Multiple autoimune problems

jane2 · 08-15-2001, 12:12 AM

I am having a hard time figuring out how to treat multiple autoimmune problems. I have asthma, sinusitis, migraines, chronic bronchitis, skin rashes, fibro like symptoms and arthritis like symptoms. Nothing showed up on my blood work, but Rheumatolgist wants to treat me for arthritis anyway. Wish there were one preventative drug that would help all of them. Is that too much to ask? LOL

Instead I am on about 15 different ones and not tolerating any of them on a regular basis. I am on MS Contin,Mobic, Preventil, Accolate, Theodore, Neurontin, Valium, Soma and now Plaquenil. I am dehydrated and itchy and having headaches and aches and pains and heartburn from the drugs. I can manage if I alternate them according to which symptom is bad that day.

Trying to get on Plaquenil and having a hard time. My stomach is so upset already from the asthma drugs and pain killers. Plus I seem to have more headaches and muscle and connective tissue pain. I have only managed to stay on it a few days. I would like to give the Plaquenil a real test drive. Dr. says there are other arthritis drugs if I this doesn’t work. I know it can take up to 6 months to tell. Long time to put up with side effects. Wondering if other disease modifying drugs have lots of side effects as well. Allergic to sulfites (sp?).

How do you guys manage. New to arthritis. Started in then neck and shoulders. Now spread to feet and lower legs. Can’t even walk more that a few blocks.

Sound more upset than I am. I am making some progress on all fronts, but it is very confusing. Just trying to educate myself. Thought others here might be going through something similar.

Any input would be interesting. Not sure I am explaining myself well tonight, as I have a migraine and am on pain killers.

Thanks

[This message has been edited by jane2 (edited 08-14-2001).]

arkie6 · 08-15-2001, 01:36 AM

Jane, you are exhibiting many of the classic symptoms of gluten intolerance. Gluten is the protein component found in wheat and many other grains. Many people develop autoimmune disorders as a result of gluten intolerance, rhuematoid arthritis in particular. Instead of taking all of those medications, why don't you try a gluten free diet and see if that clears up your symptoms? For more info, just do a search on [url="http://www.**********"]www.**********[/url] for the words "gluten free diet" and read some of the articles. Be warned that wheat and gluten are found in most all processed foods. That means no bread, no pasta, no to just about anything baked. Just read the labels.

Alan

jane2 · 08-15-2001, 10:29 AM

Had some success with a gluten free diet before, when I was younger. Tried it again and couldn't tolerate all the protein. I was eating tons of vegetables. Still did terrible things to my digestive track.

What do you eat during they day if you don’t mind my asking? I have stopped the processed foods. We eat natural chicken and fish. But I do eat whole grain bread, rice and pasta. I would like to get off the gluten, just had a hard time with the diet. I was cooking all day. Never ate so much chicken in my life.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Oregongirl · 09-30-2001, 12:55 PM

Hello, sorry to hear about your pain. I too, am having a very hard time even convincing the dr. that I am in pain. I have been diagnosed with the "Morphea" part of Scleroderma, and for the past 4 years, I have been getting worse. My joint pain is so severe. I can't bend my fingers, or sometimes my ankles or legs.
My dr. put me on Oxycontin 10's for awhile and it helped, but made my stomach upset, so he put me on Methadone 5 mg 2x a day, but they dont help at all and give me headaches. Now, he put me on Ultrams, and wont put me on anything else, not even the oxy's which helped the most for my pain. I have pain in my back and the morphea site is growing and they know it, and still won't give me anything stronger. This is so hard to deal with and be in pain at the same time. Why should getting pain medicines be such a fight all the time? I am switching my primary care now, but am worried how long it will take before I can get any more pain meds. The arthritis in my fingers is getting pretty bad.
Well, peace everyone.

Karen