Anyone here with diagnoses of autoimmune and fighting?

I feel the exact same way. I've had hypothyroidism for 6 years, due to years of starving myself skinny. I've been trying since the end of January to lose weight, and although I've lost 14Ibs, my body refuses to lose anymore. It's so disheartening when the scale, or measuring tape number doesn't change. At the moment I'm managing to maintain my weight, which I've never had before, and the only thing keeping me going is the fact I don't want to go back to my old ways. I guess that's what everyone needs to keep in mind when they have moments like this, is that right now we are eating healthier and feeling a lot better - other than body aches from exercise lol Feel free to add me!

Yes, I am Hypo, Diabetic and Arthritis. I do take anti depressants for the Hypo. They seem to help the pain and the mood. I would encourage you to check into that if you haven't. Depression is a symptom of hypo. It is harder to lose weight but it can be done. I focus mostly now on learning to eat healthy, exercise more and trying to feel well. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to friend me if you like, we are in the same boat.

I have psoriasis (autoimmune issues), pcos (hormone issues) and Psoriatic Arthritis(Like Rheumatoid but affect your toes,feet, ankles, spine, hip and there is a 10% chance it will affect my hands). I'm 33 years old. Ugh. Something I have found out recently is is that I am gluten sensitive. I highly suggest you look into it if you have an autoimmune issue and arthritis to see if you have any other symptoms. I wrote this earlier this week:

Recent studies have shown that it is estimated around 30%- 50% of the population could have some form or a gluten sensitivity. It is way too early to tell at this point as their are not many tests to find out. The best way to find out are with a AGA-IgA and the AGG-IgG blood test. I have it and didn't know for the last 33 years! Here are the symptoms which I have 90% of them.

Diarrhea and/or constipation
Abdominal pain and/or heartburn
Bloating
Fatigue
Brain fog
Anemia
Joint pain
Rashes
Depression and/or anxiety
Weight gain weight loss and
Inability to lose weight
Inability to gain weight
Teeth problems (yellow and frequent cavities even when you brush and floss all the time)
Psoriasis, eczema, hives or skin rashes
Missed periods (seems to be more prevalent in pcos women too)
Being super itchy

Elevated AGA-IgG levels are found in about 10% of the overall population, and frequently are seen in other autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease, autoimmune hepatitis, and inflammatory bowel diseases. This study is only estimates 10% of the population simply because the rest of the 20-40% are unaware they have the sensitivity and have not been tested for it.

Some people think its because of how processed wheat is these days and the types of strains we have verses the types that were unadulterated we ate 100 years ago. Every single time I eat gluten I gain 3-4 pound overnight. I still eat it as I am a baker but limiting it has helped me dramatically with weight loss and my energy levels. At this point if I do eat a large amount of gluten I feel so bad and have such an energy dip I can barely keep my eyes open for a few hours, I get a flare up with my psoriasis, constipation, I get SUPER itchy and my stomach hurts.

I guess a lot of people think "carbs are bad" and the only diet that works for them is Adkins. People, its NOT the carbs, its the gluten!!!! Carbs are actually good for you! You can still have rice, potatoes and even gluten free baked goods! Trust me on this. Try it for a week. I have psoriasis and within a week of cutting out the gluten it got like 70% better. It almost disappeared! What can it hurt?

So yes, gluten free or low gluten diets can help with weight loss if you have the sensitivity.


Sources:
http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/glutenintolerance/a/How-Many-People-Have-Gluten-Sensitivity.htm
http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/symptomsofceliacdisease/a/Gluten-Allergy-Symptoms.htm
http://gluten.lovetoknow.com/Gluten_Intolerance_and_Losing_Weight
http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/glutenintolerance/a/Gluten-Sensitivity-Testing.htm

I'm just curious if anyone here has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease such as hypothyroidism or arthritis and you're fighting to lose? I have both diagnoses. I'm significantly overweight and am fighting fighting fighting. The last couple of days have been so difficult. I feel like giving up because I'm beginning to hurt really bad. I'm trying to push through. I keep looking at the before/after pics to help me. If you have a success story to share and are in a similar situation, I welcome your thoughts. Please send me a friend request if you fit this description so we can encourage one another.

I have Hashimoto's - autoimmune hypothyroidism. I feel your pain. I now have msotly good days and only some bad days here and there, but it's been an 11 year roller coaster ride to get here. I just recently, within the last 2 months, pulled myself out of my worst to date hypo swing after a 3 week hyper swing that left me dazed and confused. I also have severe autoimmune gluten intolerance and AI intolerance to casein...so even if my thyroid issue isn't acting up, eating wrong can throw me overboard so to speak and send my thryoid disease raging again.

It's not easy, but you have to keep pushing and being good to your body, even when it isn't good to you. Love yourself enough to know that you deserve to get healthy and feel good inside about the person on the outside. Are you working with a Dr. to get meds figured out as far as which one works for you and the right dosage? I could make suggestions as far as thyroid meds go, but not so much for arthritis. I can also help with nutrition, just let me know..

Hang in there!!!
xoxo Sara

I Have a disease very similiar to MS and also have arthritis. I have been trying to lose weight for a year now and have lost 50 lbs. I had lost 60lbs but the weather has kept me from exercising as much. I understand the pain issue. On the bad days I don't exercise and on the good days I exercise as normal. With my disease I just have to understand I will have setbacks but I also know through experience I can do it. Don't lose hope!!

I have severe ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, trigeminal neuralgia an endometriosis.
I am bed bound a lot of the time and have carers to help me with everyday tasks. Therefore I am unable to exercise and due to a combination of this and medication I have put on 4 stone in 4 years.

It is so difficult losing weight with dieting alone. Without exercise it's really hard, although I have found stress helps

I am happy to say I have lost over a stone in the last 6 weeks. Long may it continue :happy:

I'm in general agreement with many of the other respondents: easy does it. Don't expect to do any high-intensity exercise. Opt for walking instead of jogging, exercise in a pool if you can, etc. Ask your rheumatologist if you're not sure about your exercise regimen.

I have hypothyroidism and Raynauds. For a long time I struggled with my weight and just kept gaining and not knowing why! It was very frustrating! I am now on medication for my thyroid and I have lost a lot of weight since.
My mother has Sjogrens syndrome, which is also autoimmune and she is struggling with her weight too. Autoimmune diseases run in my family unfortunately.

Not all hypothyroidism is autoimmune.

But yes, I have Hashimoto's, which is the autoimmune thyroid disease.

I've been diagnosed for almost 19 years. I still struggle with my meds, and recently (within the last year) changed to a med that has both T3 and T4, instead of just synthroid, which only has T3. It's made a huge difference for me.

One more thing on the thyroid...read somewhere that the thyroid is like the air conditioning/heating system of a house...if it's not working right, it affects the whole house...or in this case the body. A relative of mine was having a lot of trouble, & many thought the relative was just being a hypochondriac. Their own doctor, while grudgingly ordering a thyroid test, told the patient they just needed to go home & relax. A couple of days later they were scheduling emergency surgery, because the patient had HYPERthyroidism so bad, they had to remove it. Now they're on a measured dose of synthroid, for the surgery induced hypothyroidism, but levels are good & symptoms went away. So find a doctor who will take you seriously & test to make sure everything is ok & at a good level.

Dysautonomia here with Orthostatic Hypotension, POTS and CFS (type symptoms) as the presentation. You have you go slowly, make lifestyle changes not just quick fixes.

I have all of the above, caused by some kind of mitochondrial cytopathy (i.e. my lab results show that my mitos aren't working very well, but I have no idea why). It also gives me hypothyroidism. It's really hard to have these autoimmune-type diseases and be trying to lose weight. "Jut exercise more!" is not good advice when over-exertion can put you back in bed for a few days. I push my energy envelope gently, and with the help of €300 per month supplements, prescribed by my doctor, I'm getting much better.


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I got GBS in 2011 and spent 6 months in hospital. At least the disease is acute rather than chronic, so I have learned to walk again with canes. The nerve damage compromises my balance so I am limited with exercise choices.