Hi Judy:
I think my life is spiraling out of control due to autoimmune diseases. I was diagnosed 22 years ago with Hashimotos disease. (Hypothryroidism) and my life has been one illness after another. Finally diagnosed with undifferentiated spondyloarthrapathy. In order to pronounce this disease all you have to do is open your mouth and mumble something. So many of my ancestors had autoimmune diseases either hypo or hyperthyroidism, Rheumatoid Arthritis, pituitary tumors (MOM). I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. For so long (with me being female) they thought it was all in my head. Then pieces of illnesses started showing up. My spinal cord is deteriorating and I needed surgery to open up the compressed spinal cord at C5 and C6. I got my first and last shot of Methotrexate last Thursday. The stuff is scary. I am starting to itch where I had itched when I had Chicken Pox 2 years ago. Yes, 49 years old with Chicken Pox a nightmare of all nightmares. Got it from my sisters herpes Zoster breakout and was trying to be kind to her by giving her the eye drops prescribed. I am in so much spinal pain, leg pain, joint pain and so on. I suppose I am looking for an alternative to that killer Methotrexate drug. Any suggestions. I would like to have my life back but I am afraid that is n't going to happen. I am only 51 and feel like I am 100. I have a 13 year old daughter I am raising on my own and feel I am such a burden. I am on Social Security and hate it. I lost a great career of 28 years because of this and now I am stuck in the bad lands of Philadelphia due to finances. Does anybody have any suggestions for alternative treatments other than drugs that poison the body with severe consequenses? I am totally at a loss.