Anyone else have multiple autoimmune diseases?

Yes! Autoimmune misery loves company! I have been diagnosed with RA, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, dermatomyositis, and they believe there’s something neurological brewing that hasn’t presented fully yet as I have hyperreflexia and tremors. We’re not sure if it’s MS or one of the other other autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system so I’m starting Rituxan tomorrow with the hope that it will treat my current conditions - and since Rituxan is also sold as Ocrevus which treats MS, we’re hoping it might head off any neurological issues. Fingers crossed!

I have fixed drug eruption. For that one I just stay away from Aleve which is a HUGE trigger. The doc said I could do other NSAID's just not naproxen. No thanks. I'll just use Tylenol if needed. They say I also have relapsing polycondritis. I call BS on that one because it came after I took Aleve (seriously I know better!). I got my regular FDE then the helix and surrounding tissue became inflamed and painful. I had to take tapered dose of steroids to calm it. But! It happened 24 hours after FDE. Good news is that it snapped me into high gear to eat an anti inflammatory diet. I lost 7 pounds of bloat in 2 weeks. Im also avoiding nightshade veggies and discovered Nomato Sauce! Beets, carrots, sweet potato, onions, garlic, seasoning. Tastes just like marinara sauce. Google it.

Yes. started in my 50s with Hashimotos, Later retirement, then 2023 GCA, 2024 PMR that had probably been there for a while. On the journey with flares from prednisone tapers and Actemra infusions to counter this, I developed bullous pemphigoid and had to stop the infusions. 70 now, still tapering efforts continue, and more recently developed mild adrenal insufficiency after repeated restarts of tapers. Treatment and constant adjustment of BP meds with tapers, and bone strength checks. It's hard after time to tell disease from medication side effects, from drug induced conditions. What a rat chasing its tail! Now, doc suspects Sjogrens and/or CREST. I'm so tired.

@ptz71 I agree wholeheartedly. It’s our positive thinking, finding good in the bad, always trying to greet each new challenge as if it’s already solved because we know we can solve it.
Thank you for your words. Keep smiling. Laura

@donak a lot understand the frustrations. In 70 years is there even 1 of life’s giant hurdles that you didn’t make it over?
Keep pushing forward you have support here if you need it.

Laura

@donak you sound like my daughter. She is also tired. Tired of being so sick tired of all the pain , tired of all the infections that come from the drugs that are supposed to help me . as her mother
I can say you don’t get to give up. There are new treatments in the horizon I have watched her disease up close and it’s not easy. 5 different diagnosis
You all need to keep up the fight
Do you have family support ? It makes- a difference Stay strong g

So many of us have multiple autoimmune issues. I have rheumatoid arthritis , psoriatic arthritis, and dermatomyositis as well as other illnesses. I am on Rasuvo and Remicade. They work ok but are not perfect. As with everyone else, each day is different.
What works the best for you guys with dermatomyositis?

@angus100
What symptoms was your MS diagnosis based on?
Thank you,
Jake

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 10years ago and last year I was diagnosed with a second autoimmune. It’s rare, it’s called Interstitial Granulomatous Dermatitis. I’ve started a biologic recently but the plaques because of IGD are spreading. Thankfully, the RA symptoms are minor but the IGD has spread quite a bit. I feel overwhelmed by this. Most people don’t understand and have no idea what it’s like to live with IGD. The plaques are on my legs, torso and under my arms. Is anyone else here dealing with IGD?

Yes, @bhgrigsby, I was initially diagnosed with IGDA (also called Ackerman syndrome), but the later diagnosis was Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS). I was first treated with corticosteroids and then switched to methotrexate. My symptoms have improved, though I still have some residual IGDA.

At the time, my biggest challenge was finding soft clothing that didn’t irritate my skin even further.