Auto Immune syndromes….how common are they?

Kalli · ‎03-11-2010

I don't know what I thought about these syndromes but I certainly never thought someone I know would have one.

My brother, coming off a bad flu, woke up with blurry vision and bad balance on 11-2. Admitted to hospital, had 2 MRIs, 2 CT scans, tested for stroke, aneurism, brain tumor - all negative. 2 days later he's still in hospital and getting worse. After checking everything else off their list, drs gave Clinical diagnosis: a variant of Guillian Barre. By then he was in really bad shape.

Plasmapheresis treatment and antibiotics for Lyme. He's starting to feel better but may take months to completely recover.

I have since found out 2 other people I know have relatives with variants of this kind of thing. OMG!

-Kalli

scotttie · ‎03-09-2010

Kalli, I don't have an answer for how common they are. I know that viruses can cause your body to go haywire for a varitey of reasons.

Noel knows quite a bit about immune disorders, I'm hoping she will see this and have some feedback.

This must be a terrifying time for your brother and you and your whole family.

OnlyShopsOnline · ‎03-09-2010

I suffer from an autoimmune disease and they can run in families also. My mother's sister and brother also had several autoimmune diseases.

We had a neighbor who contracted Guillian Barre after a trip overseas.

I wonder if autoimmune disorders are more prevalent now, or just more readily diagnosed?

"I've been here since October 2006. Wow!"

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

I have recently acquired a female smooth (short haired) collie taken from a seizure of 139 purebred collies in the Houston area. Two weeks ago she became very lethargic and feverish. I took her to the vet who could not diagnose her and referred her to an internal medicine specialist. She was in ICU two days; it was touch and go. She was diagnosed with Immune Mediated Poly Arthritis, which is caused by bacteria. They did a culture but we haven't received the results.

In reading about her condition! I became aware of dozens of varieties caused by different bacteria. Of course this was a dog but I imagine similar conditions are found in people. My dog was given two types of antibiotics, and prednisone (steroids) which she'll take for several months. She's finished her antibiotics and seems to be feeling fine.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

keithsmom65 · ‎08-22-2011

They are much more prevalent that you can imagine. Many have been around for several decades. Some you can have and even go untreated for a long time and not even know it. Depends on what kind, where, and the original host.

Would have to know the specific details of each to make a proper diagnosis.

LilacTree · ‎03-25-2012

I have RA and Sjogren's Disease, severe digestive issues, and who knows what else. My second oldest daughter has finally been diagnosed with Lyme Disease after years of testing negative and, therefore, getting no treatment, which she is finally getting now with doxycycline. Because it takes a long time to die with autoimmune diseases, little attention is paid to them, despite the fact that they literally take away any chance of living a normal, active life and they are incurable.

No one cares about them and doctors know nothing about them. One has to take the bull by the horns on one's own and hope for the best. You cannot get disability for most of them because they are attributed to "hypochondria" or other emotional disorders, like "depression."

You're better off getting cancer or any other of the five top illnesses because that's all doctors know or care about.

I hope your brother improves and the others that you mentioned. Some do.

Formerly Ford1224
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Elie Wiesel 1986

esmeraldagooch · ‎03-10-2010

Many with digestive disorders get it. If you get your gut working they can go away. I did and am well.

http://www.tahomaclinic.com/gastric-analysis/

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

I'm not sure if these disorders are becoming more prevalent or if they are just diagnosed more. Mine was diagnosed some 8-10 years ago (not sure the timing), just before I stopped having medical care so I just do the best I can with whatever information I can garner, so that I can function as much as possible.

For me, it was a whole lot of really strange, and seemingly unrelated, symptoms. When I went to the doctor who, fortunately, knew about these things (many don't) it tied it all together. Some of what was related to my PTSD, depression, asthma, and arthritis was also related to the immune deficiency problem. It seemed like a lot of those things really went together to create the perfect storm. (well, perfectly wretched. ha!)

birddrops · ‎07-16-2010

I would say more common than we think. There are so, so many autoimmune disorders, syndromes, diseases.

My older sister was recently diagnosed with one, Bullous Pemphigoid. It is a horrible rash with blisters that took over her entire body and is very difficult to control. Another one of many that I had never heard of.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

I agree that there are many different types of auto immune disorders, and more and more people are being diagnosed with them every day. How scary to have issues within where your body is attacking itself.