Raynauds/connection to other autoimmune diseases?

Autoimmune is connected (they always love more at the party), but some diseases are linked (like eczema and asthma, Crohn's and fistulas, UC and PSC or ankylosing spondylitis...etc). Many of these diseases come with other manifistations as well...definitely linked, but secondary.

With the above, controlling one can help in controlling the other.

With separate autoimmune, controlling one sometimes won't control the other unless with immunesuppressing meds....it could help across the board. Not necessarily controlling all, but giving the entire body a break, so to say.

It all sucks to have autoimmune issues, and sometimes the added stuff can be worse than the original offenders.

It was suspect that I had Raynaud's...I do have my hands reacting to stuff in that fashion, but stress is the contributor in situations. Biofeedback has helped with it, and they do calm quickly now compared to before...which progressed to anxiety attacks.

I have a friend who has fistulising Crohn's...AND Raynaud's of hands and feet.

q

Yes, I have Raynaud's in addition to psoriasis and eczema. My Raynaud's affect mostly my hands. Any temp below 60, I have to wear gloves or I lose feeling in my fingers. My toes just change color but they don't go numb.

It's complicated from one person to another, and it seems that the criteria to fit into one category is near impossible. Even the blood testing can have one in more than one category...but we still have symptoms.

It sucks for sure, and autoimmune is here to stay. You have it, learn what to do to treat the symptoms or to at least help lessen them.

Stress, smoking, drinking, etc...things that can exacerbate your symptoms should be noted.

One thing we gain....lots of knowledge through default.
Which is better than choosing to be ignorant and ultimately stoooopid.

q

Kim, I've been GF for about 2 1/2 weeks and I can say that I feel a TON better! For one my brain doesn't feel so foggy and my bloating and cramping has eased, also I have less joint pain. But I'm now dealing with Rosacea, dermatitis, and psoriasis still :( So I sure hope that being GF can help that too! Oh and so far it hasn't helped my Raynaud's either. But! I have hope :)

I have Raynaud's. I was diagnosed with it at age 18 and am now 40 years old. I too get the blue swollen toes and have gotten some mild cold injury from the disease because I love to snowboard and climb peaks in the winter. If I get chilled even the slightest bit (even in the frozen food section at the grocery store or in an overly air conditioned building in the summer) the circulation to my fingers and toes shuts down and they turn a waxy white due to no blood flow and eventually turn bluish purple if I don't get them warm. I ended up having to take a calcium channel blocker medication (nifedipine or amlodipine) because my Raynaud's is so bad. It was that or risk getting frostbite every time I go outside in the winter. The med helps a great deal, but I still get episodes now and then. I find that those disposable heat packs for the toes and hands are an absolute necessity in the winter as well as wool socks every day.

I was diagnosed with UC in 2006 (had symptoms since 1999-- just took forever to get diagnosed). My disease eventually worsened to the point where I chose to have ileostomy surgery in 2010. I don't know if there is any connection to UC and Raynaud's.

I have also been on a gluten free diet since 2006 after a blood test revealed that I build antibodies to gluten when I ingest it. I am very strict with the diet. Unfortunately, it did nothing to relieve my UC or Raynaud's.

As far as I know, I don't have any other auto-immune issues at the present time.

ooly,

There is a connection, as others have mentioned. IMO, once you get one auto-immune disease it also opens you up to getting others as well.

When was the last time you had your blood work checked for vit. d3 deficiency?

The reason I ask is that Vit. D3 deficiency is indicated in almost all auto-immune diseases.