Chronic illnesses

[honeychile]

I was in a bad car accident several years ago, and sustained fractures to my jaw, face, and skull. It caused TMJ Syndrome, or Temporomandibular joint syndrome. People who grind their teeth (bruxism) at night are also likely candidates for TMJ. Other than the pain in the jaw, the symptoms include a "popping" in the jaw, headaches, the inability to chew, headaches, muscles spasms, headaches, developing small "fat pads" and/or bruises under the eyes, and of course, headaches.

In my case, the cartilidge slipped out from between the top & lower jaw, and my facial nerves slipped in (bone can't move on bone). I used to get procaine shots into my jaw on a weekly basis, and wore a very sexy mouth guard at night, but try not to anymore. However, since I've had one crown come off three times in the past year, I have this feeling that I'm going back to the mouth guard. blech.

When this all happened, everyone worried about my legs & arm (also broken). I wasn't properly diagnosed for another month!

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Originally posted by ADqtPiMel
Wow...this sounds exactly like me.

I have bruises all over my arms and legs that I can't figure out how I got them...I've had several people comment on how awful they look.

I get spontaneous nosebleeds usually twice a week. There is no apparent cause for why, and I've just gotten used to carrying travel packs of tissues with me everywhere I go.

My gums always bleed when I brush my teeth. I hate flossing because my gums gush blood everywhere.

My period is ridiculous, enough said.

When I cut myself, it takes FOREVER for the blood to clot. I'm a first aid provider, so I know how to slow the bleeding and I've treated cuts on many people. Mine definitely take the longest to stop bleeding.

I hope this thread hasn't made me into a hypochondriac!

That actually just sounds like you might not be getting enough iron -- i.e., taking good care of yourself.

You would know if you had a bleeding disorder.

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu
That actually just sounds like you might not be getting enough iron -- i.e., taking good care of yourself.

You would know if you had a bleeding disorder.

I am anemic.

I was just a bit worried I had some other new disease too! Thanks for clearing that up.

[Dionysus]

Originally posted by ADqtPiMel
I am anemic.

I was just a bit worried I had some other new disease too! Thanks for clearing that up.

It sounds like you have problems w/ your platelets/bloodclotting. I don't want to scare you...but that could be symptoms of something serious...you should check that out w/ the doc to make sure it is only anemia.

I wasn't sure about wirting in this thread but i felt if everyone was free to feel they can say what is wrong with them i can say it too....

besides the allergy asthma i have I have carpal tunnel froma really bad car accident last yr. Ii put my right hand thru the windshield causing the CTS....looing at having surgery later on for that. damaged it so bad in my right hand I no strength whatsoever in it


but the one thing i have and am always self concious about is psorriasis. They say it is also an autoimmune disorder... it has caused me to loose hair so bad i look like i am balding sometimes on my scalp. It is soo embarrssing sometimes that I wear a lot of headbands to cover it up.

[PhoenixAzul]

HOOORAAAAAAAY! I mean, not hooray you've got diabetes, but other girls with diabetes who have lived through college! That's so exciting! I'm on pump therapy right now and I LOVE it. Although I'm not too happy with my pump company right now...think I might be switching over. I'm so glad, you have no idea!!!

I was diagnosed at 9. My diabetes was caused by my T Cells attacking my pancreatic islet cells (the ones that produce insulin) after I had an infection. I just thought I had a urinary tract infection, because I had to go literally every 5 minutes. But low and behold, diabetes! But it sucks being a diabetic girl during puberty...the weight gain, mood swings, struggles...holy crap it sucked. Pump therapy is awesome.

Trying to be a triathlete and a rower and a swimmer with diabetes is not fun. one of the most "not fun" diseases out there. It sucks having to leave class to take medicine or to eat something...blah.

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by cutiepatootie
I wasn't sure about wirting in this thread but i felt if everyone was free to feel they can say what is wrong with them i can say it too....

besides the allergy asthma i have I have carpal tunnel froma really bad car accident last yr. Ii put my right hand thru the windshield causing the CTS....looing at having surgery later on for that. damaged it so bad in my right hand I no strength whatsoever in it


but the one thing i have and am always self concious about is psorriasis. They say it is also an autoimmune disorder... it has caused me to loose hair so bad i look like i am balding sometimes on my scalp. It is soo embarrssing sometimes that I wear a lot of headbands to cover it up.

I always see the commercials about psorriasis. Please tell what exactly happens and what your experience has been. Is it painful or just annoying? BTW, thanks for opening up and sharing!!

[DGqueen17]

I have aplastic anemia.

It sucks.

[futuregreek]

Hi all. Can I change the direction of the thread just for a teeny bit? You can pm me responses if you'd rather not reply here.

Anyway, here goes.

I'm a brand new pledge in a small sorority on my campus. I have a stomach problem, still undiagnosed after 2 years, but it's probably Crohn's or one of its related diseases.

I feel I should tell my (soon to be?)sisters about it. I don't want them offended when I'm too tired to hang out and things like that. We don't have houses here so living together will never come up. Some might already have a suspicion that something is up, because I have a "medical single" (single dorm room with own bathroom.)

So, how did you tell your sisters/brothers what you're dealing with? All at once, or when it came up, or ahead of time? Just curious.

I think I'm going to maybe get one of the sisters aside and ask her if anyone in the group has a chronic illness, but don't tell me who or what. It's their business. How I tell them will just depend on if there is someone with one already or not.

Sorry for hijacking the thread!

[AGDee]

Originally posted by futuregreek
Hi all. Can I change the direction of the thread just for a teeny bit? You can pm me responses if you'd rather not reply here.

Anyway, here goes.

I'm a brand new pledge in a small sorority on my campus. I have a stomach problem, still undiagnosed after 2 years, but it's probably Crohn's or one of its related diseases.

I feel I should tell my (soon to be?)sisters about it. I don't want them offended when I'm too tired to hang out and things like that. We don't have houses here so living together will never come up. Some might already have a suspicion that something is up, because I have a "medical single" (single dorm room with own bathroom.)

So, how did you tell your sisters/brothers what you're dealing with? All at once, or when it came up, or ahead of time? Just curious.

I think I'm going to maybe get one of the sisters aside and ask her if anyone in the group has a chronic illness, but don't tell me who or what. It's their business. How I tell them will just depend on if there is someone with one already or not.

Sorry for hijacking the thread!

My "Sis-granddaughter" in my sorority had Crohn's. She told her Sister-Mother (our equivalent of Big Sis) who shared the information with us. She needed a bowel re-section when she was a Sophomore and she got nothing but support from all of us! If your sisters don't understand a health issue, then they aren't going to be worth having as sisters!

Guess who the first person I called when I was diagnosed with Crohn's was? Of course, the sister who I knew had it for most of her life. She was so incredibly supportive and an inspiration to me as she's a triple black belt in Tai Kwan Do and a police woman.. with Crohn's! She's amazing!

I hope you get a diagnosis soon (along with some meds that help). It is a very frustrating time when they haven't figured it out for sure yet. With a diagnosis, there will be hope for treatment and relief of symptoms!

Dee

[adduncan]

Myasthenia Gravis
Mr. A came down w/ this about a year ago. MG is an autoimmune disorder (usually) that attacks acetylcholinesterase - an enzyme residing in the synaptic gap that regulates neurotransmitter levels. This leads to muscle weakness. In its worst form (MG Crisis) it can cause difficulty breathing requiring temporary ventilator support. It varies in severity and has several subsets. Mr. A has Ocular MG, which only affects the muscles around his eyes and eyelids. Remission is possible - some patients require a thymectomy to reduce the autoimmune reaction. Mestinon (same type of treatment as the antidote for nerve gas) can control the symptoms.

Mr. A has been fortunate that his symptoms haven't generalized on him. But we found out that he doesn't have any signs of an autoimmune reaction - no antibody, which is part of the diagnosis. We think his MG was induced by Lipitor. (Read the fine print on any statin drug prescription - about 1-2% of patients taking them come down w/ MG or similar symptoms. This is why the "muscle pain or weakness" disclaimer is in the commercials on TV.)

Coincidentally, MG is considered a Muscular Dystrophy-type disease covered by work done by the MDA - which is KA's national philanthropy.

Hypothyroidism
Usually also an autoimmune reaction. Causes the thyroid gland to shut down and stop producing thyroid hormone. I came down w/ this out of the blue a couple of years back. Thyroid hormone levels have to be monitored every 8-12 weeks and I take a synthetic hormone replacement for it. NBD, in the grand scheme of things.

--add

[KappaKittyCat]

Originally posted by DGqueen17
I have aplastic anemia.

It sucks.

I bet! Have you had a bone marrow transplant? Does it ever go into remission? How hard is it to live with?

[DGqueen17]

Originally posted by KappaKittyCat
I bet! Have you had a bone marrow transplant? Does it ever go into remission? How hard is it to live with?

No I haven't had a bone marrow transplant. It hasn't gotten to that stage yet. I never really noticed it until recently when I had to start getting transfusions. Luckily, those seem to be doing wonders for me. I'm just glad it isn't cancer and I'm not having to stay in the hospital in isolation.

[cash78mere]

Originally posted by futuregreek

So, how did you tell your sisters/brothers what you're dealing with? All at once, or when it came up, or ahead of time? Just curious.

hey. i too had a medical single when i was a junior. i had chronic insomnia for over 7 years, and the medicine i took made me very sick, nauseous, lethargic, etc. i would always try to go to bed early, because i knew it took me over 5 hours most nights (and still now sometimes) to fall asleep, even with my medicine. this became a problem during recruitment when we would be doing our thing until 2 or 3am. i decided to tell the president and recruitment chair (and eventually shared with everyone). they completely understood why i would have to leave early sometimes.

your sisters should be understanding and will probably do everything they can for you. especially that it is a documented illness. if they're not....well...you have some thinking to do. but i can say with 99% certainty that they will accomodate you.

these women are your sisters. being honest and open with them will help form a lasting bond of trust and friendship. good luck. don't be scared to do the right thing

[Rudey]

BobbytheDon caught the HIV from some dude in Hollywood.

-Rudey
--And he paid for it too.