Autoimmune Lifestyle

Heartburn with Autoimmune Conditions

March 4, 2024 ·

Understanding the Link Between Autoimmune Conditions and Heartburn

Today I’m diving into a topic that affects many of us but often goes unnoticed in those with autoimmune conditions: heartburn, or as it’s medically known, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

We’re reviewing all things GERD and unpacking why it matters, especially for those with autoimmunity. We’ll also offer some practical tips for managing this often-overlooked aspect of our health

What Exactly is Heartburn?

Heartburn occurs when stomach contents flow back up into your esophagus, causing discomfort, burning sensations, and sometimes a sour taste in your mouth. While it may seem like just a normal part of life, it’s more prevalent among those with autoimmune conditions than you might think.

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Hospitalized with autoimmune disease

January 6, 2022 ·

The truth is, only a minority of patients with autoimmune disease will ever really need to put this information in action. When you are hospitalized with an autoimmune condition you feel scared and helpless. Knowing what to expect and how best to take care of yourself during and after your hospital stay BEFORE it ever happens is self-care every autoimmune patient needs.

Regardless of the incredible advancements we’ve made in rheumatology, sometimes the safest place for an autoimmune patient is the hospital. This could be to receive IV (intravenous) treatments, to undergo certain tests quickly or to stabilize and monitor worrisome vital signs. Autoimmune patients, in particular, can find themselves needing the hospital as there is a wide variety of symptoms possible.

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Pregnancy & Lupus

December 27, 2021 ·

I’ve sat down with hundreds of young women as they find out they have lupus. Once a diagnosis is made, the conversations are largely one-sided. Explaining what lupus is, how we diagnosis it, and what we are going to do about it can take a while. I’ve seen every possible emotion you can think of wash over the faces of women as they absorb this news: relief at an answer, sadness at what it means, anger at why them, and then fear for their future. The fear, for many, circles around concerns over the possibility of a pregnancy with lupus.

Lupus can affect anyone, but young women are the most commonly affected. Women in their teens, twenties and thirties, or what we call in medicine, the child-bearing years. Discussing issues related to pregnancy is a necessary component to a well-rounded lupus treatment strategy.

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Why everyone asks if you are depressed

September 21, 2021 ·

I’m not depressed!

And besides, wouldn’t you be if you were in pain all the time?

I know this conversation all too well. It is a conversation that takes longer than the 15 minutes we are given with our doctors. Why do doctors keep bringing this up? We worry that talking about our emotional state could label us. Doctos will assume it’s all in our head and our concerns and symptoms will no longer be taken seriously. These concerns are valid as I’ve, unfortunately, seen issues go unchecked in patients where too many assumptions were made. But despite this real concern, we shouldn’t dismiss the opportunity to investigate the way emotions may be impacting our symptoms.

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Raynaud’s Syndrome

June 23, 2021 ·

(Pause while everyone looks down at their own nails)

I learned to include this little pause during my medical student lectures on Raynaud’s Syndrome and Scleroderma. As opposed to many of the other conditions I treat and teach, there is actually a very high likelihood that a handful in the audience will have Raynaud’s. This isn’t surprising given how common it is, especially amongst women between the ages of 15 and 30. It is when discussing the connection between Raynaud’s and Lupus or Scleroderma, that the wave of concern washes over some faces in the audience. What the audience members are looking for are changes in the nail bed capillaries. These changes, can be a sign that their Raynaud’s Syndrome is part of a larger autoimmune condition. Thankfully, most, if not all, will have perfectly normal nail bed capillaries and be able to sit through the rest of the lecture panic-free. But it is always a reminder that even when speaking to trainees and students, I am speaking to patients.

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