Somebody posted about flaring after a 6 month or so remission. I wanted to ask questions, but didn't want to take over there post. I was diagnosed with RA just about a year ago. I can go several weeks feeling just fine, followed by a week or several of joint pain. Mine is very migratory. At Christmas, it was for the first time ever in my left ankle, I could walk(ish), but not bear weight on the ankle. The past week, severe pain in my R shoulder, joints on my right hand, and my right hip. Even at my worst when I could not move my arm, I have never had an elevated ESR/CRP.???. I drag myself to work despite being very ill as I am single and not working is not an option.
The worst part is I swear, every time I have my follow up with the rheumy, I am always feeling fine (but of course take my list of issues I had since the last appointment).
Is this "normal" to be constantly fine/ill on and off like this? I feel like rheumy is starting to think I'm a hypocondriac. I do take simponi and have had flares the week before the shot is due, but I can frankly have them at any time, regardless of time frame shot is due.
So, what exactly is remission and why am I fine, flaring, fine, flaring? So confused.
For me, remission is no flairs for an extended period of time and no dry issues for that same period. Remission is typically a period without symptoms. I have had a reduction in symptoms but not a full remission.
Boswellia reduces RA inflammation. Dark cherries seem to reduce uric acid damage in RA. You may consider these if you are having RA problems. As always check for drug interactions, side effects, and consult your health care professional before taking any medication, herb, vitamin, mineral or other supplement.
Remission makes me think of Cancer.
As far as Auto Immune diseases does that ever really happen??? Somedays I feel OK others not so good and then there are days I don't feel good at all..
I would love to know what remission means as far as auto immune goes..
It does happen with fibromyalgia. I have heard of some saying it happens with Sjogren's but I have not experienced it yet.
I haven't had a day that I was completely symptom free. I do have days that are really worse than others but I have sjogrens disease and it just want go away.
I would love it if I knew what remission was.
Joe tells us that we have to "manage" this disease and that is good advice.
I've come to the conclusion that remission is the period between flares. It's not like things were before SjS - just more tolerable than 'flare times'.
Remission in autoimmune does not mean cure. There is no cure. It means simply a lessening of symptoms and each one of us defines that individually. One person's remission is another person's not well.
Same with "flare" ...I sometimes have some neuropathy come back or some minor pain and/or might feel more tired than normal ...but I do not consider that a flare...for me that would be how I felt when I first came down with this...pain with a capital P., never ending neuropathy, hit by a truck fatigue. Thankfully I have not had that since plaquenil kicked in.
According to the Sjogren's website:
http://www.sjogrens.org/home/about-sjogrens-syndrome
All instances of Sjögren's are systemic, affecting the entire body. Symptoms may remain steady, worsen, or, uncommonly, go into remission.
Remission is uncommon. That would mean that the symptoms actually improve or go away for a while, like the dryness or fatigue or whatever is bothering you.
On the other hand This is what Wikipedia says!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sjögren's_syndrome
Sjögren's can damage vital organs of the body with symptoms that may plateau or worsen, but the disease does not go into remission as with other autoimmune diseases.
So no agreement there.
Here is a health writer, Elaine Moore, on the topic of remission.
In some disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, and Graves' disease, remission is accompanied by a negative or markedly reduced level of associated autoantibodies. This article describes remission in autoimmune disease and the factors influencing remission and flares.
Read more at Suite101: Remission and Flares: The ebbing tides in autoimmune disease | Suite101.com http://elaine-moore.suite101.com/remission-and-flares-a7727#ixzz1jMsmEZoq
Her article might be the best to read about remission.
Good luck.
Keep us posted.
There have been other discussions of remission here on the Forum. You can find them by searching 'remission'.
Hugs
Elaine
Autoimmunity.. Have you been tested for Lyme disease?? Migratory pain is common with Lyme.
Also.. have you tried going gluten free? Hashimoto's is common with celiac patients.
Quote from: jazzlover on January 13, 2012, 01:59:53 PM
Autoimmunity.. Have you been tested for Lyme disease?? Migratory pain is common with Lyme.
Also.. have you tried going gluten free? Hashimoto's is common with celiac patients.
I do think I may have celiacs and have been considering gluten free. As far as lyme disease, never tested, but I think very, very unlikely I would have lymes. I don't know what in the world is going on with my joint pain. Few days ago having bad right hip pain, then R shoulder pain, last night both hands/finger, today back to R shoulder. I was initially diagnosed with palindromic RA due to the migratory joint pain and lack of damage seen in x-rays, but soon after my attacks became severe and doctor changed diagnosis to RA. At times I've had the bilateral joint pain, but an equal number of times it is one sided. And interestingly, it hit my larger joints long before my smaller joints. I'm still feeling confused as to what I really have going on...
Aint't it the truth! you go in for your checkup and things are not bothering you. Two days later Whamo. ::) :( I am single too, work full time for corporate america, and company has a strict unscheduled time off policy. GET FMLA and protect yourself!!! I put off getting it until I got H1N1, 105 temp, the whole 9 yards and work threatened me with a reprimand if I didn't come in. Even the CDC was telling people to stay home w/it - that group has NO power at all. My gp was soooo ticked, that he insisted on me doing the FMLA, He even had me wear a mask to pick up my meds at the drugstore then! :o
I don't think we ever get total remission with SJS. Just a lessening of symptoms, etc. where we feel more "normal". And note: our normal is usually not like someone else's. Like our normal may be able to walk the dog in the park - where someone elses' would be jog in the park. So to them not be able to jog is abnormal to them. Differences here.
I have times when the dryness affects me more, like right now. I get fatigue at times but usually feel it coming on so I can avoid hitting the wall w/it. You learn to listen to your body. I sure wish I could tell you why it varies. It makes it hard to plan anything.