Re: Auto Immune

[Guest guest]

Colleen, it's good to hear that they found no fistulas. I'm assuming you

are talking about urinary incontinence (not fecal). What is the next

best guess for the reason?

RA does cause profound fatigue in many people, and thyroid problems can,

too.

If your thyroid isn't functioning well, that can also cause weight gain.

Have you seen an endocrinologist? Are you taking thyroid replacement

hormone? If you are on prednisone for your RA, that can also cause

significant weight gain.

We've been talking about diet a bit over the last few days. In my own

case, eliminating dairy seemed to help my fatigue immensely. Could be a

coincidence, but, as much as I love dairy, I won't eat much of it

anymore. I miss it, but feel much better without it.

Exercise can also help you feel more energetic. It works for me. I hope

you will enjoy Curves and start going regularly. A few members have

mentioned it previously, and said it was a good program.

Congratulations on quitting smoking!

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Auto Immune

> , you were right, not fissure, but fistula. I am glad to say the

cat scans showed no fistula's, Yea!! Sounds like something I definitly

DO NOT want to have. Didn't enjoy the 3 bottles of barium, but if anyone

has to drink barium, make sure it's cold, refrigerate it, makes it much

easier.

> Welcome to all the newbees. I don't post often, but this is a GREAT

group for SUPPORT and INFORMATION!! I'm still incontinient, looking for

why. I have RA and Colleageous Colitis as well as thyroid problems, all

began a few days of each other. As others have said before, I sure miss

my old life. It's been about a year and 1/2 and I think I have finally

accepted the fact that I have a serious illness. Fatique is my #1

problem. I joined " Curves " which I think is very good, but I work

full-time and I usually come home and sleep rather than exercise. I

guess I just have to make up my mind to go and exercise. I stopped

smoking after 38 years Feb. 2002, but I think the RA has had more of an

effect on my weight gain than not smoking. I'm up about 40 lbs and

gainning. I also think the weight gain is because my life revolves

around my work and my health. Before this illness, I was never over a

size 10, even at 56 years of age. I thing I was active enought that I

burned off what I ate, even when I stopped smoking. Now it seems my life

revolves arounf work, sleep and food. Sure that is why I'm now so heavy

and my self esteem has suffered. I would love anyone to share how they

are coping with the fatique. God Bless all of the people in Flordia and

the Caribean that have been affected by all the hurricanes. When I think

I have problems, I just listen to the news and thank God that it isn't

me. God Bless, Colleen

[Guest guest]

Colleen,

You asked about how people are dealing with fatigue. I don't have

RA, but a different autoimmune disorder, Dercum's Disease which does

cause fatigue. I don't know how you manage, working full time--I

know I couldn't do it (but SSI doesn't seem to agree.) As far as

my " other life " is concerned, where I used to walk miles, bike,

garden, play tennis, and lots of other active things, I am learning

to be content with less. If I can do a small measure of the things I

enjoy, and try to stop before I become totally exhausted, I'm

learning to be happy with that. Sometimes when I wake up in the

morning, the temptation is strong to stay in bed, but I make myself

get up anyway, dress, fix breakfast, and then if I'm still tired,

then I know I need to take it easier this day. I might do a couple

of small tasks, and sometimes the energy returns, sometimes it takes

a nosedive. I try to " bank energy " by resting ahead of a day when I

know I'm going to be more active, like taking care of the grandkids

(a 4-year old and 18-mo. old triplets.) Other than that, that's

about all I can suggest. Congratulations on becoming a non-smoker,

my son in law quit in April after 30 years, and he's feeling much

better.

Peace,

Judi

]

[Guest guest]

Colleen,

It is hard, but if you go for a while you will find that the

exercise makes you feel better and gives you more energy. There will

be lots of times you will not want to go, and times you give into

that desire to head straight for home. But you'll know that most

times you need to just do it, because it pays off so much in how you

feel.

Jennie

I joined " Curves " which I think is very good, but I work full-time

and I usually come home and sleep rather than exercise. I guess I

just have to make up my mind to go and exercise.

[Guest guest]

,

The auto-immune disease with symptoms similar to CMT is called CIDP

(Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy). I know this

casue a doctor at Hopkins treated me for it. I think he was hoping

I had CIDP cause there is a treatment for it.

As it turned out, my

reaction to the treatment (IV immunoglobulin) landed me in the

hospital for 4 days. CIDP is an auto-immune disease. I believe MS

is, too.

[Guest guest]

As of our knowledge now .... just never say 'Never.' ;-)

>

> ,

>

> You're right, CMT is NOT an Auto-immune disease.

>

>

> Gretchen

>

[Guest guest]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoimmune_disease

Explains what is Autoimmune and lists types of disease.