Coping with Comorbidities

By kellis

1 min read

I would like to know if anyone else is dealing with a list of autoimmune diseases or comorbidities, especially Poly-endocrine type 2.

How do you cope? I'm feeling like a freak of nature. It's one autoimmune disease after another. The osteoarthritis was bad enough. I experienced my first flare that lasted for weeks. Just putting my elbows on the mattress was painful.

Does being on Methotrexate eventually ease the aches? Do you get some energy?

I'm alone and would like to know what to expect.

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kathym Member
I have lupus, fibromyalgia, psoriasis arthritis. Also I have spine issues from arthritis, IBS anxiety and depression. Its alot to deal with but I always try to stay positive and enjoy my good days
1. kellis Member
 Thanks for responding. That was my 1st flair. Not easy. I have fibromyalgia, Poly- endocrine autoimmune diseases (long list), PsA, Asthma.... crud. My body has waged a war against itself. Now I need surgery on my esophagus... why? Autoimmune disease. I feel for anyone who has to deal with autoimmunity. I am curious as to what kind of medicine that Lupus is treated with. What is it like? Do you have good and bad days; flairs?
2. Jill.Brodie Community Admin
 Hi <inline-mention user-id="3294018" username="kellis"/> thank you for sharing your story with us. I wanted to let you know about our Q&A section: <a href='https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/q-and-a' target='_blank'>https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/q-and-a/</a> if you post your question there, you may have better luck getting members from the community to chime in on their experiences. I also wanted to share with you our sister community on lupus: <a href='https://lupus.net/' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>https://lupus.net/</a> you will be able to find a wealth of information on that site as well. Please let us know if we can help you in any other way. Jill, Community Moderator
beadbabe61 Member
Hi Kelli, I can relate to you and your growing list of autoimmune diseases. I have a growing list too. It is hard .... I have trouble always distinguishing which one is causing what symptom. So many have similar symptoms. All I know always is that I hurt , I’m stiff, and I’m exhausted. I started this autoimmune journey when I was about 27yrs old. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I’m now 58yrs old and I’ve added to that last. Mostly in the last 10 years. I now have 1.Osteoarthritis 2. Thyroid disease 3. Sjögren’s Syndrome 4. Diabetes 5. Psoriatic arthritis. 6. Asthma 7. Polyarthritis-multi 8. Dysmetabolic Syndrome 9. Myositis I pray no more . All I know is I hurt . Hang in there because it is the only thing we can do .
1. Jill.Brodie Community Admin
 Hello @Kelli S my heart goes out to you. Unfortunately it is not uncommon for others to not understand what people with psoriatic arthritis are going through. You are not alone! I am including a few articles that I am hoping will help you. <a href='https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/living/impact-daily-pain' target='_blank'>https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/living/impact-daily-pain/</a> and <a href='https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/living/impact-daily-pain' target='_blank'>https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/living/impact-daily-pain/</a> and <a href='https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/living/frustrations-with-doctor' target='_blank'>https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/living/frustrations-with-doctor/</a> We are here for you! Please come by here anytime for support, information or to vent. There are so many people here who really get what you're going through. Jill, Community Moderator
2. beadbabe61 Member
 Haha Kelli I don’t know..... maybe it was something in the water? Ever since I received my 2nd diagnosis of Sjögren’s Syndrome, I think I was about 31yrs old I have repeatedly been asked who in my family has autoimmune disease, I keep telling the doctors .... no one I know of. Then when I started developing osteoarthritis in my mid thirties I was continually asked if I had a accident of some type when younger( car, skiing, snowmobiling ? Injured myself or something) I was told it was not common to see osteoarthritis in someone as young as I was without some kind of previous injury. Even if people could see your diseases I don’t think they would believe that I have really been diagnosed with them all. I didn’t mention previously that I also have narcolepsy, restless leg , and sleep apnea too. I also don’t think most people can understand what chronic pain feels like, or whole body pain. It’s like telling someone about your migraine when they have never had even a headache. I don’t think I would have understood this kind of pain when I was younger and still healthy. I also wish I had appreciated and realized when I was younger and just beginning this total takeover of my life that the pain I had in the beginning that I thought was awful, would be a piece of cake compared to now. Like when you see your Dr. And his MA asks you where you hurt??? I stopped marking on the body picture a long time ago. Between the +// and oo you couldn’t hardly see the body. And then they wanted you to draw arrows indicating where the pain travels. I just say I hurt from my neck to my toes. I know you Develop a high pain threshold when you live with this stuff. I know I hurt but unles I’m flaring I keep pushing myself to do as much as I can. Fighting depression off, pain etc... it’s easy to get sucked down now and again. There’s times I push too hard and it hits me hard ... just how lousy I feel and how bad I’m hurting. I love my church and I love going. About 4 months ago I’m sitting in church and I’m literally hurting so bad I feel like crying. We have 2 services and I have a friend that is just so Godly , wise , compassionate and she just knows things without hardly needing to say anything. I ran into her on my way out and the dam just broke. I was asking for prayer trying to explain how I felt etc.... after I was in my car I thought to myself .... Cathie you felt like total garbage when you woke up. Exhausted like I hadn’t slept hurting everywhere it hurt even to walk SO WHY DIDNT I STAY HOME. I don’t know other than I push myself. My doctor told me a long time ago when I discussed knowing when you needed to stop working. He said you push yourself until you just can’t push anymore. He told me I had done as well as I had and was still working because that was my thought process too. He told me when you quit pushing everything gets worse. He didn’t mean you have work forever etc... but whatever situation we find ourselves in you want to keep pushing with the abilities you still have until you absolutely can’t push anymore. I’ve been on disability for just about 7 yrs now. I knew I was nearing the pint that as far as working I was nearing the end of the push. I was struggling to live. To do my job was literally taking everything I had so I applied for SocialSecurity Disability.