#Autoimmune Disorders

[talkethtothehandeth]

If you have celiac and buy the brand Van’s for their waffles, please know that 9 days ago there was a recall because some of the packages of the gluten free waffles may contain “undeclared” wheat. And if you have celiac, you know “may” might as well mean “does”.

This recall only applies to boxes with the matching lot codes and numbers, and do not pertain to other products that Van’s has to offer. These boxes were distributed in AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, NC, & WA. Please check your boxes immediately to ensure your own safety and save yourself the painful reactions to gluten. It’s advised the purchased packages be either thrown out (or given to someone who can eat wheat so as not to waste it) or return the product to where you’ve purchased it from.

“The U.S. Food & Drug Administration website published the recall July 3. It applies to certain packs of Van's Gluten Free Original Waffles with lot code UW40193L, expiration date Jan. 19, 2024, and UPC 0 89947 30206 4. According to the Van's recall, some of the packs of waffles may contain undeclared wheat.”

#gluten free #celiac disease #coeliac disease #gluten intolerance #gluten allergy #food allergies #chronic illness #autoimmune disorders #celiac #important

[my-brain-is-soup]

#brain fog #foggy brain #chronic pain #spoonie #chronic illness #chronic illness memes #autoimmune disorders #spoonie life #spoonie memes #spoonie strong #chronic inflammation #spoonie stuff #chronic fatigue #fibromyalgia #chronically ill #fibromyalgia warrior #fibro #fibromyalgiasucks

[she-is-ovarit]

"Approximately 80% of all patients diagnosed with autoimmune diseases are women."

For those of you who might wonder why this is the case, to shock nobody, we can add this to the list of mysterious medical conditions women experience that still remain elusive to the medical field.

However, there's some speculation:

Female sex hormones

The X chromosome

Microchimerism

Environmental factors

The microbiome

Antibodies

Interesting, considering female human beings actually have stronger immune systems than males.

To briefly talk about maybe the most overlooked and dismissed cause of high rates of autoimmune diseases in women, chronic stress (which presumably falls under "environmental factors") has been found to be strongly correlated with autoimmune diseases across multiple studies ("...up to 80% of patients reported uncommon emotional stress before disease onset), which can be triggered by even just one traumatic event, and anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, PTSD, etc. are extremely high for women in comparison to men.

Women experience PTSD two to three times the rate as men do (source), panic disorder is 2.5 times more common in women and girls than in men and boys (source), and generalized anxiety disorder (which is often treated as trivial and grossly overlooked) is again 2-3 times higher for women and girls than it is for men and boys (source). Behaviorally chronic stress and trauma also often presents differently between the sexes - "fight or flight" for men and "tend and befriend" (fawn and freeze) for women.

Men are more likely to commit physical, psychological, and sexual violence and women are more likely to respond to this violence by continuously be on the receiving end of their behavior and never leaving, even when their children are caught in the middle.

Chronic stress means persistent high levels of cortisol in women's bodies. There is sexual dimorphism in our immune systems. High cortisol leads to Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation (please, learn more about this).

This leads to heart issues, susceptibility to infectious diseases and auto-immune disorders, an unexplainable debilitating chronic fatigue that can lead to a bedridden life, multiple sclerosis, the progression and reoccurance of cancers, earlier HIV disease progression, and dementia. There's also the bidirectional problem in which HPA axis dysregulation, created from high levels of cortisol from chronic stress in the first place, also in turn biologically causes increased anxiety.

So...

Approximately 80% of all patients diagnosed with auto-immune diseases are women.

And auto-immune diseases are found to be strongly, strongly linked with stress disorders.

And women are several more times likely to experience trauma and stress disorders than males across the board.

And when stress is triggered, men are more likely to throw punches or leave and women are more likely to freeze and people please.

And men are vastly less likely to seek out a therapist to fix their issues or even demonstrate empathy for other men, instead using women as emotional crutches and punching bags.

And freezing and fawning for women often means staying in those same conditions even when there's a risk of death.

And staying in those same conditions when a woman has children and the means those children learn those behaviors and likely develop chronic stress themselves, and the cycle of trauma continues.

And even when women leave those conditions, we're far more likely to end up in re-traumatizing situations as we seek out familiar dynamics.

And even when we're able to break free from this dynamic, because we're far more likely to seek out and stay in therapy, we're still left with trying to resolve chronic, disabling, sometimes life-threatening health issues caused by HPA-axis dysregulation from chronic stress.

While HPA-axis dysregulation in turn generates anxiety, which then creates high cortisol, which results in a feedback loop.

This was supposed to be a short post, but I want to leave off with solutions. Please don't give up on your mental health. Religiously go to therapy. Have extremely high standards for yourself in your relationships. Practice diaphragmatic breathing, meditation, exercise. It's been found that moving your body through exercise, Thai-chi, sports, short walks, dance, whatever (to the best of your ability, if you're able) can really help - just know your limits. If you're not there yet take liquid vitamins as needed (vitamin deficiencies such as low B-vitamins, low magnesium, low good fats, and D3 also cause chronic stress, immunity issues, and chronic fatigue). Make those medical appointments. Eat well, socialize, rest (especially during a PEM or immunity crash), aim for 64 ounces of water a day. Leave miserable situations when you find your chance to. Learn the language of your body and listen to it, and have patience. I've had periods of being bedridden and unable to work. I'm getting better, but it hasn't just been one thing that has been a "fix". If this list overwhelms you, just pick one thing that's most doable. We matter.

#women's oppression #women's health #autoimmune disorders #feminism #global feminism #violence against women #domestic violence #female socialization #trauma #mental health #wellness #therapy #emotional health

[gypsy-that-i-was]

I WILL have this….

#RA #chronic pain #chronic illness #autoimmune disorders #health #mobility #independence #I want

[genzforbettergenerations]

Since I’ve never seen any kind of positivity post for this:

Shout out to people who get IV infusions weekly, biweekly, monthly, multiple times a year.

Shout out to people whose hands/arms/elbows/feet/legs are covered in scars and scar tissue. Shout out to people whose scar tissue hurts or locks up joints. Shout out to people who are covered in bruises after getting an IV.

Shout out to people whose veins roll or disappear, people who need multiple sticks or digging to get a vein. Shout out to people whose veins blow when getting IVs or during infusions. Shout out to people who feel like their veins have no more to give.

Shout out to people who cry or need someone to hold onto when getting an IV. Shout out to people who have anxiety or panic attacks when getting or thinking about IVs/infusions.

Shout out to people who will continue to need IV infusions into the foreseeable future. Shout out to people who will continue to need IV infusions for the rest of their lives. Shout out to the people who leave their IV in for several days, and thus need to cover it and continue with school, jobs, chores, etc, and sleep with it in.

Shout out to the kids and teens who need IV infusions.

Shout out to people who feel self-conscious about their IV scars. Shout out to people who worry about someone noticing them and treating them differently (though no one should be shamed for their scars, no matter how they got them).

Shout out to people who are traumatized from IVs/infusions. Shout out to people who have terrible memories associated with IVs/infusions.

Shout out to people who go to the hospital for infusions. Shout out to people who get infusions at home. Shout out to people who lose hours of their days while getting infusions.

You are no less worthy of love and positivity because you need IV infusions.

--

Anyone can reblog (and please do!), but only people who need (or have needed) regular/intermittent IV infusions should add on.

#infusion #IV #iv infusion #iv therapy #chronic illness positivity #disability positivity #chronic illness #disability #needles #scars #scar tissue #positivity #autoimmune disorders #dysautonomia #POTS #Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome #crohn's disease #cancer #arthritis #cfs/me #myalgic encephalomyelitis #gastrointestinal disorders #<-- these are just a few of the conditions that can benefit from iv infusions #if this post applies to you please add on if I missed anything! #needle mention #scar mention #hospital mention #medical mention #ask to tag

[titleknown]

Esoteric take, but I will say, the existence of autoimmune disorders pisses me off on an existential level.

Not just because of the people I've known who's lives they've fucked up but also because the idea of the bodily system meant to protect you randomly deciding "Now and forever, we have decided to cause problems on purpose" is just cosmically-enraging on a level that's hard to describe.

#autoimmune disorders #autoimmune disease #allergies #infuriating

[wuppydog]

ok so this might be really specific to just me idfk

but does anyone else diagnosed with Sjögren’s Syndrome have these moments where your mouth is super dry and you go to swallow what little spit is in there & it’s like your throat closed up & it feels impossible to swallow & like you’re either gonna choke or suffocate until you then take a drink of something & then it’s fine?!

bc that’s been happening to me a lot lately (been taking my thorazine more frequently & a major side effect is dry mouth so it’s made my Sjögren’s flare up really badly).

it gives me so much anxiety & I have a mini panic attack every time it happens bc it literally feels like I’m gonna die cause I can’t swallow, thus I can’t breathe.

pls someone tell me I’m not alone with this lol 🥲

#💜 #sjogrens #sjögren’s syndrome #sjögren’s #autoimmune disorder #autoimmune disorders #autoimmune #chronically ill #chronic illness #chronic pain #physical health

[gothic-alpha]

I’m further and further convinced that vampirism is, whether intentionally or not, an allegory for chronic illness

#chronic illness #autoimmine disease #autoimmune disorders #vampires #lupus #sarcoidosis #fibromialgia #hashimotosdisease #hashimotos #hypothyroidism

[should-be-sleeping]

I need a somewhat silly amount of Prilosec to function. The pharmacist refilled the prescription today, gave me a sympathetic look and just said, "Does your tummy hurt? :("

lmao (affirmative)

#ibd #eoe #autoimmune disorders #lol #life

[exlibrisfangirl]

Hi friends! Sorry I've been quiet the past few days; I just haven't had the energy for tumblr. I've been fighting a terrible infection (which my doctor is worried could turn into sepsis... whee!), so I'm dealing with a high fever, an overwhelming amount of pain and fatigue, and some pretty hardcore meds (which are wreaking absolute havoc on my GI tract... double whee!). There has been talk of having me admitted to the hospital for closer monitoring and treatment, but I'm still at home for now. Words of encouragement and prayers would be very much appreciated! 💛

#personal post #immunocompromised #autoimmune disease #autoimmune disorders #chronic illness #spoonie life

[my-brain-is-soup]

They want to remind you!!

#chronic pain #spoonie #autoimmune disorders #chronic illness #chronic illness memes #chronic inflammation #spoonie life #spoonie strong #spoonie stuff #chronic fatigue #spoonie memes #chronically ill #fibromyalgia #fibromyalgia warrior #fibro #arthritis #autoimmune #take your meds #reminder #reminder to take your meds

[crazycatsiren]

What it's like to be immunocompromised?

I'm not allowed to get sick. Anything worse than a cold is potential for hospitalization. My lungs suck and my immune system is garbage. I never leave the house without hand sanitizer. My hands are always dry because of how often I wash them. It sucks.

#disabled #spoonie #chronically ill #cripple punk #immunocompromised #autoimmune disorders #autonomic dysfunction

[soontobecyborg]

me: has a small infection, nbd

my immune system:

#i love getting a small cold and then having flare ups from two different autoimmune disorders immediately after #this is fine #chronic illness #autoimmune disorders #chronic pain

[system-splintered]

Not doing so hot tbh.

My Rheum thinks what I've got going on is inflammatory arthritis. Haven't narrowed it down quite yet but I can say, I'm pretty sure it's not rheumatoid, as my joints move fine usually (loss of ROM is from pain or stiffness, joints still move smoothly), I don't have psoriasis, or GI issues like crohn's or colitis, nor have I had an infection in any joints. So that basically narrows it down to: Ankylosing Spondylitis, or non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (sp?).

Which... My dad has AS with several fusions in his lumbar vertebrae. Partly surgical from an injury, but more Ankylosed further up after the damage.

I have the generally expected morning stiffness, can't stay still for long (though this doesn't mean I'm active, just fidgety and I move my legs/hips and pop/stretch my back a lot), and had pain in my shins and feet when I did walk and stand a lot. Not so much now but I don't spend much time standing. The tendons/ligaments in my hips are so tight it feels like steel cables. It's gross and it hurts. I don't have eye issues at the moment. And I am HLA-B27-. So I kind of suspect nrAxSpa rather than AS unless my SI joint is worse than I expect. I am getting xrays soon (again, in HD) of my spine, one shoulder that's swollen, and my SI joint.

I hope it's not AS, I don't want a degenerative autoimmune condition but considering my dad with AS and my sister with Lupus, it seems kind of inevitable.

I had been preparing myself for a fibromyalgia dx to be honest.

Anybody have tips? Meds that worked if you have AS? Tips for coming to terms with a scary diagnosis? I don't want my spine to fuse, it really scares me. I'm already in enough pain.

#ankylosing spondylitis #non radiographic axial spondyloarthritis #autoimmune disorders #Coping with chronic illness

[destigmatizeme]

I’m probably going to hyperfixate on the anti psychiatry tag that blog used for a while. I was looking through the tag for all of Tumblr and saw someone justifying using “is it really a disorder” because a condition may be the result of trauma experienced by that person.

To answer that question, I think it’s time we go over non-psychiatric disorders associated with trauma:

Autoimmune disorders (including rheumatoid arthritis)

Cancer

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME

Diabetes, Type II

Fibromyalgia

Heart disease

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Lung disorders

Sleep disorders

Stroke

If your heart fails or you have a stroke because you were traumatized as a child, then it’s logical to believe your brain can develop a disorder as a result of that same trauma. And if you look at brain scans of some diagnosed with PTSD and other mental illnesses, you can see it for yourself.

Mental illnesses are generally caused by multiple factors. Some of us are more predisposed to these conditions because of our family history, genetics, hormones, and biology. Trauma or stress can trigger them. Age can trigger them. Injuries and infections can trigger them. Having a particular trigger does not make mental illness any less real or less of a disorder. Mental health is an essential part of overall health.

#stigma #mental health #mental illness #mental health stigma #ableism #disabled #disability #internalized ableism #self stigmatizing #ptsd #complex ptsd #cptsd #post traumatic stress disorder #cfs/me #fibromyalgia #irritable bowel syndrome #autoimmune disorders #heart disease #stroke #diabetes #cancer #sleep disorder #lung disease

[sewercentipede]

interesting

#autoimmune disease #cbd #thc #weed #ibd #crohns #cbg #autoimmune disorders #i guess I should start smoking all this cbd i have #tnf inhibitors