autoimmune

Does anyone else here have MCTD? I tend to get pleurisy pretty often and other lung symptoms and I am not sure how common that is since MCTD is uncommon.

What major symptoms do you get? I know it can vary quite a bit and I tend to get mostly SLE symptoms, and the muscle weakness that goes along with Polymyositis.

I have met a lot of people with AI diseases but I don't think I have met anyone else with Sharp's.

Has anyone taken cortef and/or flourinef?
How bad were the side effects?
Did it help?
Is there an injectable form of this drug? or is injectable cortisol only for injuries?
If your cortisol is already high...will this drug cause problems?

Has anyone ever gotten herbal treatment for an auto immune disease?Like Chinese herbal medicine or other practitioner.
Was it successful?
Any side effects?

Brief history: I'm 33 with endo, RA and likely Lupus (my Rheumy is still figuring that one out but the RA is certain). I was diagnosed in October of 2010 after many many years and BS. I started on 20 of prednisone and 500 of sulfasalazine twice a day. I worked up to 1500 of sulfasalazine a day plus Humira twice a month, then Humira once a week. That wasn't working well enough so I was taken off sulfasalazine and put on Imuran + Humira, which brings us to a few weeks ago.

So Imuran + Humira wasn't doing it so she took me off Humira and started me on Remicade. My first infusion was on July first and it was like magic. I haven't felt that good in YEARS and now it's started...wearing off. My next infusion is on the 15th and I assume it will provide the same results. For those of you on Remicade: is this normal? (at least in the beginning) That you start to feel all hurty before the next infusion? On Humira I felt like butt for 3 days after the shot, then a couple days of pretty good then two days of going downhill until the next shot. I didn't get the "feeling like butt" part after the Remicade (YAY!) but I'm starting to go back downhill. So yeah, do others feel this way? Kindly tell me this is normal :)

x-posted to rheumatoid.

Has anyone had/have Prednisone prescribed for inflammation reduction? My rheumy wants me to try a regiment of 20 mg per day for 7 days, then 3 (5mg) each day the next week, then 2 (5 mg) each day for the third week and finally 1 5mg per day the fourth week. Reason? According to my labs, Methx 12,5 mg per week isn't cutting it and Plaquenil was a definite fail, so he's going for the Prednisone as a test to see where I may fit in for biologics. From what I've read about Plaquenil I'm scared silly--even my family doctor says he's never diagnosed for that duration of time for something like this, so I'm in a quandary. Just curious as to others' experiences. Thanks!

Breakspear Hospital

The truth is, I do recommend Breakspear. I will tell you the truth and see if you want to go down that path. You can read my journal entries here to find out what I have been having done at Breakspear. Although I do need to update for this year. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lauradunks/journal

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Hi. I am really happy to have found this community. LJ is a kind of amazing place where people can come together to help one another, it's lovely :D

My question is about the seriousss amounts of dandruff I have had for a long time, and that has recently hit a pretty bad point. I was diagnosed with psoriasis (which I used to get on my arms and feet and now only seem to get badly on my neck and face near my hairlines and some in my ear). Since I have breakout so close to my hair, is it possible that my dandruff is psoriasis related?

The flakes can be somewhat large compared to what I think normal dandruff is, though not always. I am not sure if my dandruff gets worse in certain situations, like stress or weather, though certain shampoos make it worse. If it were psoriasis related, what is the best treatment??

Background Info:
I am about 21 years-old, college student with stress/anxiety issues (which tend to adhere to my psoriasis), beginning stages of arthritis, and I also take meds for depression and anti-seizures.

Any help is much appreciated :D

Just a reminder if you havent voted yet for the WPI...

We are in twelfth place and still dropping (the WPI) - currently entitled to $40000. We are risking losing the money at all. Please tell everyone you know to vote. It only takes two ticks and there is 6 hours left. Imagine what could be done with the money.

The WPI research into other illnesses like autism and fibromyalgia.

Instructions here: http://bit.ly/mCvKVM

Thank you.

Laura
~X~

Imaging what these grants could achieve for ME/CFS research!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121179681298558&ref=notif¬if_t=event_invite

This facebook group has links to the sites and instructions.

Please vote daily for the WPI to receive $125000 through Vivint for less than 3 more days.

Please vote for the WPI to receive $500000 through chase community giving. One off vote. Also vote for CFIDS assoc of America here http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/205904991-whittemore-peterson-institute-for-neuro-immune-disease?src=twitter

Thank you!

Laura
~X~