friends with autoimmune issues?

@serenityfrye the autoimmune problems are tough on many levels. I have Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and another family member has Lupus. My AS has deformed my body so people are like OK he must to been in a bad car wreck (I hear that over and over). Whereas with Lupus you may feel like you have been in a car wreck but look fine so people still make unkind remarks about you not being as active as others, etc.

I feel much better after giving up sugars and grains a year ago at the age of 63. While that managed the pain OK and cured the IBS, etc things still are not perfect but much better.

Not so much now but a weather change due to a low pressure system still drags me down. I try to just rest more but life often does not corporate. I think women with kids have it the worse because of the demands on them. A demanding workplace can be an issue for all of us still working.

I do a lot of goggling and keep trying to learn more. I research a lot of things that get posted on MFP that are new to me. I am learning diet does make a difference in how I feel in my case.

Hello! I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis at age 12. I have had it so long that I don't really know what "normal" feels like, so I don't know how it affects me, activity wise. Over the last year I have had a roller coaster ride of trying to get a diagnosis for another obviously autoimmune issue. It's most likely lupus, they say, and we are just waiting for more symptoms to rear their ugly heads. I try not to let it get me down, but I can definitely relate about the "look perfectly fine but feel awful". When I force myself to be active even on those tough days, I do tend to feel better than if I just chill out. Some days, there's no option: I have to chill. But I do try to keep those at a minimum. I have no special diet for the autoimmunity, and I don't intend to consider that any time soon.

I sympothize completely!

I also have an undiagnosed autoimmune disease that causes pressure triggered full body hives (I take daily antihistamines to keep them at bay, but also have monthly hormone-triggered flare ups). Hashimotos runs in my family too.

If I can avoid products containing flavor enhancers (MSG, Yeast Extract, Riboneucletodes, 627-631, etc.), kiwis, eggplants, dehydrated dairy, and latex, I can handle the day pretty well (exercise, get my household chores done, etc). But if I eat something that contains a trigger, I feel all over yucky for days. It's really hard to get over that funk, but I've found that a day or two of lots of sleep and zero processed food helps.

I was diagnosed with Hashi's at age 11, so like another previous poster, I'm not really sure what "normal" feels like. I force myself to be active because it does help. I find that the biggest challenge is getting motivated to put the sports bra on. After that it's easier.

Exercising really helps my mind. It's great for stress but it also helps my overall energy level. I've been having crazy blood work numbers and problems controlling my TSH over the past two years.

I also have Vitiligo and am being monitored for Lupus as well.

Honestly, being active is the key for me. Even when my joints hurt it is important to do something (a short walk is great).

I have an autoimmune diease psoriasis only on my scalp and pretty sure psoratic arthritis.

I have changed my diet to no sugar and no gluten only on special occasions. I feel better and notice if I eat gluten or a sweets my joints hurt the next day.

Exercise helps but sometimes my Joints are very stiff and painful I still workout but don't push myself as much when I'm in pain.

I have psoriatic arthritis in my knee and toe and ankle and maybe in my lower back. Basically it causes inflammation in the joints and they swell up like my toe looks like a sausage and my knee last winter was so swollen like a softball I couldn't make it up the stairs. I cried every night ,simple walking was extremely painful. Worst of all I ate candy every night and ate terrible not helping my condition and gaining more weight.

I knew I had to change so this fall I decided I need to lose weight.
I have lost a little weight and found some dance fitness classes I love so I push through the pain. It's nice to see other people here with support with auto immune diease

Losing weight is so important for my arthritis but I hope this winter I get the pain and swelling under control so I can stick to my workouts and of course eating well.

I have Crohn's disease (IBD) and IBS.. I just made a rule that if there's an ingredient one something I don't understand, I don't eat it. Other than that I pretty strictly follow low Fodmap type diet, helped the IBS a lot and keep the IBD in remission, but when I'm stressed, can't do much about it...

lporter229 wrote: »

I have Crohn's disease. I have tried to control my disease with diet (gluten free is a big help, but does not alone keep me in remission). After many years of experimenting with different treatment plans and trying to eliminate meds, I have finally resigned myself to the fact that I will be on immunosuppresants for the rest of my life. I get infusions of Remicade every 6 weeks. When I get towards the end of my infusion cycle, I begin to notice an increase in joint pain and fatigue and I know it's time for my medication. Remicade has really been a terrific drug for me, despite the somewhat scary risks and side effects (I do have a mild allergic reaction of mouth swelling for two days after my infusion. I take Benadryl for it).

As far as staying on track, strangely enough, I think the best thing that keeps me feeling good is exercise. I have learned through the years that I can not let myself get down about having to deal with this disease. It just puts me into a rut and makes me feel even worse. My attitude goes a long way in determining how I feel. I have decided that I am going to do everything in my power to show Crohn's disease who is boss. I use it as motivation!

Lporter229- so you like Remicade, then? My doc wants me to try that or humira but I'm scared of the side effects.

I have MS and fortunately I am symptom free and I have been since February 2008. I was diagnosed a few weeks before the symptoms stopped. I am trying to cut out gluten....taking baby steps.

My doctor suspects that I could have an autoimmune disease but we are still investigating it. I am doing primal to see if cutting all of the inflammatory stuff will help. I've been doing it for a month and I feel much better! I've had IBS since i was 18 though, I'm thinking I have something stomach related.

I have multiple sclerosis, I mostly try and eat whole foods and that really seems to have helped. But when things flare up, I can pretty much be useless for days.