what is a auto immune disease

Here is a link that explains in detail.

I have one called Chrons that is sort of effecting me(in its 3rd round) for the last couple of weeks.

Why are you going in search of diseases? Don't mean to make fun, but did a physician tell you this.....or was it just your curiosity.
Finished all your technical work or what?

- m

Originally posted by Madhav Lakkapragada:
Why are you going in search of diseases? ...

Hey - if Kishore has just been diagnosed with this disease its perfectly reasonable for him to try and find out more about it!

I did the same think when I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondilitis (another crippling auto-immune condition). I spent hours pouring over all the research I could, trying to find out what the disease was and what possible treatments were, what research was being done etc etc.. I didnt actually find out anything useful apart from the recent development of extremely effective anti TNF (Tumour Necrosis Factor) drugs which unfortunately are so expensive as to be unavailable to me unless the UK NHS or Australias PBS(Pharmacutical Benefits Scheme) start covering the costs. If the NHS gets there first then I'll have to 'up sticks' and move back to the UK!!

Are there any treatments for Crohns? If so - are they affordable?

Originally posted by Adrian Wallace:


Hey - if Kishore has just been diagnosed with this disease its perfectly reasonable for him to try and find out more about it!

Adrian,

With all due respect, as I mentioned I don't mean to make fun of this issue.

Kishore,

If you have been diagonized, I wish you well and a faster recovery. I was just wondering as to why you were looking this up.

- m

auto immune disease is immunity from car dealer salesmanship.

Women are more likely to suffer from this. Car manufacturers spend years of research on this seemingly incurable problem.
[ January 28, 2005: Message edited by: Helen Thomas ]

That page contains a nice synopsis of autoimmune diseases.

Originally posted by Helen Thomas:
auto immune disease is immunity from car dealer salesmanship.

Women are more likely to suffer from this. Car manufacturers spend years of research on this seemingly incurable problem.

[ January 28, 2005: Message edited by: Helen Thomas ]

I would take that as a joke.

But in reality its not funny.

Having a auto-immune disease is like the movie 'Fight Club'; but happening for real. In my case(crohn's) your own immunity fights the intestine and you start bleeding. In some cases they cut part of intestine to solve the issue and some other cases need to use steroids.

I got some expensive injection, called Remicade infusion last time around. That cost the insurance company about 9 thousand dollars.

After all the above efforts, the problem never goes away completely. There will be period of remission and may come back again. This time my remission period was 2 and half years.

Originally posted by Madhav Lakkapragada:


Adrian,

With all due respect, as I mentioned I don't mean to make fun of this issue.

Kishore,

If you have been diagonized, I wish you well and a faster recovery. I was just wondering as to why you were looking this up.

- m

I had to look it up. In the middle of my busy schedule, this thing was really effecting my performance.

Just wanted to check if there are any new medications that can get rid of this Crohn's thing completely. But, for this time my insurance will help me out with the bill that may move to the north of 10-20K.

Originally posted by Kishore Dandu:


I would take that as a joke.

But in reality its not funny.

Oops! Sorry. It's not funny especially if you suffer from it. Hope you get some help with it soon.

Originally posted by Kishore Dandu:

Having a auto-immune disease is like the movie 'Fight Club'; but happening for real. In my case(crohn's) your own immunity fights the intestine and you start bleeding. In some cases they cut part of intestine to solve the issue and some other cases need to use steroids.
...

That sounds serious (serious enough for me). Take care. Good to know that insurance is coming handy.

Yesterday I took a glance at the definition and thought it was something like an allergy (like pollen/mold allergies etc). [Maybe I didn't grasp the depth of the issue here.] Even in allergies, based on what I know, its your own immunity over-worked, right ?
Anyways, hope you do better.

- m

Originally posted by Kishore Dandu:

I got some expensive injection, called Remicade infusion last time around. That cost the insurance company about 9 thousand dollars.

Good for you - I'd like to get Remicade too!!

My condition gives me constant back pain and is slowly fusing my spine together and reducing my flexibility. (I am already over-reliant on car mirrors 'cos I cant turn my head enough to look over my shoulder, and I can expect this to get gradually worse with decreasing mobility for the rest of my life).

Studies suggest that Remicade is so effective that many patients (around 80%) with my condition experience not only relief from painful inflamation and halting of the disease, but also a gradual increase in mobility (reversal of disease). Unfortunately my private health insurance [and all similar products I've seen in Australia] covers just $500 of non-government subsidised drug costs per year so at a cost of more than $25K per year for treatment its just something for lottery winners! My best hope is that doctors will manage to persuade the government that this drug **is** as good as the hype and is worth the money!!

(fingers crossed!)