When I was told I had RA was bad enough because it is very painful I have the worse kind you can have and it will only get worse as I get older that sucks too. But, then several years back I was told I had pnemonia and was given antibotics for it but never a follow up X ray now I get them every 4 months or sooner if needed because I was told I had Sarcoidosis of the lungs. It was in the end stage of 2 meaning horrible looking x ray scared the death right out of me. So, below you will find some information that I have found all true since I been going through all this for years but the worse time was Dec 2005 when I thought I was going to die and I am not kidding about that. There is no CURE for either of them all you can do is take medication given you by your doctor and hope for remission of the lung disease just like cancer remission and then either slow down the RA or stall it but no cure. I post more as I can and as time goes on you can also fine the information to all these and more at the site in the blog. My goal is to awaken awareness of illness that people 1 out of 12 will get and let you know you are not alone.
Arthritis: Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs in the body, but mostly the lungs and lymph glands. In people with sarcoidosis, abnormal masses or nodules (called granulomas) consisting of inflamed tissues form in certain organs of the body. These granulomas may alter the normal structure and possibly the function of the affected organ(s).
What Are the Symptoms of Sarcoidosis?
The symptoms of sarcoidosis can vary greatly, depending on which organs are involved. Most patients initially complain of a persistent dry cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Other symptoms may include:
Tender reddish bumps or patches on the skin.
Red and teary eyes or blurred vision.
Swollen and painful joints.
Enlarged and tender lymph glands in the neck, armpits and groin.
Enlarged lymph glands in the chest and around the lungs.
Nasal stiffness and hoarse voice.
Pain in the hands, feet or other bony areas due to the formation of cysts (an abnormal sac-like growth) in bones.
Kidney stone formation.
Enlarged liver.
Development of abnormal or missed beats (arrhythmias), inflammation of the covering of the heart (pericarditis) or heart failure.
Nervous system effects, including hearing loss, meningitis, seizures or psychiatric disorders (for example, dementia, depression, psychosis).
ALL THE ABOVE I HAD AT ONE TIME AND STILL DO NOW BUT WITH TREATMENT THERE ARE SIGNS OF REMISSION.
enlarged Lymp glands would have been so good if notice sooner but sometimes there are not signs until you are very very sick.
In some people, symptoms may begin suddenly and/or severely and subside in a short period of time. Others may have no outward symptoms at all even though organs are affected. Still others may have symptoms that appear slowly and subtly, but which last or recur over a long time span.
Who Gets Sarcoidosis?
Sarcoidosis most often occurs between 20 and 40 years of age, with women being diagnosed more frequently than men. The disease is 10 to 17 times more common in African-Americans than in Caucasians. People of Scandinavian, German, Irish or Puerto Rican origin are also more prone to the disease. It is estimated that up to 4 in 10,000 people in the U.S. have sarcoidosis.
What Causes Sarcoidosis?
The exact cause of sarcoidosis is not known. The disease is associated with an abnormal immune response, but what triggers this response is uncertain. How sarcoidosis spreads from one part of the body to another is still being studied.
How Is Sarcoidosis Diagnosed?
There is no single way to diagnose sarcoidosis, since all the symptoms and laboratory results can occur in other diseases. For this reason, your doctor will carefully review your medical history and examine you to determine if you have sarcoidosis. The main tools your doctor will use to diagnose sarcoidosis include:
Chest X-rays to look for cloudiness (pulmonary infiltrates) or swollen lymph glands (lymphadenopathy).
CT scan to provide an even more detailed look at the lungs and lymph glands than provided by a chest X-ray.
Pulmonary function (breathing) tests to measure how well the lungs are working
Bronchoscopy to inspect the bronchial tubes and to extract a biopsy (a small tissue sample) to look for granulomas and to obtain material to rule out infection. Bronchoscopy involves passing a small tube (bronchoscope) down the trachea (windpipe) and into the bronchial tubes (airways) of the lungs.
How Is Sarcoidosis Treated?
There is no cure for sarcoidosis, but the disease may get better on its own over time. Many people with sarcoidosis have mild symptoms and do not require any treatment. Treatment, when it is needed, is given to reduce symptoms and to maintain the proper working order of the affected organs.
Treatments generally fall into two categories -- maintenance of good health practices and drug treatment. Good health practices include:
Getting regular check-ups with your health care provider
Eating a well-balanced diet with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables
Drinking 8 to 10, 8-ounce glasses of water a day
Getting 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night
Exercising regularly and managing and maintaining your weight
Quitting smoking
I am on the Methrotrexate and Plaquenil the methrotrexate I have been on it for couple months got 10 months to go you take it on Thrusday I take 6 pills every thrusday and I get blood test done once a month unless other wise said by doctors . I been on the plaquenil for about a year now or soon to be a year I have to have eye test every 4 months my eyes are doing great other then normal vision glasses now. But the first sign that the specail test I have done that takes photos of my eye in layers and lets the doctor know all well or not first sign of change if cause by medication will be stopped and if by disease will be addressed. I was not able to take prednisone it made me very sick worse then the two above I am taken now it made my heart race or beat strange so I hope not to have to take it i went through one treatment of it and that was all I could handle.
Drug treatments are used to relieve symptoms and reduce the inflammation of the affected tissues. The oral corticosteroid prednisone is the most commonly used treatment. Fatigue and persistent cough are usually improved with steroid treatment. If steroids are prescribed, you should see your doctor at regular intervals so that he or she can monitor the disease and the side effects of treatment. Other treatment options include methotrexate and Plaquenil and other drugs.
What Can Happen as the Disease Progresses?
In many people with sarcoidosis, the disease appears briefly and then disappears without the person even knowing they have the disease. Twenty to 30% of people have some permanent lung damage. For 10% to 15%, sarcoidosis is a chronic condition. In some people, the disease may result in the deterioration of the affected organ. Sarcoidosis can be fatal in 5% to 10% of patients.
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases.
Arthritis: Chemotherapy Drugs to Treat Arthritis
In cancer treatment, chemotherapy refers to particular drugs used to kill or slow the reproduction of rapidly multiplying cells. In rheumatology, chemotherapy is designed to decrease the abnormal behavior of cells, rather than kill cells. The doses of medication used for rheumatic or autoimmune conditions are generally lower than the doses used for cancer treatment.
How Does Chemotherapy Treat Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases?
In many rheumatic diseases, inflammation causes damage to parts of the body; for example - causing painful joints as in rheumatoid arthritis. In many cases, inflammation results from autoimmunity, a malfunction of the immune system where one's own tissues or organs are not recognized as such and are attacked by the body's immune system.
Chemotherapy helps people with certain inflammatory and autoimmune diseases because it slows cell reproduction and decreases certain products made by these cells that cause an inflammatory response to occur.
What Chemotherapy Drugs Are Used to Treat Rheumatic Diseases?
Although there are many chemotherapy drugs, only some are used to treat rheumatic diseases today. These include:
Rheumatrex. Rheumatrex (methotrexate) is the chemotherapeutic drug most widely used by rheumatologists because it is effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis and certain other rheumatic diseases (such as certain forms of vasculitis, or inflammation of blood vessels), and it is relatively safe. Most patients can take Rheumatrex by mouth in a single, weekly dose. Some patients prefer to take it as an injection once a week. It's common side effects are relatively easy to monitor, treat, and prevent.
Imuran. Imuran has been used for many years as an immunosuppressive drug to prevent organ rejection in patients receiving kidney transplants. Usually taken in a single daily dose by mouth, Imuran also is used to suppress the abnormal immune response in some patients with vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), and rheumatoid arthritis.
Cytoxan. Cytoxan is a more powerful drug and has more side effects than Rheumatrex and Imuran. It is used to treat the most aggressive and dangerous rheumatic diseases and their complications, such as severe systemic lupus erythematosus and some forms of vasculitis. This drug, taken either by mouth or injection, directly attacks the parts of the cell nucleus that contain the genes interfering with the production of certain proteins. These proteins (antibodies) are involved with the autoimmune response. Although rapidly reproducing cells are more susceptible to this action than resting cells, any cell in the body can be affected if there is enough drugs present.
What Side Effects Do These Drugs Have?
Side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs are fairly common, even though the doses are typically lower than the doses used to treat cancer.
All of these drugs can suppress the formation of blood cells, resulting in:
Anemia or low red blood cell count. Red blood cells are the cells that carry oxygen throughout your body
Leukopenia/Neutropenia or low white blood cell count that may cause decreased ability to fight infection
Thrombocytopenia or low platelet count that may cause impaired blood clotting
In addition, Rheumatrex and Imuran can damage the liver, and Cytoxan can damage the urinary bladder lining and cause bleeding. Cytoxan also causes hair loss and sterility. Rheumatrex and Cytoxan can cause damage to the lungs.
Since no drug is entirely safe, your doctor will talk to you about the possible benefits of these drugs, as well as their side effects. The occurrence of side effects depends on the dose, type of medication, and length of treatment.
It is very important to have the appropriate follow-up examinations and laboratory testing while taking chemotherapeutic drugs. Careful monitoring can minimize all of these risks.
How Long Does Treatment Last?
Although there are some differences among the drugs and how they are used to treat certain rheumatologic and autoimmune diseases, these drugs usually produce benefits gradually, requiring weeks to months for full effectiveness. Generally, if there is no benefit within four months, it is unlikely that continuing the chemotherapeutic drug at the same dose will be helpful.
Rheumatrex and Imuran can be used for prolonged periods (many years) if necessary, as long as they do not cause serious side effects. Cytoxan is generally used for more limited periods because of its greater side effects. However, in certain cases more prolonged use may be necessary.
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases.
My personal advice would be get chest x ray done once a year if you have ever smoked or if anyone in family had lung disease because my mom mother smoked and died from lung cancer I been exposed to second hand smoke most of my life but not the past 6 years I stay clear and live in smoke free home. It helped. Once you have clear x ray then doctor will tell you how often and if you have a not clear x ray doctor will set up how often but always good to be safe then sorry.
The web site enclosed are very informational and I found to be all that I have gone through and some that I have been lucky enough not too but I fear of it every day but am greatful for the new morning of my life daily.
Anxiety Disorder Information
Current mood: bored
Category: Blogging
Just some information I have found and before I was told I had all my illness I do have I had a hard time finding information to help me understand all the things wrong with me which not knowing or understanding can make you feel crazy in its self alone.
So, when I find something that helps me I try to post it so others can find the help they may need or just knowing you are not alone helps too.
Being it physical or Mentall illness.
Trouble Sleeping Most Nights May Indicate an Anxiety Disorder or Depression
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
July 5, 2007 -- Chronic insomnia may predict the development of anxiety disorders and also indicate current depression.
That's according to a Norwegian study published in the latest edition of the journal Sleep.
The study defines chronic insomnia as the subjective feeling of having trouble falling or staying asleep most nights for at least a month.
People with chronic insomnia should be screened to see if they have an anxiety disorder or depression, note the researchers. They included Dag Neckelmann, MD, PhD, of the psychiatry department at Haukeland University in Bergen, Norway.
Neckelmann's team tracked depression, anxiety, and insomnia in more than 25,000 Norwegian adults.
Participants completed a health survey that included questions about chronic insomnia, anxiety disorders, and depression. They took the survey twice -- once in the mid-1980s and again 11 years later.
Insomnia, Anxiety Disorders, and Depression
The researchers excluded participants who had anxiety disorders or depression at the time of the first survey.
People who reported chronic insomnia in the first survey were particularly likely to note anxiety disorders in the follow-up survey 11 years later.
Chronic insomnia didn't predict depression's development. People with chronic insomnia in the first survey weren't especially likely to report depression 11 years later in the second survey.
But that doesn't mean that insomnia and depression weren't related.
People with chronic insomnia were more likely to have current anxiety or depression than people without insomnia.
The results held when the researchers considered other factors, including participants' age, sex, and educational level.
Sound Sleep, Less Anxiety?
Easing chronic insomnia might help prevent the development of anxiety disorders, Neckelmann's team notes.
However, they didn't test that theory directly. Their study doesn't prove that insomnia causes anxiety disorders, or that ending insomnia heads off anxiety.
Does your depression come with the added joy of insomnia? How do you deal with it? Talk with others on our Depression Support Group message board.
SOURCES: Neckelmann, D. Sleep, July 1, 2007; vol 30: pp 873-880. News release, American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Understanding Sleep Problems -- Treatment
How Do I Know If I Have a Sleep Problem?
Your doctor may suggest that you go to a sleep clinic for diagnosis of your sleep problems. Sleep clinics are especially useful for diagnosing sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and heart-related sleep problems. You may need to spend a night or two in a sleep lab, where your heart, brain, and breathing can be monitored. By reviewing the results of your tests, a sleep specialist may be able to tell what, if anything, is wrong.
What Are the Treatments?
Try to figure out why you're having trouble sleeping. Could it be related to stress or illness? Do you drink too much coffee or alcohol? Talk with your doctor about all health problems you're having, all medications you take, and your lifestyle to help determine how you may be able to get better sleep.
Track Your Moods
The Mood and Goal Tracking Diary helps you keep track of your moods, personal goals, and treatment plan from day to day. Be sure to share your results with your health care provider.
With this tool, you can:
Rate your daily mood
Track progress toward daily and long-term goals
Record medications taken
Add additional notes or comments
Store 90 days of information
View and print a 30-day mood chart
Tips for Caregivers: What
You Should Know, How You
Can Help
When you have a loved one who is experiencing the symptoms of bipolar disorder, it can easily make you feel out of control, too. Here are two important things to keep in mind:
Your loved one is not in control — the disease is in control. For people suffering from severe depression or mania, controlling feelings and behavior
is simply not possible in the same way that it is for people who do not suffer from a mood disorder.
Your loved one may lack insight into his or her illness. Someone with bipolar disorder may not realize he or she is sick. This is especially true during an episode of mania. Even when someone is taking medication to help manage their disorder, he or she may still not be aware of their moods or behaviors.
How can you help?
When someone you love is suffering from bipolar disorder, it can sometimes leave you feeling helpless. But there are ways you can help both you and your loved one:
Learn all you can about bipolar disorder and understand that it is an illness that affects a person's brain. It is not a character flaw or weakness, and it was not brought on by something your loved one or a family member did.
Give unconditional love and positive, hopeful support.
Encourage your love one to stick to their treatment plan and see their doctor if problems arise.
Be realistic about your expectations for recovery. It won't happen over night. Be patient and give the treatment time. Appreciate the small along the way.
Offer to help your loved one keep track of medications and doctor's appointments.
Help your loved one make a plan for times of crisis — offer to help with child care or managing household chores and bills.
Urge your loved one to hold off on making big decisions or carrying out big plans during an episode, no matter how great these ideas may sound. Examples might include changing jobs, taking a trip, buying something expensive, or selling personal property.
Do your best to keep your loved one safe if his or her behavior seems reckless.
Keep yourself safe; if your loved one becomes abusive, get help immediately.
Do not make demands, threats, or ultimatums unless you are fully prepared to follow through with them.
Realize that hospitalization may be required.
Other ways you can help
Bipolar disorder affects everyone differently. You may find it helpful to have a detailed discussion (while taking careful notes) with your loved one's doctor.
Talk about the types of behaviors that your loved one has displayed in the past.
Ask about behaviors that you have not seen but may likely see your loved one display in the future.
Ask for advice on ways to handle situations.
You may also find it helpful to review the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder mania and depression to better recognize the signs.
Is It Really Depression?
Major depression (major depressive disorder) and bipolar disorder are two different conditions that require different treatments. However, because they have many common symptoms — the depressive ones — bipolar disorder is frequently misdiagnosed as depression. Sometimes it can take up to 10 years for bipolar disorder to be accurately diagnosed and treated.
In general, depression involves overwhelming feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and hopelessness. Bipolar disorder involves episodes of depression and episodes of mania. Manic episodes are periods of elated mood, which can include racing thoughts, extreme irritability or reckless behavior.
Learning how these illnesses are alike and different may help you and your doctor better understand your symptoms.
Similar Characteristics
Bipolar disorder and depression are types of mental illness that can have a major impact on work, school, family, and social life. Both affect a lot of people. Based on a recent study, more than three percent of ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />U.S. adults have bipolar disorder, and about 9.5 percent of people suffer from a depressive illness in any given year.
Depression and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder have common symptoms including:
Sadness
Excessive crying
Loss of pleasure
Abnormal sleep
Low energy
Restlessness
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Loss of appetite or overeating
Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness
Ongoing physical problems not caused by physical illness or injury (headaches, digestive problems, pain)
Thoughts of death or suicide
Generally both illnesses start between ages 15 and 30. SEROQUEL is not approved for patients under the age of 18.
People who have a family history of depression or bipolar disorder are at higher risk of having the same illness.
Differing Characteristics
Bipolar disorder involves periods of depression, but unlike depression it also involves periods of mania. People with depression do not have mania. Mania is when a person experiences an elevated, expansive, or irritable mood that lasts one week or longer.
There also is a difference in how these two illnesses affect genders. Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression whereas men and women get bipolar disorder about equally.
How misdiagnosis can happen
Bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed as depression. When you consider that bipolar disorder involves depressive symptoms at certain times during the illness, it's easy to understand how that could lead to misdiagnosis:
Lack of understanding. . Some people may not recognize manic episodes – and, therefore, don't see them as problems they should discuss with their doctors.
Current depression. Some people don't seek a doctor's help until they are deep in a depressive episode and are entirely focused on those symptoms.
Poor public awareness. Although many people are familiar with the signs of depression, there is a low level of public awareness about the signs of bipolar disorder, especially the manic symptoms. Therefore, people may not identify these symptoms in themselves or a loved one.
Learning more about the two sides of bipolar disorder may help you understand symptoms you may have experienced.
What is generalized anxiety disorder?
Generalized anxiety disorder occurs when you feel worried and stressed about many everyday events and activities. Often the things you are worried about are small or not important. This type of worry disrupts your life most days. Everyone gets worried or anxious sometimes, but people with generalized anxiety disorder experience more than normal everyday worries.
Many people who have generalized anxiety disorder have physical symptoms, such as headaches or being tired all the time.
1 Women are twice as likely as men to have the problem.
Many people with generalized anxiety disorder also have other problems such as depression, other anxiety illnesses (obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or social anxiety disorder), alcohol abuse, or personality disorder.
What causes generalized anxiety disorder?
The cause of generalized anxiety disorder is not known. Some studies show that it might be passed through the family (genetic).
Some problems such as hyperthyroidism can cause generalized anxiety symptoms.
Some medicines can cause worry and stress or make your stress worse, such as medicines with amphetamines (Ritalin) or too much caffeine. Illegal drugs such as cocaine can also cause these symptoms. Be sure to talk with your doctor about any medicines you are taking.
What are the symptoms?
People who have generalized anxiety disorder get worried and stressed about many things almost every day. They have a hard time controlling their worry. Adults with this problem often worry about money, family, health, or work. Children with this problem often worry about how well they can do an activity, such as school or sports.
You might also have physical symptoms, such as:
Feeling tired or irritable; having a hard time concentrating.
Having headaches or muscle aches.
Having a hard time swallowing.
Feeling shaky; sweating or having hot flashes.
Feeling light headed, sick to your stomach, or out of breath.
Having to go to the bathroom often.
Feeling like you can't relax; being startled easily.
Having problems falling or staying asleep.
How is generalized anxiety disorder diagnosed?
To find out if you have this problem, your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and how long you have had them. Your doctor will also do a physical exam, ask questions about your medical history, and ask questions about medicines you are taking. This information helps your doctor find out whether or not you have any other condition.
To be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, you must have more worry and stress than normal. You must feel worried and stressed about many things almost every day, and these feelings must last for at least 6 months. You will also have some physical symptoms. The worry, stress, and physical symptoms might make it hard for you to do normal activities such as going to work every day or doing grocery shopping.
How is it treated?
Generalized anxiety disorder is treated with medicines and/or therapy.
The two kinds of therapy that are used to treat generalized anxiety disorder are called applied relaxation therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. In applied relaxation therapy, your therapist might ask you to imagine a calming situation to help you relax. In cognitive-behavioral therapy, your therapist will help you learn how to think positive thoughts instead of thoughts that make you feel stressed and worried.
Some of the medicines that are used to treat generalized anxiety disorder are:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft). Studies have shown sertraline to be a good medicine for children or adolescents with generalized anxiety disorder. These medicines usually take several weeks to a few months to work well.
Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as venlafaxine (Effexor). Studies have shown venlafaxine to be a good medicine for people who have another problem along with generalized anxiety disorder, such as panic disorder or depression. These medicines take several weeks to work well.
Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax), which traditionally have been used to treat generalized anxiety disorder. In some people who take benzodiazepines, their body becomes too used to the medicine and their doctor might need to prescribe more of the medicine for it to work. If you stop taking benzodiazepines all of a sudden, you might feel more jittery or worried than usual (withdrawal symptoms). Some people might have seizures from stopping the medicine too quickly. Be sure to talk with your doctor before you stop taking your medicine. People can become addicted to it. Be sure not to let anyone else take this medicine.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), such as amitriptyline (Elavil) or nortriptyline (Pamelor) have also traditionally been used to treat generalized anxiety disorder.
Buspirone is often used with other medications to treat generalized anxiety disorder. It may be used alone if the anxiety is mild. It can take 2 to 3 weeks to start working. People who take buspirone will not become addicted to the medicine than people who take benzodiazepines.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) can sometimes have side effects such as being restless and not being able to sleep. These symptoms can be similar to generalized anxiety disorder, but they usually go away after you take the medicine for a while.
Some medicines work better for different people than others. Be sure to talk with your doctor about how the medicine is working for you. Sometimes you might need to try more than one type of medicine before you find one that works best for you.
Treatment for generalized anxiety disorder helps reduce the symptoms. Some people might feel less worried and stressed after a couple months of treatment, and some people might not feel better until after a year or more.
Its Not Just Age
Current mood: bored
Category: Blogging
How many times have you been to the doctor or even the hospital and to have them say well we can not find anything wrong with you its just old age. Forget it there no such thing as old age. Old age is when you have no reason or can not find a reason its called old age. But the list of things below are just a few of things that are real and can mess up your health and cause you pain , real pain that somtimes even pills do not help with. So, if you hurt get test done to find out WHY you hurt because its your bodies way of letting you know something is wrong.
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Bursitis Sports Injuries
Shoulder Pain
Neck Pain
Knee Pain
Hip Pain
Wrist Pain
Elbow Pain
Ankle Pain
Back Pain
Hand Arthritis
Fibromyalgia
Carpal Tunnel
Spondylosis
Osgood Schlatters Disease
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
I just hope that putting this information in blogs will help others know they are not alone and also give them ways to find the information to research their own illness and find the help they need. I suffered with these illness with out even knowing because I was told it was just age or to young to have anything wrong.
Or told you got pnemonia which I did but that was not all I had going on but no doctors not even hospital ever found out. It was my moms doctor in North Florida by mistake that find out what he thought was going on and that got my doctors on the right track.
every day Remission is what I pray for because there no cure for any of it.
Hugs
