Autoimmune Disorders

I have had dx of 3 autoimmune disorders, RA in 2007 treated with Remicaid. Treatment stopped per Mayo Clinic in 2009 with dx for CIDP. Treatment using IVIG started 10/09 continues monthly, 50 mg x 3 days.  Dx of Lupus subcutaneous 2011, blood test showed it was not systemic.  Now RA out of remission & Rheumatologist ordered blood work to see if Lupus is systemic.  I don't want to take steroids and am hesitant to chance RA treatments.   My medical history with RA in 1973, in remission after 2 years, Guilliane Barre in '76, Fibromyalgia '96, taking synthroid for hypo thyroid.
When I'm in pain, mostly in my calves & joints, I don't know what to blame it on.  Should I have Nerve Conduction studies done periodically?  Concern is possible progression of CIDP.  NC was done for dx two years ago.  Permanent damage to left hand.  Motor control in hands has worsened.
When does one just stop treatments and let nature take its course?  Medications approved by FDA have horrific side effects.  I take Lyrica & Cymbalta for pain..........still have pain........ibuprofen as needed 800 mg.
Seems like we take meds to fix one thing and it causes damage to other things in our bodies.  I'm very frustrated & not sure what to do.  HELP!

[Red_Star]

Did you have the swine flu vacccine in 1976? About 500 cases of GBS were reported in 1976 due to this vaccine.  Vaccines are an "unofficial trigger" of autoimmune diseases (which can occur years later).

Most cases of hypothyroidism are caused by Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Check TPOAb and TgAb thyroid antibodies to confirm diagnosis. Treatment is more complex than just taking synthroid. A good book on how to lower thyroid antibodies is by Dr Sandra Cabot called Your Thyroid Problems Solved. And i should mention, many find they still suffer thyroid symptoms with T4 only medication like synthroid. This is usually due to not effectively converting T4 into active T3. Alternative treatments include a combination of T4 and T3 synthetic medication or natural desiccated thyroid hormone which contains T4, T3, T2, T1, and calcitonin.

Unexplained bone and muscle pain was found in 93% suffering vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is found in 98% of autoimmune thyroid patients. Vitamin D deficiency is usually found in most autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D regulates the immune system.  Typically, autoimmune thyroid patients need levels at 80 - 100ng/ml (200 - 250 nmol/L).
Natural treatments for pain includes omega 3, glucosamine and chondroitin, and ginger.

[Joanne8342]

Thank you very much for responding to my "problems" and for info on autoimmune disorders.  I've been trying to connect the dots for many years.  Since each problem is treated by different physicians who seem to be most interested in their own specialty.  It gets confusing for me and it seems overwhelming to the Drs who limit their visits to the 15 minute goal.

I did not get swine flu vaccine in 1976, that was the strange thing to me about that diagnosis then and to this day.  As soon as I mentioned that to Neurologist, he quickly concluded that I now had CIDP.

I plan on challenging the doctor to treating the Vitamin D deficiency which has always come back during routine & special blood studies.  Yet, for many years as I look back at results of studies, Vitamin D has always been low and unaddressed by Drs.

Somehow I managed to cancel my connection to this website.  I hope I can figure out how to sign up again.

Again, I thank you for your help.  Wishing you a lovely day.

Joanne