If you’ve been diagnosed with more than one autoimmune disease, you might feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to handle it all. Trust me, you’re not alone in this.
You’re Not Alone in the Autoimmune Journey
First things first, if you’re facing more than one autoimmune condition, you’re definitely not alone. Finding out you have an autoimmune disease is isolating enough, and getting more than one diagnosis can feel like the universe is playing a cruel joke. But here’s a comforting fact: it’s actually pretty common to have multiple autoimmune conditions.
When our immune systems are exposed to stress—whether that’s infection, toxins, or even mental stress—some people’s systems are just more prone to autoimmunity. It’s like once your immune system starts attacking your body, it can easily pick another target. For example, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Sjogren’s syndrome often go hand in hand.
Learning to Identify and Understand Your Symptoms
So, you’ve got more than one autoimmune condition. What now? One of the most important things you can do is learn to identify and understand your symptoms. This is crucial for developing a treatment strategy that works for you.
Every person with an autoimmune condition has their own unique “flavor” of that condition. When you’re dealing with more than one, figuring out which symptoms come from which disease is doubly important. Keep a detailed symptom diary and discuss it with your doctor. Ask questions like, “Is this symptom coming from my RA or my Sjogren’s?”
This process is essential because it helps pinpoint the source of your symptoms. For instance, joint pain, swelling, and stiffness could be from RA, while dry eyes and mouth are typically due to Sjogren’s. Some symptoms, like fatigue, might be caused by both conditions. By understanding which symptoms are tied to each condition, you and your doctor can tailor your treatment plan more effectively.
Prioritizing Treatments for Multiple Autoimmune Conditions
Once you’ve got a handle on your symptoms, the next step is to prioritize treatments. Our goal is always to control inflammation and improve your symptoms, but where do we start? Start with two key questions:
- Which condition is driving most of your symptoms?
- Which one poses the biggest risk to your future health?
Answering these questions helps us focus on the most urgent issues first. For example, if someone has both psoriatic arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and their IBD is severe, we’ll want to target the IBD. Thankfully, there are treatments that can address both psoriatic arthritis and IBD.
Sometimes, we might not find one treatment that covers all bases, and that’s okay. We’ll look for the most impactful treatment first and then address other symptoms with additional therapies.
Staying Organized with Multiple Specialists
Managing multiple autoimmune conditions often means dealing with more than one specialist. In a perfect world, your doctors would all talk to each other and come up with a unified plan. But the reality is that specialists often work in silos.
To stay organized, keep detailed notes of your appointments and use patient portals to share recent assessments and test results with all your doctors. I recommend using a notebook with different sections for each specialist. At each appointment, take notes, especially about what the doctor thinks is going on and what their recommendations are. Don’t be afraid to ask, “Can I repeat back what your recommendations are to make sure I understand?”
Lifestyle Changes to Positively Impact Everything
While we’ve focused a lot on medications, don’t underestimate the power of lifestyle changes. Autoimmune symptoms regardless of which condition they are due to, are usually very receptive to non-inflammatory lifestyle changes. Focusing on reducing stress, moving towards a Mediterranean diet, improving sleep quality, engaging in supportive physical activity, and nurturing healthy relationships can significantly improve your well-being.
Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. By understanding your symptoms, prioritizing treatments, and making key lifestyle changes, you can manage multiple autoimmune conditions more successfully. Stay strong, and keep advocating for your health!
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