auto immune system

[blackeyeG2]

I wrote to youall previously about my post tx conditions, which the doctors are now thinking it's my auto immune system gone bad.
The dr's think when I went off Interferon/R. tx, (approx. 44 wks) my immune system was sorely debilitated, and is now turned upsidedown, and is now attacking me resulting in: inflammation around the heart & lungs, great pain in and around the heart/lungs when taking a deep breath, racing heart, fainting, and scared to death I'm dying!

All this has resulted in chemical scaring inside/outside the lungs & chemical scaring outside the heart!  They asked me how this happened in the hopital, after my first CAT scan, I gave them a dumb look saying "ahh alien abduction while feeding the horses".  

How the heck could this have happened?  Why was'nt I warned?  Isn't the heart & lungs more important than the discovery of Heb C genotyp2,and 10% Fibrosis ?   Now they've had to operate to drain the poison, my body created, and now since I'm home, I'm keeping it at bay, with Advil every 4 hrs & pain medication, but it's still there (lurking).  

They diagnosed my condition as Pleurisy and Pericarditis  (squeezin my heart with fluid, so it can't beat) and so far it's chronic, because it's no better, I live in fear that it will come back, it's the worst pain I've ever felt, like being stabbed to death with an invisible knife!

Do you have any suggestions as to something herbal/food  that could help my immune system stop attacking itself?  The results that I've read about people's post tx on these two conditions have been a real bummer, some resulting in death because of the heart damage.  Is this true, my heart is little, but very strong.  Very scared and cry allot, I don't want to leave my children and grandchildren behind.  Please help.....

[Rockerforlife]

Alternative treatments
A number of alternative or complementary medicines are being investigated for their anti-inflammatory properties, and their use in pleurisy. At this time, clinical trials of these compounds have not been performed.

Extracts from the Brazilian folk remedy Wilbrandia ebracteata ("Taiuia") have been shown to reduce inflammation in the pleural cavity of mice.[3][4] The extract is thought to inhibit the same enzyme, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), as the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.[4] Similarly, an extract from the roots of the Brazilian Petiveria alliacea plant reduced inflammation in a rat model of pleurisy.[5] The extract also reduced pain sensations in the rats. An aqueous extract from Solidago chilensis has been shown to reduce inflammation in a mouse model of pleurisy.[6]

[edit] Pleurisy root
Pleurisy root, or butterfly weed, was so named because it was used by Native Americans to treat pleurisy. The root was said to encourage coughing by thinning the mucus in the lungs. Pleurisy root is not used much today because more effective medicines are available.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleurisy

[Rockerforlife]

The heart - Pericarditis

The pericardium or tissue membrane surrounding the heart is identical to the pleura surrounding the lungs and is also frequently inflamed. Classically, the pain is in the centre of the chest at the front and sometimes mistaken by patient and doctor for a heart attack. It can be detected clinically or on chest X-ray or echocardiogram. Fortunately, it rarely causes damage to the underlying heart and responds to steroids.



http://www.uklupus.co.uk/fact4.html

[desrt]

What tests have the doctors done to determine your problems are autoimmune?
You might try getting some answers on MedHelp's Autoimmune Forum.

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Autoimmune-Disorders-/show/174

As for supplements, the only one I know of that might help with your heart issues is CoEnzyme Q10. You could try doing some research on that and presenting this to your doctor as something to be tried.
I'm sorry for your pain. Please keep us posted on what you find out.