated_immunity

I believe you mentioned you have Hashimoto's and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease so you may be already be aware of the connections between GA and these diseases, as well as a host of others.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/s ... clnk&gl=us

Here's a interesting side note from 1904, a 26 year old female patient with GA and her initial treatment was arsenic and tar-lotion lotion plaster.......my, we've come a long way in 100 years! Looks like GA has been around for awhile.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... x/abstract

Crossing my fingers that you see improvement like Pat, as your diet progress's.

Love,

Joanna

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 8:13 pm

Hi Joanna!

I was diagnosed in 2009 by skin biopsy. The dermatologist gave me some samples of ProTopic ointment, but neglected to tell me that it would actually get rid of the lesions until my recheck shortly before my son got married. Since it was a formal wedding and in December, most of the colorations were covered with clothing, fortunately.

When I went to fill the prescription, the ProTopic was $130 for 1 oz. So I turned it down. At my age, I can put up with some spots. And they are slowly going away, as the doctor said that they would. It will be interesting to see if they come back, now that I'm gluten-free.

Thanks for those links! We have come a l-o-n-g way since 1904!

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 4:24 pm

When I went to fill the prescription, the ProTopic was $130 for 1 oz. So I turned it down.

$$$...ouch

At my age, I can put up with some spots. And they are slowly going away, as the doctor said that they would

Your funny...glad to here they are fading Marliss.

Love,

Joanna