Wellness

[NativeJax]

I have been diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have also been told that I have other Autoimmune Disease markers but not confirmed which one yet. I am waiting for my liver biopsy to confirm the % of damaged liver.
I haven't even started meds yet, my arms were so inflamed this weekend I ended up in the ER. They gave me steroid shot which helped but two days later I am back with pain. My GI and Primary Doctor don't want me to start steroids until the biopsy is completed.
I was told to help manage autoimmune disease diet was critical, plant based, no dairy, gluten free. So I am only just getting started.
I noticed on the RA thread people have indicated they have several autoimmune diseases. My question is how long did it take for confirmation on what disease you have? RA and AH is confirmed and I have had over 20+ blood tests so we can no how to begin treating.

[Zhills]

So sorry.  Is this connected to the high liver enzymes?  I don't know very much about autoimmune diseases.  I just know the anxiety of not knowing for sure what is wrong when you get sick.

[Hearts4Me]

I've been suffering since January from some 'funky' skin issues, etc., which they think is autoimmune.  I was in the hospital for 5 days, and still am on high levels of prednisone.  Had IV prednisone in hospital, and even came home on 80 mg oral.  Ridiculous and dangerous. Still on 40 mg, trying to get dosage down.  Scary.

I cannot get into see a rheumatolgist until the end of January.  I am beyond frustrated.

[sidsmom]

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@NativeJax wrote:
I was told to help manage autoimmune disease diet was critical, plant based, no dairy, gluten free. So I am only just getting started.

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@NativeJax

So so sorry to hear about your inflammation & diagnosis.

The plant-based diet recommended is the BEST thing for you

to manage your situation.

The correct food can have such a major impact on the inflammation...please start immediately!   Go to Dr. John McDougall's website.  He has so many resources to get you started....the entire program is free online.   There's also a 'Color Picture Book' which super-simplifies the what/why/how's of a plant-based diet.  Free program online, free YouTube lectures, free online forum support...tons of testimonies.   I can't recommend this FREE program enough.  

If Dr. McDougall isn't your style, there are a ton of plant-based doctors out there that advocate a whole food plant based diet which is low in fat. I love Dr. McDougall because not only does he talk about it, but he teaches you how to do it. 

If you need recommendations for anything...reading, viewing, meal planning, shopping...let me know & I can point you in the right direction.  A low fat whole food plant based diet will begin reducing the inflammation immediately.  Good luck!

[granny me]

I am sorry you have these diagnosis. Have you had the liver biopsy? Did you have high liver numbers? Did the biopsy hurt?

I ask because I am soon to see a liver specialist.

[NativeJax]

Good morning! I fell asleep almost immediately after posting yesterday, I stay exhausted. Yes, these conditions have to do with my high liver enzymes. I will checkout dr. Mcdougal.
Also, I haven't done the liver biopsy yet, we had a bad storm here and everything is backed up, they should call me today or tomorrow to schedule next week. I am not sure if it will hurt or not.
I am just anxious to feel better:-)

[Trinity11]

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@NativeJax wrote:
Good morning! I fell asleep almost immediately after posting yesterday, I stay exhausted. Yes, these conditions have to do with my high liver enzymes. I will checkout dr. Mcdougal.
Also, I haven't done the liver biopsy yet, we had a bad storm here and everything is backed up, they should call me today or tomorrow to schedule next week. I am not sure if it will hurt or not.
I am just anxious to feel better:-)

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Feel better and listen carefully to your physician. There is no such thing as a one size fits all dietary approach. There are a lot of quacks on the Internet promoting dietary advice  that may compound your health issues. Be well.... 

[sidsmom]

@NativeJax

I'm still pleasantly surprised your GI & Primary Doctor suggested,

"....diet was critical, plant based, no dairy, gluten free".

To have a doctor, nutritionist and/or dietitian suggest eating otherwise,

that's a tell-tale sign they are not invested in your well being.

Let the Power of Food heal you.

Plants want to calm down the inflammation.

Just let them do their job. It's so incredibly simple.

[SilleeMee]

I have an autoimmune disease and used to have a lot of inflammation in many places on my body. The one single most important thing I did to change that was to eat the right food! Exercise and a few other lifestyle changes have made my life worth living once again. If not for these simple changes, I would still be  living in so much pain.

Scleroderma, diagnosed 2002, with possible lupus involvement. There's some docs who have seen several cases of RA in their scleroderma patients, but don't know which came first or if one could have caused the other. Lupus has been seen as a progression from scleroderma...not yet in my case, but likely in the future because my grandmother had it.

[twinkies]

It really depends on the expertize of your doctor , I was dx with psoriatic arthritis ,and skin lupus initially , It took almost 28 yeaars before they told me I had M.C.T.D...{mixed connective tissue disease , So I have lupus and sjogrens and possiblya muscle disease , Since mctd is not that common and was only discovered in 1972 thats probably why I wasn't diagnosed earlier. Your hepatitis sounds like a genetic type  disese , My mom had that , It can be quite serious , There sre so mant new treatments especially for liver diseases that you can hope to get atreatment for it , Medicine is progressing so fast , Let us know how things are going .

 cathy from ma.