This is important information, especially if you suffer with chronic back pain.
What Is Axial Spondyloarthritis (AxSpA)? | SAA News | Spondylitis Association of America
Friday, May 15, 2015
World Automimmune Arthritis Day
Today, May 15th, is World Autoimmune Arthritis Day. The day kicks off a six day virtual event from May 15 - May 21, 2015 dedicated to education devoted to autoimmune arthritis and associated disorders.
For more information and daily activities check out World Autoimmune Arthritis.Org's website.
For more information and daily activities check out World Autoimmune Arthritis.Org's website.
15 Worst Cities for Allergies
I'm sure we all have our pick for the "worst city for allergies". It could be the city you live in or have lived in. I'd also guess the names on this list vary from time to time.
For instance, about 10 years ago me and my husband (heretofore known as "Tall & Handsome" or "T & H") were living in Knoxville, Tennessee not too far from the place where I was born. I was excited to get to spend some time back where I came from.
Well, was I in for a big surprise. That was one of the sickest two and half year stretches of my life which included a brush with death. But, allergies? OMG!
I have allergies to begin with (no cats!) and others, some "non-specific" which is doctor speak for hard to peg. But, what I went through in Knoxville was like body and autoimmune torture and I believe to this day put my body into a "slippery slope" that never recovered 100%.
At the time a co-worker of Tall & Handsome's mentioned Knoxville was one of the worst cities for allergies and a lot of the residents lived with chronic sinus issues.
I looked Knoxville up and sure enough at the time it did make a few "worst" lists for allergies. According to the long time resident talking to T & H it was because Knoxville sits in a valley and smog, smoke and other impurities from coal mines, factories and other places funnel down the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Great Smoky Mountains and the Appalachians and dump on top of Knoxville. How accurate that is, I don't know.
I just know my experience, and I know there was also a problem with black mold. The house we were in at the time was a petri dish of black mold. Not the best conditions for someone with allergies and autoimmune disorders.
So, what are currently considered the worst cities for allergies? They are:
So, is there anything you can do to ease your discomfort? Well, there are some steps, and there's an article that covers why these cities are so bad for allergies and what you can do. For an in depth look, you can read here.
But, to touch lightly, here are some preventive measures you can take during allergy season:
Just remember, before you know it, allergy season will be over, and we'll be facing another cold winter.
For instance, about 10 years ago me and my husband (heretofore known as "Tall & Handsome" or "T & H") were living in Knoxville, Tennessee not too far from the place where I was born. I was excited to get to spend some time back where I came from.
Well, was I in for a big surprise. That was one of the sickest two and half year stretches of my life which included a brush with death. But, allergies? OMG!
I have allergies to begin with (no cats!) and others, some "non-specific" which is doctor speak for hard to peg. But, what I went through in Knoxville was like body and autoimmune torture and I believe to this day put my body into a "slippery slope" that never recovered 100%.
At the time a co-worker of Tall & Handsome's mentioned Knoxville was one of the worst cities for allergies and a lot of the residents lived with chronic sinus issues.
I looked Knoxville up and sure enough at the time it did make a few "worst" lists for allergies. According to the long time resident talking to T & H it was because Knoxville sits in a valley and smog, smoke and other impurities from coal mines, factories and other places funnel down the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Great Smoky Mountains and the Appalachians and dump on top of Knoxville. How accurate that is, I don't know.
I just know my experience, and I know there was also a problem with black mold. The house we were in at the time was a petri dish of black mold. Not the best conditions for someone with allergies and autoimmune disorders.
So, what are currently considered the worst cities for allergies? They are:
- Richmond, Virginia
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Chattanooga, Tennesee
- Chicago, Illinois
- Detroit, Michigan
- New Haven, Connecticut
- Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Springfield, Massachusetts
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Dayton, Ohio
So, is there anything you can do to ease your discomfort? Well, there are some steps, and there's an article that covers why these cities are so bad for allergies and what you can do. For an in depth look, you can read here.
But, to touch lightly, here are some preventive measures you can take during allergy season:
- Keep your windows closed to obviously keep pollen and other pollutants out.
- Keep your home dusted and clean. If you can afford it, hire someone to clean for you.
- Use a mattress cover. Vinyl is recommended, but if you're like me, that's like sleeping on a roll of plastic wrap and creates crinkly, sleepless night. So, a catch - 22 there.
- Another catch - 22 for those of us with Sjogren's syndrome is the use of a dehumidifier. Using one reduces humidity, thus reducing the number of dust mites. But, Sjogren's patients usually need to use humidifiers to add moisture to the air because of our dry eyes and dry mouth.
- You can get some relief with over the counter (OTC) antihistamines. In addition, just recently Flonase has been made available OTC. I have used this nasal spray for years and I don't know what I would do without it. It's also available in generic form which I get by prescription. Flonase basically attacks on all fronts allergy symptoms that would take several other medications to do. It's in the corticosteroid class of drugs.
Just remember, before you know it, allergy season will be over, and we'll be facing another cold winter.
© 2015 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
A - Z of the Health and Social Enviroment of Public Restrooms
Those of us with chronic illnesses know it's not often we get a chance to chuckle about health news. Well, today's article will give you that much needed chuckle and then some. According to Clint Rainey's article Everything We Know About Human Bathroom Behavior in Science of Us, we learn some pretty humorous things and get the answer to the age old debate: over or under hanging for the toilet paper.
Now for the faint of heart, never fear. There isn't any NSFW (not suitable for work) info here. Basically, it's interesting info and actually helpful info we need to know about the health environment of public restrooms.
I won't reveal everything from the article. I think you'll enjoy reading the entirety yourself, but there are some fun things and some other issues we need to seriously look at. For instance:
And, now, for the age old question: toilet paper - over or under? Well, Cottonelle did a study and determined that 72% of the people surveyed were "over" people and 28% were under hangers. The study also indicated people with higher incomes tended to be "over hangers". What that means is anyone's guess.
Take the time and read the article and get a chuckle or two out of the A - Z of Human Bathroom Behavior and the health enviroment of public restrooms.
Now for the faint of heart, never fear. There isn't any NSFW (not suitable for work) info here. Basically, it's interesting info and actually helpful info we need to know about the health environment of public restrooms.
I won't reveal everything from the article. I think you'll enjoy reading the entirety yourself, but there are some fun things and some other issues we need to seriously look at. For instance:
- When it comes to public restrooms, men pick the stall closest to the door; women pick the one furthest from the door.
- When it comes to washing your hands in a public restrooms, the soap dispenser is probably one of the last things you'd want to touch. About 25% of them are contaminated with fecal and coilform matter and you may actually end up with dirtier hands!
- In Great Britain an expose revealed 92% of baby changing stations in public restrooms had trace amount of cocaine on them, so mother's beware.
- Paper towels are actually more sanitary to use for drying hands than the wall dryers. Why? Well, the areas around those dryers usually have 27 times more bacteria in the air surrounding it and when the hot air is blasted out of the dryer, it spreads the bacteria everywhere!
And, now, for the age old question: toilet paper - over or under? Well, Cottonelle did a study and determined that 72% of the people surveyed were "over" people and 28% were under hangers. The study also indicated people with higher incomes tended to be "over hangers". What that means is anyone's guess.
Take the time and read the article and get a chuckle or two out of the A - Z of Human Bathroom Behavior and the health enviroment of public restrooms.
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Happy International Hummus Day
Who knew it? Hummus has a special day - an international special day.
Hummus has long been a staple in the diets of people living in the Middle East. As a matter of fact, the first recipe for hummus was found in ancient cookbooks in Egypt.
While hummus is tasty and you can find it in a variety of flavors - mine has roasted red bell peppers - don't forget the health benefit of hummus.
Hummus:
So, grab some hummus and - happy International Hummus Day!
Hummus has long been a staple in the diets of people living in the Middle East. As a matter of fact, the first recipe for hummus was found in ancient cookbooks in Egypt.
While hummus is tasty and you can find it in a variety of flavors - mine has roasted red bell peppers - don't forget the health benefit of hummus.
Hummus:
- is a great source of protein
- has no cholesterol or saturated fats
- chickpeas, the base in making hummus, can actually help reduce the build up of cholesterol in blood vessels
- using ingredients like olive oil and garlic (great for fighting infections and boosting the immune system) are added benefits
So, grab some hummus and - happy International Hummus Day!
© 2015 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.
Saturday, May 9, 2015
What the chronically ill and disabled wish the "normals" in their lives understood.
Today I'd like to address the life changes a person with a chronic illness or disability lives with. Believe me when I say having an illness or disorder like fibromyalgia, Sjogren's syndrome, arthritis and other chronic illnesses is a game changer. One of the biggest you'll face in your life.
The next biggest is getting the "normal" people in your life to understand what is happening to you and how it is changing you and how you live daily. Even sincere people can exercise great ignorance and cruelty with their "help" and "suggestions". I have found that to be true - even from well meaning church family who didn't have a clue.
When I first became ill, I was my own worst enemy. I was in denial and refused to believe I needed to alter my life - even though I was so fatigued I could barely lift my head off my pillow. I was a young mom with a young son and I was determined to be "super mom", "super wife", "super daughter" and super anything else that came my way. That's what happens when you're the oldest, perfectionist, anorexic, OCD daughter in the family. (Do we see a pattern here for stressors affecting the autoimmune system?)
Eventually I had to cry "uncle" and admit I was chronically ill, needed to take better care of myself and become an informed and proactive patient. And, when you do, the "normals" around you will not always like what you're doing and the changes you make.
Today I'm sharing (with permission) an open letter written some time ago by Ricky Buchanan. Ricky has CFS*/fibromyalgia. I have seen the letter floating around the internet for sometime, but I've gone straight to Ricky's website for the original. This letter rang so true with me, it was as if Ricky had observed my life from afar and penned the letter for me. The part which really touched home with me concerns "normals" giving you "cures". Augh!! As Ricky says, if there was a cure out there that worked for all of us, don't you think we'd all know it by now - and our doctors, too?
As you read Ricky's letter you can insert you chronic illness, disorder or disability. The jest is still the same - and, that would be the foundation of what we would like "normals" to understand about our lives.
Open Letter to Those Without CFS/Fibro...
by Ricky Buchanan (*or insert you illness into the title. BHB)
Having CFS means many things change, and a lot of them are invisible. Unlike AIDS and Cancer, most people do not understand even a little about CFS and its effects, and of those that think they know, many are actually mis-informed. In the spirit of informing those who wish to understand ...
... These are the things that I would like you to understand about me before you judge me...
Please understand that being sick doesn't mean I'm not still a human being. I have to spend most of my day flat on my back in bed and I might not seem like great company, but I'm still me stuck inside this body. I still worry about school and work and my family and friends, and most of the time I'd still like to hear you talk about yours too.
Please understand the difference between "happy" and "healthy". When you've got the flu you probably feel miserable with it, but I've been sick for years. I can't be miserable all the time, in fact I work hard at not being miserable. So if you're talking to me and I sound happy, it means I'm happy. That's all. I may be tired. I may be in pain. I may be sicker that ever. Please, don't say, "Oh, you're sounding better!". I am not sounding better, I am sounding happy. If you want to comment on that, you're welcome.
Please understand that being able to stand up for five minutes, doesn't necessarily mean that I can stand up for ten minutes, or an hour. It's quite likely that doing that five minutes has exhausted my resources and I'll need to recover - imagine an athlete after a race. They couldn't repeat that feat right away either. With a lot of diseases you're either paralyzed or you can move. With this one it gets more confusing.
Please repeat the above paragraph substituting, "sitting up", "walking", "thinking", "being sociable" and so on ... it applies to everything. That's what a fatigue-based illness does to you.
Please understand that chronic illnesses are variable. It's quite possible (for me, it's common) that one day I am able to walk to the park and back, while the next day I'll have trouble getting to the kitchen. Please don't attack me when I'm ill by saying, "But you did it before!". If you want me to do something, ask if I can and I'll tell you. In a similar vein, I may need to cancel an invitation at the last minute, if this happens please don't take it personally.
Please understand that "getting out and doing things" does not make me feel better, and can often make me seriously worse. CFS may cause secondary depression (wouldn't you get depressed if you were stuck in bed for years on end!?) but it is not caused by depression. Telling me that I need some fresh air and exercise is not appreciated and not correct - if I could do it, I would.
Please understand that if I say I have to sit down/lie down/take these pills now, that I do have to do it right now - it can't be put off or forgotten just because I'm doing something. CFS does not forgive.
Please understand that I can't spend all of my energy trying to get well. With a short-term illness like the flu, you can afford to put life on hold for a week or two while you get well. But part of having a chronic illness is coming to the realization that you have to spend some energy on having a life now. This doesn't mean I'm not trying to get better. It doesn't mean I've given up. It's just how life is when you're dealing with a chronic illness.
If you want to suggest a cure to me, please don't. It's not because I don't appreciate the thought, and it's not because I don't want to get well. It's because I have had almost every single one of my friends suggest one at one point or another. At first I tried them all, but then I realized that I was using up so much energy trying things that I was making myself sicker, not better. If there was something that cured, or even helped, all people with CFS then we'd know about it. This is not a drug-company conspiracy, there is worldwide networking (both on and off the Internet) between people with CFS, if something worked we would KNOW.
If after reading that, you still want to suggest a cure, then do it, preferably in writing, but don't expect me to rush out and try it. If I haven't had it suggested before, I'll take what you said and discuss it with my doctor. He's open to new suggestions and is a great guy, and he takes what I say seriously.
Please understand that getting better from an illness like this can be very slow. People with CFS have so many systems in their bodies out of equilibrium, and functioning wrongly, that it may take a long time to sort everything out.
I depend on you - people who are not sick - for many things.
But most importantly, I need you to understand me.
*CFS = Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The next biggest is getting the "normal" people in your life to understand what is happening to you and how it is changing you and how you live daily. Even sincere people can exercise great ignorance and cruelty with their "help" and "suggestions". I have found that to be true - even from well meaning church family who didn't have a clue.
When I first became ill, I was my own worst enemy. I was in denial and refused to believe I needed to alter my life - even though I was so fatigued I could barely lift my head off my pillow. I was a young mom with a young son and I was determined to be "super mom", "super wife", "super daughter" and super anything else that came my way. That's what happens when you're the oldest, perfectionist, anorexic, OCD daughter in the family. (Do we see a pattern here for stressors affecting the autoimmune system?)
Eventually I had to cry "uncle" and admit I was chronically ill, needed to take better care of myself and become an informed and proactive patient. And, when you do, the "normals" around you will not always like what you're doing and the changes you make.
Today I'm sharing (with permission) an open letter written some time ago by Ricky Buchanan. Ricky has CFS*/fibromyalgia. I have seen the letter floating around the internet for sometime, but I've gone straight to Ricky's website for the original. This letter rang so true with me, it was as if Ricky had observed my life from afar and penned the letter for me. The part which really touched home with me concerns "normals" giving you "cures". Augh!! As Ricky says, if there was a cure out there that worked for all of us, don't you think we'd all know it by now - and our doctors, too?
As you read Ricky's letter you can insert you chronic illness, disorder or disability. The jest is still the same - and, that would be the foundation of what we would like "normals" to understand about our lives.
© 2015 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.
Open Letter to Those Without CFS/Fibro...
by Ricky Buchanan (*or insert you illness into the title. BHB)
Having CFS means many things change, and a lot of them are invisible. Unlike AIDS and Cancer, most people do not understand even a little about CFS and its effects, and of those that think they know, many are actually mis-informed. In the spirit of informing those who wish to understand ...
... These are the things that I would like you to understand about me before you judge me...
Please understand that being sick doesn't mean I'm not still a human being. I have to spend most of my day flat on my back in bed and I might not seem like great company, but I'm still me stuck inside this body. I still worry about school and work and my family and friends, and most of the time I'd still like to hear you talk about yours too.
Please understand the difference between "happy" and "healthy". When you've got the flu you probably feel miserable with it, but I've been sick for years. I can't be miserable all the time, in fact I work hard at not being miserable. So if you're talking to me and I sound happy, it means I'm happy. That's all. I may be tired. I may be in pain. I may be sicker that ever. Please, don't say, "Oh, you're sounding better!". I am not sounding better, I am sounding happy. If you want to comment on that, you're welcome.
Please understand that being able to stand up for five minutes, doesn't necessarily mean that I can stand up for ten minutes, or an hour. It's quite likely that doing that five minutes has exhausted my resources and I'll need to recover - imagine an athlete after a race. They couldn't repeat that feat right away either. With a lot of diseases you're either paralyzed or you can move. With this one it gets more confusing.
Please repeat the above paragraph substituting, "sitting up", "walking", "thinking", "being sociable" and so on ... it applies to everything. That's what a fatigue-based illness does to you.
Please understand that chronic illnesses are variable. It's quite possible (for me, it's common) that one day I am able to walk to the park and back, while the next day I'll have trouble getting to the kitchen. Please don't attack me when I'm ill by saying, "But you did it before!". If you want me to do something, ask if I can and I'll tell you. In a similar vein, I may need to cancel an invitation at the last minute, if this happens please don't take it personally.
Please understand that "getting out and doing things" does not make me feel better, and can often make me seriously worse. CFS may cause secondary depression (wouldn't you get depressed if you were stuck in bed for years on end!?) but it is not caused by depression. Telling me that I need some fresh air and exercise is not appreciated and not correct - if I could do it, I would.
Please understand that if I say I have to sit down/lie down/take these pills now, that I do have to do it right now - it can't be put off or forgotten just because I'm doing something. CFS does not forgive.
Please understand that I can't spend all of my energy trying to get well. With a short-term illness like the flu, you can afford to put life on hold for a week or two while you get well. But part of having a chronic illness is coming to the realization that you have to spend some energy on having a life now. This doesn't mean I'm not trying to get better. It doesn't mean I've given up. It's just how life is when you're dealing with a chronic illness.
If you want to suggest a cure to me, please don't. It's not because I don't appreciate the thought, and it's not because I don't want to get well. It's because I have had almost every single one of my friends suggest one at one point or another. At first I tried them all, but then I realized that I was using up so much energy trying things that I was making myself sicker, not better. If there was something that cured, or even helped, all people with CFS then we'd know about it. This is not a drug-company conspiracy, there is worldwide networking (both on and off the Internet) between people with CFS, if something worked we would KNOW.
If after reading that, you still want to suggest a cure, then do it, preferably in writing, but don't expect me to rush out and try it. If I haven't had it suggested before, I'll take what you said and discuss it with my doctor. He's open to new suggestions and is a great guy, and he takes what I say seriously.
Please understand that getting better from an illness like this can be very slow. People with CFS have so many systems in their bodies out of equilibrium, and functioning wrongly, that it may take a long time to sort everything out.
I depend on you - people who are not sick - for many things.
But most importantly, I need you to understand me.
*CFS = Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Friday, May 8, 2015
Outbreak
In recent weeks we've been made aware of some outbreaks I think are important. We should all keep up with the status of what's going on. No, these aren't the kind of outbreaks (at least at this point) where Dustin Hoffman shows up in a bio-hazard suit determined to save the world.
Nonetheless, the current outbreaks are serious and can cause a lot of pain, suffering and in some cases death.
Nonetheless, the current outbreaks are serious and can cause a lot of pain, suffering and in some cases death.
- Listeria - listeria is a bacteria that can infect improperly handled food causing contamination. When ingested by humans it can cause serious illness. Listeria is particularly harmful to older people, the young, pregnant women, newborns and people with weakened immune systems. But, that doesn't mean everyone else is impervious to contracting listeria. The CDC in Atlanta has an excellent page devoted to listeria - everything you need to know about it: from symptoms, treatment, prevention and more. The recent outbreak of listeria has been traced back to Blue Bell ice cream and most if not all Blue Bell products have been recalled from the market. The FDA has release their findings after their inspection of a Blue Bell plant in Alabama.
- Avian flu also known as bird flu - we've all seen the news reports of bird flu in Asia several years ago. Whole populations walked the streets wearing masks, infected birds were slaughtered - it was a nightmare scenario. A few weeks ago there was a news piece buried in the back of other news items about avian/bird flu been found in Canada. It got my attention. In a matter of days a report was released stating avian flu had been found in chickens in Iowa. The New York Times reported in late April 1.9 commercial chickens and turkeys in Wisconsin have been infected with avian flu. Two strains of avian flu have also been found in the states of: Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin. It should be noted the chickens affected in this outbreak, so far, are egg laying birds. Already grocery stores in Minnesota are beginning to see a shortage of eggs. The CDC is keeping their eye on this outbreak and its relationship to humans. Currently most strains seen infect birds only.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
What Is Sjogren's Syndrome?
Yesterday I mentioned I would write more about Sjogren's syndrome.
To kick start the subject, I'm sure you're asking what a lot of people ask me when I tell them I have Sjogren's (SS). Basically SS is a systemic autoimmune disorder that affects the whole body and can cause dysfunction in major organs in the body.
Hallmark, or benchmark, symptoms are dry eyes, dry mouth, fatigue and joint pain. But, don't be deceived into thinking this is a "harmless" disorder. Just the dry eyes and dry mouth alone can have devastating results. Your eyes can develop ulcers, need silicon plugs to prevent tear loss and go through various changes. Dry mouth can wreck havoc on your teeth causing loss of teeth and tooth decay. Even restorative dental work like crowns can develop cavities! More women than men contract SS, but men are not impervious to SS.
Some of the other areas affected are:
It's a few days late, but every year April is considered Sjogren's Syndrome Awareness month. The Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation has done an excellent job for years in education, raising awareness, encouraging research and offering support.
Today's resources are links to the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation; their "About SS page"; and symptoms page.
Bookmark this website and spend as much time as you can learning all you can about SS. It will be well worth your time and the pay off will be better health care management for you.
© 2015 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.
To kick start the subject, I'm sure you're asking what a lot of people ask me when I tell them I have Sjogren's (SS). Basically SS is a systemic autoimmune disorder that affects the whole body and can cause dysfunction in major organs in the body.
Hallmark, or benchmark, symptoms are dry eyes, dry mouth, fatigue and joint pain. But, don't be deceived into thinking this is a "harmless" disorder. Just the dry eyes and dry mouth alone can have devastating results. Your eyes can develop ulcers, need silicon plugs to prevent tear loss and go through various changes. Dry mouth can wreck havoc on your teeth causing loss of teeth and tooth decay. Even restorative dental work like crowns can develop cavities! More women than men contract SS, but men are not impervious to SS.
Some of the other areas affected are:
- lungs
- gastrointestinal system
- kidneys
- blood vessels
- and your central nervous system
It's a few days late, but every year April is considered Sjogren's Syndrome Awareness month. The Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation has done an excellent job for years in education, raising awareness, encouraging research and offering support.
Today's resources are links to the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation; their "About SS page"; and symptoms page.
Bookmark this website and spend as much time as you can learning all you can about SS. It will be well worth your time and the pay off will be better health care management for you.
© 2015 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Red Flags: I Feel Bad, But Don't Know What's Wrong - Could it Be Autoimmune Disorders?
Yesterday in my introduction I listed my condensed "laundry" list of ailments and disorders I battle and deal with on a daily basis. The list includes autoimmune disorders.
So, today we're going to take look at autoimmune disorders. The one I first began to deal with is called Sjogren's Syndrome. I'll write more about Sjogren's over time, but today were looking at the autoimmune phenomenon in general.
It's hard for a lot of people to understand and frankly, when you're first diagnosed, it may be hard to wrap your own head around what "autoimmune" means.
I was sick for a very long time before I was diagnosed, but had I known then what I know now I might have received treatment earlier and avoided a lot of confusion and pain.
Basically know this:
If you or a family member or loved one deals with an autoimmune disorder, or is facing a new diagnosis with one, please, please read this article. It will begin to take the scary and mystery out of autoimmune.
So, today we're going to take look at autoimmune disorders. The one I first began to deal with is called Sjogren's Syndrome. I'll write more about Sjogren's over time, but today were looking at the autoimmune phenomenon in general.
It's hard for a lot of people to understand and frankly, when you're first diagnosed, it may be hard to wrap your own head around what "autoimmune" means.
I was sick for a very long time before I was diagnosed, but had I known then what I know now I might have received treatment earlier and avoided a lot of confusion and pain.
Basically know this:
- autoimmune disorders mean your body is attacking itself and killing parts of itself
- there are red flags that will give you indications you could be dealing with an autoimmune disorder
- you can't cure an autoimmune disorder, but you can try to manage it
- they tend to cluster - or if you develop one, you'll probably develop others
- and, they tend to cluster in families
If you or a family member or loved one deals with an autoimmune disorder, or is facing a new diagnosis with one, please, please read this article. It will begin to take the scary and mystery out of autoimmune.
© 2015 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.
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