Autoimmune Conditions

Also known as autoimmune disorders or diseases.  I prefer the term condition because a disease sounds like it is communicable. I can assure you, my dear friend, that autoimmune conditions are definitely not catching. Plus a condition affects the way one lives their life, and a disorder means chaos or disarray. While your immune system is acting chaotic, condition, in my opinion sounds nicer. No matter how you refer to these ailments, their definition is the same. An autoimmune condition occurs when your immune system is overactive, causing it to attack and cause damage to its own tissues. Thats right, your body is attacking itself!

Through studying herbs and on my quest to solve the mysteries of wellness, I learned that autoimmune conditions take a toll on your whole life. Everything from your mental and emotional health, your physical health, and even your relationships. There is no cure for autoimmune conditions. There is however the chance to have them go into remission with hard work, some willpower, and support.

The very first step to wellness is to make an appointment with your doctor. They will perform a physical exam, ask you some questions, and order some blood work. The only way to confirm autoimmune issues is for the doctor to look for certain blood markers along with symptoms common to the suspected illness, and depending on what part of the body is experiencing the turmoil, a tissue biopsy.

You may be thinking, whoa there buddy! That all seems pretty intense and like a whole lot of bullshit. It is. It truly is a lot of bullshit. BUT it’s necessary bullshit. Necessary for you to be able to thrive in your body and live the life you want, without fear of being a prisoner in your own body. You will gain so much insight into what is going on in your body that is causing these things to happen. The main consensus among most people is that autoimmune issues could be triggered by viruses, chemicals, genetics, and hormones – or vise versa, having an autoimmune condition throws your hormones out of whack. 

My body seems to believe that my thyroid, which is an essential glad, is a threat and it must be stopped at all costs. Hyperthyroidism has messed with my hormones, but was triggered by the hormone surge I had after I had my little guy. My body also believes this to be true about my skin. There a lot of these conditions that are pretty common. These include:

• Lupus
• Grave’s Disease
• Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
• Celiac Disease
• Type 1 Diabetes
• Crohn’s Disease
• Psoriasis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Vitiligo
• Addison’s Disease
• Endometriosis

As you can see there are a plethora of ways your body can beat itself up – It makes me think of Jim Carrey in the movie Liar Liar where he shouts “I’m kicking my ass, do ya mind?” Everything from glands to joints, muscles, skin, bowels, and female and male reproductive systems, nothing is safe! Or at least, that’s what it feels like to live with an autoimmune condition. Even though they affect different body systems, autoimmune illnesses produce similar side effects. More often than not these symptoms are present:

• Fatigue
• Inflammation
• Joint Pain
• Skin issues – like rashes
• Numbness and tingling
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Dizzyness
• Swollen glands
• A general feeling of being unwell

Arming yourself with knowledge about your body is the most valuable thing that you can do during this…adventure? A bit of advice that I can offer, is to begin paying attention to everything that goes into your body and everything that comes out. I feel like there is a missed opportunity for a joke here. Anyway! Take note of how your body feels after you eat foods, especially foods containing gluten, dairy, soy, eggs or nuts. Do you consume caffeine? I do. I know I shouldn’t because caffeine isn’t great, it makes your heart race which is bad news for me because with my hyperthyroidism, my heart already wants to beat out of my chest. And yet, I still drink it, in moderation – but probably still more than I should. Which is ok, and something I’m working on. If you do, track that as well!

Paying attention to your body and reporting any changes to your healthcare provider can help them assist you in coming up with a plan that is special to you! Some people with autoimmune conditions aren’t able to eat food from the nightshade family. Sad day, potatoes are in that family, I would be lost without taters. This includes noting any weird joint pain, inflammation in the body, losing your hair, losing your voice, changes in bowel movements and sleep patterns are all necessary!

Building a support group is also a great idea – NAY! it is essential! This is because changing your diet and implementing an exercise plan (I’ve spent my whole life mostly, not eating properly or moving my body in productive ways) is a lot of hard work. This is where the dedication part comes in handy. You have to want to feel better, find something that motivates you – for me, its my kids and not wanting to feel like total shit all the time. Surround yourself with people that wont chastise you about having a drink at a get together, or on a rushed night you order take out, or have a pizza night with your family. These things are all fine to do! Depending on the state of your autoimmune condition, it might take some self control at first, but indulging in these things doesn’t have to go away for ever!

Please don’t panic, it really is worth it to take control of your health. Even if it is small steps. One step forward and two steps back. As long as you keep moving forward, its worth it. And as a side note, when I say exercise, I mean low impact, walking, swimming and yoga. Nothing like a HIIT workout, unless of course you want to jump into that, then I support you! I’m not at that level yet, but hope to be one day! I plan on writing more about food choices and the benefits of moving your body later, so stay tuned for that.

Your body is literally at war against itself, so he gentle with yourself. Learning your triggers and how to nourish your body instead of punishing it is your best defense. Finding out you have an autoimmune condition can bring up feelings of defeat. It is quite the opposite actually. Let me explain…You become more mindful of your specific needs and in doing so become more self-aware. You learn to advocate for your needs, even if it is something as simple as asking for gluten free pasta. Self-care becomes a priority which is not only beneficial for your physical health, but your mental health as well. Most importantly though, you’ll find an entire community of people on the same journey as you.