Article about Autoimmune Disease

[KeithandElizabeth]

I found this to be an interesting article on autoimmune disease.

 

http://www.gethealthyagain.com/autoimmune.html

 

I thought there were many interesting points to discuss in this article, but did want to point out the following warning about using steroids with autoimmune disease:

 

"As you can see, balancing the immune system so that it works the way it is supposed to is a fundamental need when you have an autoimmune condition. When a doctor gives a person suffering from an autoimmune disease prednisone or another steroid, which most do, they are trying to turn off the immune system. Unfortunately, the success rate is low because they are using a poor tool. Because steroids don’t just turn down the Th-2 side, but they also wipe out the Th-1 side. This side needs to be boosted, not depressed. For unless it can be brought up to normal, it will allow the Th-2 side to overactivate. Both sides are always in a balance. If one is too low, the other will naturally be too high. Like a teeter-totter."

[sptcmom]

Had a wonderful session/visit with Dr T last weekend precisely for the explanation reason. He explains so well to DH and that really helps to keep DH on board. He had very similar interesting points on autoimmunity as well. Overall we are so focused on boosting up the immune system we forget we need to keep a very close eye on things so as not to over boost it. Overboosted or over efficient immune system as we know can come with its own set of problems. I know from bitter experience.We were very immune conscious with Ds at 3 yrs of age due to his delays and the immune system went turbo and caused his Vitiligo. DS already had the vitiligo polymorphisms and this just helped trigger it and PANDAS too.

Anyways very nice article- thanks Elizabeth.

Jodie

[Fixit]

the article below is not the one i was looking for...but it states why the tapers are better than bursts....

and why, with my own ds results with the taper...why not give the steroid a chance to hold on and maintain gains...

i wish doc k would only prescribe a taper after a month of abx...imo bursts are waste...eespcially if you are going to reak havoc on the body...you might as well give the product an opportunity to have a lasting effect(yes i know a few(few) have had succses with a burst)

 

http://www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com/prednisone-tapering-side-effects.html

 

Taking steroids on an alternate day (every other day) schedule lessens the chance of adrenal insufficiency but does not eliminate it.

 

Tapering should be gradual to avoid major flares of disease. If a patient flares, then the benefits obtained from steroid therapy will have been wasted. What happens then is that the dose has to be increased again and then tapered again- making the length of steroid therapy required much longer.

[eljomom]

Hi Jodie-

Are you talking about Dr. T in NJ? or an immunologist or lyme doc? does he still do steroid tapers??

 

 

Had a wonderful session/visit with Dr T last weekend precisely for the explanation reason. He explains so well to DH and that really helps to keep DH on board. He had very similar interesting points on autoimmunity as well. Overall we are so focused on boosting up the immune system we forget we need to keep a very close eye on things so as not to over boost it. Overboosted or over efficient immune system as we know can come with its own set of problems. I know from bitter experience.We were very immune conscious with Ds at 3 yrs of age due to his delays and the immune system went turbo and caused his Vitiligo. DS already had the vitiligo polymorphisms and this just helped trigger it and PANDAS too.

Anyways very nice article- thanks Elizabeth.

Jodie